ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
Women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD may face challenges at workplace or in relationships. It is important to identify the signs and seek out treatment that works for you.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. Being diagnosed with the right diagnosis can help you improve your life by managing your symptoms and focusing on what is important most.
1. Trouble paying attention
Women can be troubled by their inability to pay attention to specifics and remember deadlines, appointments and appointments or underestimate the amount of time it will take to complete a task. They can also have trouble keeping track of their obligations at work or in relationships, become distracted easily, and fail to follow through on their promises. They might also have a tendency to be impulsive, struggle with managing their emotions, and blurt out things before thinking them through.
It is crucial to recognize and treat the symptoms of ADHD in women who are adults. Inability to pay attention can cause problems with relationships and friendships. Women might find it harder to make new friends, or they might struggle in their current relationships due to constant fights, missing opportunities to have fun and being ignored. Women may also struggle to manage the demands of home, work and childcare.
Many people who have ADHD do not meet the diagnostic criteria, and it could be difficult for health care providers or therapists to detect the disorder. This doesn't mean that it's not real or that a person has to be more focused. Diagnoses are based upon the symptoms and how they impact daily functioning in various areas.
ADHD adult female symptoms tend to have more inattentional symptoms than hyperactive or impulsive ones which is why they're not diagnosed. Many women with ADHD are also embarrassed by their symptoms since they don't fit stereotypes of ADHD. This makes it harder for people who suffer from ADHD to seek assistance or receive treatment.
Some women with ADHD are not diagnosed for a prolonged period of time because they try to hide their symptoms and cope. In addition, they are more likely to suffer from complications that may conceal their ADHD symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and digestive issues. They are more likely to have hormonal fluctuations, which can trigger symptoms that flare up or disappear. This is especially true during menstruation or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal.
2. Organizational Problems
Forgetfulness, disorganization, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation are typical ADHD symptoms that women suffer from. These symptoms can make it difficult for women with ADHD to complete their everyday tasks, keep up with their obligations, and maintain relationships. They might also suffer from low self-esteem or anxiety. Women with undiagnosed ADHD often feel as if they're not achieving the expectations of society and have a difficult to keep up with their peers in terms of academic success as well as job performance and social relationships.
In addition to disorganization and forgetfulness, ADHD in adult women can manifest as hyperfocus or procrastination. These issues can lead women to miss appointments, not pay bills on time and feel overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can lead to a loss of focus on other crucial tasks as well as a misunderstood understanding of time. This can make it hard to shift from one task to another. Procrastination can cause stress, anxiety, and a constant sense of being behind.
Communication problems both non-verbal and verbal are a common symptom of ADHD. This can include talking excessively, interrupting others, or saying inappropriate things. This could include an inability for her to wait or a difficulty understanding social boundaries. It is important to remember that these behaviors do not necessarily indicate the absence of intelligence or capability.
Many women with ADHD develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms. This can have positive as well as negative consequences. Some of these coping strategies can be healthy, for instance, keeping a schedule for the day or setting reminders for certain events. Some of these strategies may be healthy, like creating reminders for events, or using alcohol or drugs to mask symptoms. It is crucial that women who suspect that they have ADHD seek professional help.
Women with ADHD may benefit from medication, lifestyle modifications, therapy, or other treatments. Some of these include cognitive behavior therapy to deal with negative thoughts and beliefs mindfulness techniques and relaxation, exercise and a balanced diet and adequate sleep. A doctor may also recommend adjustments to make school or work simpler.
3. Disruptive Behaviors
Women with ADHD can struggle with emotional dysregulation. This is why they are often discontent and frustrated when their problems aren't resolved. It can be challenging to keep relationships going, whether with romantic partners, co-workers, or friends. For example an impulsive or forgetful attitude can cause confusion or frustration in relationships with loved ones and lead to feelings of loneliness or depression. A tendency to look for thrills on the spur of the moment could be mistaken by others as a lack of interest or indifference.
This is one of the reasons ADHD symptoms for girls and women are often not recognized or diagnosed. They might also have a hard time realizing that their problems are related to the disorder because of social norms and stereotypes about the behavior of women and men.
Women and girls with ADHD may camouflage symptoms to avoid embarrassment. This can lead to being less often referred for diagnosis than men and boys with the same symptoms. In addition there is a gender bias in the research that determines diagnostic criteria may contribute to this asymmetry. In a recent study Hartung and Widiger found that women and girls are more likely to be misdiagnosed and undiagnosed than men and boys with the same ADHD symptoms. This could be due to the fact that clinicians are taught to see hyperactive and aggressive ADHD symptoms as more typical of boys and men which makes them easier to recognize and referred to assessment.
Adult ADHD symptoms can manifest as anxiety and a struggle to settle down. These are common symptoms of ADHD, but in adulthood, they can have a major impact on a person's life and wellbeing. People suffering from ADHD might feel anxious or find it hard to stay still. This is particularly true if they're feeling anxious or stressed. They also tend to fidget and are often overly active. They often interrupt or finish other people's sentences without even realizing they are being rude.
If you suspect that you might have ADHD or other disorders, you may be directed to a psychiatrist by your GP 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 Problems
Women who suffer from ADHD may have difficulty managing their emotions and communicating effectively at work. This can result in issues with relationships with family and friends as well as in achieving professional goals. For instance, they could have trouble recognizing and responding to feedback, which could cause frustration and even disappointment. Additionally, they might have trouble maintaining healthy sleeping and eating habits, which can result in anxiety. In some cases women with ADHD develop unhealthy coping mechanisms to try to compensate for these issues. This can include alcohol abuse or eating disorders, or self-injury that is non-suicidal (NSSI) like cutting, burning, or scratching.
Women who suffer from ADHD might find it more difficult to receive treatment as adults than men because they often hide their symptoms. They often develop coping strategies to try to fit in and meet the expectations of society, which can make their ADHD symptoms difficult for others to detect. These coping strategies can be as simple and straightforward as setting reminders or making lists, or they could be more complex, such as finding ways to control their emotions or developing mindful strategies.
However, these strategies could backfire and make symptoms worse. These strategies can make it hard to get an adequate night's rest which is essential to managing ADHD symptoms. Women suffering from ADHD are also prone to feeling overwhelmed by the demands of daily life, which can lead to an increase in ADHD symptoms.
It's true that boys are diagnosed more often with ADHD than girls. However the gap gets smaller as they get older. It's because it's common for women to experience a range of symptoms throughout their lives, which can lead to a diagnosis at different dates.
The fluctuation in hormone levels can impact ADHD symptoms in women. If they have higher levels of estrogen during pregnancy, for example, their symptoms may improve. This is because estrogen levels can aid in regulating brain chemicals that influence attention. However, if they begin to notice a decrease in estrogen levels due to perimenopausal or age-related decline the ADHD symptoms may become worse.
Adults suffering from ADHD are able to receive a precise diagnosis, and they can get effective treatment. This includes cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and neurocognitive psychotherapy that can aid people suffering from ADHD develop the essential skills needed for improving their daily functioning. In addition, they can join support groups for ADHD to discuss their experiences with other individuals who are on the same path and gain valuable insight from their peers.