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ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women Women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD might have difficulties at workplace or in relationships. It is crucial to recognize the signs and find treatment that is effective for you. Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. Having a proper diagnosis can assist you in improving your life by managing your symptoms and focusing on what is important most. 1. Difficulty Paying Attention Women might have trouble paying attention to the details, remembering appointments and deadlines or underestimating the time it takes to complete a task. They can also have trouble managing their time at work or in relationships, become distracted easily, and fail to deliver on promises. They may also have issues with the urge to be impulsive, difficulty managing their emotions and a tendency to blurt out things without thinking about them first. It is important to recognize and treat symptoms of ADHD in women who are adults. Inability to concentrate can lead to problems with friendships and relationships. Women might find it harder to make new friends, or may have difficulty in their current relationships due to constant fights, missed opportunities for fun activities and being left out. Women also may struggle to manage the demands of home, work and childcare. Many people with ADHD don't meet the diagnostic criteria, and it could be difficult for health professionals or therapists to identify the disorder. But that doesn't mean it's not real or that the person needs to try harder to stay on task. Rather, a diagnosis is based on how the symptoms affect everyday functioning across a variety of aspects of life. It's more common for women to exhibit inattention symptoms – as opposed to hyperactive or impulsive symptoms – and this could be the reason why this group is often undiagnosed. Many women with ADHD also feel ashamed of their symptoms since they don't conform to the stereotypes associated with ADHD. This can make it more difficult to seek assistance or get treatment. Certain women with ADHD are not diagnosed for a prolonged period of time, because they attempt to conceal their symptoms and deal with. Additionally, they are more likely to have multiple comorbidities that may mask their ADHD symptoms, like depression, anxiety and digestive issues. They are also more likely to experience hormonal fluctuations that can cause their symptoms to flare or fade away, for instance during menstrual cycles, pregnancy and perimenopause. 2. Organizational Issues Inattention, forgetfulness, disorganization and emotional dysregulation are typical ADHD symptoms for women. These symptoms can make it difficult for women with ADHD to manage everyday tasks, keep up with their responsibilities and maintain relationships. They may also have a low self-esteem and experience anxiety. Women with undiagnosed ADHD often feel as if they're not meeting the expectations of society and have a hard time keeping up with their peers in terms of academic performance, job performance, and social relationships. In addition to a lack of organization and forgetfulness, ADHD in adult women can be manifested as hyperfocus or procrastination. These issues can result in women missing appointments, not paying their bills on time and feeling overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can lead to a lack of attention to other important activities and a shaky sense of time, which could make it difficult to shift from one task to another. Procrastination may also lead to stress, anxiety, and a constant sense of being lagging behind. Communication problems, both verbal and nonverbal are a typical symptom of ADHD. This could mean excessive talk or interrupting others or using inappropriate words. This could include a lack of ability to wait or a difficulty understanding the boundaries of social interaction. It is important to note that these behavior patterns don't necessarily suggest a lack of intelligence or ability. Many women with ADHD develop coping strategies to disguise their symptoms. This can have positive as well as negative consequences. Some of these coping strategies may be healthy. For example using a calendar for the day or setting reminders for important events. Some of these strategies could be healthy, like setting reminders for events or using alcohol and other drugs to disguise symptoms. This is why it is important for women who suspect they have ADHD to seek assistance from a mental health professional. Women suffering from ADHD might benefit from medications, lifestyle changes or therapy as well as other treatments. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy, which addresses underlying negative beliefs and thoughts such as mindfulness and relaxation, exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate rest. A doctor may also recommend adjustments to make school or work more comfortable. 3. Disruptive Behaviors Women suffering from ADHD might struggle with emotional dysregulation. They may become frustrated and discontent when life's difficulties aren't easily resolved. This can make it difficult to keep relationships with loved ones, friends, and co-workers. For example, forgetfulness or impulses can cause frustration or confusion in romantic relationships and cause feelings of loneliness, loss, or depression. A tendency to seek out thrills on the spur of the moment could be mistaken by others as an absence of interest or indifference. These are the reasons why ADHD symptoms for girls and women are often overlooked or not diagnosed. They might also have a hard time understanding that their issues are related to the disorder due to stereotypes and social norms that define gender roles and behavior. Girls and women who suffer from ADHD may camouflage symptoms to avoid embarrassment. This can result in being referred to a specialist less frequently than men and boys who have the same symptoms. Additionally there is a gender bias in research that informs diagnostic criteria could contribute to this disparity. In a recent study Hartung and Widiger found that women and girls are more likely to be under-identified and under-diagnosed than men and boys who have similar ADHD symptoms. This could be due to the fact that doctors are trained to view hyperactive and impulsive ADHD as more prevalent for both genders. This can make them easier to identify and refer to a specialist for evaluation. Adult ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness and difficulty calming down. These are common symptoms of ADHD however, in the later years of adulthood they can have a significant impact on one's life and well-being. People suffering from ADHD can feel restless and find it difficult to sit still, particularly if they're feeling anxious or stressed. They also tend to fidget and are overly active. They often interrupt or end sentences of other people without even realizing they are being rude. If you suspect that you may have ADHD or other disorders, you may be directed to a psychiatrist by your doctor or psychologist. ADHD symptoms in adults males can also self-refer. This content was reviewed by Madeline Dykes (clinical psychologist) as well as members of the Thriving Madly network in Christchurch in October 2024. The content was updated in November 2022. 4. Social Problems Skills Women suffering from ADHD may have trouble communicating effectively or to manage their emotions at work. This can create problems that interfere with personal relationships and professional goals. For instance, they could be unable to recognize and respond to feedback, which can cause frustration and even disappointment. They may also struggle to maintain healthy eating and sleeping habits, which can lead to increased anxiety. In some cases women suffering from ADHD develop unhealthy coping mechanisms to cope with these problems. These can include substance abuse and eating disorders, as well as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) which includes cutting or burning. Women who suffer from ADHD may have a harder time get treatment as adults than men because they are more likely to hide their symptoms. They often create strategies for coping to fit in and conform to the expectations of society, which can make their ADHD symptoms difficult for others to recognize. These coping mechanisms might be as simple as making lists and establishing reminders, or more complicated methods, like learning to control their emotions or implementing mindfulness strategies. However, these strategies could backfire and make symptoms worse. They can also make it difficult to achieve good sleep, which is essential to manage ADHD symptoms. Additionally, women who suffer from ADHD often feel overwhelmed by life's demands, which can add to stress and further exacerbate their ADHD symptoms. Although it's true that more boys are diagnosed with ADHD than girls, this gap becomes smaller when they reach the age of adulthood. This is due to the fact that women frequently experience a variety of symptoms over the course of their lives. This can result in different diagnoses. Changing hormone levels can also affect ADHD symptoms in women. If they have a higher estrogen level during pregnancy, for example their symptoms could get better. Higher levels of estrogen regulate brain chemicals that affect the ability to focus. However, if they begin to experience low levels of estrogen due to perimenopausal or age-related decline the ADHD symptoms could become more severe. Adults with ADHD can receive an accurate diagnosis, and they can access effective treatment. This includes cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and neurocognitive psychotherapy that can aid people suffering from ADHD develop the essential skills needed to improve their everyday functioning. In addition, they may join support groups for ADHD to share their experiences with other individuals on the same journey and gain valuable insights from their peers.