Why We Love Female ADHD Symptoms (And You Should, Too!)
Adult Female ADHD Symptoms
ADHD in childhood is characterized by impulsivity and hyperactivity. This causes academic and behavioral issues. It's a chronic illness however, children tend to overcome the symptoms.
In adulthood, the symptoms of inattention persist and can cause issues at school or work. These symptoms can be caused or worsened by hormone fluctuations during menstrual cycles, pregnancy or menopause.
Inattentive Signs and symptoms
The symptoms of inattention ADHD can be extremely frustrating for adults. They can cause problems with relationships, work productivity and school performance. For example, you may be easily distracted, frequently lose items, or have trouble following directions. You may forget appointments or business events or leave tasks unfinished. Your office or home may be messy, and you might have trouble remembering important details about events in your life. It might be difficult to listen to others and you may be prone to the thousand-yard stare, where you look at people but you don't listen to them.
Adults who have inattention ADHD can also have memory issues, particularly when hormonal changes take place like during pregnancy, menstrual cycle or perimenopausal and menopausal cycles. This can be particularly difficult for women who feel that their symptoms are being aggravated by these menstrual cycles.
You can make a difference in your life if you've been diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. Set realistic goals. You can use reminder apps such as planners, post-it notes and planners to keep the track of appointments or deadlines. Try to break up large projects into smaller tasks and tackle them one at a. Take regular breaks to move around and redirect your focus.
You could also ask your employer or school for accommodations that might aid in managing your symptoms, like permitting you to work from home, allowing you extra time for assignments or tests, or providing notetaking assistance during meetings. Many workplaces have policies that require them to offer accommodations for people with disabilities, for example ADHD.
Women who suffer from ADHD might be annoyed or angry when they don't receive a diagnosis. They may blame themselves for their troubles or believe that they were ignored by doctors or other friends and family members. Some also feel a sense of sadness and regret for the opportunities they missed and the relationships damaged because they never received treatment for their condition.
According to research, women and girls with inattentive ADHD have been under-diagnosed compared to men and boys. This is due to the fact that their symptoms are difficult to identify. They may appear to be anxiety or mood-related, leading clinicians to miss-diagnose them. They may also develop more effective coping mechanisms than men, which can conceal the underlying ADHD symptoms.
Hyperactive Symptoms
For women and girls Hyperactive ADHD symptoms may appear as a lack of rest or difficulty sitting still. They may be fidgety or constantly on the go and talkative or find it hard to concentrate in class or at work. Girls are also emotional and have difficulty regulating their emotions. They are unable to satisfy the social expectations of women's behavior, which can lead women to feel inadequate and enduring stress.
While the symptom profile of females suffering from ADHD differs from those of males but the condition is a long-lasting disorder. Only 30% of adults are believed to overcome ADHD. Women are less likely than men to do so. If you've been diagnosed as having adult ADHD You may discover that your symptoms worsen as you age or undergo hormonal changes.
For example, you might discover that your ADHD symptoms are more severe during puberty in the middle and near the menstrual cycle, as well as in perimenopause, the years before menopausal full-on. You may notice that you are making more mistakes, have trouble staying on top of deadlines and assignments or forgetting appointments.
If you suffer from the inattention-based type of ADHD, symptoms may also increase during perimenopause or menopause. This is because estrogen levels decrease around the time of ovulation and also in the middle of your period. This can cause an increase in ADHD symptoms. These fluctuations could be the reason why many women are not diagnosed with ADHD in their early years and are instead left undiagnosed when they reach adulthood.
In the initial diagnosis, doctors will use various methods, such as rating scales, interviews and other methods to determine if a patient has ADHD. It is also important to consider how you react to and interpret your symptoms. For instance, women and girls may conceal or cover up their ADHD symptoms to avoid being judged, which could lead them to be mistakenly diagnosed with anxiety or a mood disorder. Males and females however are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD because their behaviors are more disruptive. This is why many of the original ADHD studies were conducted on hyperactive males and females.
The symptoms of an impulse
ADHD can make it difficult to control impulsive behaviors such as picking up objects off the floor or pounding your fist on the wall. It can also make it difficult for you to think before you act, which can cause problems at school or work when you have to finish tasks or follow directions without interruptions.
As symptoms of add in adults reach adulthood, the problems with impulse control and ability to plan and organise become more internalized and less apparent than they were when you were when you were a child. Hyperactivity may become an inner turmoil. Periods of organisation may be accompanied by periods of procrastination, and feeling overwhelmed.
Research shows that women tend to conceal their ADHD symptoms better than men or boys. It is partly because men and boys are more likely to be accepted by society for their ADHD-related behavior, particularly hyperactive or impulsive ones. This may be due to gender stereotypes, like the idea that boys are more raunchy and less organized than girls, which can make girls more likely to conceal her ADHD symptoms to blend in with other people.
Female ADHD symptoms can be exacerbated by hormonal fluctuations during menstruation and pregnancy. This is due to the fact that estrogen levels decrease around ovulation, and it decreases even more during menstrual cycle's beginning, causing symptoms to increase. This is why it's essential for girls and women with ADHD to be examined by a medical professional or mental health professional when they experience these symptoms.
You can manage the symptoms of ADHD. Combining therapy, medication and lifestyle changes can make a a big difference. Regular exercise is an excellent method to improve your mood and release neurotransmitters that improve focus and attention levels as well as energy levels. Try participating in sports, cardio or aerobic exercises at home or at your local gym.
A good night's sleep is essential. A restful night can reduce fatigue, which is often a sign of ADHD. It is essential to eat well and avoid foods that can trigger ADHD symptoms.
Internalizing Symptoms
Women suffering from ADHD may experience difficulties in different areas of their life. They are more susceptible to inattentive symptoms, and can develop coping strategies like internalization. This can result in low self-esteem and a negative image of the body. For these reasons, it's essential that patients are diagnosed and receive treatment as adults. For many, an diagnosis can be a moment of clarity giving an external explanation for the difficulties they've been having and allowing them to accept themselves more fully (Waite, 2010).
Symptoms can vary in intensity depending on the level of hormones. They can improve during pregnancy and ovulation, and can become more severe when they reach menopausal. Women may experience difficulties to maintain relationships and perform daily tasks during this time. This could lead to feelings of dissatisfaction.
Insanity and forgetfulness can also impact relationships. Forgetting birthdays or unfinished projects, or not paying your bills on time, can make people feel that you're not paying attention, leading to conflicts. People with ADHD are often afflicted by the sensitivity to rejection and have trouble controlling their emotions which can cause extreme reactions to rejection or failure.
Girls and women with ADHD can become sexually active at a later age than other people because of impulsivity and a desire to feel included and loved. They are more likely to be victimized by abuse from intimate partners and STIs because they don't insist that their partners utilize protection. They are more likely to be suffering from anxiety or depression, and may find it difficult to maintain friendships.
While more research is needed to determine the impact of ADHD on different genders, it is evident that women tend to be more likely to go undiagnosed and have a different experience with the disorder. However, it's possible to get a diagnosis and receive treatment which can improve relationships and prepare you for success at work or school. Your doctor might also suggest therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy to assist you in managing your emotions and thoughts, as well as replace negative thinking patterns with more positive ones.