By We Level Up FL Treatment Center | Editor Yamilla Francese | Clinically Reviewed By Lauren Barry, LMFT, MCAP, QS, Director of Quality Assurance | Editorial Policy | Research Policy | Last Updated: March 23, 2023

ADHD Symptoms in Women Adults

Common signs and symptoms of ADHD in adult women include difficulty focusing, paying attention, getting organized, completing tasks, being forgetful, talking impulsively, being overactive, and having difficulty controlling their emotions. They may also feel overwhelmed and anxious easily, be easily distracted, and feel overwhelmed when trying to complete tasks.

Common Symptoms of ADHD in Women

The symptoms of ADHD in women and girls can include difficulty concentrating, inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

Other less common symptoms may include:

• Trouble organizing and completing tasks.
• Difficulty following directions and managing time.
• Difficulty managing emotions and moods.
• Restlessness.
• Impulsive talking.

Women with ADHD may present symptoms unique to their gender, and it is crucial to seek the help of a mental health professional for a proper diagnosis.

Top 5 Symptoms of ADHD in women

Symptoms of ADHD in women can vary, but the top Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms in women can include:

1. Inattention: Difficulty paying attention, forgetfulness, disorganization, losing things frequently.
2. Hyperactivity: Fidgeting, feeling restless, excessively talking, interrupting others.
3. Impulsivity: Making hasty decisions, acting without thinking, interrupting others, and having trouble waiting their turn.
4. Emotional dysregulation: Irritability, mood swings, frustration, low self-esteem.
5. Time management difficulties: Procrastination, difficulty prioritizing, lateness.

Women with ADHD may present with symptoms different from those commonly seen in men and experience symptoms differently. Consulting a mental health professional for a proper evaluation and diagnosis is essential.

Treatment for Symptoms of ADHD in Women

Treatment for symptoms of ADHD in women typically involves a combination of medication and therapy, as both are effective in managing symptoms. Medications, such as stimulants, can help to reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity, while therapy can help women learn coping strategies to manage their symptoms and cultivate a better strategy for managing their time and attention. Additionally, lifestyle changes, such as stress management and properly scheduling tasks, can also help manage symptoms of ADHD in women.

Symptoms in Adult Women ADHD Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 8.4 million women in the United States have been diagnosed with ADHD, representing about 3.4 percent of all women. Additionally, 6.6 percent of all US women have received an ADHD diagnosis at some point in their lifetime.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), girls with ADHD remain an enigma–often overlooked, misunderstood, and hotly debated. Moreover, girls with ADHD aren’t identified and helped earlier in their lives because male ADHD patterns have been over-represented in the literature. 

Adult women with ADHD may also experience depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues. They may struggle to keep up with day-to-day tasks or feel overwhelmed. Women may also have problems with low self-esteem, relationship problems, or career setbacks. Additionally, they may have difficulty sleeping or trouble to regulate their emotions.

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Common Symptoms of ADHD in Adults Women

Women’s ADHD symptoms have three main presentations.

• Hyperactive-impulsive type.
• Inattentive type.
• Combination type, which involves combined symptoms of the other two types.

While women can have any of the three types, females who get an ADHD diagnosis more commonly have the inattentive type. ADHD in women symptoms of this type includes trouble with concentration, organization, and learning and processing new information.

In other words, not everyone with ADHD will seem hyperactive, fidgety, impatient, or impulsive. When kids don’t act out or disrupt others, it may take more time for parents and teachers to notice the symptoms they do have.

Some key ADHD symptoms in women and common ADHD symptoms in females (ADHD women symptoms) include the following:

• Talking frequently or excessively, even when parents or teachers ask them to stop.
• Extreme emotional sensitivity and reactivity, such as crying or becoming upset, efficiently.
• Extreme focus on things that interest them.
• Trouble paying attention to directions at home or school.
• A tendency to daydream or seem lost in their world.
• Slow or distracting movements.
• A habit of blurting out thoughts or acting on impulses without thinking things through.
• Frequent forgetfulness.
• A habit of abandoning goals or plans halfway.
• Disorganization, which might show up as a messy bedroom, desk, or backpack.
• Constantly interrupting peers during conversations and activities.
• Trouble forming and maintaining friendships.
• Difficulty completing schoolwork on time.
• Trouble sleeping, including difficulty falling asleep or waking up too early.
• Relational aggression toward peers, including gossip, bullying, intimidation, and other controlling behaviors.
• A preference for strenuous outdoor activities and sports that require a lot of energy.

Some women with ADHD may notice more severe symptoms before and during their period. Evidence suggests that girls often have less severe symptoms, especially hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. When parents and teachers notice these signs, they might link them to personality differences or immaturity.

The ADHD symptoms in women listed above aren’t the only signs. They are just examples of how the condition often shows up in girls.

Common Symptoms of ADHD in Adults Female

Social Life

Growing up, you may have been described as a tomboy because you had so much energy and liked to be busy. Friendships can be challenging to navigate as an adult because social rules seem complicated. People may say that you talk more than anyone else they know. 

While you may be talkative, you may dislike attending parties and other social gatherings because they make you feel overwhelmed and shy. Your mind drifts during conversations unless you’re talking or it’s a topic you find very interesting.

Work

Being at the office feels difficult. The noise and people make it hard to get work done. You may stay late or come in early because you can only work effectively when everyone else has left and it’s quiet. Your desk at work is piled high with papers. Even when you effortlessly tidy it, it only stays clear for a day or two.

School

In school, ADHD symptoms in women may get overlooked because women are more likely to have inattentive ADHD, which doesn’t have the visible behavior problems that hyperactive/impulsive ADHD usually does. Girls with ADHD may also hyperfocus on things that interest them, leading teachers and parents to overlook the possibility of ADHD.

As an adult, you may feel frustrated that people you went to school with are passing you by with their achievements, even though you know you’re just as bright as them.

Daily Life

With ADHD, it may feel like each day is spent responding to requests and limiting disasters rather than moving forward with your goals. You may feel crushing sadness and frustration that you haven’t met your potential. Other daily struggles may include the following:

• Paper clutter: It often feels like you’re drowning in paper. At work, at home, in your car, and even in your purse. You feel uneasy about unpaid bills and forgotten projects hiding under all the paper. You don’t feel organized with money and are usually behind with accounts. 
• Overspending: You often overspend to compensate for other problems. For example, when you don’t have a clean outfit for an office party, you buy a new one. Or when you forget someone’s birthday, you buy an expensive present to make up for it. Shopping trips make you feel better in the moment, but you think regretfully later when the credit card bill arrives.
• Disorganization: You may spend a lot of time, money, and research on products to help you be more organized, but then you don’t use them. You may feel embarrassed to have guests visit your home because it’s cluttered and disorganized.
• Indecision: Grocery stores overwhelm you, and you may struggle to decide what to buy. You often forget a crucial ingredient for a meal even though you take longer in the store than most people do.

Relaxing is often difficult for people with ADHD. Little things can push you over the top, making you emotional.

ADHD in Adult Women: Symptoms & Possible Complications

Adult ADHD symptoms in women often don’t improve without treatment, and undiagnosed ADHD can worsen over time. Even milder symptoms can cause plenty of distress and affect daily life at work or home, along with friendships and relationships.

Plus, girls who never get a diagnosis may end up blaming themselves for the difficulties they experience. Instead of accepting these symptoms as signs of a mental health condition that requires professional support, they might:

• Feel frustrated with their lack of success.
• Believe they need to try harder.
• Frequently feel overwhelmed and exhausted by their efforts.
• Wonder why they “can’t do anything right.”.
• Have difficulty achieving goals and lose their motivation to keep trying.

Over time, this internalization can affect self-esteem and self-worth. It can also lead to self-punishment and an overall sense of hopelessness. Other possible complications of ADHD symptoms in adult women [2] include:

• Regular conflict in relationships with parents, teachers, and friends.
• Rejection or bullying from classmates and peers.
• Social isolation or few close friendships.
• Increased chance of eating disorders.
• Persistent sleep problems.
• Trouble succeeding at school or work.
• Increased chance of other mental health conditions, including substance use disorders and depression.

It’s also worth remembering that treatment for anxiety, depression, and other mental health symptoms might have less effect when ADHD symptoms in women go unaddressed.

Types & Symptoms of ADHD in Adult Women

ADHD is a mental health condition that affects the ability to do some or all of these tasks:

• Paying attention, focusing, or concentrating for prolonged periods.
• Noticing some details.
• Breaking activities and goals into steps or stages.
• Staying organized.
• Managing schedules.
• Remembering things.
• Sitting still.
• Managing impulses.

Types

People with ADHD typically have symptoms that fall into one of three categories.

Inattentive

The following are signs of inattentive ADHD:

• Difficulty concentrating.
• Being easily distracted.
• Regularly making careless mistakes.
• Often losing necessary items.

Hyperactive-Impulsive

Hyperactivity-impulsivity presents in the following ways:

• Restlessness.
• Difficulty remaining seated.
• Excessive talking.
• Frequent interruptions during a conversation.

Combined

A combination of both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms characterize combined ADHD.

ADHD in Adult Women Symptoms and Hormones

In both sexes, changes in hormone levels can influence ADHD symptoms. [3] Regardless of their sex assigned at birth, individuals may experience a shift in signs around puberty when sex hormones influence physical symptoms and behavior. Fluctuating hormones can affect symptoms in other ways:

• Experts in a 2020 statement agreed that hormone levels in pregnancy and menopause could also increase symptoms.
• A small 2017 study found that inattention can increase after the ovulation phase of your menstrual cycle.
• Changes in estrogen levels across your cycle can increase ADHD symptoms, especially for women with ADHD, who may experience more impulsivity.

ADHD Symptoms in Women vs Men

Men are more likely to receive a diagnosis than women. Nevertheless, this discrepancy doesn’t mean that Women are less vulnerable to ADHD than men. Instead, it happens because ADHD symptoms manifest differently in women. Women struggling with ADHD exhibit fewer and less pronounced behavioral problems. In return, their struggle with the condition usually gets overlooked. Consequently, most are not referred to specialists for evaluation and treatment.

Are ADHD symptoms in men worse? No evidence suggests that men have more severe ADHD symptoms. However, because men tend toward the hyperactive subtype of ADHD, their ADHD may seem more overt and disruptive to their lives. Men with ADHD tend to externalize their frustrations and struggles with the condition. On their part, women turn their anger, pain, and struggles inward, which often affects their mental health in the long run.

Co-Occurring Conditions

Other conditions can also be present, along with ADHD. When you have more than one condition, they are called comorbid or coexisting conditions. [4] Here are some conditions that women often have in addition to their ADHD:

• Substance use disorders, such as addiction to alcohol or drugs.
• Anxiety disorders, such as social anxiety disorder (SAD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
• Sleep disorders.
• Eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia.
• Mood disorders, like depression or bipolar disorder.

It’s good to be aware of these coexisting conditions because they can cause symptoms similar to ADHD. This, in turn, can make diagnosing ADHD more complex. However, an experienced clinician will be aware of this challenge. 

Adults with ADHD can experience depression or anxiety, problems with family, sexual behavior, work, and substance abuse. It is crucial to obtain an assessment to learn ADHD symptoms in women and treatment options to support your loved one with ADHD best. [5]

Behavioral therapy can help you develop coping strategies to manage your symptoms. It may help improve your focus and build your self-esteem. Talk therapy can also relieve symptoms of depression and other comorbidities common with ADHD and the stress of managing a chronic health condition. Leading a healthy lifestyle is also essential. For instance, try to get enough sleep, eat a well-balanced diet, and exercise regularly.

We Level Up FL offers an ADHD treatment program at our mental health treatment center in Florida. Here, clients participate in clinical and experiential therapies as part of our comprehensive curriculum. If your loved one is struggling with their depression diagnosis or other comorbidities, we can help them understand their disorder and teach them the skills they need to reach their full potential. 

Call today to speak with one of our treatment specialists. Your call is private and confidential, and there is never any obligation.