Do Not Forget Female ADHD Symptoms: 10 Reasons Why You Do Not Need It
Adult Female ADHD Symptoms ADHD in childhood is characterised by impulsivity and hyperactivity that leads to behavioral and academic issues. It is a chronic condition that children typically overcome the symptoms. In adulthood, symptoms of inattention persist and can cause issues at school or work. These symptoms can also be triggered or exacerbated by hormone fluctuations during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or menopause. Attentive symptoms The signs of inattention ADHD can be very depressing for adults. They can affect relationships, productivity at work and school performance. You may be easily distracted, lose things frequently or have difficulty following instructions. You may miss appointments or business meetings or leave tasks unfinished. You might be overwhelmed by the mess at home or in the office and find it difficult to remember important details of events that occurred in your life. You may find it difficult to be attentive to others and may have what's known as the thousand-yard stare, where you look at people, but don't hear them. Adults who suffer from inattention ADHD may also experience difficulties with their memory, particularly during times of hormonal changes, such as menstrual cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause. This can be particularly difficult for women, who might think that their symptoms are intensified by these times of change. You can make a difference in your life if you're diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. Plan ahead and set realistic goals. You can use apps for reminders, planners and post-it note to keep the track of appointments or deadlines. Break down large projects into smaller pieces and complete them one by one. Take regular breaks to move around and refocus your focus. You may also request your school or employer for accommodations that could help you manage your symptoms, like the ability to work from home, allowing you extra time for assignments or tests or assisting with notetaking during meetings. Many places have policies requiring them to offer accommodations for those who have disabilities, such as ADHD. Women suffering from ADHD might feel anger or frustrated if they don't get a diagnosis. They might blame their issues on themselves, or believe that medical experts or family members have dismissed them. Some also feel a sense of sadness and loss for the opportunities lost and the relationships that were damaged because they were not given treatment for their disorder. According to research, girls and women who suffer from inattention ADHD have been under-diagnosed compared to men and boys. This is due to the fact that their symptoms are difficult to recognize. They can appear to be anxiety – or mood-related, leading clinicians to misdiagnose them. They can also develop more effective coping mechanisms than men, which could conceal the underlying ADHD symptoms. Hyperactive Signs and symptoms Hyperactive ADHD symptoms for women and girls may manifest as restlessness or difficulty being still. They might feel fidgety or constantly on the move and talkative or have difficulty being able to focus in class or work. Girls can also be susceptible to mood swings and have difficulty controlling their emotions. They have to work hard to meet the expectations of society regarding a woman's behaviour which can cause women to feel inadequate and chronic stress. While the symptom profile of females with ADHD differs from men however, it is a chronic disorder. It is estimated that only 30% of adults overcome their ADHD, and women are less likely to do so than men. If you've been diagnosed as having adult ADHD you might find that your symptoms become more severe as you age or go through hormonal changes. You may be noticing that your ADHD symptoms are more intense during puberty, around your menstrual cycle, and during perimenopause (the years leading up to menopause). You might be noticing that you're making more mistakes, have trouble managing deadlines and tasks, or forgetting appointments. If you suffer from the inattentive type of ADHD, your symptoms might also intensify during perimenopause and menopausal. This is because estrogen levels decrease around ovulation and in the middle of your menstrual cycle, which can increase your ADHD symptoms. These fluctuations could be the reason for why many women are not diagnosed with ADHD in their early years, but instead go undiagnosed when they reach adulthood. When determining the diagnosis, doctors will use different methods, including rating scales, interviews and other methods to determine if a patient suffers from ADHD. The way you react and perceive your symptoms is also crucial. Women and girls can hide or disguise their ADHD symptoms to avoid being assessed. This could lead to them being misdiagnosed as having anxiety or mood disorders. Boys and men on the other hand, are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD due to their behaviors being more disruptive. This is the reason that many of the initial ADHD studies were conducted with hyperactive males and girls. The symptoms of an impulse A condition known as ADHD can make it difficult to control impulsive behaviors such as hitting your fist against the wall or picking something off the floor. It can also make it difficult to think before you act and can cause trouble at school or work where you may be required to follow directions or complete tasks with no interruptions. As you grow older, your problems with controlling your impulses, planning and organisational abilities could become more internalized and less obvious than when you were a kid. Hyperactivity may become an inner restlessness. Periods of organisation may occur in conjunction with periods of procrastination or feeling overwhelmed. Research shows that women tend to conceal their ADHD symptoms more effectively than boys or men. It's partly due to the fact that males and boys are more likely to be socially accepted for the way they behave, particularly hyperactive or impulsive ones. This could also be due to gender stereotypes, like the idea that boys are more boisterous and less organized than girls, which can reinforce a girl's tendency to hide her ADHD symptoms to fit into the crowd. The hormone fluctuations that happen during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy can also cause ADHD symptoms in females. This is because estrogen decreases at the time of ovulation, and increases even more at the start of menstruation which causes symptoms to flare up. This is why it's important for girls and women with ADHD to be evaluated by a health care professional or mental health professional when they're experiencing these symptoms. If you are struggling with ADHD, it's possible to reduce your symptoms. Combining medication, therapy and lifestyle adjustments can make a big difference. Regular exercise is a great method to improve your mood and release neurotransmitters to improve focus, attention and energy levels. Try to do some sports, aerobics or cardio exercises in your home or local gym. It's also crucial to get enough sleep. A restful night can reduce fatigue, which is often an indication of ADHD. It is also vital to eat well and try to avoid foods that cause ADHD symptoms in you. Internalizing Symptoms Women suffering from ADHD can experience unique difficulties in all aspects of their lives. They are more susceptible to inattention-deficiency symptoms, and are able to develop coping strategies like internalization. This can cause low self-esteem and negative body image. This is why it's crucial to be diagnosed and receive treatment as they grow older. For many, receiving a diagnosis can be a lightbulb moment, providing an external explanation for the struggles they've been having and giving them the chance to accept themselves more fully (Waite 2010). The intensity of symptoms can vary depending on hormone levels. They can be improved during pregnancy and ovulation, and may worsen as they approach menopause. Women may have difficulty to maintain relationships and perform daily tasks during this time. This can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction. Forgetfulness and impulsive behavior can also affect relationships. Inadvertently forgetting birthdays, unfinished projects, or not paying your bills on time can make people feel as if you're not paying attention which can lead to conflicts. People with ADHD frequently struggle with rejection sensitivity and have trouble regulating emotions which can cause intense reactions to failure or rejection. Women and girls with ADHD are likely to become sexually active at a later age than their peers because of impulsivity and a desire to be part of a group and feel loved. adult adhd signs can put them at risk of being victims of violence from intimate partners and STIs due to the fact that they are less likely to take protection or insist their partners do so. They are also more likely to have anxiety or depression co-occurring with it and may have a hard time maintaining friendships. While more research is needed to better understand the effects of ADHD on different genders, it's clear that women are more likely to go undiagnosed and have different experiences with the disorder. It is possible to get diagnosis and receive treatment that will improve your relationships and allow you to succeed at work or school. Alongside medication your doctor may suggest therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy which can help you manage your emotions and thoughts as well as swapping negative thinking patterns for healthier ones.