ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women

Women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD may have issues at work or in relationships. It's important to recognize the symptoms and find treatment that works for you.

Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. A proper diagnosis can help improve your life by addressing your symptoms and focusing your attention on what is important.

1. Difficulty Paying Attention

Women can be troubled by their inability to pay attention to specifics or remember deadlines and appointments or underestimate the time it will take to complete a task. They might also find it difficult to keep track of their responsibilities in their relationships or at work, get easily distracted, and fail follow through with commitments. They might also struggle with the urge to be impulsive, difficulty controlling their emotions and the tendency to mutter things without thinking it through first.

It's important to recognize and treat symptoms of ADHD in women who are adults. Inability to focus can lead to problems with relationships and friendships. Women may have difficulty to make new friends or struggle in their relationships due to frequent arguments and opportunities to have fun, and a lack of attention. Women may also struggle to manage the demands of home, work and childcare.

It's not easy for health care providers and therapists alike to recognize ADHD in a lot of people. However, that doesn't mean it's not true or that the person has to work harder to remain on track. Diagnoses are based on symptoms and how they affect the daily activities in a variety of areas.

Women are more likely to experience inattentive symptoms than those who are hyperactive or impulsive and this could be the reason why they go undiagnosed. In addition, many women with ADHD feel a sense of shame about their symptoms because they don't fit into the stereotypes of someone with ADHD. This can make it even more difficult to seek help or access treatment.

Women who suffer from ADHD are not diagnosed for a long period of time because they attempt to conceal their symptoms and deal with. Additionally, they are more likely to have multiple comorbidities that may conceal their ADHD symptoms, like anxiety, depression and gastrointestinal issues. They are also more likely to suffer from hormonal fluctuations that may cause their symptoms to flare up or disappear, such as during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and perimenopause.

2. Problems with Organization

Women who suffer from ADHD typically experience forgetfulness, disorganization and emotional dysregulation. These symptoms can make them incapable of completing daily tasks, meet their obligations or maintain relationships. They may also experience a low self-esteem and experience anxiety. Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD often feel as if they are failing to meet societal expectations and have a hard to keep up with their peers in terms of academic achievement or job performance. They also have a harder time maintaining social connections.

In addition to a lack of organization and forgetfulness, ADHD in adult women can manifest as hyperfocus or procrastination. These issues can lead women to miss appointments, fail to pay bills on time, and feel overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can result in a lack of focus on other important activities and a shaky sense of time, which can make it difficult to switch from one activity to another. Procrastination can lead to an increase in stress, anxiety, and ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women a constant feeling of being behind.

Another common symptom of ADHD is difficulty communicating verbally and nonverbally. This could include a lot of talking or interrupting others or saying inappropriate words. It can also indicate an inability to wait for her turn or trouble understanding the boundaries of social interaction. It is important to remember that these behaviors don't necessarily mean the absence of intelligence or ability.

Many women suffering from adhd symptoms in adulthood have coping strategies to mask their symptoms, which can have both positive and negative impacts. Some of these strategies may be healthy, like having a daily schedule or establishing reminders for events. Others may be unhealthy, such as using alcohol and drugs to hide symptoms or ignoring them altogether. It is therefore important that women who suspect they may be suffering from ADHD seek help from a professional.

Women suffering from ADHD can benefit from medication treatment, lifestyle modifications, therapy and a range of other treatment options. Some of these include cognitive behavioral therapy to deal with negative thoughts and beliefs, mindfulness and relaxation techniques as well as exercise as well as a balanced diet and a sufficient amount of sleep. A doctor may also recommend accommodations to make school or work simpler.

3. Disruptive Behaviors

Women with ADHD may struggle with emotional dysregulation. In the end, they are often discontent and frustrated when life's challenges aren't easily resolved. This makes it difficult to maintain relationships with romantic partners, friends as well as coworkers. For instance, forgetfulness and impulsivity can heighten the frustration or confusion in romantic relationships and lead to feelings of loneliness, abandonment or depression. Additionally, a tendency to seek an instant thrill can be misinterpreted as disinterest or indifference by other people.

Because of this, ADHD symptoms are frequently missed or misdiagnosed for girls and women. It is possible that they are unable to recognize their problems as being related to ADHD due to stereotypes and social norms that define men and women's behavior.

Women and girls who suffer from ADHD often conceal their symptoms in order to avoid embarrassment. This may result in them being referred less often for diagnosis than men and boys who have the same symptoms. Additionally, gender bias in the research that informs the diagnostic criteria could contribute to this disparity. In a recent study, Hartung and Widiger discovered that women and girls are more likely to be misdiagnosed and not diagnosed than men and boys who have similar ADHD symptoms. This could be due to the fact that clinicians are conditioned by their training to view hyperactive and aggressive ADHD as being more common in boys and men. This can make them easier to identify and refer for assessment.

Adult ADHD symptoms can manifest themselves as irritability and difficulty in calming down. These are common ADHD symptoms however, they can also be a significant influence on an adult's life. People suffering from ADHD may feel restless or find it hard to sit still. This is especially true if they're feeling anxious or stressed. They also tend to fidget and are often overly active. They often interrupt or complete sentences of other people, without realizing that they are being rude.

If you suspect you may have ADHD, you can be directed to a psychiatrist by your GP or psychologist. You can also self-refer. This content was reviewed by Madeline Dykes (clinical psychologist) and other members of the Thriving Madly network in Christchurch in October 2024. It was updated in November 2022.

4. Social Skills Problems

Women suffering from ADHD may have difficulty managing their emotions or effectively communicating at work. This can lead to issues in relationships with family and friends as well as in achieving professional goals. For instance, they may struggle to understand and respond to feedback, which could result in frustration and displeasure. Also, they may have difficulty maintaining healthy eating and sleep habits, which could lead to feelings of anxiety. Women with ADHD utilize unhealthy strategies for coping to compensate for their problems. They may resort to substance abuse, eating disorder, and non-suicidal harming of oneself (NSSI), like cutting, burning or scratching.

As adults, women who suffer from ADHD can find it harder to seek treatment than men because they tend to mask their symptoms. They often develop coping strategies to try to conform to the expectations of society, which can make their ADHD symptoms difficult for others to recognize. These coping mechanisms might be as simple as making lists and setting reminders or more complicated strategies, like learning to control their emotions or implementing mindfulness strategies.

However, these coping methods could backfire and make symptoms worse. These coping methods can also make it difficult to get an adequate night's rest which is essential for managing ADHD symptoms. Additionally, women with ADHD often find themselves overwhelmed by their daily demands, which can add to stress and further exacerbate their ADHD symptoms.

It's true that boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls. However the gap is narrowing as they grow older. It's because it's common for women to experience a range of symptoms throughout their lives, which may lead to a diagnosis at different instances.

Changes in hormone levels can also impact ADHD symptoms among women. For adhd symptoms in adult women instance when they have a high estrogen level during pregnancy, symptoms may improve. Higher levels of estrogen regulate brain chemicals that influence attention. If their estrogen levels decrease due to perimenopausal changes or aging, ADHD symptoms may worsen.

Adults suffering from ADHD can receive an accurate diagnosis and get effective treatment. These include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) neurocognitive psychology, and many other therapies that can help people with ADHD improve their daily functioning. In addition, they may also attend support groups for ADHD to discuss their experiences with other individuals on the same journey and gain valuable insight from their peers.