ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that gender and sexuality are based on biology, including the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones. Many people do not fall into an unisexual gender. However, gender and sex can affect how symptoms of ADHD are diagnosed and treated.
ADHD is diagnosed in the early years of childhood, typically before age 12. Symptoms must be present before 12 years of age and cause difficulties in more than one setting to be eligible for a diagnosis.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is the core of ADHD, and it's an issue for everyone. Women may have a harder time focusing, especially since symptoms can appear differently than in males.
Women are more likely to experience disorganization and indecisiveness, for example. They also are more likely to become emotional and have trouble putting things in perspective. These issues can cause an inability to concentrate, which can lead to an inability to perform at home or work. They're also more likely not attend doctor appointments or neglect to take their medications.
The hormones of women along with these inherent differences, can cause ADHD symptoms. The female hippocampus is larger which helps in memory and learning. Menstrual hormone fluctuations as well as pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopausal cycles can affect brain function.
Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD might struggle with their relationships, at school, and at work. They might also suffer from a variety of comorbid disorders, such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
It is important that health care professionals recognize the numerous signs that females with ADHD show. They must recalibrate their approaches to diagnose and treat females suffering from ADHD in order to take into account hormonal fluctuations and emotional dysregulation. In this way, these patients will receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Women suffering from ADHD often have trouble controlling their emotions. This is especially true when they are interacting with other people. This can result in emotional dysregulation, which is a major aspect of ADHD symptoms and is linked to a variety of negative life outcomes. This can include low self-esteem, anxiety and depression and a strained relationship with a partner, which can lead to conflict between partners, issues with relationships, a messy home or personal space, an inability manage time or money, and a messy house.
Gender stereotypes may also impact the way women with ADHD are treated. Because they are typically perceived as being more sensitive or prone to mood swings, they could be viewed as emotionally unstable. This can exacerbate their frustrations about living with untreated ADHD.
The portion of the brain that controls impulses the brain, referred to as the prefrontal cortex, is affected in people with ADHD. This means they are more difficult to make decisions and executing their intentions. This can make it hard to resist the temptation to eat another piece of cake or to make an inappropriate statement in public.
For those who suffer from ADHD medications can help to improve their ability to control their impulsivity. The use of stimulants such as amphetamine or dextroamphetamine can reduce the impulsive behavior. Non-stimulants like clonidine and Guanfacine can also be effective. People suffering from ADHD may also benefit from behavioral therapy, which helps to change their mental patterns and develop more effective coping techniques.
A good night's sleep, eating a healthy diet, and practicing meditation can help control impulsiveness and restlessness in people with ADHD. It's also a good idea to keep track of their symptoms throughout the day and communicate this data with their doctor to assess whether their treatment regimen is effective.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization can be a major issue for people with ADHD and affect their professional and personal life. It may take longer to complete their tasks and reduce their efficiency. They could also be late or overwhelmed throughout the day.
A lack of organization can cause problems to maintain healthy relationships. They may forget important events or lose possessions such as keys or purses. Consequently, they may feel lonely and isolated. They may also feel unloved by their family and friends. Disorganization is more common during menopausal or perimenopausal cycles when hormones are changing and symptoms become more severe.
It is not unusual for women to hide their ADHD symptoms to fit in with society's norms and avoid being thought of as a problem. This can lead to self-blame and feelings of guilt or shame. It can also be a reason for why girls and women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD especially in adolescence when symptoms become more apparent.
As a result women who are not treated for ADHD may have trouble with their work or school performance. This could negatively impact their career, grades, or reputation. It can also create problems for their personal life. For instance it can cause problems with their romantic partners or strain relationships with family and friends.
Women with chronic disorganization can get help one-on-one by a non-judgmental therapist. They can teach women how to stay organized by making an agenda and setting reminders. A qualified mental health professional can also recommend medication and lifestyle changes that will reduce ADHD symptoms. This may include eating smaller meals throughout the day to maintain a steady energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can cause an increase in the negative effects of stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness can affect decision-making in many aspects of daily life. Indecisiveness can be measured using several instruments, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the Indecisiveness scale. Indecisiveness is also associated with neuroticism and the tendency to employ worst case scenario thinking, in which people interpret uncertain situations as potentially dangerous. It was also found to be related to a fear of making a mistake, which could help explain why people suffering from adhd have difficulty making decisions.
In the qualitative study of women who have adhd in their adult lives, interviewees said they were not able to make decisions in their work and personal lives. They had a difficult time finding a job they liked or to stay in, and were difficult to manage their finances as well as their relationships and health. They often had to wait for others to make decisions for them, or were unable complete projects like arranging childcare. They felt that their ADHD symptoms like inattention and impulsivity or difficulty getting started on projects was preventing them from completing.
They had difficulty in establishing and maintaining friendships, which led to mental health issues. They described having high levels of anxiety and stress as well as a lack of sleep and a poor diet. They also expressed feeling slighted by adults and the media. The diagnosis of ADHD provided them with a reason for their struggles which was beneficial to their self-esteem because it meant they weren't blamed for their own problems. It also gave them access to treatment strategies that were appropriate.
undiagnosed adhd in women revealed that women were very optimistic, but struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD on different aspects of their lives. These included a lack of romantic or career opportunities as well as difficulties maintaining relationships. an unclean home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Certain of the symptoms that make up ADHD are considered to be less socially acceptable for girls and women than they are for boys and men and so women may hide their hyperactivity, impulsivity and disorder. Women may internalize their ADHD and develop coping strategies like self-harming (cutting, burning or scratching). This can cause low self-esteem, which can cause depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
A high self-esteem is a key factor in better relationships and a more positive outlook on life. If someone isn't feeling a solid sense of self-worth and feel they are not worthy, they will seek external things - such as careers, relationships as well as wealth and power to feel a sense of worthiness. Licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can result in an absence of communication within relationships, which could eventually end it.
Women who suffer from ADHD may also feel that they do not deserve good things in their lives. These feelings can manifest themselves as a desire to "keep up" or to please. This can result in an unhealthy work environment and a negative image of the body and a dependence on food or substances.
While these are major challenges however, the women who took part in this study found many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They describe ADHD as an advantage or a disadvantage depending on how they feel about their ability to control it. A few of them also point out personal strengths they believe are partly due to their ADHD, including high energy, creativity, determination and the ability to be easily interested in new topics. They also talk about their individual struggles in the context of a larger picture that includes biological and gender differences, as well as cultural and family issues.