Adult ADHD Symptoms Women and Girls May Not Know About
Many women and girls who have ADHD are misdiagnosed or are not diagnosed, due to the fact that their symptoms are different from men's. For instance, they could have more emotional instability or have a harder time controlling their emotions.
Finding a therapist or a therapist who is knowledgeable about ADHD in women can make a huge difference in turning your individual difficulties into strengths.
1. Inattentiveness
Inattention-related symptoms in ADHD in adults could include difficulty keeping track of appointments and household tasks, ignoring deadlines at work, and struggling to remain focused during meetings. It is also common for those who suffer from inattentive ADHD to experience a concept known as "time blindness," meaning that they often forget the time or get so caught up in their work that they forget how much time has passed. This can lead to feelings of being disorganized and unorganized, or even irresponsible.
Women with inattentive ADHD are particularly good at hiding their symptoms, which may make it more difficult for them to receive an diagnosis. They might have learned to compensate for their difficulty in staying organised by using coping methods like self-denial, relying upon others, and even resorting to unhealthy behaviors like excessive drinking or substance abuse.
They may not even notice that they have a problem until they begin to recognize it for themselves. They might have a list of embarrassing instances where they embarrassed their coworkers or friends. They may also struggle to keep their apartments and homes clean and organized and feel overwhelmed by their workload.
Undiagnosed and untreated symptoms of inattention ADHD will affect almost every aspect of their life. They may miss out on professional and social events because they aren't invited, or fail to pay the bills or return friend's phone calls promptly. They could take a test too fast or misunderstand the instructions at work, or make careless mistakes in their personal relationships. In the end, they start to think that they are incompetent or foolish and are plagued by low self-esteem and lack of confidence.
2. Hyperactivity
Hyperactive ADHD can cause people to fumble in their seats, talk incessantly or squirm. They also have trouble paying attention to what others are saying, and frequently interrupt or make statements without considering the consequences. They are easily distracted by irrelevant things and are likely to become bored by tasks that do not interest them. The behavior isn't caused by the desire to be defiant or a lack of comprehension and is due to a biological deficit in the frontal lobes (Tripp & Wickens 2009).
While everyone misplaces keys or forgets about appointments from time to time those with inattentive ADHD tend to do it more often. signs of adult add with this subtype of ADHD also have a tendency to lose all important information, such as work or bills. They frequently forget or lose eyeglasses as well as other items such as keys, wallets and school supplies and sports equipment. They often have difficulty keeping a job and often start projects, but don't complete the work.
Many people suffering from ADHD feel better at being themselves once their symptoms have been managed. This is especially relevant if the person has been misled for a long time into believing that they are lazy or irresponsible due to their procrastination and disorderly behavior.
Stress, mental disorders, and physical illnesses can trigger symptoms similar to ADHD. A health care provider will have to conduct an extensive examination to identify the cause of the symptoms and determine effective treatments. They may request your permission to speak to family members, coworkers and teachers to get more information about your previous and current behavior. They may also conduct psychological tests, such as the Rotterdam Test for Attention Disorders and the Beck Cognitive Abnormality Inventory.
3. Impulsivity
ADHD can make stopping and taking a breath a challenge particularly when the situation is stressful. You might be compelled by your ADHD to tackle a problem, even though you should plan and be patient. This can lead to difficulties at work, in school, or with relationships. You may also experience issues with finances, driving or managing your home.
Women often have a harder time getting diagnosed with ADHD than men because their symptoms are less obvious. They might hide their issues under the pretense of being a reliable, diligent, and well-organized. This can give them a false sense that they're in control and allows others to dismiss them easily as a troubled child, an overly emotional woman or a perfectionist. As a result, an undiagnosed lifetime of ADHD can do serious 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 present at work as well as at home, and they can hinder your ability function.
You might have a hard working through school or work tasks, and you may appear unfocused and unorganized. You have difficulty standing in line or sitting still for long periods of time and find it difficult to concentrate when reading or working on a computer, or doing chores. You may prefer novelty over the monotony of your day and you might delay or skip tasks in order to avoid them. While the inattention and impulsivity associated with ADHD share some symptoms with anxiety, feelings of restlessness, fidgeting and forgetfulness are usually not present in these disorders. The symptoms of ADHD vary as you age, and are exacerbated by hormonal changes such as menopausal and pregnancy.
4. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a mental disorder that is characterized by extreme negative emotions and difficulty in regulating emotions. It can cause emotional turmoil and impact many aspects of everyday life. People with rejection sensitivity feel more intense reactions to social cues which could be perceived as rejection compared to other people. They may experience feelings of anxiety, self-esteem issues, and emotional dysregulation when faced with rejection, whether it is real or perceived. It is a typical symptom for people with ADHD and Autism, but it can be present in people without these conditions as well.
RSD can lead to an inability to set personal boundaries, leading to impulsive behaviors and difficulties managing relationships. It can also make people avoid taking risks, which may limit their personal and professional growth. For some, it may even lead to the complete loss of self-esteem and a sense of depression. RSD is also known to intensify and intensify core ADHD symptoms, such as time blindness. This can result in issues in planning and organisation as well as wasting time on unimportant tasks. It can also lead to problems with focus and attention span and those suffering from RSD may be stuck thinking about a minor issue for hours or even days.
Research suggests that people suffering from RSD may have a brain impairment in the processing of emotional information. Discover More Here could be due to the amygdala, responsible for the body's threat response, activates more than other individuals when they perceive rejection. People with rejection sensitivity may also have experienced trauma from childhood which can have a long-lasting influence on their emotional development. They could be more sensitive to criticism, rejection, and abandonment in adulthood. RSD can be influenced by co-occurring mental illnesses like anxiety or depression.
5. Gender-specific behaviors that are gender specific
Many people who suffer from ADHD suffer from the disorder in the earliest years of their lives, and they nearly always have a diagnosis before age 12. The symptoms can last until the age of adulthood. This means that women with the disorder can remain troubled at work, school as well as in relationships. signs of adhd in adults can also experience depression, compulsive eating or other substance use disorders. Undiagnosed ADHD can have a negative impact on women's self-esteem. They might blame themselves, believing they are "lazy", "irresponsible" or "stupid".
Gender bias is a factor in the way that girls and women with ADHD are perceived. Parents and teachers are more likely to observe hyperactive behavior in boys with ADHD, whereas girls might be accused of a daydream. This makes it difficult for them to receive the help they need.
Furthermore, girls who have the condition are more likely to suffer from anxiety and other mood disorders as compared to boys who suffer from the disorder. They might also attempt to conceal their symptoms by using coping techniques that are more typical for the gender they identify with. This can make it difficult for others to notice that they are suffering from a disorder.
Some women suffering from ADHD may use a lot makeup or dress a certain way in order to hide their symptoms. They might also engage in risky behavior such as excessive alcohol or drug use, especially during the adolescent years. This means that they might not seek out the help that they need until it's too late.