Signs of ADHD in Women
Women are under the pressure to be the caretaker and keep track of kids and maintain a healthy bond, and do well at work. ADHD symptoms can make these tasks seem unattainable.
If you suspect you have ADHD, it's important to be treated and diagnosed. It will help you manage these symptoms and improve the quality of your life.
1. You're Always Late
Being constantly late is one of the most frequent signs that you could have ADHD. People with ADHD may have trouble managing their time and are easily distracted by other tasks. This can lead to problems at work or at school like forgetting to complete homework or missing important meetings. This can create stress for you and the people who depend on your presence. To avoid being late, try setting a reminder on your phone or calendar, and make sure to prepare your bedroom the night before. You should also give yourself an extra few minutes to travel to your destination.
Some women with ADHD also have difficulty making friends as they constantly miss social occasions. They may also find it difficult to read social cues or understand body language. They may also have trouble staying focused on conversations and becoming 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 refer a girl.
2. You Have Trouble Focusing
It is easy for people with ADHD to get lost in what they are doing. When they are in conversation with others they are likely to wander off into a tangent or speak about topics that do not have anything to do with the subject that is being discussed. They can also have trouble being still and are more likely to be impulsive and make reckless decisions.
These issues can cause problems with family, friends and colleagues. For example, it is common for those with ADHD to not remember appointments or to miss deadlines. They may also be disorganized, spend too much time doing unimportant things or have trouble relaxing at home. They may be unable to focus at work or manage their finances.
Boys are more likely than girls to be diagnosed as having ADHD in children. As adults, the prevalence is equal. It is believed that this is due to the fact that women are more likely to experience a higher incidence of symptoms and they are more likely to seek treatment when one of their children is diagnosed with the condition. Changes in hormone levels, particularly during menopausal change, can influence ADHD symptoms.
3. You've Got a Poor Memory
Women suffering from ADHD struggle with remembering important dates, such as birthdays and anniversary dates. They also tend to forget meetings. They may also have difficulty remembering names, making it difficult to keep a pace in social situations and conversations.
People suffering from ADHD often have poor filters. They talk about things without thinking about them. This can lead to numerous "foot in mouth" instances that can be stressful for family members and coworkers.
A woman's difficulty in maintaining and forming friendships is another sign of adhd. Many women with ADHD have difficulty managing their emotions, which can lead to difficult romantic relationships. This increases their chance of being pushed to engage in sexual activities or be the victim of abuse from their intimate partners.
Many women with ADHD struggle to meet societal expectations in areas such as parenting and homemaking, relationships and career. This can add a lot stress to their lives, making it harder to recognize and deal with ADHD symptoms. Some women have coping strategies to hide their symptoms, such as using alcohol or other drugs that can hinder treatment. Being diagnosed is the first step for identifying and managing these challenges. The good news is that you can get help.
4. You have trouble making decisions
Women who have trouble making decisions might find themselves putting off or not able to finish tasks because they have difficulty deciding which tasks should be prioritised. They also have trouble remembering their choices and following through on them. This kind of ADHD impacts performance at work, relationships and self-esteem.
Symptoms of ADHD in women are more difficult to identify as they are for children, as parents and teachers don't refer girls for evaluation as often as they would for boys. In addition, women are more adept in masked symptoms. They might develop coping strategies that enable them to appear "normal" and conform to social expectations, such as by relying on apps to manage their day-to-day activities.
Women may receive an official diagnosis by their primary physician, who may refer them to a doctor of specialization. Depending on the results, the doctor could recommend treatment or talk therapy. In therapy, your therapist will teach you better ways to cope and help you to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. They can also help you and your family improve communication which can be difficult when one or more of the people in a relationship have ADHD. The medication can help control the symptoms, and increase productivity at work or at school.
5. You have trouble multitasking
Women who suffer from ADHD often find themselves feeling overwhelmed when they attempt to meet deadlines or work on several tasks at once. They may also have trouble controlling their emotions and may find it difficult to make or keep friends, particularly when they struggle to pick the social signals and are prone to impulsive behavior.
Multitasking issues are another indicator of adhd in women, as is their tendency to become distracted easily and lose or misplace things. This could be a problem for women working in environments 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 may be more likely to be undiagnosed with this kind of ADHD because their symptoms aren't as evident as those of the common inattentive type.
Women with undiagnosed adult ADHD might also develop coping strategies that mask their struggles by using drugs or alcohol to help themselves, or to blend in with other people. This can further worsen their symptoms when they struggle with the constant feeling of inadequate, which can lead to strained relationships and an overall sense of low self-esteem.
6. You are having trouble managing your Time
ADHD issues with time management can be a major issue in the workplace. It's difficult to get work completed when you do not have a system in place for filing paperwork, returning calls, or finishing projects on time. Even if you are doing excellent work, supervisors will question your competence if 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.
Women with untreated ADHD also might be more likely to develop co-occurring depression or anxiety and may have a difficult time maintaining relationships. Women are expected to be caregivers, and this can worsen the symptoms of ADHD particularly if they do not have access to the right treatment or assistance. This can lead to tensions between friends, family and romantic partners. The strain on relationships can lead to frustration and misunderstandings which makes it harder for women to reach out for assistance.
7. You're having trouble making friends
Women with ADHD are likely to find it difficult to have trouble making friends. One reason is that women are expected to be able of fulfilling various roles. This includes raising children, maintaining relationships and thriving at the workplace. As they try to fulfill these expectations their symptoms can get worse. They may also have an increased risk of developing poor relationships with their peers or having co-existing mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Women are more likely than men to develop coping mechanisms that conceal ADHD symptoms. This could lead women to exercise excessively, stay up later than they should, and rely on calendars or phone reminders to manage their lives.
Forgetfulness and impulsiveness are also dangerous behaviors that can lead to problems at work and in personal relationships. For instance, forgetting to attend a friend's party can cause them to feel depressed. They might also think you don't care about them. Likewise, inattentive add in women with unrelated thoughts or becoming angry at a moment's notice can cause confusion and conflict. Being aware of the expectations you place on your friends can help avoid bad feelings, misinterpretations, or frustration. You can do this by using a calendar to keep track of your friends' important events, a notepad to keep track of details about new acquaintances and delivering on promises.