ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender refer to biology--the hormonal makeup of the body and its chromosomal makeup. It also acknowledges that many people don't fit into a sex binary. However, sex and gender influence how symptoms of ADHD are identified and treated.
ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood prior to the age of 12. The symptoms must be present before age 12 and cause problems in multiple settings to qualify for a diagnosis.
1. Problems with Focusing
Inattention is the core of ADHD and it's an issue for everyone. However, women might have a harder time to achieve the focus they need, especially because symptoms often manifest differently for men.
Women are more likely to experience disorganization and indecisiveness, for example. They are also more likely than men to be emotionally afflicted and have difficulty putting things in perspective. These problems can create an inability to focus on work, resulting in a decrease in productivity at work or home. They are also more likely to not remember their medication or miss doctor's appointments.
In addition to these inherent variations, hormones in women can make their ADHD symptoms more severe. The female hippocampus is larger which helps with learning and memory. The fluctuations in hormones during menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopausal changes can also affect brain function.
This is why women who do not have a diagnosis of ADHD might have a difficult time in relationships at school, in their relationships, and at work. They might also struggle with a myriad of comorbid disorders, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder.
This is why it is essential for health professionals to be aware of the various indications that females with ADHD frequently exhibit. They must recalibrate their approaches for diagnosing and treating females with ADHD in order to recognize hormonal fluctuations and emotional dysregulation. This way, patients can finally get the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Females suffering from ADHD are often unable to controlling their emotions, particularly when they interact with others. This can lead to emotional dysregulation, which is a major cause of ADHD symptoms. It is also linked to negative life outcomes. This includes low self-esteem, co-occurring depression and anxiety, difficult relationships which can lead to violence between intimate partners, issues with friends 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 with 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 increase their frustration over being a victim of untreated ADHD.
People with ADHD have a reduced ability to control impulses Also known as the prefrontal cortex. This means they are more difficult to make decisions and executing their intentions. This could make you want to take a bite more cake or to make a snide comment.
Adults with ADHD can benefit from medication that helps them control their impulses. stimulants like amphetamine and dextroamphetamine may reduce impulsive behavior. Nonstimulants like clonidine or Guanfacine can also be effective. People with ADHD might also benefit from a behavioral therapy, which can help to change their mental patterns and develop better strategies for coping.
Meditation, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep can all help to control the impulsiveness and restlessness of people with ADHD. It's also a good idea to keep track of their symptoms throughout the day and communicate this data with their doctor so they can assess whether their treatment regimen is effective.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization can be a problem for people with ADHD and affect their personal and professional lives. It could take longer to complete their tasks and decrease their efficiency. They may also fail to meet deadlines or feel overwhelmed throughout the day.
Lack of organization can also make it hard to maintain healthy relationships. They might forget important dates or lose things like purses or keys. They may feel lonely and isolated as a result. Family and friends may also misunderstand their feelings. Disorders are more common during perimenopause or menopause when hormones are changing and symptoms increase.
Women often hide their ADHD symptoms in order to fit into societal norms or to avoid being considered a failure. This can cause women to blame themselves and feel shame or guilt. This could also be the reason women and girls are not diagnosed with ADHD. This is particularly true in adolescence, when symptoms are more apparent.
In the end women suffering from untreated ADHD may have trouble with their work or school performance. This could affect their job, grades, or overall standing. It can also create problems in their personal lives. For adhd traits in women could lead to problems with their relationships with their partners or breakups with family members and friends.
Women who are chronically disorganized can benefit from one-on-one help by a non-judgmental therapist. They can provide strategies to stay organized, such as making lists of daily tasks and creating reminders for them. A licensed mental health professional could recommend medication or lifestyle changes that will reduce ADHD symptoms. This could include eating small meals throughout the day to maintain a steady energy and avoiding caffeine, which can increase the side effects of stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness can affect decision-making in many aspects of daily life. There are a variety of instruments that have been created to measure indecisiveness, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness can also be linked to neuroticism and with the tendency to use worst-case scenario thinking, where people interpret uncertain situations as threatening. It was also discovered to be related to a fear of making a mistake, which could be the reason people with adhd have trouble making decisions.
In the qualitative study of adult women suffering from adhd who were interviewed the participants said they were not capable of making choices about their professional and personal lives. They found it hard to manage their finances and relationships, and had difficulty finding jobs they enjoyed. They frequently had to wait for others to decide or were unable complete projects themselves, such as organizing childcare. They often felt like they were hindered by their ADHD symptoms, for example, difficulties with getting started or staying focused and impulsive.
They had a difficult time keeping relationships and had trouble relaxing, leading to problems with their mental health. They described high levels of anxiety and stress, sleep deprivation and poor nutrition. They also expressed feeling slighted by media and adults. The diagnosis of ADHD provided them with a reason for their difficulties which was beneficial for self-esteem because it meant they were not blamed for their own problems. It also provided them with access to the appropriate treatment.
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 possibilities for romance or work and difficulties in maintaining relationships. an unclean home.
5. Lack of Self-Esteem
Some of the signs that are a part of ADHD are seen as less acceptable socially for girls and women than they are for boys and men and so women may conceal their impulsivity, hyperactivity, and disorganization. They may also be able to internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping strategies such as self-harm (cutting, burning, scratching). This can lead to feelings of low self-esteem that contribute to depression, anxiety, or eating disorders.
Having high inner worth is a key factor in better relationships and a more positive outlook on life. If someone isn't feeling a solid sense of self-worth and feel they are not worthy, they will seek outside things - like careers, relationships as well as wealth and power to feel a sense of worthiness. Licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can also cause an absence of communication in a relationship, which can eventually end it.
In addition to a lack of self-worth, those with ADHD often have the feeling that they don't have enough of the good things happening in their lives. These feelings can manifest themselves as a desire to "keep up" or to please. This can lead to a toxic work culture, a negative body image and a dependence on food or other substances.
While these are serious issues but the women who participated in this study found many positive aspects of living with ADHD. Most of them describe their ADHD as a gift or a curse, based on whether they feel they can manage it. A few of them also point out their own strengths that they believe are a result of to their ADHD such as high energy, creativity determination and the ability to get easily interested in new subjects. In attention deficit disorder in women , they describe their unique struggles as part of a larger picture that encompasses cultural and family issues, as in addition to gender and biological differences.