Signs of ADHD in Women
Women are under tremendous pressure to take care of their families, maintain healthy relationships, and be productive at work. ADHD symptoms can make these tasks seem unattainable.
It is essential to be diagnosed and treated if you suffer from ADHD. It can assist you in dealing with these issues and improve your overall quality of life.
1. You're Always Late
Being always late is among the most prevalent signs that you could have ADHD. This is because people with ADHD frequently have difficulty managing their time, and tend to be distracted by other things. This can cause issues at work or at school like forgetting to complete homework or ignoring important meetings. It can cause a lot stress for you and those who depend on you. To stop being late, try setting an alarm on your calendar or phone, and make sure to prepare your bedroom the night before. It is also recommended to give yourself an extra few minutes to travel to your destination.
In addition to that, some women with ADHD are unable to make friends because they're constantly missing out on social occasions. They may also have a hard time understanding social cues and picking up on 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. Also, teachers and parents are more likely to refer a boy or man for an ADHD assessment than to refer a girl.
2. You have trouble in focusing.
People suffering from ADHD are easily distracted and lose track of their work. In a conversation, they might frequently drift off topic or discuss other things. They may also have difficulty being still, and are more likely to be impulsive and take reckless decisions.
These issues can affect relationships between family members, friends, and co-workers. People who suffer from ADHD are prone to forgetting appointments or missing deadlines. They may also be unorganized and spend too much time on tasks that are not important or have a hard time sitting at home. They might also find it hard to concentrate at work or keep track of their finances.
Boys are more likely than girls to be identified as having ADHD in children. However, as adults, the numbers even out. It is thought that this is because women are more likely to experience a higher recurrence of symptoms, and are more likely to seek treatment after one of their children is diagnosed with the condition. The changes in hormone levels, especially during menopausal changes, can influence ADHD symptoms.
3. You have a poor Memory
Women suffering from ADHD struggle with remembering important dates, such as birthdays and anniversaries. They also forget the dates of meetings. They may also have difficulty remembering names, which makes it difficult to keep up in social settings and conversations.
People suffering from ADHD often have poor filters. They speak things without really thinking about them. This can lead to a lot of "foot-in-mouth" moments which can be very frustrating for coworkers and loved ones.
Another indication of adhd in women is having trouble making and maintaining friendships. Many girls suffering from ADHD have trouble managing their emotions and this can lead to difficulties in romantic relationships. signs of add in adult women can put them at a greater risk for being pressured into sexually inappropriate activities or being victims of violence from intimate partners.
Many women with ADHD struggle to meet social expectations in the areas of parenting, homemaking, relationships, and even their careers. This can lead to more stress in their lives, which makes it difficult to recognize and treat ADHD symptoms. Some women develop coping mechanisms that include alcohol or drugs, to mask their symptoms. This can impede treatment. Diagnoses are the first step to identify and manage the challenges. You can seek help.
4. You are having trouble making decisions
Women who are struggling to make decisions might find themselves putting off or finding it difficult to complete tasks due to difficulties deciding which tasks should be prioritised. They also have trouble remembering and following through with decisions they have made. treatment for adhd in women of ADHD can affect work performance, relationships, and self-esteem.
The symptoms of ADHD in women may be more difficult to identify than in children, as parents and teachers do not refer girls to evaluation as often as they would for boys. In addition, women are more adept in masked symptoms. They may develop strategies for coping that allow them to appear "normal" and to meet social expectations, such as by relying on apps to manage their day-to-day activities.
Women can be given an official diagnosis by their primary care physician who may refer them to a physician of specialization. Based on the results of the test the doctor might suggest medication or talk therapy. In therapy, your therapist can help you learn healthier coping skills and help you swap negative thoughts for positive ones. They can also help you and your family improve communication, which can be a problem when one or more of the members of a couple suffer from ADHD. The medication can help manage the symptoms and improve productivity at work or at school.
5. You struggle with multitasking
Women with ADHD are often overwhelmed when they must meet deadlines and complete many tasks. They may also experience difficulty managing their emotions and find it difficult to find or keep friends, especially when they struggle to pick the social cues and are prone to impulsive behaviors.
Multitasking issues are another indicator of adhd in women, as is their tendency to become distracted easily and to lose or misplace items. This could be an issue for women who work in a workplace 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. This kind 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 ADHD adulthood may also develop coping mechanisms to mask their struggles. For example they may use self-medicating methods like alcohol or drugs to blend in. This can further worsen their symptoms as they struggle with chronic feelings of inadequacy, leading to tension in relationships and a general feeling of self-worth being shattered.
6. You are having trouble managing your time
ADHD issues with time management can be a major concern in the workplace. When you don't follow an organized system to finish your projects, return phone calls or keep records, it can be difficult to accomplish your tasks. Even you're doing a great job 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 with untreated ADHD also might be more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression that co-occurs and may have a difficult time maintaining relationships. Society expects women to be caregivers which can increase the symptoms of ADHD for many women, especially if they don't receive the right treatment and assistance they require. This can cause tensions between family members, friends and romantic partners. These relationships can cause frustration and miscommunication, making it harder for women to seek help.
7. You're having trouble making friends
Finding it difficult to make friends can be a real challenge for women with ADHD. Because of this, social expectations place high emphasis on women to be able to perform various roles, such as parenting children, maintaining relationships, and performing well at work. As they try to meet these demands, their symptoms may exacerbate. They may also have an increased risk of having a negative relationship with their peers or coexisting mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Women are more likely than men to develop coping mechanisms that mask ADHD symptoms. This can lead to over-exercising and staying up later than necessary, and relying on phone reminders or daily schedules to help them manage their lives.
Other issues include impulsiveness and forgetfulness which can lead to issues in both work and personal relationships. For instance, not remembering an event with a friend could make them feel unloved. They might also believe that you don't have any interest in them. Disrupting conversations or becoming angry at the smallest hint can also lead to confusion and conflict. Becoming aware of your expectations for your friends can help avoid bad feelings, misinterpretations, or anger. You can achieve this by using a calendar to keep track of your friend's important events, a notepad to note down details about new acquaintances and following through with promises.