Adult ADHD Symptoms Women and Girls May Not Know About
Many women and girls with ADHD go undiagnosed or receive a misdiagnosis because their symptoms manifest differently from males. For instance, they might experience more emotional volatility or have difficulty managing their emotions.
Finding a therapist who is knowledgeable of ADHD and women can make a huge difference in transforming your unique challenges into strengths.
1. Inattentiveness
Adults who suffer from inattention ADHD may have difficulty keeping the track of their schedules and household chores and can are late at work and have trouble staying focussed during meetings. adult signs of adhd suffer from "time blindness," which is when they forget the time or get so caught up in their work that they forget about time. This can lead to feelings like being disorganized, behind or irresponsible.
Women with inattentive ADHD are especially adept in obscuring their symptoms, which can make it more difficult to get an diagnosis. They might have learned to cope with their inability to stay organized through strategies for coping such as self-denial or relying on other people or resorting to unhealthy habits like excessive drinking or using drugs.
This is why their struggles with organization and focus can go unnoticed by others until they begin to recognize their own issues. They might have a list of embarrassing instances where they embarrassed their friends or coworkers. They may also be struggling to keep their homes and homes tidy and clean and find themselves overwhelmed by the demands of their work.
If untreated and not diagnosed, the symptoms of inattentive ADHD can have a devastating effect on all aspects of their lives. They might be left out of occasions for professional or social gatherings because they're not invited, or fail to pay bills or return friend's phone calls in a timely manner. They may rush through a test or not understand instructions at work or make a mistake in their relationships with others. In the end, they start to believe that they are lazy or stupid, and struggle with low self-esteem and confidence.
2. Hyperactivity
People who suffer from hyperactive ADHD may fidget, shake their seat, and talk too much. They also have trouble paying attentively to what others are saying and often interrupt them or make statements without thinking about the consequences. They are easily distracted and bored by activities that do not interest them. This behavior isn't due to a desire for defiance or a lack of understanding and is due to a biological imbalance in frontal lobes (Tripp & Wickens 2009).
While everyone loses keys or forgets about appointments from time to time people 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 are often unable to remember or lose eyeglasses, as well as other things like wallets, keys or school supplies and sports equipment. They are often unable to keep an occupation, and often begin projects that never end.
Many adults diagnosed with ADHD say they feel more confident about themselves after their symptoms are under control. This is especially true for those who have been suffering for a long time under the false assumption that they are unreliable or lazy due to their procrastination, disorganization, and impulsive behavior.
Stress, mental disorders and physical illnesses can trigger symptoms similar to ADHD. A health care provider will require a thorough evaluation in order to determine the root cause of the symptoms and determine effective treatments. They may request your consent to speak with your family members, colleagues and teachers to get more information about your past and current behavior. They could also conduct psychological tests, like the Rotterdam Test for Attention Disorders or the Beck Cognitive Abnormality Index.
3. Impulsivity
ADHD can make stopping and taking a breath more difficult particularly when the situation becomes stressful. You might be compelled by your ADHD to tackle a problem, even when you need to plan and take your time. This type of impulsivity can cause problems at work, in school, or in relationships. You may also experience issues with your finances, driving, or managing your home.
Women are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD because their symptoms tend to be less obvious. They can appear to being trustworthy and diligent. This can give them a false sense that they're in control, and permit others to dismiss them as a problem child or a woman who is too emotional or an over-achiever. Undiagnosed ADHD throughout your life can cause a lot of 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 work and home, and interfere with your ability to function.
You may have a difficult time following through with work or school tasks and often appear forgetful and unorganized. You might have trouble waiting in line, sitting down or staying focused while reading or working on your computer, or doing household chores. You like the novelty of the routine and could find yourself avoiding tasks or procrastinating to avoid them. While the inattention and impulsivity associated with ADHD share some symptoms with anxiety, restlessness, fidgeting, and forgetfulness are typically not present in these disorders. The symptoms of ADHD vary with age, exacerbated by hormonal changes such as menopausal and prenatal.
4. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a mental disorder that is characterized by extreme negative emotions and difficulty in regulating emotions. It causes emotional turbulence and influences the way we live our lives. People who are sensitive to rejection experience more acute reactions to social signals that could be perceived as rejection, compared to other people. When they face rejection, whether it is real or perceived - they may be afflicted with shame, low self esteem and emotional dysregulation. This is a typical sign of someone suffering from ADHD or Autism, but can also occur in those who do not suffer from these conditions.
RSD can trigger impulsive behavior and relationship problems. It can also make people avoid taking risks, which can limit their career as well as personal growth. It can lead to depression and self-esteem issues for certain. RSD is also known to exacerbate and amplify the core ADHD symptoms, such as time blindness. This can cause problems with planning and organisation and can lead to wasting time on irrelevant tasks. It can also lead to problems with in focusing and attention span, and those with RSD are prone to contemplating a small issue for hours or even days.
Research suggests that people suffering from RSD may have a brain impairment that affects the processing of emotional information. This could be due to the fact that the amygdala (which is responsible for the body’s threat response) activates more when people experience rejection. It is also believed that people who feel a sensitivity to rejection might have experienced trauma in their childhood which could have permanent effects on their emotional development. They could be more sensitive to criticism, rejection and abandonment as they grow older. RSD can be affected by co-occurring mental illnesses like anxiety or depression.
5. Gender-specific behaviors that are gender specific
ADHD is often diagnosed in childhood. It's almost always diagnosed before the age of 12. The symptoms tend to last until adulthood, which means that women with the disorder may continue to have trouble at work or school at home, as well as in relationships. They may also suffer from anxiety, depression, or substance abuse disorders. Undiagnosed and untreated ADHD can be a drain on self-esteem and confidence, and they may blame themselves for their problems by imagining themselves as "lazy," "irresponsible," or "stupid."
Gender bias plays a part in how girls and women are perceived when they exhibit ADHD symptoms. Parents and teachers are more likely to be aware of excessive behavior in boys suffering from ADHD, while girls may be accused of a daydream. This makes it harder for them to receive the help that they need.
Furthermore, girls who have the condition are more likely to suffer from anxiety and other mood disorders than boys with the condition. They are also more likely to to mask their symptoms using coping strategies that are typical for the gender they identify with, which may make it difficult for others to realize that they have a problem.
For instance, women with ADHD may wear a lot of makeup or dress in a certain way to avoid noticing their symptoms. They might also engage in risky behavior such as excessive alcohol or drug use, particularly during adolescence. They might not seek assistance until it's too late.