ADHD Symptoms in Women Adults
Women who have ADHD often suffer from a variety of symptoms that can affect their the way they live at school, home or at work, as well as in relationships. ADHD is treated with psychotherapy and medications by an expert in mental health who has experience treating adults suffering from ADHD.
The symptoms of ADHD can be made worse by hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy, menstruation and perimenopausal, or menopausal.
Inattention or lack of Focus
Women with ADHD may find it difficult to focus and feel as if their concentration is falling off. They can lose track of appointments, forget them, or other obligations and experience poor performance at work. They also tend to be more likely to develop co-occurring disorders, such as anxiety or depression and experience issues with relationships that can cause violence between intimate partners.
In adolescence, hormonal fluctuations can make it harder for girls who suffer from ADHD, to concentrate. This is because estrogen levels drop around the time of menstruation and even further near the onset of Ovulation. When combined with progesterone, which is high in the adolescent brain these fluctuations can cause symptoms and make them more apparent. They also increase the likelihood of being misdiagnosed as anxiety or a mood disorder and incorrectly treated.
Girls with ADHD are more likely to have the inattentive subtype of the condition, rather than the hyperactive/impulsive or mixed subtypes. This can make it difficult to diagnose them as they age because adults are less likely to spot the same behavioral problems that parents or teachers might notice in kids with ADHD. Girls with ADHD also tend to be better at disguising their symptoms and rely on tools to alleviate their attention issues. This can result in false confidence and a deep-seated self-doubt which can affect the financial and professional success of a person with ADHD.
The impulsivity associated with ADHD in women and girls can cause them to be more sexually active than their peers, and at an earlier age. This can lead to unhealthy relationships, and a higher chance of being pushed into sexual activities that are not desired or being victims of sexual assault. It can also lead an unhealthy food intake and increase the likelihood of alcohol and substance abuse.
Regular exercise can help improve focus and release neurotransmitters that increase alertness and working memory. It can also alleviate anxiety and improve sleep as well, both of which are frequent issues for people suffering from ADHD. Try walking, yoga, swimming or playing a sport.
Disorganization
Women with ADHD are often affected by clutter and disorganization. Your work and home can be chaotic and messy even though you spend time organizing or cleaning. Your personal and professional relationships may suffer due to missed appointments, late payments and lost paperwork. You could also be suffering from health issues if you don't eat properly or skip doctor visits or fail to adhere to the prescriptions.
If you suffer from ADHD it is difficult to maintain your normal level of organization since your symptoms get worse when you face certain stresses. Your office desk may be a chaotic mess of receipts, 17 chapsticks and tickets from the Kings of Leon show you attended in 2008. Your cart at the grocery store could be overflowing with items that you do not use. Your handbag may contain a few random things like a pair of scissors keys, a pen, keys and paper, or a spare set of headphones.
Attention-deficit ADHD symptoms are the most frequent type of ADHD and include difficulty paying attention or following instructions at school, work or in social settings. You might easily lose your keys or forget about appointments or be lenient with other people because you don't know how much trouble they're in. You may have difficulty completing tasks, become overwhelmed at school or work, and feel like you don't fit in with your colleagues.
Many girls and woman are not diagnosed with ADHD because they don't have symptoms that are consistent with the stereotypes of hyperactivity that are prevalent among men and boys. Women and girls are more likely to exhibit inattention instead of hyperactivity, which can make them difficult to identify, and a gender bias could keep health experts from considering ADHD as the reason for their behavior.
If your disorganization and clutter are the result of stress, you should try to minimize the stress factors to reduce your stress levels. Try mindfulness and meditation exercises that will help you control your emotions, remain in the present moment, and manage the impulsivity. A healthy diet can help you manage your symptoms, and avoiding foods high in fat, sugar, and chemicals might make you feel more relaxed and focused.
Problems in Making Decisions
Women who suffer from ADHD have trouble making decisions, because they are easily distracted. This can lead to issues in their personal as well as professional lives. They might have difficulty following through with their plans, or fail to keep up with appointments and expenses. Their lack of attention ADHD could also make them more likely to lose things or misplace them, which can cause many problems.
A mood swing and low self-esteem are also typical symptoms of ADHD for women. These problems can be exacerbated by hormonal fluctuations, such as the ones that occur during menstrual cycle or pregnancy, as well as menopausal. Women with ADHD are also more likely to experience anxiety or depression, which can be triggered by their symptoms, or may be independent of them. They are more likely to suffer from co-occurring disorders such as tics or eating disorders.
The signs of ADHD for women may be harder to diagnose as they are for males and boys. This is because they are more likely to have inattentive ADHD symptoms and be less prone to hyperactive/impulsive ADHD symptoms, especially in the mixed subtype of the disorder. This can make it hard to identify and lead people to dismiss symptoms as "character defects" or something that they have to deal with.
It can be hard for women to identify their ADHD symptoms, particularly those who have been suffering from them for a long time. They may become so used to their lack of focus and disorganization that they start to believe that it's normal. This can prevent them getting a diagnosis and treatment.
The most effective treatment for women diagnosed with ADHD is typically medication. Most commonly prescribed medication are stimulants. These medications help by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters inside the brain. These include methylphenidate and amphetamines and dextroamphetamines (Adderall) as well as lisdexamfetamine and the lisdexamfetamine. Non-stimulants, like atomoxetine (Strattera) and viloxazine (Qelbree) or antidepressants, such as imipramine (Tofranil) desipramine (Norpramin) and nortriptyline (Pamelor) can help control ADHD symptoms.
Women can improve their symptoms of ADHD by making lifestyle changes, in addition to taking medication. Exercise, for instance can improve mood and increase energy levels. It can also help improve social skills. Women with ADHD have a better chance to manage their symptoms when they are around other people who have similar symptoms, therefore joining an ADHD support group can be a good idea.
Anxiety
Women with ADHD are often anxious. This is due to a number of reasons that include low self-esteem and difficulty in relationships. adhd symptoms in adult women may also be related to workplace issues like having trouble keeping a job or adhering to workplace rules and procedures. Women who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to suffer from depression comorbidity. This can lead to feelings of anxiety or self-doubt. Women who suffer from ADHD are also more likely to suffer from disordered eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.
Inattentive-type symptoms, which cause you to lose or misplace things, forget important appointments, or have trouble remembering what people tell you, are more common in females with adhd than hyperactive/impulsive ADHD. The people with this subtype of adhd experience six or more of the following symptoms lasting for at least six months: struggle to stay focused on tasks at home and at school. You are easily distracted by the surroundings or your own thoughts and actions. You have trouble sitting still or keeping your mind on a task (you're prone to the thousand-yard stare). You're having trouble following directions or keeping deadlines at work or school. You're forgetful or unfocused when it comes to daily tasks like paying bills and tracking medications.
Women who suffer from ADHD are more adept at masking their symptoms than men and this could make obtaining a diagnosis difficult. For example some women resort to strategies to disguise their lack of attention with an active appearance or using tools to stay organized and stay on task. The symptoms can also change due to hormonal changes, specifically estrogen during ovulation and the menstrual cycle.
The diagnosis of adhd may alter the life of many people suffering from this condition. It can be a sigh of relief to know the reason of your issues and aid in accepting yourself more fully. It can also serve as a catalyst for making positive lifestyle changes.
Gender refers to the internal perception that an individual is female, male, nonbinary, or another gender. Sex refers to the person's chromosomal makeup hormones, and anatomy and is determined by birth.