The expert said ADHD in women “often gets missed” and shared five signs women with ADHD may display
A doctor has shared the signs he often sees in women with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). According to the expert, they are “often overlooked”, which means ADHD in women can often go unnoticed or undiagnosed.
Dr Ali Ajaz, a consultant psychiatrist, often shares information and advice on TikTok to his more than 90k followers. In a recent clip, he shared five signs displayed by women that could actually mean they have ADHD.
ADHD is a condition that affects people’s behaviour. According to the NHS, people with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse.
Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may become more noticeable when a child’s circumstances change, such as when they start school. Sometimes ADHD was not recognised when someone was a child, and they are diagnosed later as an adult.
In his video, the doctor said: “Five signs of ADHD in women that are often overlooked. Hi, I’m Dr. Ali Ajaz, consultant psychiatrist, and it’s my job to help improve the lives of people with ADHD.
“Number one, overthinking and mental exhaustion. Do you replay conversations in your head, over analyse very small things, or struggle to turn off your brain at night? Could be ADHD in disguise.
“Number two, chronic forgetfulness. You’re constantly losing your phone, forgetting appointments, or walking to a room and wondering why you’re even there. Sound familiar?”
He went on to add: “Number three, feeling overwhelmed by simple tasks. Folding laundry, paying the bills, making a phone call can all feel huge. And no, it’s not laziness, it’s how ADHD affects executive function.
“Number four, hyper-focusing on interests. Can’t stop once you’re into something. Hyper focus is the flip side of distractibility. You might zone in on a passion but lose track of time.
“And number five, emotional sensitivity. You feel emotions very deeply, whether it’s frustration, joy, or anxiety, and you might struggle with rejection sensitivity.”
The doctor added: “ADHD in women often gets missed because it’s less about being hyperactive and more about the mental load. If you recognise any of these symptoms in yourself or anyone that you know, please let me know in the comments below.”
According to the NHS, the symptoms of ADHD are more difficult to define in adults. The way in which inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness affect adults can be very different from the way they affect children.
For example, hyperactivity tends to decrease in adults, while inattentiveness tends to remain as the pressures of adult life increase. Adult symptoms of ADHD also tend to be far more subtle than childhood symptoms.
Symptoms of ADHD in adults
Some specialists have suggested the following as a list of symptoms associated with ADHD in adults:
- carelessness and lack of attention to detail
- continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones
- poor organisational skills
- inability to focus or prioritise
- continually losing or misplacing things
- forgetfulness
- restlessness and edginess
- difficulty keeping quiet, and speaking out of turn
- blurting out responses and often interrupting others
- mood swings, irritability and a quick temper
- inability to deal with stress
- extreme impatience
- taking risks in activities, often with little or no regard for personal safety or the safety of others – for example, driving dangerously