In my experience growing up in the traditional Black American community mental health is often not talked about and mental illness is looked down upon. Mental health is looked at as an inner issue with the person and their character rather than their physical makeup. I have honestly chalked it up to just being due to ignorance of the topic, just like so many other topic in my community. I will say that our younger generations are so much more educated on the topic and that makes me hopeful for the future. But our older generation ehh yeah I think it’s a wrap for them. Let’s cover the symptoms of ADHD in women ..
What are the Symptoms of ADHD in women?
From our last blog we know that ADHD is short for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and is a neurodevelopment disorder that affects the neurological pathways created during your brain’s development. The book breaks ADHD symptoms into the three following categories: Inattentiveness or when you have trouble paying attention and often times lose focus, Hyperactivity or when you have trouble sitting still in one spot in often unsuitable times, Impulsiveness or when you act without thinking about your consequences.
The Symptoms of ADHD by Category are the following:
*Note: The books states that if you have had 5 or more of these symptoms for the past 6 months you may need to be tested for ADHD
Inattentiveness
- Can’t pay attention.
- Make careless mistakes.
- Having issues with focus.
- Issues with staying on task.
- Issues with finishing activities during conversations, reading and lectures.
- Issues with following through on duties at work.
- Have been accused of not listening in a conversation.
- Have issues with organizing your day.
- Bad Time Management – miss deadlines.
- Disorganized and messy.
- Dislike or avoid projects that take continued mental effort.
- Lose important things daily: keys, phone, wallet, etc.
- Become distracted easily.
- Forget about daily tasks like chores, bills, returning phone calls, keeping appointments.
Hyperactivity and Impulsiveness
- Have issues sitting still: Often jiggle feet, hands, shifts in your seat or fidgets.
- Inability to stay seated at work.
- Need to be on the go constantly.
- Talk too much.
- Unable to do quiet activities.
- You cannot wait to speak – you cannot wait for someone to finish asking a question before you answer.
- Interrupts other conversations or activities without being asked to join.
- Take over an activity to avoid having to give instructions or explain yourself.
More Symptoms to be Aware of:
- Time Management difficulty
- Inability to stay organized.
- Constantly overwhelmed.
- History of depression or anxiety
- Money Management Issues
- Insomnia
- Compulsive Eating
- Alcoholism
- Hypersensitivity
- Sensory overload when being touched.
- Clothing irritating
- Sensitivity to loud sounds, strong smells, and light exposure
- Over sensitivity leads to headaches, migraines, nausea, or stomach aches
LINK TO BUY THE BOOK on AMAZON !
Citations
Davis, Sarah, and Linda Hill. Women with ADHD: The Complete Guide with Sample Tips & Strategies to Stay Organized, Overcome Distractions, Improve Relationships, Manage Emotions, and Thrive in Life. 2022.