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https://www.iampsychiatry.com/adult-adhd-symptoms

ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women Women who arent diagnosed with ADHD can face difficulties at workplace or in relationships It is important to identify the signs and find treatment that works for you Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivityimpulsive Having a proper diagnosis can help you improve your life by addressing your symptoms and focusing on the things that matter most 1 Difficulty Paying Attention Women may struggle to pay attention to the details remembering deadlines and appointments or underestimating the amount of time it takes to complete an assignment They may also struggle to keep track of their responsibilities in their relationships or at work get easily distracted and arent able to keep commitments They might also be impulsive have trouble controlling their emotions and may blurt out thoughts without thinking them through Its important to recognize and treat the symptoms of ADHD in adult women Inability to concentrate can lead to difficulties with friendships and relationships Women may find it difficult to establish new friendships or have difficulty in their relationships due in part to repeated arguments missed opportunities for fun and being ignored They might also find it difficult balancing the demands of home work and childcare It can be difficult for health care providers and therapists alike to recognize ADHD in a lot of people This doesnt mean that its not real or that the person has to work harder to stay focused Diagnoses are based upon the symptoms and how they impact daily functioning in multiple areas Its more common for women to have inattentive symptoms as opposed to hyperactive or impulsive symptoms and that could help explain why this group of people often go undiagnosed Additionally many women who suffer from ADHD are afflicted with a sense of guilt about their condition because they dont fit into the stereotypes of a person with ADHD This makes it harder for people who suffer from ADHD to seek help or receive treatment Women who suffer from ADHD are not diagnosed for a lengthy period of time because they attempt to conceal their symptoms and cope In addition they are more likely to suffer from comorbidities that can mask their ADHD symptoms such as anxiety depression and gastrointestinal issues They are more likely to have hormonal fluctuations which can cause their symptoms to flare up or disappear This is particularly relevant during menstrual cycle pregnancy and perimenopause 2 Organizational Issues Forgetfulness disorganization impulsivity and emotional dysregulation are typical ADHD symptoms for women These symptoms can make them difficult to manage daily tasks meet their obligations or maintain relationships They may also experience a low selfesteem and struggle with anxiety Women with undiagnosed ADHD might feel theyre not achieving societys expectations They might also be afflicted by anxiety and low selfesteem ADHD in women can manifest as hyperfocus procrastination or forgetfulness These problems can cause women to skip appointments fail to pay bills on time and feel overwhelmed Hyperfocus can result in an inability to focus on other activities that are crucial and a poor sense of time which could make it difficult to switch from one activity to another Procrastination may also lead to anxiety stress and a constant feeling of being in a lag Communication issues both verbal and nonverbal are a typical manifestation of ADHD This can mean talking too much interrupting others or saying inappropriate words This could include a lack of ability to sit still or understanding social boundaries It is important to remember that these behaviors do not necessarily indicate a lack of intelligence or ability Many women with ADHD come up with strategies to hide their symptoms This can have both positive and negative effects Some of these coping strategies might be healthy For example keeping a daily calendar or setting reminders for important events Some of these coping strategies may be healthy such as creating reminders for events or using alcohol and other drugs to disguise symptoms Therefore it is important for women who suspect ADHD to seek out help from a mental health professional Women suffering from ADHD may benefit from medications lifestyle modifications therapy and a myriad of other treatment options These include cognitive behavioral therapy which addresses underlying negative beliefs and thoughts mindfulness and relaxation exercise a healthy diet and adequate rest A health care provider can also recommend accommodations that will make school or work more manageable 3 Disruptive Behaviors Women with ADHD may struggle with emotional dysregulation They become frustrated and discouraged when their problems arent easily solved It can be difficult to maintain relationships whether its with romantic partners coworkers or family members For instance an impulsive or forgetful attitude can create confusion or frustration in relationships with loved ones and lead to feelings of depression or loneliness A tendency to seek thrills at the whim of your heart could be mistaken by others as a lack of interest or apathy For these reasons ADHD symptoms are often overlooked or underdiagnosed for girls and women It is possible that they are unable to recognize their issues in relation to ADHD due to stereotypes and social norms regarding gender and sexuality Girls and women who suffer from ADHD might conceal their symptoms to avoid embarrassment This can lead to them being referred less often for diagnosis than men and boys who have the same symptoms Furthermore there is a gender bias in research that informs diagnostic criteria could contribute to this asymmetry Hartung and Widiger discovered in a recent study that girls and women with ADHD symptoms tend to be more likely to go undiagnosed and underidentified than boys and adults This could be due to the fact that clinicians are conditioned to see hyperactive and impulsive ADHD symptoms as more typical of males and females which can make them more easily identified and referred for evaluation Adult ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness and difficulty calming down These are common symptoms of ADHD but in adulthood they can have a major impact on the quality of life and wellbeing People with ADHD can feel restless and are unable to sit still particularly if theyre feeling anxious or stressed They tend to fidget and are often overly active They often interrupt or complete sentences of other people without even realizing theyre being rude If you think you have ADHD your doctor or registered psychologist may refer you to psychiatrists to conduct an assessment Or you can selfrefer 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 Problems Skills Women with ADHD may struggle to communicate effectively or manage their emotions in the workplace This can cause problems in personal relationships as well as with professional goals They may have trouble recognizing and responding appropriately to feedback This can lead to frustration or disappointment Also they may have difficulty maintaining healthy sleeping and eating routines which can lead to feelings of anxiety In some cases women suffering from ADHD develop unhealthy coping mechanisms in order to deal with these issues This includes eating disorders substance abuse and nonsuicidal harming oneself NSSI which includes cutting burning or scratching Women with ADHD may have a harder time receive treatment as adults than men because they often hide their symptoms To fit in with Iam Psychiatry and meet the expectations of society they often create coping mechanisms This makes it difficult to be recognized by others as having ADHD symptoms These strategies for coping could be as simple as setting reminders and making lists or they can be more complex such as learning how to control their emotions or developing mindful strategies These coping mechanisms can but backfire and cause more symptoms These coping methods can also make it difficult to get an adequate nights rest which is essential for managing ADHD symptoms Women who suffer from ADHD are also prone to feeling overwhelmed by the demands of their daily life which can lead to an increase in ADHD symptoms Its true that boys are more frequently diagnosed with ADHD than girls However the gap is narrowing as they age This is due to the fact that women frequently suffer from a variety of symptoms over the course of their lives This could lead to different diagnoses Changes in hormone levels could also affect ADHD symptoms in women If they have a higher estrogen level during pregnancy for instance their symptoms may improve Higher levels of estrogen help regulate brain chemicals that influence the ability to focus If their estrogen levels decline due to perimenopausal or aging ADHD symptoms may worsen Fortunately its possible for people with ADHD to receive an accurate diagnosis and receive effective treatment These include cognitive behavior therapy CBT and 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 experiences with other people on the same journey and gain valuable insights from their colleagues