Signs of ADHD in Women
Women are under tremendous pressure to take care of their families and maintain healthy relationships and perform well at work. ADHD symptoms can make these tasks seem impossible.
It is crucial to be diagnosed and treated if you suffer from ADHD. It will help you manage these symptoms and improve the quality of your life.
1. You are always late
Being constantly late is among the most frequent signs that you could have ADHD. This is because people who suffer from ADHD frequently have a difficult time managing their time and tend to be distracted by other activities. This can lead to problems at work or school for example, like not remembering homework or ignoring important meetings. It can also cause a lot of stress for you and the people who depend on you. Set a reminder on your phone or on your calendar to help you avoid being late. Also, make sure you're ready the night before. Also, you should allow yourself an extra few minutes to reach your destination.
Some women who suffer from ADHD also have trouble making friends, since they constantly miss social gatherings. signs and symptoms of adhd in women might also have difficulty taking social cues into consideration and understanding body language. They might also have difficulty concentrating and 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 a boy or man to an ADHD evaluation than they are to refer girls.
2. You have trouble focusing
It is common for people suffering from ADHD to become distracted or lose track of what they are doing. When they are in a conversation with others they are likely to go off in a different direction or talk about topics that do not relate to the issue at hand. They might also have a difficult time sitting still and be more impulsive.
These issues can cause problems with family, friends and colleagues. People with ADHD tend to forget appointments or ignoring deadlines. They may also be unorganized and can spend a lot of time doing unimportant things or have difficulty sitting at home. They may also have trouble staying focused at work or have difficulty keep up with their finances.
Boys are more likely than girls to be identified as having ADHD in children. As adults, the rates are identical. It is thought that this is due to the fact that females are more likely to experience a higher recurrence of symptoms, and they are more likely to seek treatment when one of their children is diagnosed with the condition. Changes in hormone levels, especially during menopausal changes, can affect ADHD symptoms.
3. You have a weak memory
Women with ADHD frequently have trouble remembering important events, like birthdays, anniversaries, and meetings. They may also have trouble remembering names, which could make it difficult to keep up in conversations and social settings.
People suffering from ADHD often have poor filters. They say things without thinking about them. This can result in many "foot in mouth" situations which can be a source of frustration for family members and coworkers.
Another sign of adhd in women is trouble making and keeping friendships. Many girls with ADHD have trouble managing their emotions, which can lead to difficult romantic relationships. This can increase their risk of being pressured to engage in unwanted sexual activities or be the victim of abuse by their intimate partners.
Many women with ADHD struggle to live up to society's expectations in areas such as parenting, homemaking, relationships, and even their careers. This can cause a lot more stress in their lives, which makes it harder to identify and manage ADHD symptoms. Women may develop coping strategies, such as alcohol or drugs, to hide their symptoms. This can hinder treatment. Getting diagnosed is an important first step to identify and addressing these issues. The good news is that you can get help.
4. You're having difficulty making decisions
Women who struggle to make decisions may end up putting off or finding it difficult to complete tasks because they have difficulties deciding which tasks should take priority. They also have difficulty recalling their choices and following through on them. This kind of ADHD can affect work performance, relationships, and self-esteem.
The symptoms of ADHD for women are more difficult to recognize because parents and teachers don't refer girls as often as boys for evaluation. Moreover, women are better at masking their symptoms. They may develop strategies for coping that help them appear "normal" and meet societal expectations, such as by using apps to manage daily activities.
Women may 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 may 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 also assist you and your family improve communication which can be a challenge when one or more of the members of a couple suffer from ADHD. The medication can help control the symptoms, and increase productivity at work or in school.
5. You're having difficulty multitasking
Women suffering from ADHD can feel overwhelmed when they need to complete deadlines and perform multiple tasks. They may also have trouble managing their emotions and find it difficult to make or keep friends, especially when they struggle to pick the social cues and may be susceptible to impulsive behavior.
Women who are unable to multitask are also more likely to develop at risk of developing adhd. They may also lose or misplace items and get easily distracted. This is especially problematic for women working in a workplace as constant interruptions make it difficult to remain focused and 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 since the symptoms are less apparent than those that are associated with the inattentive form.
Women with undiagnosed adult ADHD might also develop coping strategies that cover up their issues like using alcohol or drugs to take care of themselves, in order to fit in with other people. This can further exacerbate their symptoms as they struggle to cope with the constant feeling of inadequacy, leading to strained relationships and an overall feeling of low self-esteem.
6. You have trouble managing your time
ADHD problems with time management can be a major concern in the workplace. When you don't follow an organized system to finish your projects, return calls or keep records, it can be difficult to get things done. Even you're doing a great job, supervisors may wonder about your professionalism when you fail to meet 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 who aren't treated for ADHD may also be more likely than others to suffer from co-occurring anxiety or depression, and have difficulty maintaining relationships. Women are expected to be caretakers which can increase the symptoms of ADHD in a lot of women, particularly when they don't have access to the appropriate treatment and assistance they require. This can also lead to tensions between friends, family and romantic partners. These relationships can cause frustration and misunderstandings, making it harder for women to seek assistance.
7. You have trouble making friends
Women who suffer from ADHD may find it difficult to have trouble making friends. For one thing, societal expectations place high emphasis on women to be able in many responsibilities, including caring for children, maintaining relationships, and performing well at work. When they attempt to meet these expectations their symptoms can become more severe. They may also be at a higher risk of developing bad relationships with their peers or having coexisting anxiety and mood disorders. Moreover women are more likely to develop strategies for coping which mask their ADHD symptoms. This could cause women to exercise excessively, stay up later than they should and rely on their calendars or phone reminders to manage their lives.
Impulsivity and forgetfulness are dangerous behaviors that can lead to problems at work as well as in personal relationships. For example, forgetting to mention an event at a friend's house could make them feel depressed and don't appreciate them. Disrupting conversations or becoming angry at the slightest provocation can also lead to conflicts and miscommunications. Becoming aware of your expectations for your relationships can avoid negative feelings, misinterpretations, and frustration. You can do this by keeping a calendar to track the important dates with your friends and using a notepad to jot down information you learn about new friends and keeping your promises.