Signs of ADHD in Women
Women are under a lot of pressure to care for their families and maintain healthy relationships and perform well at work. ADHD symptoms can make these tasks seem like a nightmare.
It's important to get diagnosed and treated if you have ADHD. It can help you deal with these symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.
1. You Are Always Late
Being constantly late is among the most frequent signs that you might have ADHD. People with ADHD can have difficulty managing their time and are easily distracted by other tasks. This can lead to problems at school or work for example, like not remembering homework or missing important meetings. This can cause stress for you and the people who depend on your presence. To help you stop being late, set a reminder on your phone or calendar, and make sure to prepare for the night prior to. It is also recommended to give yourself a few minutes extra to get to your destination.
Additionally, some women with ADHD have difficulty making friends because they're constantly missing out on social events. They might also find it difficult to recognize social cues and recognize body language. They might also have trouble concentration and may get 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 refer males or boys for an ADHD assessment than they are for girls.
2. You're having trouble focusing
It is not difficult for people suffering from ADHD to get lost in what they are doing. If they are engaged in a conversation with others they are likely to go off in a different direction or talk about things that don't pertain to the topic in question. They may also have difficulty being still and are more likely to be impulsive and make reckless decisions.
These problems can strain relationships with family, friends and co-workers. For example, it is common for those with ADHD to not remember appointments or to miss deadlines. They could also be unorganized or spend too much time on non-essential tasks. They may also have trouble working effectively or have trouble keep up with their finances.
When it comes to children boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls. However, as adults the prevalence of ADHD evens out. It is thought that this is due to the fact that females tend to experience a greater recurrence of symptoms, and they are more likely to seek treatment after one of their children is diagnosed with the condition. The fluctuation in hormone levels, particularly during menopausal changes, may impact the severity of ADHD symptoms.
3. You Have Poor Memory
Women with ADHD struggle with remembering important dates, such as birthdays and birthdays. They also lose track of gatherings. They may also have difficulty recalling names, which can make it difficult to keep track of in social situations and conversations.
It's also common for people with ADHD to have poor filters which means they speak their thoughts without thinking them through. This can cause a lot of "foot-in-mouth" moments which can be very frustrating for family members and colleagues.
Another sign of adhd in women is having trouble making and maintaining friendships. Many girls suffering from ADHD struggle to manage their emotions, which can lead to difficulties in romantic relationships. This increases their chances of being pressured to engage in sexual activities or becoming victims of abuse by their intimate partners.
Many women with ADHD struggle to meet societal expectations in the areas of parenting, homemaking, relationships, and even their careers. This can add a lot of stress to their lives, which makes it difficult to recognize and deal with ADHD symptoms. Women may develop coping strategies that include alcohol or drugs, to disguise their symptoms. This can interfere with treatment. It is crucial to be diagnosed as a first step for 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 not be able to finish tasks, as they aren't sure which tasks to prioritize. They also have difficulty remembering and keeping track of decisions they have made. This kind of ADHD can impact work performance, relationships and self-esteem.
The symptoms of ADHD in women are harder to diagnose because parents and teachers don't recommend girls as frequently as boys for evaluation. Furthermore, women are better in hiding their symptoms. They may develop coping strategies that allow them to appear "normal" and to meet societal expectations. For example they may rely on apps to manage their day-to-day activities.
Women can receive an official diagnosis from their primary care physician who may refer them to a specialist. Based on the results of the test the doctor might suggest medication or talk therapy. Therapy sessions with your therapist will teach you more effective coping strategies and help you to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. They can help you and your family members to improve communication. This can be challenging when one or both of the people in a relationship has ADHD. The medication can help control the symptoms, and increase productivity at work or in school.
5. You Have Trouble Multitasking
Women suffering from ADHD often feel overwhelmed when they try to complete deadlines or perform multiple tasks at the same time. They may also have difficulty controlling their emotions and may find it difficult to make or keep friends, particularly when they have difficulty picking up on social cues and may be susceptible to impulsive behavior.
Women who are unable to multitask are also more likely to develop more likely to suffer from adhd. They may also lose or misplace items and are easily distracted. This is especially problematic for women working in a workplace where constant interruptions make it hard to stay focused or concentrate.
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 type of ADHD is more likely to be misdiagnosed by women as the symptoms are more subtle than those that are associated with the inattentive form.
Women with undiagnosed adult ADHD may also develop coping strategies that cover up their issues by using drugs or alcohol to self-medicate, in order to fit in with other people. This can further exacerbate symptoms as they struggle with chronic feelings of being insecure. This can result in strained relationships and a general sense of low self esteem.
6. You are having trouble managing your Time
In the workplace, ADHD time management problems can be a major issue. When you don't follow an organized system to finish your tasks, answer phone calls, or keep records, it can be difficult to complete tasks. Even if you are doing excellent work, your supervisors may question 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 co-occurring depression or anxiety 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 right treatment or support. This can cause tensions between friends, family and romantic partners. These strained relations can increase frustration and misunderstandings which can make it difficult for women to seek help.
7. You're having trouble forming friendships
Women who suffer from ADHD can find it frustrating to have trouble making friends. One reason is that women are expected to be able of fulfilling multiple roles. This includes caring for children, maintaining a healthy relationship and thriving in the workplace. As they try to meet these expectations, their symptoms may exacerbate. They could also be at a higher risk of developing a poor relationship with their peers or having co-existing anxiety disorders and mood disorders. Furthermore adult adhd symptoms 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 phone reminders or schedules to manage their lives.
Impulsivity and forgetfulness are problematic behaviors that can cause problems at work and in personal relationships. For example, forgetting about a friend's birthday party can make them feel depressed and do not value them. Disrupting conversations or becoming angry at the slightest provocation could also cause conflict and misunderstandings. Manage your expectations about your friendships to avoid bad feelings, misinterpretations and resentment. You can do this by using a calendar to keep track of your friends' important events, a notepad to note down details about new acquaintances and keeping commitments.