Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Women
Women suffering from ADHD often suffer from an entire life of undiagnosed and under-treated symptoms. This can cause problems at work, with relationships, and in daily life.
The society has a tendency to expect women to be capable in many roles, including motherhood, career management and home management. It can be difficult to manage these expectations and the stress of untreated ADHD can cause anxiety and depression.
Forgetfulness
Women with ADHD are often plagued by forgetfulness and a tendency to lose items, and an inability to pay attention to small details. These problems can result in messy homes, missed meetings and a general feeling of chaos. They are also more likely to misplace their phone or keys or get frustrated when they cannot find things they require for school or work. Inattention can be a problem in relationships, since they're less likely to remember conversations or keep notes during meetings.
The symptoms of ADHD in women differ from those in men and boys, and this makes it difficult to identify the signs. They can also be exacerbated due to hormonal changes throughout the course of life, such as those caused by pregnancy, menstrual periods or childbirth, as well as the period leading up to perimenopausal and menopausal.
A person with undiagnosed ADHD may feel overwhelmed and overwhelmed when she struggles to meet work or school deadlines. It is possible that she's not a great friend or partner because she doesn't attend important calls or events and is more likely to say whatever comes to mind without thinking about it. She may be more prone to impulsive behavior than normal for example, like purchasing clothes and makeup without paying her bills.
A therapist who treats ADHD can help you develop strategies to improve your memory and your ability to organize yourself. You might be prescribed medication to manage your symptoms which can be efficient. You can also try techniques such as focusing on a particular task at a time and using a checklist or planner to stay on top of your responsibilities. You may also need therapy to deal with related issues such as depression or a history of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) such as burning, cutting or scratching.
Impulsivity
For those suffering from ADHD the ability to control their impulses is a major problem. Normally, there is an inner voice in your head that asks "Is this a good idea?" When you have ADHD it is difficult to hear this voice, or it may not exist at all. This is known as a deficiency of prefrontal cortex functioning. Impulsivity can cause you to make poor choices and take actions that may result in long-term consequences for example, spending too much on something that you don't really need or making a comment which can be interpreted offensively. In adulthood, impulsive behavior can impact relationships, careers and your personal life.
Women with ADHD might be more prone to internalize their symptoms and struggle to recognize they have a problem, particularly as they progress into adulthood. This can make it difficult to seek help because the coping strategies they used to manage their symptoms as children may not be successful in college, the workplace or other adult settings.
Females suffering from ADHD are also more likely to suffer from a co-occurring psychiatric condition such as depression or anxiety that can cause delay in diagnosis and delayed treatment. These co-occurring conditions can cause confusion and obscurance of ADHD symptoms.
Because of their heightened sensitization to rejection, females with ADHD often have difficulty expressing themselves and are more reluctant than males to seek support when they are struggling. This can make them feel alone and unable to cope with their symptoms, which could lead to depression or anxiety. This means they tend to turn to unhealthy ways of dealing like the use of alcohol or drugs. This can increase the negative effects of untreated ADHD and result in increased issues with self-esteem, motivation, and focus.
Emotional Dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation is when you are not able to control extreme emotions like anxiety, sadness, or anger. This disorder can cause people to react to circumstances in a way that is excessive or to feel their emotions are not in sync to the circumstances. This can lead to anger, or even violent outbursts. This condition can cause the breaking of relationships because it can cause disagreements and misunderstandings that could cause distrust among the people they love most.
In some instances emotional dysregulation can be triggered by a specific event or person. In certain instances it may be more complex and the root of the problem could be genetic, traumatic events, or mental health conditions such as depression.
It is common for women suffering from ADHD to suffer from a variety of symptoms. As a result, they can struggle with the demands of everyday life. As adults they have responsibilities that are higher than the parental responsibilities. This could mean juggling family, work and household chores. This can be a source of frustration when they are trying to keep up.
Women with ADHD can also have problems in their relationships due to their forgetfulness, emotional dysregulation, and impulsivity. They are prone to lose track of time or get so absorbed in conversation that they forget to pay attention. This can lead to misunderstandings with family members and friends.
Certain of these issues could be exacerbated by hormonal changes, such as those that occur during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and perimenopause. It's crucial that women find a therapist who has experience treating ADHD both in women and girls. Treatment options include cognitive behavioral therapy, which can assist with self-advocacy as well as changing negative thinking patterns.
Here are a few of the ways you can reduce your risk:
Women with ADHD tend to have more depression symptoms than both men and boys. As a result of their symptoms, they might be afflicted with emotional distress and low self-confidence. It's no surprise that a lot of people struggle to receive an accurate diagnosis of ADHD.
The effects of forgetfulness, emotional dysregulation, and impulsivity could lead to conflict and miscommunication with colleagues and friends. Symptoms can make it hard to maintain an occupation that is steady, and they can lead to difficulties in relationships with family members. These problems can be especially painful because women with ADHD often have a difficult time fitting with the expectations of society regarding their gender.
The inattention type of ADHD is more common in women than men. It's characterised by a lack of focus to the task at hand and being prone to forgetting important dates or events. It's easy for these signs to be mislabeled as laziness or a lack of time management or lack of motivation. Women with ADHD are often accused of "zoning out" during meetings or not reliable in the workplace.
Adults with ADHD struggle with managing their emotions and sustaining the same routine of sleep. They can become easily frustrated or angry, and could overreact when faced with minor difficulties.
Many adults who haven't been diagnosed with ADHD think that their symptoms are normal or part of being an older adult. However, add symptoms can alleviate these symptoms and improve quality of life. A doctor will ask questions regarding your behavior, and then perform diagnostic tests. Typically the doctor will speak with others who know you well to gather an accurate picture of your everyday functioning.
Relationships
Women suffering from ADHD struggle to maintain healthy relationships due to their forgetfulness and indecisiveness. Their inability to regulate their emotions can lead to misinterpret and conflict. This can leave them feeling isolated. They may even blame themselves for the problems, leading to anxiety and depression, which can further aggravate symptoms of ADHD.
It can be difficult to diagnose ADHD in women due to hormonal changes especially during puberty. These changes can cause the symptoms to look like symptoms of other conditions like depression or anxiety. Furthermore, the changes in estrogen that occur during puberty could affect how noticeable these symptoms are. Estrogen levels decrease prior to and during ovulation, and increases again near the beginning menstrual flow. These fluctuations can cause symptoms to differ from day to day, leading to an incorrect diagnosis or lack of treatment.
ADHD can affect both boys and girls, but it is rarely acknowledged or treated in girls. As they mature into adulthood, many of these women struggle to manage their personal life and careers and struggle with relationships. Years of coping and mislabeling their symptoms as personal traits can be detrimental to self-esteem, which is why getting an accurate diagnosis is so crucial.
Although the effects of untreated ADHD on women can be very severe however, there are ways to improve their lives. Many women have discovered that therapy, medication as well as lifestyle changes and adjustments in work and school can aid. An experienced clinician can provide an evaluation and recommend appropriate treatments for women suffering from ADHD. This can help them live a happier, more productive life.