ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women
Women with undiagnosed ADHD can face difficulties at work or in relationships. It is essential to recognize the symptoms of ADHD and find a treatment that works for you.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. Having a proper diagnosis can aid in improving 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 details, remembering deadlines and appointments or underestimating the time it takes to complete a task. They can also have trouble keeping track of their obligations at workplace or in relationships, become distracted easily and fail to follow through on promises. They might also struggle with the urge to be impulsive, difficulty managing their emotions, and an inclination to talk about things without thinking it through first.
The inability to pay attention that is experienced by ADHD symptoms in women of adulthood can lead to issues with friendships and relationships, which is why it is important to identify the signs and seek treatment. Women may find it difficult to establish new friendships or struggle in their relationships due to frequent arguments, missed opportunities for fun, and a lack of attention. Women can also struggle to manage the demands of home, work and childcare.
Many people who suffer from ADHD do not meet the diagnostic criteria, and it could be difficult for health professionals or therapists to recognize the condition. However, that doesn't mean it's not real or that the person doesn't need to work harder to stay on task. Diagnoses are based on the symptoms and the way they affect daily functioning in multiple areas.
Women tend to have more inattentive symptoms as opposed to hyperactive or impulsive ones which is why they aren't diagnosed. Additionally many women who suffer from ADHD suffer from a sense being embarrassed about their issues because they don't fit the stereotypes of people with ADHD. This makes it harder for those who suffer from ADHD to seek assistance or receive treatment.
Certain women with ADHD are not diagnosed for a prolonged period of time, because they try to hide their symptoms and cope. They are more likely to be suffering from other comorbidities, including depression or anxiety, which can cover up the symptoms of ADHD. They are also more likely to experience hormonal fluctuations that can cause symptoms to flare up or disappear, like during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal.
2. Organizational Problems
Forgetfulness, disorganization, impulsivity and emotional dysregulation are common ADHD symptoms that women suffer from. These symptoms can cause them to be incapable of completing daily tasks, meet obligations, or maintain relationships. They might also suffer from low self-esteem or anxiety. Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD often feel that they are failing to meet social expectations and have a harder to keep up with their peers in terms of academic success or job performance. They also have a harder time maintaining social interactions.
ADHD in women may manifest as procrastination, hyperfocus, or forgetfulness. These issues can result in women not attending appointments, not paying their bills on time, and feeling overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can lead to a loss in focus on other important tasks and a poor understanding of time. This makes it difficult to switch from one task to another. Procrastination can also lead to a buildup of stress, anxiety, and the constant feeling of being behind.
Communication problems both non-verbal and verbal are a common symptom of ADHD. This can include excessive talking or interrupting others or using inappropriate words. This could include the inability to sit still or understanding the boundaries of social interaction. It is important to remember that these behavior patterns do not necessarily indicate the absence of intelligence or capability.
Many women with ADHD come up with strategies to disguise their symptoms. This can have positive and negative effects. Some of these strategies for coping may be healthy, for instance, keeping a schedule for the day or setting reminders for certain events. Some of these strategies might be healthy, for instance, making reminders for events or using alcohol and other drugs to mask symptoms. It is crucial that women who suspect they have ADHD seek professional help.
ADHD symptoms adults with ADHD might benefit from medication, lifestyle modifications or therapy, as well as other treatments. They can avail cognitive behavioral therapy, which addresses underlying negative thoughts and beliefs as well as mindfulness and relaxation exercising, a healthy diet, and enough rest. A medical professional may also recommend adjustments that will make work or school more manageable.
3. Disruptive Behaviors
Women with ADHD may struggle with emotional dysregulation. This is why they often become discontent and frustrated when their problems aren't resolved. It can be difficult to maintain relationships, whether it's with romantic partners, coworkers or even friends. For example, forgetfulness or impulses can cause the frustration or confusion in relationships with loved ones and can cause feelings of abandonment, loneliness, or depression. Additionally the desire to find thrills on the spur of the moment could be misinterpreted as a lack of interest or apathy by others.
Because of this, ADHD symptoms are frequently missed or not recognized for girls and women. ADHD in adults women symptoms is possible that they are unable to recognize their issues as being related to ADHD due to stereotypes and social norms regarding men and women's behavior.
Girls and women with ADHD often conceal their symptoms in order to avoid embarrassment. This may lead to them being referred for diagnosis less often than men and boys who have the same symptoms. Furthermore there is a gender bias in research that informs diagnostic criteria could be a factor in this disparity. In a recent study Hartung and Widiger discovered that women and girls are more likely to be unidentified and under-diagnosed than boys and men with similar ADHD symptoms. This could be due to the fact that clinicians are conditioned by their education to think of hyperactive and impulsive ADHD as more prevalent in both men and boys. This makes them easier to recognize and to refer to a specialist for evaluation.
Adults, ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness or difficulty relaxing. These are typical ADHD symptoms, but they can be a significant influence on the lives of adults. People with ADHD may be irritable or find it difficult to stay still. This is particularly the case when they're anxious or stressed. They also tend to fluttering around and can be overly talkative, often interrupting or ending other people's sentences without thinking they're causing offence.
If you suspect that you suffer from ADHD, your GP or registered psychologist can refer you to psychiatrists to conduct an assessment. You can also self-refer. This content was reviewed by Madeline Dykes (clinical psychologist) and members of the Thriving Madly network in Christchurch in October 2024. It was updated in November 2022.
4. ADHD in adults women symptoms suffering from ADHD may have difficulty managing their emotions or effectively communicating at work. This can lead to issues in relationships with family and friends as well as in achieving professional goals. They may be unable to recognize and responding in a timely manner to feedback. This can result in frustration or disappointment. Also, they may have difficulty maintaining healthy eating and sleep habits, which could result in anxiety. In some instances women suffering from ADHD develop unhealthy coping mechanisms to try to compensate for these issues. These can include substance abuse, eating disorders, or self-injury that is non-suicidal (NSSI) like cutting or burning.
Women who suffer from ADHD may be more hesitant to get help as adults than men, because they tend mask their symptoms. To fit in with society and conform to expectations, they often create coping mechanisms. This makes it difficult to be recognized by others as having ADHD symptoms. These coping strategies may be as simple and straightforward as setting reminders and creating lists, or they may be more complicated, like learning how to control their emotions or developing mindfulness techniques.
These coping mechanisms could, however, backfire and cause worse symptoms. These coping methods can also make it hard to get a good night's sleep which is essential for managing ADHD symptoms. Women with ADHD can also feel overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life, which can exacerbate ADHD symptoms.
It's true that boys are more frequently diagnosed with ADHD than girls. However the gap is narrowing as they get older. This is because women typically have a range of symptoms over the course of their lives. This can result in different diagnoses.
Changes in hormone levels could also impact ADHD symptoms in women. If they have higher levels of estrogen during pregnancy, for example the symptoms could improve. Higher levels of estrogen help regulate brain chemicals that affect attention. However, if they begin to notice a decrease in estrogen levels due to age or perimenopause or perimenopausal symptoms, their ADHD symptoms could become more severe.
Fortunately, it's possible for people with ADHD to receive a precise diagnosis and get effective treatment. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and neurocognitive psychotherapy that can help people with ADHD build the necessary skills for improving their daily functioning. They are also able to attend meetings of support groups for ADHD in order to share their experience with other people on the same journey and gain valuable information from their peers.