15 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Be Ignoring Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
ADHD Symptoms in Adult Females
While ADHD affects both genders equally in adulthood, the condition often is not recognized in females. This is likely due to gender stereotypes and the capacity of females to mask their symptoms.
Many healthcare professionals don't have the knowledge or experience to identify ADHD among women. Many women are misdiagnosed and do not receive the care they require.
1. Disorganization
Women and girls with ADHD often struggle with disordered thinking, which can be very difficult to manage. Your desk, for example, may be a mess of papers, 17 different chapsticks and a ticket from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. As you purchase products that claim to aid in your organization, your home and office are likely to remain messy and chaotic.
Your inability to stay on top of your tasks can lead to missing deadlines and appointments. Additionally, you may be struggling with the concept of "time blindness," which means you cannot remember or comprehend the time required to complete an assignment. This can cause you to feel frustrated and feel like you aren't doing a good enough job at your job, or even your personal life.
There is inattentive add in women that you have trouble managing your emotions. This could cause you to react excessively when faced with stressful situations. You may also make comments that are not intended to hurt someone's feelings. And since impulsivity is common in people with ADHD, you might be unable to stop yourself from saying things before considering them.
If you have ADHD it is possible that some of your symptoms are rooted in gender stereotypes or cultural ideas about how men, women and boys should behave. This can make it harder for you to identify and treat your ADHD.
In addition to being diagnosed you may also benefit from behavioral therapy to tackle the root of your condition. While it could take some time to identify the appropriate strategies for coping, implementing these strategies can make you feel more in control of your life and improve relationships with family, friends, and coworkers.
2. Impulsivity
People with ADHD often experience intense emotions however their brains do not have a way to assess or filter them. This means they can get overwhelmed by a single setback or struggle to accurately assess the emotional state of their peers. This can also make them more susceptible to being distracted by minor issues like an out of stock book or a friend who isn't reliable.
Many women with ADHD manage their attention issues by hiding symptoms and implementing strategies to cope. They could be perfectionists or extremely meticulous at school or at work but struggle to keep the track of important dates, bills and appointments. They might also struggle with verbal self-restraint and frequently interrupt others, talk too much, often, or ramble during conversations.
The hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD tends to be more common in boys and men, but it's not unusual for women to have these symptoms too. These symptoms include a sudden desire to stop, start or alter activities; being unable to wait your turn in conversation; and having trouble reading social signals (like facial expressions or body language).
While gender-based stereotypes may contribute to the development of ADHD, it's sometimes difficult to determine if women suffer from these issues. The scales of rating used to determine ADHD symptoms are still biased towards male behavior. Some healthcare professionals might misunderstand the woman's ADHD symptoms.
Many women suffering from ADHD also say that their symptoms get more severe during periods of hormonal changes, for example during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, or during perimenopausal (the run-up to menopause). This can exacerbate emotional symptoms and cause frequent feelings of anger, frustration, or depression. They may also experience an unrelenting feeling of discontent in their lives or relationships. This could lead to depression, substance abuse, and unhealthy coping behaviors. This is why it's crucial for women to realize that these symptoms are not an indication of their worth or worth as an individual. With a good treatment plan, you can improve or even eliminate these signs.
3. Inattention
ADHD is defined by a high frequency of these symptoms. While everyone struggles to focus and pay attention at certain times, they are so frequent that they can disrupt your everyday life. You might make mistakes at work or school, forget appointments or spend many hours putting off work. You have a difficult time waiting to be the first in a conversation and often interrupt others.
Attention deficit symptoms in adults could include an inclination to dive into projects without fully planning and analyzing them, which can result in poor or insufficient results. You could also become easily distracted and leave projects unfinished. This could be an unwatered vegetable garden planted but not watered, or a brand new organization system you put together and then put on your nightstand for it to rot.

People with inattentive ADHD are also plagued by a constant feeling of disorganization, both in their home and workplaces. You might have trouble finding important documents keys, bills, or other important documents and may lose things frequently. You could also lose your track of time and become late for work, school or meetings.
Women with hyperactive/impulsive ADHD are less likely to experience these inattentive symptoms, but they can still have problems with organization, time management and self-control. Women with these symptoms might perform actions or words without considering the impact including snoozing over others or making a nonsensical sound when they are alone. They might have difficulty sitting still, and may flitter around in their seats or at a fast pace. They may have difficulty keeping their job and could have frequent conflicts with coworkers and managers.
In certain instances, mood swings and emotional distress caused by ADHD can lead to frustration in relationships and miscommunications. This is particularly true in romantic relationships as well as at work. People who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to suffer from other comorbidities, like depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.
Women and girls with ADHD can face a variety of challenges when seeking treatment and diagnosis, including gender bias and a tendency to cover up their symptoms or minimize the severity of their symptoms. High-profile women such as Em Rusciano and Mia Freedman who have publicly discussed their struggles with ADHD have helped to raise awareness. But, many young women and girls aren't aware of it.
4. Anxiety
While most people feel anxious or nervous from time time, persistently outsize anxiety is the hallmark of an anxiety disorder. You might feel an uncontrollable feeling of anxiety or fear, a rapid heartbeat, trouble staying calm and having trouble thinking clearly. There is also an underlying sense of danger in situations you know are not dangerous. The most common forms of anxiety include general anxiety disorder, phobias, agoraphobia, panic disorders, separation anxiety and selective mutism.
Anxiety is more prevalent among women with ADHD as compared to men. It tends worsen around certain life events like menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. This can make it harder to handle everyday tasks and social interactions, and lead to feelings of self-doubt and general discontent with your life.
You are very sensitive to rejection, and you have a tough to accept criticism. You can easily misinterpret feedback or even anticipating rejection and you can be angry about minor things that others don't find an issue with.
Mood swings are also a sign of adult adhd in women. It is possible that you have unpredictable emotions or are unable to manage these. You could also be prone to non-suicidal acts of self-injury like burning, scrubbing, or hitting yourself.
It is crucial to seek a diagnosis if you're experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. It can help you understand the issues you're facing, and offer you strategies to improve your quality of life. You can take an online ADHD test, or go to your doctor for a thorough assessment. In certain instances doctors may prescribe medication to alleviate your symptoms. In other instances they might suggest an amalgamation of lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapy. In either case it's crucial to change your lifestyle as quickly as possible. This will allow you to regain control of your life, and feel more confident and competent.