Blog entry by Rene Tallis
Women suffering from ADHD are often not diagnosed because of inattentive or less evident symptoms, gender biases by health professionals and symptom maskedness. It is crucial to be diagnosed to improve your relationships and prepare you for success, and help recognize your behavior.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you need to have at least five ongoing symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactive/impulsive symptoms that interfere with daily life. Use this checklist to check these symptoms:
Hyperfocus
ADHD can cause people to be so focused on a specific task that they lose sight of the world outside. This happens even if the activity isn't productive. Hyperfocus is what this is. Hyperfocus that is unrestricted, though useful for some people like scientists, writers and artists, can be a liability. It can lead you to miss appointments, have setbacks at school or work and can cause tension with your family and friends.
Hyperfocus is hard to stop if unaware that it is occurring. The best method to get out of an ADHD hyperfocus session is to make a plan and prioritize tasks for the day, including routine chores like brushing your teeth or taking a shower. If you're having a difficult time keeping track of your time, use a clock or alarm clock to help keep track of your time or have a friend be in touch with you at regular intervals. It is also helpful to move around and take frequent breaks while working on a task.
In children, hyperfocus is often seen as an advantage, as it allows kids to become completely engaged in an activity like skating or creating with Legos. Hyperfocus that is not controlled can lead to problems at school, lower productivity at work, and strained relationships between siblings and parents.
Hyperfocus may make it difficult to determine the signs that the child is suffering from an emotional problem such as depression or anxiety which are prevalent among adolescents. It is essential to seek medical assistance if your daughter's symptoms of ADHD are impacting her daily life.
The symptoms of ADHD can also heighten during certain times in a woman's life, such as when she is menstruating or is pregnant. This can increase the frequency and severity of emotional symptoms like irritability and mood swings. It also increases the possibility that a female will be misunderstood by her coworkers or romantic partners.
While the male-to-female ratio of diagnosed ADHD is 2:1 in childhood, this imbalance becomes less apparent after age 14, when more females receive a diagnosis. The good news is that there are plenty of resources to help women and girls manage their ADHD, and improve their lives.
Procrastination
Procrastination can be a common ADHD symptoms in women of adulthood and can create issues in your personal and professional lives. This symptom makes it difficult to start and complete tasks, particularly those that require self-regulation and executive functioning skills. Procrastinators often fall behind in important work or school assignments, which can damage their reputation and relationships.
Other signs of adult adhd symptoms in men ADHD include not remembering appointments and ignoring deadlines. You may also be prone to forgetting important information in conversations, or even your own personal needs, such as paying bills. You might have difficulty focusing in noisy or busy environments, which can cause you to miss opportunities at school or at work. You may also be easily distracted by your mobile or social media, and struggle to concentrate when listening or reading with another person.
People with the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD typically have a harder time controlling their emotions than those with the inattentive type. This can lead to a range of emotional challenges including anxiety and depression to mood swings that can impact your life in different ways. It can also make it difficult to deal with confusion and frustration in personal and work relationships.
Women are better than males in obscuring their ADHD symptoms and this can make it more difficult to get diagnosed and receive treatment. This is particularly the case for women who suffer from high-functioning adhd symptoms female adults. The signs of inattention are less obvious, and can be hidden by anxiety or mood disorders. School reports usually do not contain any mentions concerning relationship issues or social problems and concentrate more on academic performance and behavior, which may result in under-diagnosis and under-identification of women and girls with ADHD.
There are a variety of treatments for adults suffering from ADHD. These include medication, cognitive behavior treatment, and lifestyle changes. Consult your physician about the best treatment plan that is right for you. Keeping in mind that the goal of any treatment plan is to help manage your symptoms and improve your daily functioning. Discuss the possible side effects and benefits of every medication you are taking, along with any co-occurring disorders.
Impulsivity
Women and girls with ADHD are more likely to have inattentive symptoms than men and boys, but they're less likely to have the hyperactive/impulsive or mixed subtypes of ADHD. However, the inattentive symptoms are quite common and can affect school, work, or relationships.
Impulsivity is an attribute of the inattention subtype of ADD/ADHD. It can cause problems when it causes poor choices or risky behavior. Impulsivity can be characterized by a tendency to respond to questions prior to being asked, interrupting conversations, or buying things without considering the consequences. These impulsive behaviors can lead to embarrassing social situations, relationship problems and financial difficulties.
Emotional impulsivity is yet another common sign of adult female ADHD. It can lead to impulsive behavior in reaction to anger or frustration. This impulsivity can also cause mood fluctuations which make it difficult to keep healthy and positive relationships.
Women who suffer from ADHD may have difficulty managing their emotions, leading to anxiety and low self-esteem. These negative emotions can impact the performance of a person at work, and can lead to missing appointments or health issues. Women with an impulsive ADHD often struggle to make decisions or plan ahead. As a result, they can become overly dependent on others, or have a hard time keeping their commitments.
Girls and women who suffer from adhd adult female symptoms are more likely of engaging in sexually risky behavior throughout their adolescence, and even into adulthood. This is in contrast to their peers who don't have the disorder. This is because sexual activity is viewed as a sign of social acceptance. Sexually threatening behaviors of adolescents and young adults with ADHD are a contributing factor to the increased rates of teenage, early or unplanned pregnancy in these populations.
There are a variety of ways you can control your the impulsive behavior. It is helpful to take a step back and write down thoughts before acting. Meditation or mindfulness can also aid in calming the body and mind, and eliminate distractions. Diet plays a role in managing the impulsiveness. A balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and high-quality proteins, can improve concentration and reduce the risk of impulsive behavior. Sleep is also key to the reduction of the risk of impulsiveness. To ensure an improved night's sleep Try establishing a regular bedtime routine, using an oversized blanket to relax your body and mind prior to sleeping, and limiting screen time in the days before bed.
Emotional Dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation is a common issue that is often experienced by adults suffering from ADHD. If you're not able to control your emotions, it is difficult to deal with daily challenges and relationships. This could lead to self-destructive behaviours like addictions or eating disorder. This can make it hard to manage a home, work or school life.
You may have difficulty identifying your feelings or understanding what they mean. This is especially difficult when you suffer from a mood disorder, such as depression or anxiety. Symptoms of emotional dysregulation can include difficulty getting calm after a fight and having frequent outbursts, or being easily annoyed by minor problems and irritations. It is also possible to have difficulty getting past events out of your mind or holding grudges.
Females suffering from ADHD are more prone to emotional dysregulation. The reason for this is because their symptoms are internalized and they are less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than males or females. Symptoms may also be harder to notice because many teachers miss subtle hyperactive-impulsive symptoms in girls, and rating scales for ADHD are still skewed toward male behavior symptoms.
Girls with ADHD often feel more pressure to conform to social norms than boys and men. This can be especially challenging for teenagers with ADHD as they transition into the hormonal changes that accompany puberty and adolescence. Combined with their heightened sensitivity to social and academic demands, this can be an ideal recipe for emotional dysregulation.
If you experience an emotional disorder due to ADHD symptoms, medication or therapy may be the best choice for treatment. The use of medication can boost your mood and regulate your hormones while therapy offers a safe space to process emotions such as anger, sadness and rejection. It can also help with anxiety.
Whether you choose therapy or medication the best way to treat emotion dysregulation is to take steps to improve your sleep. This can be achieved by following a routine before sleeping, practicing meditation, or listening to soothing music. Practicing good sleep hygiene can help you get more energy throughout the day.
While everyone's experience is unique, it's important that you remember there are ways to manage ADHD symptoms and live a life that is enjoyable. It's not uncommon for people to go through an array of treatments, medications or lifestyle adjustments to discover what works best.