Quick look at high-functioning ADHD in females Checklist
- Difficulty paying attention to details
- Hard to focus on tasks
- Struggling to finish tasks
- Trouble organising
- Getting distracted
- Forgetting appointments, deadlines, or daily tasks.
Understanding high-functioning ADHD in females
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder that typically shows up in childhood. It can lead to issues with attention, organization, and mood, as well as hyperactivity and impulsivity. ADHD usually emerges during childhood and can cause similar problems with attention, organization, and mood, along with hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
ADHD is considered a chronic, disabling condition affecting various aspects of an individual’s life, such as academic achievement, career, relationships, and daily activities. Without adequate treatment, it can lead to low self-esteem and social challenges in children. Adults with ADHD often face issues like low self-worth, sensitivity to criticism, and heightened self-criticism, possibly stemming from increased criticism throughout their lives.
There are well-known differences between the brains of children with ADHD and those without, especially in the frontal lobe. However, some individuals are not diagnosed until later in life. Many females at birth also go undiagnosed until adulthood because ADHD can present differently in females. Without treatment, ADHD can significantly impact daily life, affecting work, school, and relationships.
How is ADHD in women different?
ADHD is often underdiagnosed in women, not due to rarity but because its symptoms can differ. Instead of apparent hyperactivity or disruption, many women with ADHD show internal restlessness, emotional overload, or difficulty concentrating on everyday tasks. These signs may be concealed, mistaken for other issues, or ignored, especially when someone seems to be managing well outwardly.
Boys (15%) are more frequently diagnosed with ADHD than girls (8%). Approximately 6% of children are affected by moderate or severe ADHD. National data for U.S. children aged 3–17 who have ever been diagnosed with ADHD show state-by-state estimates ranging from 6% to 16%. Among children with current ADHD, the percentage receiving any treatment varies significantly, from 58% to 92% across different states.
How does high-functioning ADHD show itself in women?
While not a formal diagnosis, high-functioning ADHD typically exhibits milder symptoms. Often, those with this form appear unaffected, allowing them to maintain employment or excel academically. Nevertheless, they still fulfil the criteria for ADHD and may experience a broad spectrum of symptoms that can vary over time.
Some common ADHD symptoms in adult women, according to DSM-5, include:
1. Lack of Attentiveness:
You may often find it hard to stay focused, appearing spaced out or preoccupied, and easily distracted, which can resemble daydreaming. This is a common symptom of ADHD. It means having trouble listening to others during conversations, missing important details, or failing to complete tasks or projects on time.
2. Forgetfulness:
Remembering even important things, such as appointments or deadlines, can be challenging. It is normal to forget sometimes, but for people with ADHD, forgetfulness happens more often. This might mean routinely losing track of where you put things or forgetting important dates. Sometimes, forgetfulness is just a minor annoyance, but other times, it can be more serious.
3. Relationship difficulties:
You may find it challenging to maintain connections due to misunderstandings or emotional fluctuations. Due to ADHD, the person may be inattentive, easily bored, or talk over others in conversations, which can cause problems in professional, romantic, or platonic relationships.
4. Challenges in emotional regulation:
Managing your emotions can sometimes feel overwhelming, resulting in intense reactions. Minor frustrations might seem insurmountable or cause depression and mood swings. Ignoring these emotional issues can complicate both your personal and professional relationships.
5. Time management concerns:
This concern is similar to feeling disorganized. Adults with ADHD frequently struggle to manage their time effectively. They might procrastinate, arrive late to events, or ignore boring assignments. Focusing on the future or the past can be difficult, as the present moment often feels more immediate for those with ADHD.
6. High stress levels:
Daily life pressures can feel even more overwhelming when you are dealing with ADHD symptoms. You want to stay active and keep busy, but this can lead to frustration when you are unable to accomplish something immediately. This causes restlessness, which can then lead to frustration and anxiety. Anxiety is a comorbidity in adult ADHD, as the mind often replays worrisome events repeatedly.
7. Physical health concerns:
ADHD can cause neglect of physical health due to symptoms like disorganization, emotional struggles, impulsiveness, low motivation, and stress. These signs might lead individuals to ignore proper nutrition, skip workouts, or forget essential medications. ADHD in women often indirectly impacts their overall physical well-being.
8. Negative self-image:
Adults with ADHD are often overly critical of themselves, which can lead to a negative self-image. This is partly due to difficulties concentrating and other symptoms that may impact school, work, and relationships. It is normal to have moments when you feel like you are not meeting expectations, whether at work, at home, or in your relationships.
9. Impulsivity:
Impulsiveness in individuals with ADHD can manifest in different ways, including interrupting others during conversations, engaging in inappropriate social behaviour, rushing through tasks, and acting without thinking about the consequences.