Adult ADHD Symptoms Women and Girls May Not Know About
Many girls and women who suffer from ADHD are misdiagnosed or are not diagnosed, due to the fact that their symptoms are different from men's. For instance, they might be more emotionally volatile or have a harder time controlling their emotions.
Finding a therapist or a therapist who is knowledgeable about ADHD in women can make a huge difference in turning your individual challenges into strengths.
1. Inattentiveness
Adults who suffer from inattention ADHD might have trouble keeping track of their schedules and household chores and may miss deadlines at work and struggle to stay focussed during meetings. Inattention ADHD sufferers often suffer from "time blindness," which is when they forget the time or get so caught up in their work that they lose track of time. This can lead to feelings of being unorganized and unprepared, or perhaps irresponsible.
Women who have inattention ADHD can be particularly adept at hiding their symptoms. This makes it difficult for them to receive a diagnosis. They might have learned to compensate for their inability to remain organized by employing coping strategies such as self-denial or relying on other people and resorting to unhealthy behaviors like excessive alcohol or drug abuse.
This is why their difficulties with focus and organization may be overlooked by other people until they start to notice their own problems. They might have a list of foot-in-mouth moments that have embarrassed their friends or colleagues, or struggle to keep their apartments and homes tidy and clean and are overwhelmed by the number of work they have to complete.
Untreated and undiagnosed symptoms of inattention ADHD can have a negative impact on nearly every aspect of their life. They may miss out on social and professional opportunities due to the fact that they weren't invited. In addition, they may not pay their bills or return phone calls from friends in a timely fashion. They might rush through a test, or fail to follow instructions in the workplace or make a mistake in their personal relationships. In the end, they start to believe that they are incompetent or foolish and suffer from low self-esteem and lack of confidence.
2. Hyperactivity
Hyperactive ADHD can cause people to fumble in their seats, talk excessively or squirm. They also have difficulty paying attentively to what others are saying, and often interrupt them or make statements without thinking about their consequences. They are easily distracted by extraneous things and are likely to get bored with tasks that don't interest them. The behavior is not caused by a desire to be insolent or a lack of understanding, but rather a biologically-based imbalance in the frontal lobes of the brain (Tripp & Wickens, 2009).
While everyone loses keys or forgets appointments at times those with inattention ADHD are more likely to do this often. This kind of ADHD can cause people to lose track of important information like bills or work assignments. They frequently lose or forget their eyeglasses, wallets, keys, sports equipment, and/or school materials. They have difficulty maintaining their jobs, and they often begin projects that never finish.
Many adults with ADHD feel better about themselves after their symptoms are under control. This is especially applicable if the person had been misled for a long time into thinking they are lazy or irresponsible because of their procrastination and indecisiveness.
Mental disorders, stress, and physical ailments can trigger symptoms similar to ADHD. A healthcare professional will need to conduct a thorough evaluation in order to determine the source of the symptoms, and then determine the most effective treatment. They may request your consent to speak with family members, coworkers and teachers to find out more about your previous and current behavior. They could also conduct psychological tests like the Rotterdam Test for Attention Disorders or the Beck Cognitive Abnormality Index.
3. Impulsivity
Having ADHD can make it difficult to stop and take a deep breath, especially when things get stressful. You might feel compelled by ADHD to solve a problem even when you need to plan and take your time. This can lead to problems at work, in school, or in relationships. You might also be struggling with finances, driving, or managing your home.
Women are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD because their symptoms tend to be less obvious. They may hide behind the appearance of being dependable and conscientious. This could give them a false sense that they're in control and allow others to dismiss them easily as a child with a problem or an emotionally overly sensitive woman or an over-achiever. As a result, an undiagnosed lifetime of ADHD can do significant damage to your self-esteem.
If you have the inattentive-type subtype of ADHD, you experience at least five ongoing symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. These symptoms must be evident in two different environments, such as at home and work, and interfere with your ability to function.
You might have a hard working through school or work-related tasks, and you may appear unfocused and disorganized. You might have trouble waiting in line, sitting still, or staying focused when reading or working on your computer, or doing household chores. adult add symptoms are drawn to novelty over the daily grind and may find yourself avoiding tasks or putting off completing them. While the inattention and impulsivity of ADHD have some resemblances to anxiety, feelings of anxiety, irritability and forgetfulness are generally not present in these conditions. The symptoms of ADHD are prone to change with age, exacerbated by hormonal changes like menopausal and prenatal.
4. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a psychological disorder that is characterized by extreme negative feelings and difficulty in regulating emotions. It causes emotional turbulence and can affect every aspect of life. People who have sensitivity to rejection experience more intense reactions than others to social cues that could be perceived as rejection. When they experience rejection, whether it is real or perceived, they might be afflicted with guilt, low self-esteem and emotional dysregulation. This is a typical characteristic of people suffering from ADHD or Autism, but can also occur in those who do not suffer from these conditions.
RSD can cause an inability to set personal boundaries, which leads to impulsive behaviors and difficulties managing relationships. It can also cause people to avoid taking risks, which could hinder their career and personal development. For some, it could even cause a complete loss of self-esteem as well as a feeling of depression. RSD is also known to cause and amplify the most fundamental ADHD symptoms, including time blindness. This can result in issues with planning and organisation as well as the inability to focus time on irrelevant tasks. It can also result in difficulties focus and attention span and people with RSD can get stuck ruminating on a slight for days or hours.
Research suggests that those suffering from RSD may have a brain impairment in the processing of emotional information. This could be because the amygdala brain, which is responsible for the body's response to threats is more active than other individuals when they experience rejection. People who have sensitivity to rejection could have also experienced trauma in their childhood that can have a lasting impact on their emotional growth. This could make them more sensitive to rejection, criticism, and abandonment when they are adults. RSD can be affected by co-occurring mental illnesses like anxiety or depression.
5. Gender Atypical Behaviors
Many people who suffer from ADHD develop the disorder during the earliest years of their lives, and they nearly always have a diagnosis before the age of 12. The symptoms can last well into adulthood. This means that women suffering from the disorder might be unable to cope with problems at work, school as well as in relationships. They might also be suffering from depression, compulsive eating, or addiction disorders. Undiagnosed ADHD can negatively impact women's self-esteem. adult add symptoms might be tempted to blame themselves, believing that they are "lazy", "irresponsible" or "stupid".
Gender bias is a factor in how girls and women who suffer from ADHD are perceived. Boys with the condition typically exhibit hyperactive behaviors that are easy for teachers and parents to observe, while girls who exhibit the same symptoms could be accused of daydreaming or hyperactive. This makes it difficult for them to get the assistance they require.
Girls with this disorder are also more likely to suffer from anxiety and other mood disorders. They might also attempt to hide their symptoms using methods of coping that are more common for the gender that they identify with. This can make it difficult for others to recognize that they are suffering from a disorder.
For example, some women with ADHD may wear excessive makeup or dress in a certain way so that they don't notice their symptoms. They may also engage in risky behaviours such as excessive alcohol or drug use, particularly during the adolescent years. female adhd symptoms means that they may not seek the help they require until it is too late.