ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that gender and sex are determined by biology, including the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones. Many people don't fit neatly into the binary gender. Gender and sexes can impact how ADHD symptoms are treated and diagnosed.
ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood prior to the age of 12. The symptoms must be present before age 12 and cause difficulties in multiple settings to qualify for the diagnosis.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is the primary cause of ADHD, and it's a problem for all genders. However, women may have more difficulty to achieve the attention they require particularly since symptoms typically appear in different ways than for men.
Women are more likely to experience indecisiveness and disorganization for instance. They also are more likely to become emotional and have trouble putting things into perspective. These issues can cause an inability to focus on tasks, leading to a lack of productivity at work or at home. They're also more likely to miss doctor appointments and neglect to take their medications.
Women's hormones along with these inherent differences, can cause ADHD symptoms. Females have a larger hippocampus that aids in learning and memory, and hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause can affect their brain function.
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD may struggle in their relationships, at school and at work. They might also suffer from various comorbidities like depression, anxiety and eating disorders.
It is essential that health professionals are aware of the many clues females with ADHD display. They need to rethink their approach to diagnosing and treating women suffering from ADHD to account for hormonal fluctuations, emotional dysregulation, and other factors that can influence symptom severity. In this way, these patients can finally get the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Women who suffer from ADHD frequently have difficulty controlling their emotions. This is especially true when they are interacting with other people. This can result in to emotional dysregulation that is a component of ADHD symptoms. It can also be associated with negative life outcomes. These include poor self-esteem, depression and anxiety, difficult relationships with loved ones which can lead to violence between intimate partners, issues with friendships as well as a messy home or personal space, and the inability to manage time or money.
The gender stereotypes of women can influence the way women who suffer from ADHD will be treated. They may be misunderstood because they are perceived as more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings. This can cause them to feel more frustrated about being a victim of untreated ADHD.
The portion of the brain that controls impulses the brain, referred to as the prefrontal cortex is impaired in people suffering from ADHD. This means that they are more difficult to make decisions and following through with their intentions. This could cause you to want to indulge in more cake or make a snide comment.
Adults suffering from ADHD may benefit from medication that helps to control their impulses. stimulants like amphetamine and dextroamphetamine may reduce impulsive behavior. Non-stimulants such as clonidine or guanfacine are also effective. Patients with ADHD might also benefit from behavioral therapy, which helps to change their mental patterns and develop healthier strategies for coping.
Getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet, and practicing meditation can help control restlessness and impulsiveness in those with ADHD. It's also a good idea to track their symptoms throughout the day and share this information with their doctor to determine whether the treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization can be a major issue for those suffering from ADHD and can affect their personal and professional lives. It can take longer to complete tasks, and reduce their efficiency. They may also miss deadlines and feel overwhelmed on a daily basis.
An absence of organization could cause problems to maintain healthy relationships. People may forget important events or lose possessions such as keys or purses. They might feel lonely and unloved due to this. They can also feel misunderstood by their family and friends. Disorganization can be worse during menopausal and perimenopausal cycles as hormones alter and symptoms intensify.
It is not unusual for women to hide their ADHD symptoms to conform with society's norms and avoid being considered a failure. This can lead women to blame themselves and feel guilt or shame. It could be a reason for why women and girls aren't diagnosed with ADHD. This is especially evident in adolescence when symptoms are more evident.
As a result, women with untreated ADHD might have poor academic or work performance. This could affect their work, grades or overall reputation. adhd symptoms in women test can also create problems for their personal lives. For instance, it may lead to problems with their romantic partners or strained relationships with family and friends.
Women who are chronically disorganized can receive one-on-one assistance by a non-judgmental therapist. They can help them learn strategies to keep their lives organized, such as making an agenda of the daily tasks and making reminders for them. A qualified mental health professional can also recommend medication and lifestyle changes that will help minimize ADHD symptoms. This could include eating small meals throughout the day to maintain stable energy and avoiding caffeine, which can increase the negative effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is a characteristic that affects decision making in many areas of our lives. 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 has also been linked to neuroticism, and the tendency to imagine worst-case scenarios. This is when people interpret uncertain situations as dangerous. It was also found to be linked to a fear of making a mistake which could help explain why people with adhd have trouble making decisions.
In the qualitative study of adult women suffering from adhd participants, they described being incapable of making decisions regarding their work and personal lives. They struggled to manage their finances and relationships, and struggled to find a job that they liked. They often waited for others to make decisions for them, or were unable to complete tasks like organizing childcare. They often felt they were being hindered by their ADHD symptoms, like difficulties in starting, staying focused and impulsive.
They struggled to maintain friendships and were unable to relax which led to issues with their mental health. They reported high levels of anxiety and stress and a lack of sleep and a poor diet. They also expressed feeling devalued by adults and the media. The diagnosis of ADHD offered them an explanation for their struggles which was beneficial to their self-esteem since it meant they weren't blamed for their condition. inattentive add in women had access to appropriate treatments.
The interviews revealed that the women were extremely positive and able to overcome the effects of ADHD on various aspects of their lives. The women reported an absence in their careers or romantic opportunities, difficulties maintaining relationships and a messy home.
5. Self-esteem issues
Certain of the symptoms that make up ADHD are seen as less socially acceptable for women and girls than they are for males and females and so women may hide their hyperactivity, impulsivity and disorder. They may also internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping mechanisms such as self-harm (cutting or burning, or scratching). This can cause low self-esteem, which could contribute to depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
A high sense of inner worth is the foundation for better relationships and an optimistic outlook on life. If someone isn't feeling a solid sense of self-worth they tend to look for outside things - including relationships, careers wealth, power, and relationships - to feel worthy. A licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can cause an absence of communication in a relationship, which can ultimately end it.
Women who suffer from ADHD might also feel they don't deserve the best things in their lives. These feelings may manifest as a desire for others to "keep up" or to please. This can result in a toxic work culture and a negative image of the body and a dependence on food or substances.
While these are major challenges, the women who participated in this study found many positive aspects of living with ADHD. The majority of them identify their ADHD as a gift or a curse, based on whether they believe they can manage it. Many of them also recognize their own strengths that they believe are due to their ADHD which include the ability to be creative, high energy, determination, and the ability to become easily interested in new topics. In addition, they describe their unique challenges as part of a bigger picture that includes family and cultural issues, as in addition to gender and biological differences.