Adult Female ADD Symptoms
Women who suffer from ADD are susceptible to various symptoms. Some are hyperactive and others are hypoactive. Women who have ADD struggle to stay on top of daily tasks like keeping the house clean or attending to the needs of children or taking part in activities with the family.
Another symptom that is common is a difficulty remembering names. This problem can become worse prior to, during, or after menopause.
1. Inability to Focus
Lack of focus is an indication that you could have a mental health issue. If you're unable to complete tasks, make poor decisions or overlook important information at work or home, it's time to seek help. These symptoms could be caused by side effects of medications or stress factors. They may also be a sign of conditions that are underlying, like ADHD.
Women suffering from ADD tend to lose their attention easily. They may daydream or have difficulty completing routine chores like grocery shopping or washing clothes. They might also be susceptible to making mistakes that aren't their fault and frequently misplacing things, which can result in clutter in the home, an unorganized office, or lost work supplies. They could also be impulsive and make bad decisions that could result in serious consequences such as using drugs, engaging in risky sex or fighting.
In addition, they can be on the opposite end of the spectrum, either hyperactive or hypoactive. signs of adhd could run at a high rate until she screams from exhaustion, while a hypoactive women cannot muster the energy needed to make it through the day. Both women struggle to maintain relationships, keep up with family obligations, or meet professional obligations.
Women who suffer from ADD often have high-functioning symptoms, which aren't a medical diagnosis, but instead describes how well they manage their symptoms. They may have concentration problems but they don't impact their daily lives as much. If you notice that your symptoms are becoming worse, it is recommended to talk to your doctor. They can help you to determine the cause of your symptoms and suggest solutions.
2. Mood Swings
Women suffering from ADD tend to be more susceptible than men to mood swings. They may become irritable at the slightest annoyance, feel frustrated and then storm away in anger. They are also more impulsive and engage in things with all their might instead of taking it slow and steady, which can lead to financial problems or relationship problems. These emotional symptoms are often mistakenly categorized as bipolar disorder however they can be co-existing with ADD in many instances. Mood swings can get worse during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or perimenopause. ADD can make it difficult to stay in the same job, which can be a contributing factor to feelings of depression.
3. Distractions
Women who suffer from ADD are often distracted by events around them, as well as their own thoughts. They can get lost in a daydream or find it difficult to focus on tasks such as grocery shopping, with all the options. Simple tasks require too focus on a single concept for them, and they become frustrated when their attention gets diverted.
Mood swings are also common among women suffering from ADD who are experiencing the emotional rollercoaster that comes with the disorder. They can become frustrated by even the smallest of things and blame themselves for their shortcomings. The impulsive nature of their behavior can cause difficulties at school, work and in relationships. Extreme mood swings can often lead to a misdiagnosis as bipolar disorder. This is especially true because many women with ADD have depression co-occurring with it that must be treated as well.
4. Irritability
Irritability is often a sign of underlying mental illness. It could also be due to physical issues like hormonal imbalances or food intolerance.
A person experiencing irritability can feel tense or uptight and often has a short temper and becoming easily angry or frustrated. It can lead to a lack of patience or anger, which could cause them to snap at people who haven't done anything wrong. It can affect their mood and increase their vulnerability to anxiety or depression symptoms.
Irritation is a mood of agitation that causes a part of physiological disturbance. It is characterized by a higher sensory sensitivity, a noncognitively mediated lower threshold to react with aggression or anger to less threatening stimuli, and a greater tendency to exhibit irritable behavior (Digiuseppe Tafrate, 2007). Irritability can be caused by hunger, fatigue, poor sleep or pain. It can be a sign of hormonal changes, like those experienced during the premenstrual (PMS) syndrome.
In one study, researchers surveyed 287 college students on their levels of anxiety and psychiatric symptoms. Researchers discovered that those with severe irritability also had more psychiatric issues than those who did not. They also had more difficulties with daily activities than those without the irritable episodes.
Try relaxation techniques to reduce your irritability. You can find a quiet area to do breathing exercises, listen to music, or take a bath away from the noise and chaos of a crowded environment. Self-care that focuses on your physical and mental requirements can help to relax your body and ease your irritability.
5. Depression
Depression is a constant low mood that can affect a person's daily functioning. Depression is more than a feeling of sadness after a stressful event or loss. Depression is a serious mental condition that can trigger feelings of despair, apathy and helplessness. Depression can occur in people of all age groups, races and genders. Women are more likely than males to experience depression.
Depression can manifest as a persistently depressed mood, changes in sleep patterns or levels of energy, fatigue or a feeling of despair. Other signs include a negative self-image, feelings of despair or desperation, suicidal ideas and attempts, slowed speech and movements, a failure to think clearly, and difficulties making decisions. Depression can also cause an end of interest in hobbies and other pursuits and a feeling of hopelessness and being trapped.
Depression is twice as prevalent in females as males and it is most prevalent during puberty, pregnancy, and the year following the birth of a child. Depression can also occur during menopausal perimenopausal or perimenopaus. Depression can coexist alongside other mental health issues such as anxiety disorders and substance misuse. Check out this NIMH fact sheet for more details about depression, treatment options and resources to find assistance.