ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
Women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD might have difficulties at work or in relationships. It's important to identify the signs and find a treatment that is effective for you.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. A proper diagnosis can help you improve your life by managing your symptoms and focusing on the things that matter most.
1. Trouble paying attention
Women might have trouble paying attention to details, remembering deadlines and appointments or underestimating the amount of time it takes to complete an assignment. They may also have difficulty keeping track of their responsibilities at workplace or in relationships, become distracted easily, and fail to follow through on promises. They may also be afflicted by an impulsive nature, trouble managing their emotions, and a tendency to blurt out things without thinking it through first.
The inability to pay attention to the needs of ADHD symptoms in women who are older can lead to problems with friendships and relationships and relationships. That's why it's important to recognize the signs and seek treatment. Women may have difficulty to make new friendships or struggle with their relationships due to frequent arguments and opportunities to have fun, and a lack of attention. They can also face difficulties managing the demands of home, work and childcare.
It's not easy for health care providers and therapists alike, to identify ADHD in many people. However, that doesn't mean it's not real or that the person doesn't need to try harder to remain on track. Diagnoses are based on the symptoms and how they affect daily functioning in multiple areas.
It's more common for women to have inattentive symptoms - as opposed to hyperactive or impulsive signs - and this could be the reason why this population often goes undiagnosed. In addition many women who suffer from ADHD feel a sense of guilt about their condition because they don't fit into the stereotypes of people with ADHD. This can make it difficult for women who suffer from ADHD to seek assistance or receive treatment.
Women who suffer from ADHD are not diagnosed for a long period of time due to the fact that they are unable to hide their symptoms and manage. They are more likely to have other comorbidities, including anxiety or depression, which can mask the symptoms of ADHD. They are more likely to have hormonal fluctuations that could trigger symptoms that flare up or disappear. This is particularly true during menstruation, pregnancy, and perimenopause.
2. Organizational Issues
Forgetfulness, disorganization, impulsivity and emotional dysregulation are typical ADHD symptoms for women. These symptoms can make it difficult for women to handle their daily tasks, keep track with their responsibilities and maintain relationships. They may also have low self-esteem or experience anxiety. Women with undiagnosed ADHD might feel they're not meeting society's expectations. They may also struggle with anxiety and low self-esteem.
ADHD in symptoms ADHD in adults can manifest as procrastination, hyperfocus or forgetfulness. These issues can cause women to skip appointments, fail to pay bills on time and feel overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can result in a lack of focus on other activities that are crucial and a poor sense of time, which could make it difficult to shift from one task to another. Procrastination can also cause anxiety, stress, and a constant sense of being behind.
Communication problems both non-verbal and verbal, are another common symptom of ADHD. This could include a lot of talking and interrupting other people or using inappropriate words. This can include a lack of ability to sit still or understanding the boundaries of social interaction. It is important to remember that these behaviors don't necessarily indicate a lack in intelligence or ability.
Many women suffering from ADHD have coping strategies to mask their symptoms, which can have positive and negative impacts. Some of these coping strategies might be healthy. For instance, using a daily calendar or making reminders for important dates. Others may be unhealthy, such as drinking alcohol or using drugs to hide symptoms or not paying attention to them at all. Therefore, it is important for women who suspect ADHD to seek assistance from a mental health professional.
Women with ADHD are able to benefit from medication and lifestyle modifications, therapy and a range of other treatment options. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy, which addresses the underlying negative thoughts and beliefs as well as mindfulness and relaxation exercising, a healthy diet, and adequate rest. A health care provider might also suggest accommodations to make school or work more comfortable.
3. Disruptive Behaviors
Women with ADHD may struggle with emotional dysregulation. This is why they are often discontent and frustrated when their problems aren't resolved. This makes it difficult to keep relationships with romantic partners, friends and colleagues. For example, forgetfulness and impulses can cause the frustration or confusion in romantic relationships and can cause feelings of loneliness, loss, or depression. Additionally the tendency to seek an instant thrill could be misinterpreted as a lack of interest or indifference by others.
Because of this, ADHD symptoms are frequently missed or not recognized for girls and women. They might also have a hard time understanding that their issues are caused by the disorder due to stereotypes and social norms regarding the behavior of women and men.
Girls and women with ADHD often conceal their symptoms in order to avoid embarrassment. This could result in being referred to less frequently for diagnosis than males and females who have the same symptoms. Additionally, gender bias in the research that informs diagnostic criteria could contribute to this asymmetry. Hartung and Widiger discovered in an earlier study that women and girls with ADHD symptoms tend to be more likely to go undiagnosed and under-identified than boys and adults. This could be due to the fact that healthcare professionals are trained to think of hyperactive and impulsive ADHD as more prevalent in both men and boys. This can make them easier to identify and to refer for assessment.
Adult ADHD symptoms can manifest as irritability and difficulty in calming down. These are common ADHD symptoms however, they can also be a significant influence on the life of an adult. People with ADHD might feel anxious or find it hard to remain still. This is particularly the case when they're anxious or stressed. They also tend to fidget, and are often overly talking. They frequently interrupt or finish sentences of others and do not realize they are being rude.
If you suspect you may be suffering from ADHD, you can be recommended to a psychiatrist by your doctor or psychologist. You can also self-refer. This content was reviewed by Madeline Dykes (clinical psychologist) as well as members of the Thriving Madly network in Christchurch in October 2024. It was updated in November 2022.
4. Social Skills
Women with ADHD may struggle to communicate effectively or to manage their emotions in the workplace. This can lead to issues that can hinder personal relationships and professional goals. They may have difficulty recognizing and responding appropriately to feedback. This can lead to frustration or even disappointment. They may also struggle to maintain healthy eating and sleeping habits, which could increase feelings of anxiety. Some women with ADHD use unhealthy coping methods to compensate for their problems. This includes substance abuse, eating disorder and non-suicidal harming of oneself (NSSI) such as cutting, burning or scratching.
As they age, women with ADHD are more likely to seek treatment than men, as they tend to mask their symptoms. They frequently develop coping strategies to try to conform to the expectations of society, which can make their ADHD symptoms difficult for others to detect. These coping strategies could be as simple as creating lists and setting reminders or more complicated strategies, like managing their emotions or learning mindfulness strategies.
These coping mechanisms can but backfire and worsen symptoms. They can also hinder good sleep, which is essential for managing ADHD symptoms. Additionally, women with ADHD often feel overwhelmed by the demands of life and this can increase stress and exacerbate ADHD symptoms.
While it's true that more boys are diagnosed with ADHD than girls, this gap becomes smaller when they reach the age of adulthood. It's because it's common for women to experience a range of symptoms throughout their lives, which can lead to being diagnosed at different times.
The changes in hormone levels can also affect ADHD symptoms among women. For instance when they have a high estrogen level during pregnancy, their symptoms could improve. Higher levels of estrogen regulate brain chemicals that influence attention. If they start to notice a decrease in estrogen levels due to age or perimenopause the ADHD symptoms may become worse.
It is possible for people with ADHD to receive an accurate diagnosis and access effective treatment. These include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), neurocognitive psychology, as well as other treatments that can help people with ADHD improve their daily functioning. They can also attend meetings of support groups for ADHD in order to share their experience with others who are on the same journey and gain valuable insight from their colleagues.