ADHD hyperactivity symptoms in adults with ADHD are often undiagnosed because of inattentive or less evident symptoms, gender bias by healthcare providers, and the maskedness of symptoms. The need for a diagnosis is essential to improve your relationships and prepare you for success, and help you identify your own behaviors.
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 look for these signs:
Hyperfocus
Many people who have ADHD can focus on a particular activity to the point where they forget about the outside world, even if the activity is not productive. This is referred to as hyperfocus. Unrestrained hyperfocus, although beneficial for certain people like scientists, writers and artists, can be a hindrance. It can lead to missed appointments, setbacks in work or school and strained relationships with family members and friends.
Hyperfocus can be a challenge to stop, especially when you don't know it's occurring. Create a schedule for the day and prioritize daily tasks such as brushing your teeth or taking bath. If you're having a difficult time keeping track of your time, use a clock or alarm to help you remain focused or ask a trusted friend to check in with you at specific intervals. It can also help to move around and take frequent breaks while working on a project.
Hyperfocus in children is often thought of as positive, since it allows them to be highly engaged in an activity, such as skateboarding, or building with Legos. Hyperfocus that is not controlled can lead to problems at school, lower productivity at work, and frayed relations between siblings and parents.
The ability to hyperfocus can make it difficult to discern the signs that a child is experiencing emotional issues such as depression or anxiety which are common among adolescents. It is crucial to seek medical assistance if your daughter's symptoms of ADHD are affecting her daily functioning.
Symptoms of ADHD can also heighten during certain times in the life of a woman, such as when she is having menstrual cycle or pregnant. This can increase the intensity and frequency of emotional symptoms such as irritability or mood swings. It can also increase the likelihood of a female being misunderstood by her partner in love or coworkers.
The male-to-female ratio for diagnosed ADHD is 2:1 in childhood but this disparity becomes less apparent after age 14, when more females receive a diagnosis. The good news is that there are plenty of options to assist women and girls manage their ADHD, and improve their lives.
Procrastination
Procrastination is a common ADHD symptoms in women of adulthood and can create problems in your personal and professional lives. This symptom makes it difficult to start and complete tasks, particularly those that require self-regulation and executive function abilities. Procrastinators are often late in important work or school assignments, which can harm their reputation and relationships.
Missing deadlines and forgetting appointments are also common signs of adult ADHD for women. 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 result in missed opportunities at work or school. You can also become easily distracted by social media or your phone and have trouble staying focus when listening to or reading.
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 various emotional issues including anxiety and depression to mood swings that affect your life in different ways. It can also make it hard to handle tensions and miscommunications in personal and professional relationships.
Women are better than men in obscuring their ADHD symptoms, which can make it more difficult to receive a diagnosis and receive treatment. This is especially relevant for women with high-functioning ADHD. The symptoms of inattention aren't as obvious and can be concealed by mood disorders or anxiety. School reports typically omit comments concerning relationship issues or social problems and concentrate more on academic performance and behavior, which may lead to under-identification and under-diagnosis of girls and women with ADHD.
There are many treatments for adults with ADHD that include medication and cognitive behavioral therapy and lifestyle changes. Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Keep in mind that the aim of a treatment plan is to improve your daily performance and help manage your symptoms. Be sure to discuss the benefits and side consequences of any medication you're taking, as well as any co-occurring conditions that you have.
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 inattention symptoms are very frequent and can cause problems with school, work, and relationships.
Impulsivity is a symptom of the type of ADD/ADHD that is inattentive and can lead to poor choices or risky behaviors. The signs of impulsivity include blurting out answers before questions are asked, interrupting other people in conversations, or buying items on impulse without considering the consequences. These impulsive actions can lead to embarrassing situations in social situations, relationship issues and financial problems.
Emotional impulsivity is a common symptom in adult female ADHD. It can result in the impulsive behavior that occurs in reaction to anger or frustration. This impulsivity may also result in mood changes which make it difficult to maintain supportive and healthy relationships.
Women with ADHD may have difficulty managing their emotions, which can lead to depression and anxiety. These negative emotions can affect the performance of a person at work and cause missed appointments and health issues. Women who suffer from an impulsive ADHD often struggle to make decisions or plan ahead. They may become overly reliant on others, or have difficulty staying on track with their commitments.
Throughout adolescence and into adulthood, women and girls who suffer from ADHD are more likely to engage in risky sexual actions than those who are not affected by the disorder. This is usually due to an appreciation of the importance of sexual activity to gain social acceptance. Risky sexual behavior in adolescents and young adults with ADHD is a factor that can lead to the higher incidence of unplanned, teenage or early pregnancies.
The good news is that there are a variety of ways to reduce impulsive behaviors. It can be helpful to learn to pause and record your thoughts prior to taking action. Mindfulness or meditation practices can be beneficial in calming the mind and body, blocking out distractions, and controlling impulsiveness. Diet plays an important role in reducing the impulsiveness. A healthy diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and quality protein can improve focus and prevent impulse-driven behaviors. Sleep is another key factor in reducing impulsivity. Set up a regular sleeping routine, using a heavy blanket to relax your mind and body and limiting your screen time during the time before you go to bed.
Emotional Dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation is a common issue that is often experienced by adults with ADHD. It can be difficult to handle everyday challenges and relationships when you are not able to manage your emotions. 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 might find it difficult to identify your emotions or understand what they mean. This can be particularly challenging in the case of an emotional disorder like anxiety or depression. Symptoms of emotional dysregulation can include difficulty calming down after an argument, having frequent outbursts or getting easily frustrated by small problems and irritations. You might also have trouble letting go of past experiences or holding onto grudges.
Females who suffer from ADHD are more susceptible to emotional dysregulation. This is because their symptoms are internalized and they are less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than men or boys. 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 who suffer from ADHD are often under greater pressure to conform to social expectations than boys and men. This can be particularly difficult for teenagers with ADHD as they transition into the hormonal changes that accompany puberty and the transition to adolescence. In addition, their increased awareness of academic and social pressures, these can be an ideal recipe for emotional dysregulation.
If you suffer from issues with your emotions due to ADHD symptoms, medication or therapy may be the best choice for treatment. Medicine can aid in regulating your hormones and improve your mood, while therapy can offer an environment that allows you to deal with feelings of sadness, anger and anxiety, as well as rejection.
You can improve your sleep by following a bedtime routine doing a meditation practice or listening to soothing music prior to sleeping. This can be achieved by following a daily routine before going to bed, practicing meditation or listening to calming music. Good sleep hygiene practices can help you get more energy throughout the day.
While everyone's journey with ADHD is unique it is important to recognize that there are solutions to manage the symptoms and live an enjoyable life. It's commonplace for people to test a combination or treatments, medications or lifestyle changes to determine the best solution.