Signs of ADHD in Women
Women are subject to lots of pressure to take care of and stay on top of their children, maintain a healthy relationship, and do well at work. ADHD symptoms can make these tasks seem overwhelming.
If you think you may have ADHD It is crucial to be treated and diagnosed. It can help you cope with these symptoms and enhance your overall quality of life.
1. You are always late
Always being late is a common sign that you could be suffering from ADHD. This is because people who suffer from ADHD often have trouble managing their time, and they are easily distracted by other tasks. This can cause problems at school or work like forgetting to complete homework or ignoring important meetings. It can cause a lot stress for you and the people who depend on you. Set a reminder on your phone or on your calendar to help avoid being late. Also, be prepared the night before. Also, try to leave a few extra minutes for yourself to reach wherever you're going.
In addition to that, some women with ADHD have difficulty making friends due to their constant absence out on social events. They might also have difficulty understanding social cues and recognizing body language. They may also have trouble in focusing on conversations and get lost in 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 men or boys for an ADHD assessment as opposed to girls.
2. You Have Trouble Focusing
It is easy for people with ADHD to become lost in what they are doing. In a conversation, they might often veer off topic or talk about other things. They might also have trouble sitting still and be more reckless.
These problems can strain relationships with friends, family members and co-workers. For example, it is common for those with ADHD to be late for appointments or forget deadlines. They can also be disorganized, spend too much time on unimportant tasks or have trouble sitting at home. They might also find it hard to concentrate at work or keep up with their finances.
Boys are more likely than girls to be identified as having ADHD in children. However, as adults, the numbers even out. This is believed to be due to the fact that women are more likely than men to have recurrences in symptoms and seek treatment when one of their children has been diagnosed with ADHD. Changing hormone levels, especially during menopausal changes, may influence the severity of ADHD symptoms.
3. You Have Poor Memory
Women who suffer from ADHD often have difficulty remembering important occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries and gatherings. They may also have difficulty recalling names, which can make it difficult to keep pace in conversations and social settings.
People suffering from ADHD tend to have poor judgment. They talk about things without thinking about them. This can result in many "foot in mouth" moments that can be stressful for family members and colleagues.
A woman's difficulty maintaining and making friends is a different sign of adhd. Many girls suffering from ADHD struggle to manage their emotions, which can lead to difficult relationships with their partners. This puts them at a greater risk for being pressured into unwanted sexual activity or becoming victims of violence from their intimate partners.
Many women suffering from ADHD struggle to keep up with the social expectations of parenting and homemaking, as well as relationships. This can cause a lot more stress in their lives, making it difficult to recognize and manage ADHD symptoms. Women may develop coping strategies that include drinking or using drugs to mask their symptoms. This can interfere with treatment. Diagnoses are the first step in identifying and managing the challenges. The good news is that you can get assistance.
4. You're having difficulty making decisions
Women who struggle to make decisions might find themselves putting off or finding it difficult to complete tasks because they have difficulty deciding which tasks should be prioritised. They also have trouble remembering and following through with the decisions they've made. This kind of ADHD impacts the performance of their work, relationships, and self-esteem.
The signs of ADHD in women are more difficult to recognize because teachers and parents don't recommend girls as frequently as boys for evaluation. Women are also more adept in hiding their symptoms. They can develop strategies to cope that help them appear "normal" and to meet social expectations, such as relying on apps to manage their daily activities.
Women may receive an official diagnosis by their primary physician, who might refer them to a physician of specialization. Depending on the results, the doctor could recommend therapy or medication. In therapy, your therapist will help you develop better ways to cope and help you to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. They can also help you and your family members improve communication which can be a problem when one or more of the members of a couple suffer from ADHD. The medication can help reduce symptoms, and improve productivity at work or at school.
5. You're having difficulty multitasking
Women suffering from ADHD often feel overwhelmed when they try to complete deadlines or perform multiple tasks at the same time. They may also have trouble regulating their emotions and finding it difficult to find or keep friends, especially when they struggle to pick up on social cues and can be prone to impulsive behavior.
Having trouble with multitasking is another indication of adhd in women as is their tendency to be easily distracted and lose or misplace things. This can 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. This kind of ADHD is more likely to be misdiagnosed by women as the symptoms are more subtle than those associated with the inattentive form.
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD adult may also develop coping mechanisms to cover up their difficulties. For instance, they may self-medicate with alcohol or other drugs to fit in. This can further aggravate 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're having difficulty managing your time
In the workplace, ADHD time management problems can pose a serious problem. If add in adult women don't adhere to an organized system to finish your projects, return phone calls, or keep records, it can be difficult to accomplish your tasks. Even if you're doing great work, your supervisors may question your competence if you regularly 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 with untreated ADHD are also more likely than others to suffer from co-occurring anxiety or depression, and may have difficulty 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 appropriate treatment or support. This can result in strained relationships with friends, family and romantic partners. adhd symptoms in women strained relations can increase frustration and miscommunication which makes it more difficult for women to seek help.
7. You Have Trouble Making Friends
Women with ADHD are likely to find it difficult to be unable to make friends. Because of this, social expectations put a lot of emphasis on women to be competent at multiple roles, including raising children, sustaining relationships, and doing well at work. Women may suffer from symptoms that get worse when they attempt to meet the demands. They also may be at a higher risk of developing poor relationships with their peers or having co-existing mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Additionally, women are more likely to develop strategies that cover up their ADHD symptoms. This could cause to them over-exercising, staying up later than they should, and rely on calendars or phone reminders to manage their lives.
Forgetfulness and impulsiveness are also undesirable behaviors that can create problems at work as well as in personal relationships. For instance, ignoring an event at a friend's house can cause them to feel jilted and that you do not value them. Disrupting conversations or becoming angry at the smallest hint can lead to conflict and misunderstandings. Managing your expectations of your relationships can avoid negative feelings, misinterpretations, or anger. You can do this by keeping a calendar of the important dates of your friends and using a notepad to jot down information you learn about new acquaintances and keeping your promises.