ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that gender and sexuality are determined by biology, including the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones. Many people don't easily fit into the binary gender. However, gender and sex can influence how symptoms of ADHD are diagnosed and treated.
ADHD is a condition that is recognized in the early years of the early years of childhood, typically before the age of 12. ADHD must show signs before the age of 12 and cause problems in multiple settings to be able to receive a diagnosis.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is at the heart of ADHD and can affect both women and men. However, women may have more difficulty to attain the attention they require due to the fact that symptoms usually manifest in different ways in men.
Women are more likely to be prone to disorganization and indecisiveness, for example. They're also more likely to become emotional and struggle to put things into perspective. These issues can cause an inability to focus on work, resulting in an inability to perform at work or home. They're also more likely miss doctor appointments and neglect to take their medications.
In addition to these innate gender differences, hormones of women can make their ADHD symptoms worse. The female hippocampus is larger, which aids in memory and learning. The fluctuations in hormones during menstruation or pregnancy, breastfeeding or menopause may also influence brain function.
Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD might struggle with their relationships, at school, and at work. They may also have multiple comorbid disorders including depression, anxiety and eating disorders.
It is crucial that health care professionals recognize the many clues females with ADHD exhibit. They need to rethink their approach to diagnosing and treating women with ADHD to account for hormonal fluctuations, emotional dysregulation and other factors that influence the severity of symptoms. In this way, these patients will finally receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Females who suffer from ADHD are often unable to controlling their emotions, especially when they interact with others. This can lead to emotional dysregulation, which is a major cause of ADHD symptoms. It is also associated with negative life outcomes. This includes low self-esteem, depression and anxiety, difficult relationships that can result in violence between intimate partners, issues with friends and a messy home or personal space, and the inability to manage time or money.
Gender stereotypes may also impact how women with ADHD are treated. They could be misunderstood as they are thought to be more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings. This can cause them to feel more frustrated about being a victim of untreated ADHD.
The part of the brain that controls impulses the brain, referred to as the prefrontal cortex is impaired in individuals with ADHD. This means that they are more prone to making decisions and executing with their goals. This could cause you to want to indulge in more cake or make a rude comment.
Adults suffering from ADHD can benefit from medications that help them manage their impulses. Stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can help to reduce the impulsive behavior, while nonstimulant medicines like Guanfacine and clonidine can be effective too. Behavioral therapy may also be recommended, which can help those suffering from ADHD alter their thinking patterns and learn healthier coping skills.
Meditation, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep can all be helpful in reducing the impulsiveness and restlessness of people with ADHD. It's also a good idea to monitor their symptoms throughout the day, and share this information with their physician to determine whether the treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a common problem for people suffering from ADHD and can impact their professional and personal lives. It may take longer to complete tasks and reduce their efficiency. They might also be late or overwhelmed every day.
Inability to organize can cause problems in maintaining healthy relationships. People may not remember important dates or even lose things like purses or keys. In the end, they might feel isolated and lonely. Friends and family members may be confused about their feelings. Disorganization is more common in menopausal and perimenopausal women when hormones are changing and symptoms are increasing.
It is not uncommon for women to hide their ADHD symptoms to conform with the norms of society and avoid being judged. This can lead to self-blame and feelings of shame or guilt. This could be the reason women and girls are often not diagnosed with ADHD particularly in adolescence where symptoms are more obvious.
In the end, women with untreated ADHD might have poor academic or work performance. This can have a negative impact on their career, grades, or even their reputation. This could also cause issues for their personal lives. For example it could lead to issues with romantic partners or strain relationships with family and friends.
Women with chronic disorganization could receive one-on-one assistance from a non-judgmental, supportive person. They can teach them strategies to get and keep their lives organized, such as making a list of daily tasks and setting reminders for them. A licensed mental health professional could recommend medication or lifestyle changes that can aid in reducing ADHD symptoms. add symptoms in adult women could include eating smaller frequent meals to maintain energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can trigger side effects of stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness influences decision-making in a variety of aspects of our lives. Indecisiveness can be measured using several instruments, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale of Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness is also associated with neuroticism, and the tendency to use worst case scenario thinking, where people perceive ambiguous situations as potentially dangerous. It was also discovered to be linked to a fear of making a mistake which could be the reason people with adhd have difficulty making decisions.
In the qualitative study on adult women with adhd interviewed they said they were not able to make decisions regarding their personal and professional lives. They had difficulty to manage their finances and relationships, and struggled to find an occupation they liked. They often were dependent on others to decide or were unable to complete projects themselves, such as arranging childcare. They often felt like they were restricted by their ADHD symptoms, like difficulties in starting, staying focused and impulsive.
They had a difficult time keeping relationships and had trouble relaxing, leading to problems with their mental health. They described having high levels of stress and anxiety as well as an inability to sleep, and poor nutrition. They also reported feeling snubbed by other adults and by the media. They were able to articulate their struggles with ADHD, which helped them increase their self-esteem since they weren't blaming themselves. It also gave them access to the appropriate treatment strategies.
The interviews revealed that women were very positive, but struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD on various aspects of their lives. This included a lack of possibilities for romance or work and difficulties in maintaining relationships. an unclean home.
5. Self-esteem issues
Some of the signs that comprise ADHD are considered to be less socially acceptable for women and girls than they are for boys and men, so some women hide their hyperactivity, impulsivity and disorder. They also may take on their ADHD symptoms and develop coping strategies such as self-harm (cutting burns, scratching, cutting). This can lead to lower self-esteem and could contribute to depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
A strong sense of self-esteem and worth is the foundation for more positive relationships and an optimistic outlook on life. If people do not have a strong sense of self-worth they tend to look for outside things - including relationships, careers, wealth, and power to feel worthy. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, says that this can lead to a lack in communication within a relationship.
In addition to a sense of self-worth, women who have ADHD frequently struggle with feeling like they don't have enough of the good things in their lives. These feelings can manifest as a desire for others to "keep up" or to please. This can lead to a toxic work culture and a negative image of the body and a dependence on food or other substances.
Despite these major issues, women who took part in this study discovered a number of positive aspects of living with ADHD. They describe ADHD as an advantage or a disadvantage according to how they feel about their ability to control it. Some of them have also 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 quickly become interested in new subjects. They also describe their unique challenges as part of a bigger picture that includes family and cultural issues, as well as biological and gender differences.