Signs of ADHD in Women
Women are subject to lots of pressure to be the caretaker, keep up with children and maintain a healthy relationship and be successful at work. ADHD symptoms can make these tasks seem overwhelming.
It is essential to be diagnosed and treated for ADHD. It will help you manage these symptoms and improve the quality of your life.
1. You're always late
Being always late is one of the most frequent signs that you might be suffering from ADHD. People suffering from ADHD may have trouble managing their time and can be easily distracted by other activities. This can cause problems at work or school, such as forgetting homework or missing important meetings. It can also create a lot of stress for you and the people who depend on you. To help you stop being late, consider setting an alarm on your calendar or phone, and make sure to prepare for the night before. Also, make sure to leave an extra few minutes for yourself to get there the place you're going.
Some women who suffer from ADHD are also having trouble making friends, as they're constantly missing social gatherings. They may also have trouble reading social cues and understanding body language. adhd symptoms in women adults may also have trouble staying focused on conversations and becoming lost in their thoughts.
Lastly, some girls with ADHD go undiagnosed because their symptoms are more difficult to notice than the hyperactive/impulsive ones seen in boys and men. Teachers and parents are more likely to recommend a man or a boy to an ADHD assessment than to do the same for girls.
2. You have trouble focussing
It is common for people with ADHD to get lost in what they are doing. In conversations, they may often veer off-topic or discuss other things. They might also have a difficult time staying still and may be more than impulsive.
These problems can strain relationships with family, friends and co-workers. For example, it is common for people with ADHD to be late for appointments or forget deadlines. They may also be unorganized and spend too much time on tasks that are not important or have a hard time relaxing at home. They might also have difficulty working effectively or have difficulty keep up with their financial obligations.
Boys are more likely than girls to be diagnosed as having ADHD in children. As adults, the numbers are equal. It is thought that this is due to the fact that females are more likely to experience a greater incidence of symptoms and are more likely to seek treatment after one of their children is diagnosed with the disorder. The changes in hormone levels, especially during menopausal changes, can affect ADHD symptoms.
3. You've Got a Poor Memory
Women with ADHD have trouble remembering important dates, such as birthdays and anniversaries. They also lose track of meetings. They may also have difficulty remembering names, which makes it difficult to keep a pace in social settings and conversations.
People suffering from ADHD often have poor filters. They say things without really thinking about them. This can lead to a lot "foot in mouth" situations that can be stressful for coworkers and family members.
Another sign of adhd in women is having trouble making and keeping friendships. Many women with ADHD struggle to manage their emotions. This could lead to challenging relationships with their romantic partners. This can put them at a higher chance of being pushed into unwanted sexual activity or being victims of violence from their intimate partners.
Many women with ADHD have difficulty meet the societal expectations of parenting and homemaking, as well as relationships. This can cause a lot of stress to their lives, which makes it difficult to recognize and manage ADHD symptoms. Some women also develop coping mechanisms to hide their symptoms, for example drinking or using drugs, which can interfere with treatment. Getting diagnosed is an important first step in identifying and managing these challenges. You can find help.
4. You are having trouble making decisions
Women who struggle to make decisions may procrastinate or be unable complete tasks, as they aren't sure which tasks to prioritize. They also have difficulty remembering and following through with decisions they've made. This type of ADHD can impact the performance of work as well as relationships and self-esteem.
The signs of ADHD in women are more difficult to identify as they are for children, as parents and teachers do not refer girls to evaluation as often as they would for boys. Women are also better at concealing their symptoms. They might develop coping strategies that enable them to appear "normal" and conform to social expectations, such as relying on apps to manage their day-to-day activities.
Women can get an official diagnosis from their primary care physician, who might refer them to a specialist. Based on the results, the doctor could suggest medication or talk therapy. In therapy, your therapist will help you develop better ways to cope and help you to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. They can also help you and your family members improve communication which can be a challenge when one or more members of a couple suffer from ADHD. The medication can help to reduce symptoms, and increase productivity at work or at school.
5. You struggle with multitasking
Women who suffer from ADHD are often overwhelmed when they need to meet deadlines and work on multiple tasks. They may also have difficulty trying to control their emotions and find it difficult to make and keep friends. This is particularly true when they are unable to discern social signals.
Trouble with multitasking is another indication of adhd in women, as is their tendency to become distracted easily and to lose or misplace items. This is a problem for women who work in an environment where they are constantly interrupted.
In addition, if you have the hyperactive/impulsive type of adhd, having trouble staying quiet and being able to control your emotions can lead to frequent outbursts that are not only disruptive to others but can be damaging to your career. This kind of ADHD is more likely to be misdiagnosed by women since the symptoms are less obvious than those associated with the inattentive form.
Women with undiagnosed adult ADHD may also develop strategies to cover up their issues like using drugs or alcohol to help themselves, or to fit in with other people. This can worsen symptoms when they suffer from chronic feelings of inadequacy. This can result in uneasy relationships and a general sense of self-worth deficiency.
6. You are having trouble managing your time
In the workplace, ADHD time management problems can be a major issue. If you don't adhere to a system to complete tasks, answer phone calls, or file paperwork, it's difficult to accomplish your tasks. Even if you are doing excellent work, your boss will doubt your competence if you regularly miss deadlines.
Women with ADHD are more likely to have the inattentive subtype of symptoms, which can make it harder for them to be diagnosed and treated than men or boys with the hyperactive/impulsive type of symptoms. This is because doctors and teachers are more likely to recognize the hyperactive/impulsive symptoms in boys and men, and may be less familiar with the inattentive-type symptoms of women with ADHD.
Women with untreated ADHD are also more likely to develop anxiety or depression with co-occurring disorders and may have a difficult time maintaining relationships. Women are expected to be caregivers, which can increase the symptoms of ADHD particularly if they do not have access to the appropriate treatment or support. This can lead to tensions between friends, family and romantic partners. The strain on relationships can lead to frustration and miscommunication, making it harder for women to seek assistance.
7. You Have Trouble Making Friends
Being unable to make friends can be especially frustrating for women suffering from ADHD. One reason is that societal expectations place high emphasis on women to be able to perform many responsibilities, including caring for children, maintaining a relationship, and performing well at work. They may suffer from symptoms that get worse as they attempt to meet the demands. They also may be at an increased chance of developing a poor relationship with their peers, or co-existing mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Furthermore, women are more likely to develop coping strategies that mask their ADHD symptoms. This could cause to them over-exercising, staying up later than they should and rely on their calendars or phone reminders to manage their lives.
Forgetfulness and impulsiveness are also undesirable behaviors that can create problems at work as well as in personal relationships. For instance, forgetting to attend the date of a party with a friend can cause them to feel depressed. They might also think you don't care about them. Disrupting conversations or getting angry at the slightest provocation can lead to conflict and misunderstandings. Be aware of your expectations regarding your relationships to avoid negative feelings, misinterpretations and resentment. You can achieve this by using a calendar to keep track of your friend's important events, a notepad to note down details about new acquaintances and delivering on promises.