Signs of ADHD in Women
Women are subject to the pressure to take care of, keep up with children and maintain a healthy bond and perform well at work. ADHD symptoms can make all of these tasks seem impossible.
It is crucial to be diagnosed and treated if you suffer from ADHD. It can help you deal with these symptoms and improve the quality of your life.
1. You are always late
Being constantly late is among the most prevalent signs that you could be suffering from ADHD. People suffering from ADHD may have trouble managing their time and can be easily distracted by other tasks. This can lead to problems at work or at school, such as forgetting homework or avoiding important meetings. This can cause stress for you and the people who depend on your presence. To avoid being late, consider setting an alarm on your calendar or phone, and make sure to prepare your bedroom the night prior to. Also, try to leave a few extra minutes for yourself to get there wherever you're headed.
Additionally, some women with ADHD are unable to make friends due to constantly missing out on social events. They might also have a hard time taking social cues into consideration and recognizing body language. They may also have trouble concentrating on conversations and getting lost in 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 also more likely to refer men or boys to an ADHD assessment than they are for girls.
2. You are having difficulty focusing
It is easy for people suffering from ADHD to get lost in what they are doing. In a conversation, they could often veer off topic or discuss other things. They might also have trouble sitting still and be more reckless.
These issues can affect relationships between family members, friends, and co-workers. For example, it is common for those with ADHD to not remember appointments or to miss deadlines. They might also be unorganized or spend too much time on non-essential tasks. They may also have problems staying focused at work or have trouble keep up with their finances.
When it comes to children boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls. As adults, the numbers are equal. This is believed to be because women are more likely than men to have recurrences in symptoms and seek add treatment for women when a child has been diagnosed with ADHD. Changes in hormone levels, particularly during menopause can also influence ADHD symptoms.
3. You have poor memory
Women suffering from ADHD often have difficulty remembering important occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, and gatherings. They may also have difficulty remembering names, making it difficult to keep pace in conversations and social situations.
It's also typical for those with ADHD to have poor filters, meaning they say things without thinking about them. This can result in a lot of "foot-in-mouth" moments that can be a source of frustration for family members and colleagues.
Another sign of adhd in women is difficulty creating and maintaining friendships. Many girls with ADHD struggle to manage their emotions. This can lead them into challenging relationships with their romantic partners. This puts them at a greater chance of being pushed to engage in sexual activity that is not their own or being victims of violence from intimate partners.
Many women suffering from ADHD have difficulty keep up with the social expectations of parenting, homemaking and relationships. This can cause a lot of stress to their lives, which makes it difficult to recognize and deal with ADHD symptoms. Women also develop coping mechanisms to hide their symptoms, for example using alcohol or drugs that can hinder treatment. Being diagnosed is the first step in identifying and managing these challenges. You can find help.
4. You're having difficulty making decisions
Women who have trouble making decisions might find themselves putting off or not able to finish tasks due to difficulties deciding which tasks should take priority. They also have difficulty recalling their choices and following through on them. This type of ADHD affects performance at work, relationships and self-esteem.
The signs of ADHD in women are more difficult to diagnose because parents and teachers do not refer girls as often as boys for evaluation. Women are also better at concealing their symptoms. They may develop coping strategies that enable them to appear "normal" and to meet social expectations. For instance, they might rely on apps to manage their day-to-day activities.
Women can receive an official diagnosis by their primary physician, who might refer them to a specialist of specialization. Depending on the results of the test, the doctor might suggest medication or talk therapy. Therapy sessions with the therapist will teach you better coping strategies and assist you in swapping negative thoughts for positive ones. They can also assist you and your family improve communication, which can be a challenge when one or more members of the relationship suffer from adhd symptoms in women adults. Medications can help control the symptoms and improve the efficiency at school or at work.
5. You're having trouble multitasking
Women suffering from ADHD often find themselves feeling overwhelmed when they attempt to complete deadlines or perform multiple tasks at the same time. They may also have difficulty trying to control their emotions, and find it difficult to keep and make friends. This is especially true when they fail to recognize social cues.
Having trouble with multitasking is another indicator of adhd in women as is their tendency to be easily distracted and to lose or misplace items. This can be an issue for women who work in a workplace 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. Women are more likely to be undiagnosed with this type of ADHD because their symptoms aren't as obvious as the more frequent inattention type.
Women with undiagnosed adult ADHD may also develop strategies to mask their struggles like drinking alcohol or using drugs to self-medicate, in order to be accepted by other people. This can further exacerbate their symptoms when they struggle with constant feelings of inadequate, which can lead to tension in relationships and a general sense of low self-esteem.
6. You're having difficulty managing your Time
ADHD issues with time management can be a major concern in the workplace. It's difficult to get work completed when you don't have a system for filing paperwork, returning phone calls, or completing projects on time. Even even if your work is flawless the bosses may be concerned about your professionalism when you repeatedly 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 in women assessment.
Women with untreated ADHD are also more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression with co-occurring disorders and may have trouble maintaining relationships. Women are expected to be caretakers, which can exacerbate the symptoms of ADHD for many women, especially if they don't receive the proper treatment and support they need. This can also cause tensions between friends, family and romantic partners. The strain on relationships can lead to tension and miscommunication which makes it harder for women to seek help.
7. You have trouble making friends
Being unable to make friends can be a real challenge for women suffering from ADHD. One reason is that women are expected to be capable of fulfilling multiple roles. This includes raising children, maintaining a healthy relationship and thriving in the workplace. Women may experience symptoms that worsen as they attempt to meet the requirements. They also may be at an increased chance of developing poor relationships with their peers, or co-existing anxiety disorders and mood disorders. Furthermore, women are more likely to develop coping strategies that mask their ADHD symptoms. This could cause women to exercise excessively, stay up later than they should, and rely on phone reminders or schedules to manage their lives.
Other issues include impulsiveness and forgetfulness which can lead to problems in both work and personal relationships. For example, forgetting a friend's party can cause them to feel depressed. They might also think you don't have any interest in them. Disrupting conversations or becoming angry at the slightest hint can lead to confusion and conflict. Set your expectations for your friendships to avoid bad emotions, misinterpretations and resentment. You can do this by using a calendar to keep track of your friends' important events, a notepad to record details about new friends, and following through with promises.