ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are a reflection of biology, the hormones and chromosomal makeup of the body, and that many people do not fit into a sex binary. However, sex and gender influence how symptoms of ADHD are treated and diagnosed.
ADHD is diagnosed in the early years of childhood, typically before the age of 12. ADHD must present symptoms before the age of 12 and cause problems in multiple environments to be able to receive a diagnosis.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is the primary cause of ADHD and is an issue for everyone. However, women may find it more challenging to get the attention they require, especially because symptoms often manifest in different ways in men.
Women are more likely to experience disorganization and indecisiveness for instance. They are also more likely than men to be emotional and have difficulty putting things in perspective. These issues can lead to an inability of concentration, which can lead to an absence of productivity at home or work. They are also more likely to not remember their medication or miss appointments with doctors.
In addition to these natural gender differences, hormones of women can make ADHD symptoms more severe. Females have a larger hippocampus that aids in learning and memory, and hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle as well as during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause can affect their brain's function.
Women with undiagnosed ADHD may struggle in their relationships, at school, and at work. They might also struggle with a variety of comorbid conditions, including anxiety, depression eating disorders, bipolar disorder.
It is important that health professionals are aware of the numerous signs that females with ADHD exhibit. They should rethink their strategies for diagnosing and treating females with ADHD in order to account for hormonal fluctuations and emotional dysregulation. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Women who suffer from ADHD often struggle to control their emotions. This is particularly true when they interact with other people. This can lead to emotional dysregulation, which is a component of ADHD symptoms. It is also linked to negative life outcomes. These include low self-esteem, depression and anxiety, difficult relationships that can result in intimate partner violence, problems with friendships and a messy home or personal space, and the inability to manage time or money.
Gender stereotypes can affect how women who suffer from ADHD are treated. Because they are often viewed as more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings, they may be viewed as being emotionally prone. This can cause them to feel more frustrated over being diagnosed with ADHD.
People suffering from ADHD have a reduced ability to control impulses which is also referred to as the prefrontal cortex. This means that they are more prone to making decisions and executing in their intentions. This can make it hard to resist the temptation to eat another piece of cake or blurt out an inappropriate statement in public.
Adults suffering from ADHD are able to benefit from medications that help to control their impulsivity. Stimulants like amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can help to reduce impulsive behavior, and non-stimulant drugs like the guanfacine and clonidine are effective too. Patients with ADHD might also benefit from a treatment called behavioral therapy, which can help them alter their mental patterns and develop healthier strategies for coping.
A good night's sleep, eating a healthy diet, and meditating can help control impulsiveness and restlessness in people with ADHD. It is important to keep track of their symptoms throughout the day and communicate this information with their physician so they can assess whether their treatment regimen is effective.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization can be a major issue for people suffering from ADHD and affect their professional and personal life. It may take longer to complete tasks and reduce their efficiency. They could also miss deadlines or feel overwhelmed each day.
Inability to organize can cause problems in maintaining healthy relationships. People may not remember important dates or even lose things like keys or purses. They may feel lonely and unloved as a result. They may also feel that they are not understood by their family and friends. Disorganization is more common during menopausal or perimenopausal cycles when hormones are changing and symptoms become more severe.
Women often mask their ADHD symptoms to conform to the norms of society or to avoid being judged. This can cause women to blame themselves and feel guilt or shame. This could be a reason why girls and women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD, particularly during adolescence, when symptoms become more apparent.
In the end women suffering from untreated ADHD might have poor academic or work performance. This could affect their career, grades or overall reputation. It can also create problems in their personal lives like issues with romantic partners or strained relationships with family members and friends members.
Women with chronic disorganization can benefit from one-on-one help by a non-judgmental therapist. They can teach them strategies to get and stay organized, such as making an agenda of the daily tasks and creating reminders for them. In addition, a qualified mental health professional may recommend changes in lifestyle and medications to reduce ADHD symptoms. This can include eating small, frequent meals to keep energy levels up and avoiding caffeine that can increase side effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness influences decision-making in a variety of aspects of life. There are a variety of instruments that have been created to measure indecisiveness, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness is also associated with neuroticism, and the tendency to use worst-case scenario thinking, where people interpret ambiguous situations as potentially dangerous. It was also discovered to be related to a fear of making a mistake, which could explain why people suffering from adhd have difficulty making decisions.
In the qualitative study on adult women with adhd interviewed the participants said they were not able to make decisions regarding their professional and personal lives. They had a difficult time finding an occupation they enjoyed or to stay in, and also found it difficult to manage their finances, relationships and health. They often had to wait for others to make decisions, or were unable to finish projects like scheduling childcare. They felt that their ADHD symptoms such as inattention and impulsivity or difficulty getting started on projects were holding them back.
They had a difficult time keeping relationships and had trouble relaxing, leading to problems with their mental health. They described high levels of stress and anxiety, a sleep deprivation and poor nutrition. They also described feeling stigmatized by adults and the media. They were able explain their struggles with ADHD and helped improve their self-esteem because they weren't blaming themselves. Additionally, it gave them access to appropriate treatments.
The interviews revealed that women had a lot of positive qualities however, they struggled to overcome the effects of their ADHD symptoms on different aspects of their life. This included a lack of career or romantic opportunities and difficulties in maintaining relationships. a messy home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Some of the symptoms that comprise ADHD are viewed as less acceptable socially for women and girls than they are for boys and men Some women choose to are able to hide their impulsivity, hyperactivity and disorder. Some women may internalize their ADHD and adopt coping strategies such as self-harming (cutting or burning). This can lead to lower self-esteem and could cause depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
adhd in women symptoms of inner worth is the basis for more positive relationships and an optimistic outlook on life. People who do not have a strong self-worth are more likely to look outside themselves for validation, like relationships, careers, money, and power. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, says that this can also result in an absence of communication within a relationship.
In addition to a lack of self-worth, women who have ADHD often struggle with feeling like they don't deserve the good things happening in their lives. These feelings can manifest as a need to please or "keep up" with other people. This can lead to toxic work cultures and a negative self-image and a dependence on substance or food.
While these are major challenges however, the women who took part in this study also discovered a number of positive aspects of living with ADHD. They described ADHD as positive or negative according to how they feel about their ability to control it. Some of them have identified their own strengths that they believe are partially due to their ADHD. These include high energy, creativity and determination, as well as the ability to effortlessly become fascinated by new subjects. They also discuss their unique struggles as part of a larger picture that encompasses cultural and family issues, as in addition to gender and biological differences.