Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
Women who suffer from ADHD are often underdiagnosed due to symptoms that are less obvious, gender bias between healthcare professionals and symptom masked. It is important to get a diagnosis in order to improve your relationships, set yourself up for success, and understand your behavior.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you need to have at least five ongoing symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactive/impulsive symptoms that interfere with daily life. Use this checklist to check these symptoms:
Hyperfocus
Many people with ADHD are able to focus on an activity until they forget about the outside world, even when the activity isn't productive. This is called hyperfocus. Hyperfocus that is unrestricted, though beneficial for some people, like scientists, writers and artists, could be a hindrance. It can cause you to be late for appointments, suffer difficulties at work or at school and cause problems with your family and friends.
Hyperfocus can be difficult to stop if you're not aware of it happening. Create a schedule for the day and prioritize daily tasks, such as brushing your teeth or taking a bath. If you have a hard time keeping track of your time, use a clock or alarm clock to help you keep track of your time or ask a trusted friend to check in with you at certain intervals. It is also helpful to move around and take frequent breaks when working on a task.
In children, hyperfocus is often considered to be positive, since it allows children to be completely engaged in an activity such as skateboarding or creating with Legos. However, uncontrolled hyperfocus can lead to problems at school, lower productivity at work, and strained relations between siblings and parents.
Hyperfocus may make it difficult to determine the signs that your child is experiencing emotional issues such as depression or anxiety, which is prevalent among adolescents. This makes it important to seek medical attention if your child is showing signs of ADHD that interfere with her daily functioning.
The symptoms of ADHD can also increase at certain times of the life of a woman for instance, when she is menstruating or is pregnant. This can increase the intensity and frequency of emotional symptoms such as irritability and mood swings. It also increases the likelihood that a female will be misunderstood or misinterpreted by her coworkers or romantic partners.
The male-to-female ADHD ratio is 2:1 during childhood. However, the imbalance is less apparent when women start receiving more ADHD diagnoses after age 14. There are a variety of resources that can aid girls and women in managing their ADHD and improve their lives.
Procrastination
Procrastination is a common adult female ADHD symptom, and it can cause difficulties in your professional and personal life. This condition can make it difficult to complete tasks, especially those that require self regulation and executive functioning skills. People who are prone to procrastination are often behind on important assignments or work, which can damage their reputations and relationships.
Other signs of adult ADHD include forgetting appointments and missing deadlines. You may also be prone to forgetting important information in conversations, or even your own personal needs, like paying bills. You may find it difficult to concentrate in noisy or busy environments, which can cause you to miss opportunities at work or school. You may also be easily distracted by your phone or social media and may have difficulty staying focus when listening to or reading.
People with the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD typically have a harder time controlling their emotions than those with the inattentive type. This can cause various emotional issues that range from anxiety and depression to mood swings that can impact your life in a variety of ways. It can also make it difficult to deal with frustrations and misunderstandings within personal and professional relationships.
Women are better than men at hiding their ADHD symptoms and this can make it harder to obtain an accurate diagnosis and get treatment. This is especially relevant for women with high-functioning ADHD. The symptoms of inattention are less obvious, and can be hidden by mood disorders or anxiety. School reports tend to focus on academic performance and behavior, and not social or relationship issues. This can lead to girls and women with ADHD to be overlooked and undiagnosed.
There are a variety of treatment options for adults with ADHD which include medication as well as cognitive behavioral therapy and lifestyle modifications. Discuss with your doctor the best treatment plan for you. Be aware that the purpose of any treatment plan is to help you manage your symptoms and improve your daily functioning. Make sure you discuss the benefits and side effects of any medication you're taking as well with any co-occurring issues you suffer from.
Impulsivity
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to have inattentive symptoms than men and boys, but they're less likely to have the hyperactive/impulsive or mixed subtypes of ADHD. However, the inattentive symptoms are quite common and can interfere with school, work, or relationships.
Impulsivity is a signification of the inattentive ADD/ADHD type and can lead to bad choices or dangerous behaviors. It is characterized by a tendency to answer questions before they are asked, interrupting conversations and buying things without thinking about the consequences. These impulsive actions can result in embarrassing situations in social settings, relationship issues, and financial issues.
Emotional impulsivity is yet another typical symptom of adult female ADHD. It can result in an impulsive reaction to anger or frustration. This impulsivity can also lead to mood fluctuations that make it difficult for people to maintain supportive and healthy relationships.
Women who suffer from ADHD may find it difficult to manage their emotions, which leads to anxiety and low self-esteem. These negative emotions can affect productivity and can lead to absences from appointments and health issues. Women with hyper-impulsive ADHD frequently struggle to make decisions or plan ahead. They can become dependent on others, or have difficulty keeping their commitments.
Throughout adolescence and into adulthood, women and girls who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in sexually risky behavior than peers who do not suffer from the disorder. This is due to the fact that sexual activity is viewed as a sign of social acceptance. Sexual risky behavior among adolescents and young adults with ADHD is a risk factor that contributes to a higher rate of teenage, unplanned or early-stage pregnancies.
There are many ways you can control your impulsive behavior. Learning to pause before inattentive ADHD in adults symptoms act and to write down thoughts that may be impulsive can help. Meditation or mindfulness can help calm the body and mind and eliminate distractions. Diet plays an important role in controlling impulses. A balanced diet that includes vegetables, fruits whole grains, whole grains and high-quality protein, can improve concentration and prevent the impulsive behavior. Sleep is also key to the reduction of impulsiveness. Set up a regular sleeping routine, using a heavy blanket to calm your body and mind, and limiting your use of screens in the hours before bed.
Emotional Dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation is a common issue that typically affects adults suffering from ADHD. It is difficult to manage daily challenges and relationships when you are not able to control emotions. It can result in self-destructive behaviours such as eating disorders and addictions. This can make it difficult to keep a job, school or home life.
It can be difficult to identify your emotions or to understand what they mean. This can be particularly challenging when you suffer from an emotional disorder like anxiety or depression. Emotional dysregulation is defined as difficulties in calm after an argument, frequent outbursts or becoming easily annoyed by minor inconveniences. You may also have difficulty letting go of old experiences or putting off grudges.
Females who suffer from ADHD are more susceptible to emotional dysregulation. The reason for this is that their symptoms are typically internalized and they're less likely than boys and men to get diagnosed with ADHD. Symptoms may also be harder to notice because many teachers miss subtle hyperactive-impulsive symptoms in girls, and rating scales for ADHD are still skewed toward male behavior symptoms.
Girls who suffer from ADHD often feel more pressure to conform to social expectations than men and boys. This can be especially challenging for teenagers suffering from ADHD as they transition into the hormonal changes associated with puberty and the adolescent years. This can result in emotional dysregulation, especially when combined with the increased sensitivity of girls suffering from ADHD to academic and social pressures.
If your ADHD symptoms result in emotional dysregulation, treatment options can include medication or therapy. The use of medication can help regulate your hormones and improve your mood while therapy can provide the space to deal with emotions of sadness, anger, anxiety or rejection.
Whether you choose medication or therapy, the best way to treat this disorder is to take steps to improve your sleep. You can achieve this by following a bedtime routine such as practicing meditation or listening to calming music before sleeping. A good night's sleep can make you feel more energetic throughout the day.
Although everyone's experience with ADHD is different It's important to keep in mind that there are solutions to manage symptoms and live a fulfilling life. It's common for people to test various therapies, medications or lifestyle changes to determine the most effective solution.