Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Hyperactivity and impulsivity are characteristic features of ADHD in childhood, and can result in academic and behavioral issues. It's a condition that can last for a lifetime but children usually overcome their symptoms.
In adulthood, inattentive symptoms persist and can cause issues at school or at work. These symptoms can be caused or worsened by hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycle and pregnancy, as well as menopausal.
Inattentive symptoms
Adults can find the symptoms of inattentive ADHD annoying. They can affect relationships and productivity at work, as well as school performance. You might be easily distracted, lose items frequently or have trouble following directions. You may forget appointments or business events, leaving tasks unfinished. You may be overwhelmed by clutter at home or in the office and find it difficult to remember important details of events that occurred in your life. It might be difficult to listen to others, and be suffering from what's known as the "thousand-yard stare," where you look at people but don't actually listen to them.
Adults with inattention ADHD can also have memory issues, particularly when hormonal changes occur such as during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause. This can be particularly challenging for women, who might feel like their symptoms are intensified by these periods of change.
You can improve your life if you've been diagnosed with inattention ADHD. Set realistic goals. You can use apps for reminders such as planners, post-it notes and planners to keep track of deadlines or appointments. Try breaking large projects into smaller tasks and tackle them one at a time. Take female symptoms of adhd to move around and refocus your focus.
You could also request your school or employer for accommodations that can aid in managing your symptoms, like allowing you to work from home, offering you extra time on tests or assignments or assisting with notetaking during meetings. A lot of places have policies that require them to make these accommodations to people who have disabilities, including ADHD.
Women suffering from ADHD might feel frustrated or angry if they don't receive a diagnosis. They might blame themselves for their troubles or think that they were ignored by medical professionals or family and family members. Many feel a sense of sadness and regret for the opportunities they missed and the relationships that were damaged because they never received treatment for their condition.
According to research, women and girls with inattentive ADHD have been under-diagnosed compared to boys and men. This is due to the fact that their symptoms are difficult to identify. They may appear to be anxiety or mood-related, which can cause clinicians to mistakenly diagnose them. They may also develop more effective coping mechanisms than men, which may mask the underlying ADHD symptoms.
Hyperactive Symptoms
For women and girls, hyperactive ADHD symptoms can manifest as a sense of agitation or difficulty sitting still. They might be fidgety or talking, or have trouble focus in classes or at work. Girls are also moody and have trouble regulating their emotions. They often struggle to conform to the expectations of society regarding a woman's behavior and this can lead to feelings of unworthiness and stress.
While the symptom profile of females suffering from ADHD differs from that of men, the condition is a lifelong disorder. Only 30% of adults are believed to outgrow ADHD. Women are less likely than men to do so. If you've been diagnosed of adult ADHD and you are suffering from it, it is possible that your symptoms get worse as you age and undergo hormonal changes.
You might be aware that your ADHD symptoms are worse when you reach puberty, during your menstrual cycle and during perimenopausal (the period that precedes menopausal symptoms). You may notice that you are making more mistakes, having difficulty keeping up with deadlines and tasks or forgetting appointments.
If you have the inattentive-type of ADHD symptoms, they may be heightened during perimenopausal or menopause. This is due to estrogen levels decrease during Ovulation, and during the middle of your menstrual cycle. This can lead to an increase in ADHD symptoms. It's possible that these fluctuations are why many women don't receive an ADHD diagnosis during childhood, and are instead left undiagnosed as adults.
In the initial diagnosis process, doctors will use a combination of interviews, rating scales and other methods to determine if you have ADHD. It is also important to think about the way you react and interpret your symptoms. For example, women and girls may conceal or cover up their ADHD symptoms to avoid being judged which could cause them to be misdiagnosed as having anxiety or a mood disorder. Males and females on the other hand are more likely to be referred for ADHD because their behaviors are more disruptive. This is the reason why a majority of the first ADHD studies were conducted on hyperactive males and girls.
Impulsive Symptoms
ADHD can make it difficult to control impulse-driven behaviors such as picking up objects off the floor or hitting your fist on the wall. It can also make it difficult for you to think before acting and can create problems at school or work when you are required to finish tasks or follow directions without interruptions.
As you get older as you age, your issues with control of your impulses ability to plan and organise can become more invisible and less noticeable than when you were a young person. Hyperactivity can turn into an inner turmoil. Periods of organization could alternate with periods of procrastination, and feeling overwhelmed.
Research shows that girls and women tend to cover up their ADHD symptoms more often than males and boys do. It's partly due to the fact that males and boys are more likely to be socially accepted for displaying ADHD-related behaviors especially impulsive or hyperactive ones. This may also be due to gender stereotypes, like the idea that boys are more raunchy and less organized than girls. This can encourage girls to hide her ADHD symptoms to blend with the other kids.
Female ADHD symptoms can be exacerbated by hormonal fluctuations during menstruation and pregnancy. This is due to the fact that estrogen levels decrease during ovulation and decreases even more during menstrual cycle's beginning which causes symptoms to become more severe. This is why it's important for women and girls with ADHD to be examined by a health care provider or mental health professional if they're experiencing these symptoms.
If you're suffering from ADHD, it's possible to control your symptoms. A combination of therapy, medication and lifestyle adjustments can make a difference. Regular exercise is a fantastic way to improve your mood and release neurotransmitters that increase concentration and energy levels. Try doing some aerobics, sports or cardio exercises at your home or local gym.
It's also crucial to get enough rest. A restful night can help reduce fatigue which is often an indication of ADHD. It is essential to eat well and avoid foods that could trigger ADHD symptoms.
Internalizing Symptoms
Women suffering from ADHD have unique challenges in all aspects of their lives. They are more prone to inattentive symptoms, and may develop strategies to cope like internalization. This can lead to low self-esteem and negative image of the body. Because of this, it's especially important to be diagnosed and receive treatment as adults. For many, getting an diagnosis can be a turning point giving an external explanation for the issues they've had and allowing them to accept themselves more fully (Waite 2010).
The intensity of symptoms can vary depending on the hormone levels. They can improve during pregnancy and ovulation, and may worsen as women approach menopausal. Women may find it difficult to maintain relationships and manage everyday tasks during this period. This can lead to feelings of unsatisfaction.
Impulsive and forgetful behavior can also impact relationships. Inadvertently forgetting birthdays, unfinished projects, or not paying your bills on time, can make people feel that you don't give a damn, leading to conflicts. People with ADHD frequently struggle with the sensitivity to rejection and have trouble managing their emotions, which can lead to intense reactions to even perceived failure or rejection.
Because of the impulsivity, desire to belong and to be loved, girls and women with ADHD are likely to develop sexually active earlier than their peers. This can put them at increased chance of being victims of intimate partner violence and STIs due to the fact that they are less likely to seek protection or make their partners do it. They are also more likely to have anxiety or depression co-occurring with it and may have a difficult time maintaining friendships.
While more research is required to determine the impact of ADHD on the different genders, it's evident that women are more likely to go undiagnosed and have a different experience with the disorder. However, it's possible to get a diagnosis and benefit from treatment, which can improve relationships and position you to be successful at work or school. Your doctor may also recommend therapy, like cognitive behavioral treatment, to aid you in managing your emotions and thoughts as well as replace negative thinking patterns with more positive ones.