When you think of the term ADHD, what do you think? I used to think of childhood ADHD as a little kid who has a hard time sitting still or being quiet. They can be rambunctious, interrupt conversations, and, quite frankly, be a bit annoying. What I didn’t know then is that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (a neurodevelopmental disorder) can look very different for different people, and the signs and symptoms of an ADHD diagnosis in women can often go unnoticed.

It wasn’t until I had a child of my own, who very obviously had ADHD that I really started to learn more about it. As many of us know, ADHD can be genetic and usually is. Personally, I didn’t think his ADHD came from my side of the family, mainly because I didn’t exhibit many of those “behaviors” nor did my family members. Or so I thought…

Live & Learn About The Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Women

My ongoing mental health struggles have led me on an educational journey like you wouldn’t believe. Google doesn’t know everything and I certainly don’t suggest believing everything you read, but it can be helpful in getting an accurate diagnosis. For me, the older I get, the more passionate I become about solving problems. If something is bothering me or someone I love, the first step is doing my own research and finding relevant information.

(That being said, I highly recommend visiting your healthcare provider and getting a referral to an ADHD specialist who knows the ins and outs of ADHD.)

 

It can be pretty mind-blowing when we stumble upon information that we never would have considered would pertain to us.

This leads me to ADHD in adult women and how it may not show up in a stereotypical fashion. More importantly, it can drastically impact our mental health in other ways. Undiagnosed ADHD has no doubt impacted my bouts of depression, anxiety, and overall quality of life.

I often think of what might have been. If we were aware of the differences in ADHD between genders and different age groups, would some of my days in life have been better? If I had the awareness and knew what the signs and symptoms of ADHD in women were, could it have ultimately made me a happier person? Could I have found better solutions for time management and handling my daily tasks overall? Could I have been more successful and found a career that was perfect for me? 

My parents had no knowledge of ADHD and ADHD medications, nor did most at the time. They didn’t have the resources or conversation back then to know what inattentive symptoms to look for, especially when it came to a young girl.

So how can ADHD show up as a young girl?

ADHD can show up in a lot of different ways. I remember missing a lot of school in elementary, middle, and especially high school. I could never really make sense of it at the time. Why didn’t I want to go to school? I would do anything to get out of going to school. My poor parents. It was a BATTLE. In elementary and middle school, I dealt with some bullying, but in high school, there wasn’t anyone specific that was keeping me from showing up… besides me. For some reason, daily functioning for me just seemed to be more difficult, but I couldn’t figure out why.

Perhaps that traditional learning environment just wasn’t for me. Maybe the responsibilities of daily life were too much for my brain in how they were presented. Maybe I didn’t have the resources around me to notice or help. Truth be told, I’m sure these all played a factor in my resistance to school and do for many people with ADHD.

There are multiple types of ADHD, and one of them that hit home for me is what they call internal hyperactivity. You can do your own research on ADHD symptoms in young girls, but some of the signs and symptoms of ADHD that showed up for me are listed below.

• A social girl that likes to chat
• Word vomit or impulsive talking
• Trouble focusing and having too many “thoughts”
• Makes friends easily but has trouble keeping them
• Dark bouts of self-harming
• Exaggerated insecurity and fear of rejection
• Depression and Anxiety
• Lack of organizational skills

This certainly is not an exhaustive list. You’ll be surprised how it may have shown up for you as a little girl or could be showing up for your daughter now. Knowledge is power my friends and the more you know, the more you can help.

Adult ADHD Symptoms & Signs in Women

If you didn’t think you had any symptoms in adolescence, did you know that ADHD in adult women is often first diagnosed in middle-aged women? On top of that, pregnancy can alter and change our hormones resulting in the onset of adult ADHD even if you never had any of the symptoms beforehand.

ADHD is OFTEN accompanied by other mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, depression, and mood disorders. So if you struggle with any of the signs, I recommend you investigate the possibility of ADHD. Especially if you feel like you can never quite “get it right.” That could mean in quality of life, daily routine, combination of medications, etc. I’d hate for you to miss out on a clue that could help you in the long run.

So back to it. Adult women may notice the following…

• Their life feels chaotic and overwhelming more often than not resulting in a chronic stress
• Feel both physically and mentally exhausted
• Low self-esteem
• Spending too much time on tasks and jumping from one to another without finishing
• Irritability and frustration
• Mood swings
• Feel misunderstood but unsure of why
• Trouble with disruptive symptoms and interrupting others
• Super sensitive
• Procrastination and trouble starting everyday tasks
• Sleep problems
• General struggle with emotional regulation
• Issues with substance abuse
• Risky behaviors
• Trouble in social relationships

I remember thinking that many of these “symptoms” overlap with other diagnoses. I think that, like so many other medical diagnoses, this makes it hard to actually get to the root of the problem. On top of that, the lists above certainly don’t account for all possible symptoms since they can show up so differently.

Effective Treatment Options for Managing a Diagnosis of ADHD

The good news is that there’s plenty of help available if you discover you’ve been suffering from untreated ADHD. Not all treatments will work for everyone, so it’s important to explore and find what works for you.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (which can help provide lifestyle adjustments and behavior tools)
• Support Groups
• Stimulant Medications
• Non-Stimulant Medications
• Regular Exercise (seriously, makes a BIG DIFFERENCE)
• Eating a protein-packed balanced diet (important whether you’re on ADHD medication or not)
• Applying for an IEP or 504 plan during school-age years

Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Women – Not a One Size Fits All

Figuring it out isn’t simple, and honestly, it can be downright frustrating to figure out. How often someone has symptoms can fluctuate, too, based on hormonal fluctuations. One might suffer with mood swings “once in a while,” while others might only really experience this before their menstrual cycle. Sleep habits and screen time can also have a big impact on ADHD symptoms.

If you’re feeling “off” and question if you have the signs and symptoms of ADHD in women, it’s worth looking into. Personally, I remember it clicking at one point. Why did I not consider this before? It actually made a whole lot of sense. I’m 100% sure that the reason for the delay is our idea of ADHD (hyper, can’t sit still or focus), and education on the subject. We now have so much more research and access to information, which is a beautiful thing.

In conclusion, mental health issues are much easier to manage when we have curiosity. Curiosity gives us answers and allows us to make the right lifestyle changes. What do you think? Do any of these traits hit home for you?

Remember friends, just as the great Ice Cube once said… Chickity Check yo’ self before you wreck yo’ self.