Are you wondering if you might have ADHD as well? You're not alone in this. While ADHD affects both genders equally, many women go without a formal diagnosis. The use of coping strategies throughout life and misinterpreting symptoms as inherent traits may lead to feelings of inadequacy, stress, and possibly even depression.
Obtaining a diagnosis along with appropriate treatment can significantly enhance your quality of life, regardless of your age.
Let's explore some prevalent symptoms of ADHD in adult women and examine how they might show up in everyday situations.
What could be some signs that you have ADHD?
You blurt things out
ADHD makes it hard to think before speaking, which can often lead to unintentional bluntness. While friends may get used to it, handling new connections and staying professional at work can be tiring. Knowing and understanding that this challenge comes from ADHD can help you be kinder to yourself when those moments happen.
Time management is a constant struggle
People with ADHD struggle to “see” time. Time often passes without noticing, or you might find yourself struggling to estimate how long a task actually takes. This Phenomenon is referred to as time blindness. It's not uncommon for individuals with ADHD to invest time in nonessential aspects of a task. You might find yourself struggling with missed appointments, arriving at the right place but at the wrong time, or being so absorbed in a task that entire day elapses. Maintaining a regular bedtime may also prove challenging. Time blindness can lead to negative self-talk or external labels like "spacey" or "inconsiderate," though in reality, you're diligently managing life with a complex disorder.
There is always chaos
In your handbag, a mishmash of old receipts, ChapSticks, different notebooks you never opened, a mishmash of old charging cables that probably don’t work anymore. Staying organized can be a huge struggle for many of us ADHD’ers.
You struggle to make decisions
ADHD presents a paradoxical aspect in decision-making. During certain moments you might find yourself making significant commitments and impulsivity splurging on a popping keyboard that costs $200, because this seems like the most necessary thing right now. While on the same day you are having a hard time deciding what to eat for dinner. This is why so many with ADHD find relief in relying on friends or partners to navigate these decision-making challenges, simplifying an otherwise very complicated process.
Overcommitment
Many women with ADHD often find themselves with a lifetime of raised expectations, that so often lead to the feeling of constantly be under pressure. This can result into becoming an over-achiever at heart, you might find yourself diving into every project that presents itself, offering assistance who ever needs it and saying yes to all the plans. However, our ADHD symptoms like time blindness, time management, planning and prioritization struggles can really turn on us and might lead you to feel paralyzed by all the work you put on yourself. Learning to scale back, slow down, and extend forgiveness for losing interest in passion projects becomes a crucial step.
Working memory
Another ADHD symptom is that we struggle with working memory. That means that you might find yourself consonantly re-reading the same paragraph, because you forgot to actually “read” and comprehend the words written on paper, you might find yourself having a hard time following multiple steps of directions, or remembering important dates, like birthdays or anniversaries, seems impossible just like remembering anyone’s name. Your working memory challenges and the forgetfulness might leave friends and family feeling as if they have no priority in your life. ADHD, can feel like a constant negotiation between the intention to remember and the inherent difficulty in doing so.
How do you manage ADHD symptoms as a woman?
Dealing with ADHD as a female comes with its set of challenges, often leading to undiagnosed struggles and stress. Recognizing your challenges with impulsive speech, time management difficulties, chaos, decision-making struggles, overcommitment, and working memory challenges can be your first step to get help. Getting a formal diagnosis and appropriate treatment can significantly improve your life. It's important to be kind to yourself, understand the roots of these challenges, and find strategies to navigate life with ADHD. You're not alone in this journey, and seeking support can make a big difference.
If you are eager to dive deeper into your ADHD brain and want support tailored to your needs, consider joining my Small Group ADHD Coaching program. It's a perfect opportunity to further explore strategies, receive guidance, and connect with a supportive community on your journey to thriving with ADHD.
Click here to learn more about my ADHD Small Group Coaching👇
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