ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women

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

Symptoms of ADHD in adults are more likely to be the inattentive type than hyperactivity/impulsive. A correct diagnosis can improve your life, by addressing your symptoms and paying attention to the things that matter.

1. Trouble paying attention

Women may struggle to pay attention to the details, remembering appointments and deadlines or underestimating the time it takes to complete a task. They might also have difficulties keeping track of their obligations at work or in relationships, get distracted easily and fail to keep their word on their promises. They might also have a tendency to be impulsive, have difficulty managing their emotions, and may blurt out thoughts without taking the time to think them through.

It is crucial to recognize and treat the symptoms of ADHD in women of adulthood. The inability to concentrate can lead to problems with friendships and relationships. Women may have difficulty to make new friends or have difficulty in their relationships due to frequent arguments and missed opportunities for fun, and a lack of attention. They may also face difficulties balancing the demands of work, home and childcare.

Many people who suffer from ADHD do not meet the diagnostic criteria, and it can be hard for health care providers or therapists to identify the disorder. This doesn't mean it's not real or that the person has to be more focused. The diagnosis is based on the extent to which the symptoms affect daily functioning across multiple areas of life.

Women are more likely to suffer from inattentive symptoms than hyperactive or impulsive ones which is why they're not diagnosed. Additionally many women suffering from ADHD feel a sense of shame about their symptoms because they don't conform to the stereotypes of a person with ADHD. This can make it even more difficult to reach out for assistance or get treatment.

In some cases women with ADHD are not diagnosed for a long time due to the fact that they are trying to cope and hide their symptoms. They are more likely to have comorbidities, such as anxiety or depression that can mask the symptoms of ADHD. They are more likely to have hormonal fluctuations that could cause their symptoms flare up or disappear. This is particularly the case during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and perimenopause.

2. Organizational Issues

Disorganization, forgetfulness, impulsivity and emotional dysregulation are all common ADHD symptoms that women suffer from. These symptoms can make it difficult for women with ADHD to manage everyday tasks, keep up with their commitments, and maintain relationships. They may also have a low self-esteem and struggle with anxiety. Women with undiagnosed ADHD often feel that they're not achieving societal expectations and have a difficult to keep up with their peers in terms of academic achievement as well as job performance and social interactions.

In addition to forgetfulness and disorganization, ADHD in adult women can manifest as procrastination or hyperfocus. These problems can lead to women not attending appointments, not paying bills on time and feeling overwhelmed. Hyperfocus can lead to a loss of focus on other crucial tasks as well as a misunderstood understanding of time. This can make it hard to shift from one task to another. Procrastination can cause stress, adhd symptoms in adult Women anxiety and a constant feeling of being behind.

Communication issues both non-verbal and verbal are a typical manifestation of ADHD. This can mean talking too much, interrupting others or saying inappropriate words. This could be due to a lack of ability to sit still or understanding social boundaries. It is important to keep in mind that these behavior patterns don't necessarily signal a lack of ability or intelligence.

Many women suffering from ADHD develop strategies to hide their symptoms. This can have both positive and negative effects. Some of these coping mechanisms might be healthy. For instance keeping a daily calendar or making reminders for important dates. Some aren't for example, drinking alcohol or using drugs to mask symptoms or ignoring them altogether. It is therefore important that women who suspect that they be suffering from ADHD seek professional help.

Women suffering from ADHD might benefit from taking medications, lifestyle changes, therapy, or other treatment options. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy, which addresses the underlying negative thoughts and beliefs, mindfulness and relaxation, exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate rest. A health professional may also recommend adjustments to make work or school easier.

3. Disruptive Behaviors

Women who suffer from ADHD might struggle with emotional dysregulation. This is why they often become discontent and frustrated when their problems aren't solved. This can make it difficult for them to keep relationships with friends, romantic partners as well as coworkers. For example, forgetfulness or impulsivity may create confusion or frustration in relationships with loved ones and can cause feelings of depression or loneliness. A tendency to seek out thrills on the spur of the moment could be misinterpreted by others as a lack of interest or indifference.

These are the reasons why ADHD symptoms in women and girls are often missed or underdiagnosed. It is possible that they are unable to recognize their issues due to ADHD due to stereotypes and social norms that define men and women's behavior.

Girls and women with ADHD may camouflage symptoms to avoid embarrassment. This could result in being less often referred for diagnosis than boys and men with the same symptoms. Additionally, ADHD Symptoms in Adult Women gender bias in the research that informs diagnostic criteria could contribute to this disparity. In a recent study, Hartung and Widiger found that girls and women are more likely to be misdiagnosed and under-diagnosed than men and boys with similar ADHD symptoms. This could be due to the fact that clinicians are conditioned to see hyperactive and aggressive ADHD symptoms as more common among boys and men which makes them easier to identify and referred to assessment.

Adults, ADHD symptoms can manifest as restlessness and difficulty relaxing. These are common ADHD symptoms however, they can also be a significant influence on the life of an adult. People suffering from ADHD may feel agitated and find it difficult to sit still, especially if they are feeling anxious or stressed. They are also prone to fluttering around and can be overly talkative, often interrupting or finishing sentences of others without thinking that they're causing offence.

If you suspect that you may have ADHD or other disorders, you may be recommended 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 with ADHD may have trouble communicating effectively or to manage their emotions in the workplace. This can result in issues with personal relationships and with professional goals. They may be unable to recognize and responding properly to feedback. This can result in disappointment or anger. They also may struggle to maintain healthy eating and sleeping habits, which can increase anxiety. Many women with ADHD employ unhealthy methods of coping to compensate for their problems. These include eating disorders, addiction to substances and non-suicidal harming oneself (NSSI) which includes cutting, burning, or scratching.

As adults, women with combined adhd symptoms in adults may find it more difficult to seek treatment than men due to the fact that they tend to cover up their symptoms. To make themselves acceptable to society and to meet the expectations of society, they often develop coping strategies. This can make it harder for others to recognize their ADHD symptoms of adhd in adults women. These coping mechanisms might be as simple as creating lists and establishing reminders, or more complex, such as learning to control their emotions or implementing mindfulness strategies.

However, these strategies can backfire and make symptoms adhd in adults worse. They can also make it difficult to get good sleep, which is vital for managing ADHD symptoms. In addition, women with ADHD often feel overwhelmed by the demands of life, which can add to stress and further exacerbate their ADHD symptoms.

Although it's true that more boys are diagnosed with ADHD than girls, this gap shrinks when they become adults. This is because women often have a range of symptoms throughout the course of their lives. This can result in different diagnoses.

Changes in hormone levels can also affect ADHD symptoms among women. For example, if they have high levels of estrogen during pregnancy, their symptoms might improve. This is because higher levels of estrogen can help regulate the brain chemicals that affect attention. If they start to experience low levels of estrogen due to age or perimenopause or perimenopausal symptoms, their ADHD symptoms could become more severe.

Adults with ADHD can get a correct diagnosis and get effective treatment. These include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) neurocognitive psychology, as well as other therapies that can help people with ADHD improve their everyday functioning. Additionally, they can join support groups for ADHD to discuss their experiences with others who are on the same path and gain valuable insights from their peers.