ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that gender and sexuality are determined by biology, including the body's chromosomal make-up and hormones. Many people don't easily fit into an unisexual gender. However, sex and gender can affect the way symptoms of ADHD are identified and treated.
ADHD is typically diagnosed in the early years of childhood, before the age of 12. The symptoms must be present before age 12 and cause difficulties in more than one environment to be able to receive an assessment.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is at the heart of ADHD and affects both men and women. Women may have a tougher time focusing, especially since symptoms may manifest differently than men.
Women are more likely to be prone to disorganization and indecisiveness, for example. They also are more likely to be emotionally triggered and have difficulty putting things into perspective. These issues can cause an inability of concentration and can result in an absence of productivity at work or home. They're also more likely to not attend doctor appointments or forget to take their medication.
In addition to these inherent gender differences, hormones of women can make ADHD symptoms worse. Females have a larger hippocampus, which aids in memory and learning, and hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle as well as during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopausal cycles can affect brain's function.
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD may struggle in their relationships, at school, and at work. They could also be suffering from a variety of comorbid disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
For these reasons, it is crucial for health professionals to recognize the many indicators that females suffering from ADHD frequently exhibit. They must recalibrate their approaches to diagnosing and treating women suffering from ADHD to account for emotional dysregulation, hormonal fluctuations and other factors that can influence symptom severity. The patients will then receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Women with ADHD frequently have difficulty controlling their emotions. This is especially the case when they are interacting with others. This can cause to emotional dysregulation that is a symptom of ADHD symptoms. It can also be associated with negative life outcomes. This can include low self-esteem, anxiety and depression as well as problematic relationships with loved ones that can result in violence between partners, problems with friendships, a messy home or personal space, inability to manage time or money and a messy home.
Gender stereotypes may also impact how women with ADHD are treated. They might be misunderstood since they are perceived as more sensitive or prone to mood swings. This can increase their frustration about living with untreated ADHD.
The portion of the brain that controls impulses the brain, known as the prefrontal cortex, is impaired in people suffering from ADHD. This means that they have a harder time making decisions and following through with their intentions. This can make it hard to resist the urge to eat a second piece of cake or make an inappropriate comment in public.
Adults suffering from ADHD can benefit from medications that help them manage their impulses. stimulants like amphetamine and dextroamphetamine may reduce the behavior of impulsivity. Non-stimulants such as clonidine or guanfacine are also effective. Patients with ADHD might also benefit from a treatment called behavioral therapy, which can help them alter their mental patterns and develop more effective strategies for coping.
Meditation, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep can all be helpful in reducing restlessness and impulsiveness in people suffering from ADHD. It's also a great idea to keep track their symptoms throughout the day, and then share the information with their doctor to determine whether their treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization can be a problem for those suffering from ADHD and affect their personal and professional lives. It can take them longer to complete their tasks and decrease their efficiency. They might also fail to meet deadlines or feel overwhelmed every day.
Lack of organization can also cause problems in maintaining healthy relationships. People may forget important dates or lose items like keys or purses. They may feel lonely and unloved because of this. Friends and family may confuse their feelings. Disorganization can be worse during menopausal and perimenopausal cycles, when hormones change and symptoms increase.
It is not uncommon for women to mask their ADHD symptoms in order to conform with the norms of society and avoid being considered a failure. This can lead to self-blame and feelings of guilt or shame. It can also be the reason girls and women are frequently not diagnosed with ADHD especially during adolescence, when symptoms are more evident.
Women who suffer from untreated ADHD may have poor performance at work or in school. This can affect their career, grades or overall reputation. It can also create problems for their personal lives. For example it can cause difficulties with romantic partners or strained relationships with family members and friends.
Women who are chronically disorganized will benefit from the one-on-1 assistance of a non-judgmental individual. They can help them learn strategies to get and remain organized, for example, making lists of daily tasks and creating reminders for them. Additionally, a certified mental health professional can suggest medications and lifestyle changes to help minimize ADHD symptoms. These can include eating small meals throughout the day to maintain stable energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can increase the side effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is a characteristic that affects decision making across a wide range of aspects of our lives. Indecisiveness can be measured with several instruments, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale of Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness is also correlated with neuroticism and the tendency to apply worst case scenario thinking, which is where people perceive ambiguous situations as threatening. It was also found to be linked to a fear of making a mistake which could explain why people suffering from adhd have difficulty making decisions.
In the qualitative study of adult women with adhd interviewed the participants said they were not able to make decisions about their professional and personal lives. They had difficulty to manage their finances and relationships, and had difficulty finding jobs they enjoyed. They often had to wait for others to take decisions, or were unable complete projects like scheduling childcare. They felt that their ADHD symptoms like the inability to focus and impulsivity, or beginning projects were holding them back.
They had a difficult time keeping relationships and had trouble relaxing which led to issues with their mental health. treatment for adhd in women reported high levels of stress and anxiety, as well as a sleeping insufficiently and having inadequate nutrition. They also felt stigmatized by adults and the media. They were able to explain their struggles with ADHD which helped them boost their self-esteem as they weren't blaming themselves. They also had access to the appropriate treatment strategies.
The interviews revealed that the women were extremely positive however, they struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD in different areas of their lives. These included a lack possibilities for romance or work and difficulties in maintaining relationships. an unclean home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Some of the symptoms that make up ADHD are considered to be less acceptable socially for women and girls than they are for men and boys and so women may conceal their impulsivity, hyperactivity, and disorganization. They may also take on their ADHD symptoms and develop coping strategies such as self-harm (cutting burns, scratching, cutting). This can result in low self-esteem, which could cause depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
A strong sense of self-esteem and worth is the precursor to more positive relationships and an optimistic outlook on life. People who lack a strong self-worth are more likely to look outside themselves for validation, such as jobs, relationships as well as money and power. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, suggests that this can also lead to a lack in communication within a relationship.
Women suffering from ADHD may also feel that they don't deserve the best things in life. These feelings can manifest as a need to please or to "keep up" with other people. This can lead to negative work environments as well as a negative image of one's body and an addiction to food or substances.
Although these are significant challenges, the women who participated in this study found many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They described ADHD as either a blessing or a curse according to how they feel about their ability to control it. Some have identified personal strengths they believe are due to their ADHD. They have the ability to be creative, energetic and determination as well as the ability to easily get interested in new subjects. They also describe their individual struggles in the context of an overall picture that includes gender and biological differences, as well as cultural and family issues.