Signs of ADHD in Women
Women are under tremendous pressure to care for their families, maintain healthy relationships, and be productive at work. ADHD symptoms can make these tasks seem overwhelming.
If you suspect you be suffering from ADHD, it's important to get it diagnosed and treated. 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 prevalent signs that you may be suffering from ADHD. adhd in adult women test is because those with ADHD frequently have a difficult time managing their time, and tend to be distracted by other tasks. This can lead to problems at work or school like not attending important meetings or not remembering homework assignments. This can be stressful for you and the people who depend on your presence. Set a reminder in your phone or on your calendar to help avoid being late. Also, get ready the night before. Also, make sure to leave some extra time for yourself to reach wherever you're going.
Some women who suffer from ADHD also have trouble making friends as they constantly miss social events. They might also have a hard time understanding social cues and picking up on body language. They might also have trouble 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 assessment than to do the same with girls.
2. You're having trouble focusing
People suffering from ADHD are easily distracted and lose track of their work. When they are in a conversation with someone else, they may frequently wander off in a different direction or talk about topics that do not relate to the issue at hand. They may also have difficulty sitting still, and are more likely to be impulsive and take risky decisions.
These problems can strain relationships with family, friends and colleagues. People with ADHD are prone to forgetting appointments or not meeting deadlines. They can also be disorganized and can spend a lot of time on unimportant tasks or have trouble sitting at home. They may also have problems focusing at work or find it difficult to manage their financial obligations.
Boys are more likely than girls to be diagnosed as having ADHD in children. As adults, the numbers even out. This is believed to be due in part to the fact that women are more likely than males to experience recurrences of symptoms and seek treatment when one of their children is diagnosed with ADHD. Changing hormone levels, especially during menopause, can also affect the severity of ADHD symptoms.
3. You have a weak memory
Women who suffer from ADHD are often unable to remember important occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, and gatherings. They may also have trouble recalling names, which can make it difficult to keep pace with conversations and social settings.
People with ADHD often have poor filters. They talk about things without really thinking about them. This can lead to many "foot-in-mouth" moments that can be a source of frustration for loved ones and coworkers.
Another indication of adhd in women is trouble making and maintaining friendships. Many girls with ADHD struggle to manage their emotions. This can cause them to fall into challenging relationships with their romantic partners. This puts them at risk for being pressured into unwanted sexual activity or being victims of violence from their intimate partners.
Many women suffering from ADHD find it difficult to keep up with the social expectations of parenting, homemaking and relationships. This can add a lot of stress to their lives, making it difficult to recognize and manage ADHD symptoms. Women also develop coping mechanisms to disguise their symptoms, like using alcohol or other drugs which may interfere with treatment. Being diagnosed is the first step to identify and addressing these issues. The good news is that you can seek help.
4. adhd symptoms in women test having difficulty making decisions
Women who are struggling to make decisions might find themselves putting off or not able to finish tasks due to difficulty choosing which tasks should take priority. They also have difficulty remembering and following through with the decisions they've made. This type of ADHD can impact the performance of work, relationships and self-esteem.
Symptoms of ADHD in women can be difficult to recognize as they are for children, as parents and teachers don't make girls the focus of evaluation as often as they do for boys. Women are also more adept at hiding their symptoms. They may develop coping mechanisms that enable them to appear "normal" and to meet social expectations. For example they might use apps to manage their daily activities.
Women can receive an official diagnosis by their primary care physician, who might refer them to a physician of specialization. Based on the results, the doctor could recommend therapy or medication. Therapy sessions with a therapist can teach you healthier coping skills and assist you in swapping negative thoughts for positive ones. They can also help you and your family members improve communication which can be a problem when one or more members of a couple suffer from ADHD. The medication can help reduce symptoms, and increase productivity at work or at school.
5. You struggle with multitasking
Women with 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 find or keep friends, especially when they are unable to pick the social cues and are prone to impulsive behavior.
Trouble with multitasking is another indication of adhd in women, as is their tendency to become distracted easily and misplace or lose things. This is especially challenging for women working in a workplace, where constant interruptions can make it hard 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 kind of ADHD is more likely to be misdiagnosed by women because the symptoms are more subtle than those that are associated with the inattention type.
Women who are not diagnosed with adult ADHD may also develop strategies to cover up their issues like using alcohol or drugs to help themselves, or to fit in with other people. This can further worsen their symptoms as they struggle with the constant feeling of being inadequate, resulting in tension in relationships and a general 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. It's difficult to get work accomplished when you do not have a system in place for filing paperwork, returning phone calls, or completing tasks within the timeframes you set. Even if you're doing great work, your boss will doubt your competence if you repeatedly do not 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 are also more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression with co-occurring disorders, and have difficulty maintaining relationships. The society expects women to be caregivers which can increase the symptoms of ADHD in many women, especially if they don't have access to the proper treatment and assistance they require. This can also cause strained relationships with family, friends and romantic partners. These relationships can cause frustration and misunderstandings, making it harder for women to seek out help.
7. You have trouble making friends
Women who suffer from ADHD can find it frustrating having a difficult time making friends. One reason is that societal expectations place high emphasis on women to be competent at many responsibilities, including caring for children, maintaining a relationship, and performing well at work. As they try to meet these demands, their symptoms may exacerbate. They may also be at higher risk of developing poor social relationships with peers or co-existing anxiety and mood disorders. Furthermore, women are more likely to develop strategies that cover up their ADHD symptoms. This can result in over-exercising or staying up later than needed and relying on phone reminders or daily schedules to help manage their lives.
Other undesirable behaviors include impulsiveness and forgetfulness, which can lead to issues in both work and personal relationships. For example, forgetting a friend's party can cause them to feel depressed. They may also think you don't have any interest in them. Also interrupting conversations with unrelated thoughts or becoming angry at any moment can cause confusion and conflicts. Managing your expectations of your friends can help avoid bad feelings, misinterpretations, and frustration. You can achieve this by using a calendar to keep track of your friend's important dates, a notepad to keep track of details about new friends, and delivering on promises.