Signs of ADHD in Women
Women are under a lot of pressure to take care of and stay on top of their kids, maintain a healthy relationship, and do well at work. ADHD symptoms can make these tasks seem impossible.
If you suspect you have ADHD, it's important to be diagnosed and treated. It can help you manage these symptoms and improve the quality of your life.
1. You are always late
Being always late is among the most common indications that you might be suffering from ADHD. People with ADHD can have difficulty managing their time and are easily distracted by other activities. This can lead to issues at school or at work and can result in not attending important meetings or forgetting about homework assignments. It can also create a lot of stress for you and those who depend on you. Set a reminder on your phone or on your calendar to help avoid being late. Also, make sure you're ready the night before. It is also recommended to allow yourself some extra time to get to your destination.
Some women who suffer from ADHD also have difficulty making friends, since they're constantly missing social events. They might also have trouble 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. Parents and teachers are more likely to refer boys or men for an ADHD assessment than they are for girls.
2. You have difficulty in focusing.
It is common for people with ADHD to become lost in what they are doing. When they are in conversation with others they are likely to go off in a different direction or talk about things that do not relate to the issue that is being discussed. They may also have difficulty being still and become more reckless.
These issues can cause tension between family members as well as friends and coworkers. People with ADHD tend to forget appointments or ignoring deadlines. They can also be disorganized and can spend a lot of time on tasks that are not important or have trouble relaxing at home. They may also have problems focusing at work or have trouble keep track of their finances.
Boys are more likely than girls to be identified as having ADHD in children. However, as they grow older they are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. This is believed to be because women are more likely than men to have recurrences in symptoms and seek treatment when one of their children is diagnosed with ADHD. The changes in hormone levels, especially during menopausal changes, can influence ADHD symptoms.
3. You have a weak memory
Women with ADHD often have difficulty remembering important occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries and meetings. They may also have difficulty recalling names, which can make it difficult to keep pace in social situations and conversations.
People suffering from ADHD often have poor filters. They speak things without really thinking about them. This can cause a lot of "foot-in-mouth" moments which can be very frustrating for coworkers and loved ones.
Another indication of adhd in women is difficulty creating and maintaining friendships. Many women with ADHD struggle to manage their emotions. This could lead to challenging relationships with their romantic partners. This puts them at a greater chance of being pushed into unwanted sexual activity or becoming victims of intimate partner violence.
Many women with ADHD find it difficult to keep up with the social expectations of parenting and homemaking, as well as relationships. This can add a lot stress to their lives, making it harder to recognize and deal with ADHD symptoms. Women may develop coping strategies, such as alcohol or drugs, to disguise their symptoms. This can impede treatment. Diagnostics are an essential first step in identifying and addressing issues. The good news is that you can get help.
4. You Have Trouble Making Decisions
Women who struggle to make decisions can delay or fail to complete tasks because they aren't sure of which tasks to prioritize. They also have difficulty remembering and following through with the decisions they've made. This kind of ADHD can affect performance at work, relationships and self-esteem.
The symptoms of ADHD in women are more difficult to recognize because parents and teachers do not refer girls as often as boys for evaluation. Women are also more adept in hiding their symptoms. They may develop coping strategies that enable them to appear "normal" and conform to societal expectations. For example, they might rely on apps to manage their everyday 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 of the test, the doctor might recommend medication or talk-therapy. Therapy sessions with the therapist will teach you more effective ways to cope and help you switch negative thoughts with positive ones. They can help you and your family improve communication. This can be difficult when both or one of the partners in a relationship suffer from ADHD. Medications can help control the symptoms and increase the efficiency at school or at work.
5. You have trouble multitasking
Women who suffer from ADHD often find themselves feeling overwhelmed when they attempt to meet deadlines or work on multiple tasks at the same time. They may also have difficulty trying to manage their emotions and find it difficult to make and keep friends. This is particularly true when they fail to recognize social cues.
Multitasking issues are another indicator of adhd in women as is their tendency to get distracted easily and to lose or misplace items. This is especially challenging for women at work where 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. Women may be more likely to be undiagnosed with this type of ADHD because their symptoms are not as evident as those of the typical inattentive type.
Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD adulthood may also develop coping mechanisms to disguise their difficulties. For example, they may self-medicate with alcohol or drugs to fit in. This can further exacerbate symptoms when they suffer from chronic feelings of being insecure. This can lead to tension in relationships and a general feeling of self-worth deficiency.
6. You are having trouble managing your Time
In the workplace, ADHD time management problems can pose a serious problem. 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 your work is excellent the bosses may be concerned about your professionalism if 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 are also more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression with co-occurring disorders and may have a difficult time maintaining relationships. Women are expected to be caregivers, and this can exacerbate the symptoms of ADHD, especially when they don't have access to the appropriate treatment or support. This can also result in strained relationships with family, friends and romantic partners. These strained relations can increase frustration and misunderstandings which makes it more difficult for women to seek out help.
7. You Have Trouble Making Friends
Finding it difficult to make friends can be a real challenge for women suffering from ADHD. Because of adhd symptoms in women adults , social expectations place high emphasis on women to be able to perform various roles, such as caring for children, maintaining a relationship, and performing well at work. They might be suffering from symptoms that become worse as they try to meet the requirements. adhd symptoms in women adults could also be more at chance of developing poor peer relationships or coexisting mood disorders and anxiety. Women are more likely than men to develop coping mechanisms that cover ADHD symptoms. This could cause them to over-exercise, 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 cause problems at work as well as in personal relationships. For example, forgetting an event with a friend can cause them to feel depressed. They might also think you don't really care about them. Disrupting conversations or becoming angry at the slightest provocation could also cause confusion and conflict. Manage your expectations about your friendships to avoid bad feelings, misinterpretations, and anger. You can achieve this by using a calendar to keep track of your friends' important dates, and a notebook to keep track of information about new friends and keeping promises.