ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that gender and sex are based on biology, including the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones. Many people do not easily fit into the binary gender. Gender and sexes can impact the way ADHD symptoms are diagnosed and treated.
ADHD is usually diagnosed in the early years of childhood, before the age of 12. Symptoms must be present before age 12 and cause problems in more than one environment to qualify for a diagnosis.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Inattention is the root of ADHD and can affect both genders. Women may have a tougher to concentrate, particularly because symptoms can manifest differently than they do in males.
Women are more likely than men to be unorganized and indecisive, for example. They are also more likely than men to be emotionally afflicted and struggle to put things in perspective. These issues can lead to an inability to focus, which can lead to a lack productivity at work or at home. They are also more likely to forget their medication and skip doctor's appointments.
In addition to these innate gender differences, hormones of women can make ADHD symptoms worse. The hippocampus of females is bigger which helps in memory and learning. Menstrual hormone fluctuations as well as pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopausal cycles can affect brain function.
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD may have difficulty in their relationships, at school, and at work. They might also suffer from multiple comorbid disorders like depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
In these circumstances, it is crucial for health care professionals to recognize the many indicators that females suffering from ADHD often show. They should rethink their strategies for diagnosing and treating females suffering from ADHD to account for emotional dysregulation and hormonal fluctuations. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Females with ADHD tend to have difficulty managing their emotions, particularly when interacting with others. This can cause to emotional dysregulation that is a major cause of ADHD symptoms. It can also be linked to negative life outcomes. adhd women test can include low self-esteem, anxiety and depression, problematic romantic relationships which can lead to conflicts between partners, problems with relationships, a messy home or personal space, inability to manage time or money and a messy home.
Gender stereotypes can affect the way women with ADHD are treated. They may be misunderstood because they are viewed as being more sensitive or prone to mood swings. This can cause them to feel more frustrated about being a victim of untreated ADHD.
Individuals with ADHD have impaired impulse control which is also referred to as the prefrontal cortex. This means they have a harder time making decisions and executing in their intentions. This can make it difficult to resist the urge to eat another piece of cake or make an inappropriate statement in public.
For adults with ADHD medication can assist to improve their ability to manage their impulses. stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can aid in decrease the impulsive behavior while nonstimulant medications such as Guanfacine and clonidine can be effective as well. Behavioral therapy can also be recommended, which can help people with ADHD change their thinking patterns and learn more effective ways of coping.
Sleeping enough, eating a healthy diet, and practicing meditation can also help in reducing the impulsiveness and restlessness of 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 the treatment regimen is effective.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization can be a major issue for those suffering from ADHD and affect their professional and personal life. They may have difficulty to complete their tasks and their productivity could be diminished. They could also fail to meet deadlines and feel overwhelmed on a daily basis.
Inability to organize can make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. People may forget important events or lose possessions such as keys or purses. In the end, they might feel lonely and alone. They may also feel unloved by their family and friends. Disorganization can be worse during perimenopause and menopause when hormones shift and symptoms become more severe.
It is not uncommon for women to mask their ADHD symptoms to fit in with societal norms and avoid being judged. This can cause women to blame themselves and feel guilt or shame. This could be a reason for why girls and women are frequently not diagnosed with ADHD especially during adolescence, when symptoms are more obvious.
Women with untreated ADHD may not perform as well at school or at work. This can affect their job, grades or even their reputation. It can also cause problems in their personal lives, such as difficulties with their romantic partners or the strain of relationships with friends and family members.
Women who are chronically unorganized could benefit from the one-on-one support of a non-judgmental friend. They can teach them strategies to keep their lives organized, such as making lists of daily tasks and setting reminders for them. Additionally, a certified mental health professional can suggest changes in lifestyle and medications to reduce ADHD symptoms. This could include eating smaller, frequent meals to ensure energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can increase side effects from stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is one of the traits that influences decision-making in many areas of life. Several instruments have been developed to assess indecisiveness. These include the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness is also associated with neuroticism and the tendency to think of worst-case scenarios. This is because people interpret ambiguous circumstances as being threat. It is also believed to be correlated with a fear of being wrong, which could help explain why it's common for people with adhd to struggle with making decisions.
In the study of qualitative research on adult women with adhd interviewed the participants said they were not in a position to make decisions regarding their personal and professional lives. They had a difficult time finding the job they wanted or to stay in, and also found it difficult to manage their finances as well as their relationships, and health. They frequently waited for other people to decide or were unable complete tasks on their own, like scheduling childcare. They often felt like they were being hindered by their ADHD symptoms, such as difficulty with starting or staying focused and impulsivity.
They had difficulty finding time to relax and keeping friendships alive, which led to mental health problems. They reported having high levels of anxiety and stress as well as an inability to sleep, and poor nutrition. They also reported feeling snubbed by adults and the media. They were able explain their struggles with ADHD which helped them improve their self-esteem because they weren't blaming others. It also gave them access to the appropriate treatment strategies.
The interviews revealed that women were very positive and able to overcome the effects of ADHD on various aspects of their lives. These included a lack of career or romantic opportunities, difficulty maintaining relationships and a messy home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Some of the symptoms that make up ADHD are viewed as less socially acceptable for women and girls than they are for men and boys and so women may conceal their impulsivity, hyperactivity and disorder. see it here may also internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping mechanisms such as self-harm (cutting, burning, scratching). This can lead to feelings of low self-esteem which can lead to depression, anxiety, or eating disorders.
A sense of inner worth is the basis for better relationships and a positive outlook on life. People who do not have a strong self-worth tend to look beyond themselves for validation, such as jobs, relationships as well as money and power. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, suggests that this can also result in a lack in communication within relationships.
Alongside a feeling of lack of self-worth, women who have ADHD often have feeling like they don't have enough of the good things happening in their lives. These feelings may manifest as a desire for others to "keep up with" or to please. This can lead to toxic work cultures, a negative self-image, and a dependence on substances or food.
While these are serious issues, the women who participated in this study found many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They generally identify their ADHD as a gift or a curse, depending on whether they feel they can control it. Many of them also recognize personal strengths they believe are a result of to their ADHD which include high energy, creativity, determination and the ability to be easily interested in new topics. In addition, they describe their unique challenges as part of a bigger picture that includes cultural and family issues, as well as biological and gender differences.