Adult Female ADD Symptoms
Women suffering from ADD can be affected by a wide range of symptoms. Some women who have ADD are hyperactive while others are hypoactive. Women who suffer from ADD often have difficulty staying on top of everyday tasks, like cleaning the house, taking care of their children, or attending family gatherings.
Another symptom is a difficulty remembering names. This condition can become more severe in the days before, during, and after menopause.
1. Inability to Focus
A lack of focus can be an indication that you might have a mental health issue. It is important to seek help when you're unable to complete an assignment or make poor decisions or overlook important information whether at work or at home. These symptoms can be triggered by side effects of medications, stress, or other factors. However, they could also be a sign of underlying disorders like ADHD.
Women who suffer from ADD tend to lose their focus quickly. symptoms of adult attention deficit disorder may daydream in conversations or struggle to complete routine chores such as grocery shopping and laundry. They might also be susceptible to making erroneous mistakes and regularly misplacing items, which could result in a messy home, cluttered office, or even lost work supplies. They can be impulsive, making poor choices that could result in serious consequences. For instance, they may use drugs or engage in risky sexual activities.
In addition, they can be at either end of the spectrum, hyperactive or hypoactive. A woman who is hyperactive could run until she collapses from exhaustion whereas a person who is hypoactive can't find the energy to get through each day. In both instances they may have difficulty maintaining relationships, keeping up with family activities, or meeting professional obligations.
Women with ADD usually have a high-functioning symptoms, which aren't a medical diagnosis, but rather describes how well they manage their symptoms. They may have issues with concentration however, they don't impact their daily lives as much. Symptoms can come and go, but when you notice that they're becoming worse over time, it's a good idea to speak with your doctor. They can help you understand the causes of your symptoms and suggest treatments.
2. Mood Swings
Women with ADD tend to be more susceptible than men to mood swings. They can become angry at the slightest annoyance, feel frustrated and then explode in anger. They can also be more impulsive, and tend to leap into the air first instead of tackling things slowly and steadily. This could lead to financial issues or relationships that fail. These emotional symptoms could be misdiagnosed. However, in many cases they coexist with ADD. Mood swings can also get worse when menstrual cycles or pregnancy, or during perimenopause. ADD can make it difficult to keep a job. This may cause depression.
3. Distractions
Women with ADD are easily distracted by the things happening around them and also by their own thoughts. They may lose themselves in a daydream or find it difficult to focus on tasks like grocery shopping because of the variety of options. They may find that simple tasks require them to concentrate on a single thought and become frustrated if their focus is diverted.
Women who suffer from ADD also experience mood swings as they go through the emotional rollercoaster of the disorder. They can become angry with minor problems and often blame themselves for their failures. Their impulsiveness may cause difficulties at school, work and in relationships. Extreme mood swings can sometimes result in confusion over whether they are bipolar disorder or not. This is especially true because many women with ADD have coexisting depression which must be treated well.
4. Irritability
Irritability is often a sign of underlying mental illness. It could be caused by physical issues like food intolerance or hormonal imbalances.
A person experiencing irritability can feel tense or uptight, often having a short temper and being easily angry or frustrated. It can lead to an increase in anger or frustration which can make people lash out at people, even if they've done nothing wrong. It can also affect someone's mood and make them more prone to depression or anxiety symptoms.
Irritation can be described as a feeling of partial physiological agitation which results from a greater sense of sensory stimuli, a brain-not controlled lowered threshold of responding to typically less vexing stimuli with anger or aggression, and an increased tendency to rage out in anger behavior (Digiuseppe Tafrate & Digiuseppe 2007). Irritability is often triggered by hunger, fatigue, poor sleep, or pain. It could be a symptom of hormonal changes similar to those experienced during the premenstrual (PMS) syndrome.
In one study, researchers surveyed 287 college students on their levels of irritability and psychiatric symptoms. They found that those with extreme irritability had a greater burden of mental health issues than those who didn't have. They also reported more difficulty in daily life than those with no the irritable episodes.
Relaxation techniques can help reduce your anxiety. Find a quiet space to practice breathing exercises, listen to music, or bathe away from the commotion and noise of a busy environment. Practicing self-care by focusing on your emotional and physical needs can help to calm down your mind and body which will in turn reduce your irritability.
5. Depression
Depression is a continuous low mood that can affect the person's ability to function in a daily manner. Although it is normal to feel down after the loss of a loved one or any other stressful event, depression is more than just feeling sad. Depression is a severe psychiatric condition that can trigger feelings of despair, hopelessness and despair. Depression can affect people of all different races, ages and genders. Women are more likely than men to suffer from depression.
Depression may manifest as a perpetually low mood, a change in appetite and weight (either loss or gain), changes in sleeping patterns, fatigue or a lack of energy. Other signs include a negative self-image, a feeling despair or emptiness, suicidal ideas and attempts, slow speech and movements, an inability to think clearly, and difficulty making decisions. Depression may also lead to a loss of enthusiasm for activities or hobbies and a feeling of being trapped and unable to move forward.
Depression is more prevalent in women than men and the peak is during pregnancy and puberty, as well as in the first year after childbirth. Depression can also manifest in perimenopause or menopause. Depression can be co-existing with other mental health issues like anxiety disorders and drug abuse. See this NIMH fact sheet for more details on depression and treatment options, as well as resources to find help.