Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Women
Women with ADHD often experience a lifetime of undiagnosed and under-treated symptoms. This can lead to difficulties at workplace, in relationships and in everyday life.
The society expects women to excel in many roles, such as motherhood, career management and home management. Untreated ADHD and the pressure to meet these expectations can cause depression or anxiety.
Forgetfulness
Women with ADHD are often plagued by forgetfulness, misplacing things and a tendency overlook particulars. These problems can lead to cluttered homes as well as missed appointments and a sense of general disorder. They are also more likely to misplace their keys or phones, or become frustrated when they cannot find something they need to attend school or work. Inattention can also be a problem in relationships, since they are less likely to recall conversations or take notes during meetings.
The signs of ADHD in women differ from those of males and boys, and this can make it difficult to recognize the signs. The symptoms of ADHD may be exacerbated by hormonal changes that occur throughout the course of life, including those caused by childbirth, pregnancy menstrual cycles, the time between and after menopausal.
A person who isn't diagnosed with ADHD may feel overwhelmed and helpless when she is unable to meet school or work deadlines. It is possible that she's not a great friend or partner because she is absent from important calls or events, and she is more likely to say whatever comes to mind without thinking it through. She might be more susceptible to impulsive behaviour than the average person for example, like purchasing clothes and makeup without paying her bills.
A therapist who specializes in treating ADHD can help you develop strategies to improve your memory and increase your ability to manage your time. You might be prescribed medication to help manage your symptoms, which can be very efficient. You can also employ strategies such as completing a single task at a time, using a planner or checklist to ensure you are on top of your responsibilities. You may also benefit from therapy to address related issues like depression or an underlying history of self-injury that is non-suicidal (NSSI) such as burning, cutting, or scratching.
Impulsivity
Impulse control is a major problem for people suffering from ADHD. There is usually a small voice in your head that asks "Is this an appropriate idea?" When you have ADHD it is difficult to hear this voice, or it might not exist at all. This is called a lack of prefrontal cortex function. Impulsivity can lead to poor decisions and actions that could have long-term consequences, such as spending too much money on something you don't really need or putting out a remark that could be interpreted as offensive. In adulthood, impulsive behaviors can affect relationships and the personal and professional lives.
Women with ADHD are more likely to internalize their symptoms and may be unable to recognize that they are suffering from a disorder, especially as they enter adulthood. It isn't easy for women who suffer from ADHD to seek help because the strategies they employed to manage their symptoms as children might not be applicable in adult settings like work or college.
Women with ADHD are more likely to have a co-occurring mental health problem like depression or anxiety. This could lead to a misdiagnosis or delay in treatment. These comorbid disorders can also cause confusion and conceal ADHD symptoms.
symptoms of add in adults with ADHD might have trouble expressing themselves and might be less likely to seek help when they need it than men. This can make them feel isolated and in a position of being not able to manage their symptoms, which may lead to depression or anxiety. They are more likely to turn to unhealthy coping strategies like alcohol or substance abuse, to cope. This can exacerbate the effects of untreated ADHD and cause problems with self-esteem, motivation and focus.
Emotional Dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation is the inability to manage intense feelings of anger, sadness or even anxiety. This symptom can cause people to react to circumstances in a way that is overblown or to feel their emotions out of proportion with the situation. This can lead to irritability, and even rages. This symptom can lead to an end to relationships since it can trigger disputes and miscommunications that can wear down the trust of the people they love most.
In certain instances, emotional dysregulation can be triggered by an individual or a specific event. In other instances the root cause is more complicated and could be influenced by genetic factors, traumatic experiences or mental health conditions like depression.
It's common for women with ADHD to suffer from a variety of symptoms. They may have difficulty coping with the demands of daily life. As adults they have responsibilities that are higher than the parental responsibilities. This can include the demands of family, work and housework. This can cause stress when they are trying to keep up.
Women who suffer from ADHD can also have problems in their relationships due to their forgetfulness emotional dysregulation and impulsivity. They can easily get lost in the details of a conversation or become so engulfed in a task that they lose track of time, which could result in misunderstandings and conflicts with friends and partners.
Some of these struggles can be exacerbated by hormonal changes, such as those experienced during menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopausal. This is why it's essential for women to find the right therapist or clinician who has experience treating ADHD for girls and women. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help with self advocacy and changing negative thoughts patterns.
Depression
Women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to suffer from depression symptoms than men or boys. They may also experience more emotional distress and low self-esteem due to dealing with their issues throughout their lives. It's no surprise that a lot of sufferers struggle to obtain a proper diagnosis of ADHD.
Forgetfulness, impulsivity and emotional dysregulation can cause confusion and conflict with coworkers and friends. These issues can make it difficult to hold a job and can cause issues with family members. These issues can be particularly painful since women with ADHD often struggle to fit into society's expectations of their gender.
The inattention subtype of ADHD is more prevalent in women than in males. It is characterised by difficulty paying attention, staying focused and forgetting important events and dates. It's not difficult for these symptoms to be mislabeled as laziness or poor time management, or lack of motivation. For instance, people with ADHD may be accused of "zoning out" in meetings or for being unreliable at work.
Adults suffering from ADHD have trouble managing their emotions and keeping a regular sleep schedule. They can become easily frustrated or angry, and they may react too strongly when they encounter minor problems.
Many adults who don't have ADHD believe that their symptoms are normal or a part of being an adult. However, the correct treatment can ease these symptoms and improve the quality of life. A doctor will ask questions regarding your behavior, and then perform diagnostic tests. Your doctor will usually also talk to people who know you to get a true picture of how you function on every day.
Relationships
Women suffering from ADHD struggle to maintain healthy relationships due to their impulsiveness and the impulsiveness. Their issues with emotional regulation can lead to conflicts and miscommunications which can leave them feeling alone. They could blame themselves for their troubles which can lead to depression and anxiety.
It isn't always easy to identify ADHD in women because of hormonal changes, especially during puberty. These changes can cause the symptoms to appear similar to signs of other conditions, like depression or anxiety. The fluctuations in estrogen during puberty may also affect the severity of the symptoms. Estrogen levels decrease before and during ovulation, but rises again towards the beginning of menstruation. These fluctuations can make symptoms appear different from day to day, which could lead to misdiagnosis and a ineffective treatment.
Although women assigned to females at birth can be diagnosed with ADHD just as boys do, the disorder often goes unrecognized and undertreated among girls. As they become adults, many of these women struggle to manage their personal lives and careers and are unable to maintain relationships. Years of coping and mislabeling their symptoms as personal traits can take a toll on self-esteem, which is why getting a reliable diagnosis is so crucial.
While the negative consequences of untreated ADHD on women can be severe however, there are ways to improve their lives. Many women have found that medication and therapy, lifestyle modifications, and adjustments for work and school can aid. A clinician with experience can evaluate women with ADHD and recommend the appropriate treatment. This can help them live a happier, more productive life.