typical symptoms for adult females living with adhd
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms – which is actually attention ‘overload’- can present differently in adult females compared to how they present males. It’s important to note that ADHD is often under-diagnosed in females, as the symptoms may not fit the stereotypical image of hyperactivity commonly associated with the disorder. It may often be the case that there are women living with ADHD who might not even be aware of the full extent to which they are affected. There are a number of women in the public eye that are affected by the condition that you might not even know about from Olympic gymnast Simone Biles to Paris Hilton and these are some of the common ADHD symptoms that can be found in adult females:
- Inattentiveness:
- Difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
- Frequent careless mistakes due to lack of attention to detail
- Difficulty organising tasks and activities
- Forgetfulness in daily activities, such as forgetting appointments or deadlines
- Hyperfocus:
- While not a symptom of ADHD per se, some females with living with ADHD may experience hyper-focus, an intense concentration on a specific task to the exclusion of everything else. This can sometimes make it difficult for them to shift attention to other important tasks
- Impulsivity:
- Impulsive behaviours, such as making hasty decisions without considering the consequences
- Difficulty waiting one’s turn or being patient in various situations
- Emotional Sensitivity:
- Heightened emotional sensitivity and reactivity
- Easily overwhelmed by stress or emotional situations
- Daydreaming:
- Engaging in excessive daydreaming or mind-wandering
- Living with ADHD can often mean frequently being lost in thought, which may impact daily functioning
- Procrastination:
- Chronic procrastination and difficulty initiating tasks
- Struggling to complete tasks even if they are enjoyable or interesting
- Difficulty with Transitions:
- Difficulty transitioning from one task to another
- Resistance to changes in routine
- Low Self-Esteem:
- Chronic underachievement, living with ADHD can lead to feelings of frustration and low self-esteem
- Internalised feelings of not measuring up to one’s potential
- Relationship Challenges:
- Difficulties in maintaining relationships due to forgetfulness or impulsivity.
- Struggles with communication and attention in interpersonal interactions.
It’s important to recognise that these symptoms can vary widely among individuals, and not everyone living with ADHD will experience all these symptoms and having some of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean that someone has ADHD either. This can sometimes mean that females with ADHD may develop coping mechanisms that mask their symptoms, which is why it sometimes can make it harder to identify the disorder in the first place. The problems really arise when one or many traumatic or overwhelming life events impact daily life, for a female with undiagnosed ADHD their normal coping strategies breakdown and hyper sensitivity takes over.
If you think that is you, diagnosis helps but the more importantly is learning from fellow sufferers and trained experts to manage your condition will instantly change your daily life and give you hope for many more better days. I can and have helped many women living with ADHD so if you think that it’s something that you need to address, I offer a free 15 minute consultation for anyone looking to begin their therapy journey or if you would like to get in touch and find out more about my services, contact me for details.
About The Author
An experienced therapist Jille Tringham is the owner of Meditate Place and has years of personal and industry expertise. Her unique therapeutic approach can offer long term release and the ability to cope with emotional issues that cause daily setbacks and uncertainty in your life. Jille Tringham has a number of years experience in human behaviour both in a commercial setting and as a therapist. She provides therapies from her Birmingham base to release you from your day to day challenges, as well as Life Coaching and Career Mentoring because she understands the physical and emotional strains that spill into all areas of life.
