ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender refer to biology--the hormones and chromosomal makeup of the body, and that many people do not fall into a binary of sex. However, sex and gender can influence the way symptoms of ADHD are treated and diagnosed.
ADHD is diagnosed in the early years of childhood, typically before the age of 12. Symptoms must be present before age 12 and cause problems in more than one environment to be eligible for the diagnosis.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is the root of ADHD and is a problem that affects both women and men. Women may have a harder time focusing, especially since symptoms may manifest differently than they do in males.
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 lead to an inability to focus, which can lead to an absence of productivity at home or work. They're also more likely miss doctor appointments and forget to take their medication.
In addition to these inherent gender differences, hormones of women can make their ADHD symptoms more severe. The hippocampus of females is larger which helps in memory and learning. Hormone fluctuations during menstruation as well as pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause may also affect brain function.
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD might struggle with their relationships, at school, and at work. They may also be struggling with a host of comorbid conditions, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder.
In these circumstances, it's critical for health care professionals to be aware of the numerous indications that females with ADHD frequently exhibit. They must recalibrate their approaches to diagnose and treat females suffering from ADHD to take into account emotional dysregulation and hormonal fluctuations. In this way, these patients can finally get the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Females with ADHD are more likely to have trouble controlling their emotions, particularly when they interact with other people. This can lead to emotional dysregulation that is a major cause of ADHD symptoms. It can also be linked to negative life outcomes. This includes low self-esteem, depression that is co-occurring with anxiety, difficult romantic relationships that can result in intimate partner violence, trouble with friends and a messy home or personal space, and the inability to manage time or money.
Gender stereotypes can also affect the way women who suffer from ADHD are treated. Because they are often viewed as more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings, they could be viewed as emotionally unstable. This can lead to their frustration over being diagnosed with 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 they are more prone to making decisions and sticking in their intentions. This can make it hard to resist the urge to eat a second piece of cake or make an inappropriate statement in public.
For those who suffer from ADHD medications can help to improve their ability to control their behavior. Stimulants such as amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are able to reduce the behavior of impulsivity. Non-stimulants like clonidine and Guanfacine are also effective. Behavioral therapy may also be suggested, which can help people with ADHD change their thinking patterns and develop healthier coping skills.
Meditation and eating a balanced, healthy diet, and getting enough sleep can all be helpful in reducing anxiety and impulsiveness among people with ADHD. It is also a good idea to track their symptoms throughout the day and share this information with their physician so they can assess whether their treatment regimen is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a typical issue in people with ADHD and can impact their personal and professional life. It may take longer to complete their tasks and reduce their efficiency. They could also miss deadlines or feel overwhelmed each day.
Insanity can also make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. People may forget important events or lose belongings like keys or purses. They might feel lonely and isolated as a result. Friends and family members may be confused about them. treatment for adhd in women can become more severe during menopausal and perimenopausal cycles, when hormones change and symptoms increase.
Women often mask their ADHD symptoms in order to conform to social norms or to avoid being judged. This can lead women to blame themselves and feel 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.
Women who are not treated for ADHD may not perform as well at school or at work. This could have a negative impact on their job, grades or reputation. This could also cause issues for their personal life. For example it could lead to difficulties with romantic partners or strained relationships with family and friends.
Women who are chronically disorganized can benefit from one-on-one help by a non-judgmental therapist. They can provide strategies to get and remain organized, for example, making an agenda of the daily tasks and making reminders for them. A qualified mental health professional could recommend medication or lifestyle changes to aid in reducing ADHD symptoms. These can include eating small meals throughout the day to ensure steady energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can increase the negative effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is one of the traits that influences decision-making in a variety of areas of life. Indecisiveness is measured by various instruments, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the Indecisiveness scale. Indecisiveness is also correlated with neuroticism and the tendency to apply worst case scenario thinking, where people interpret ambiguous situations as potentially dangerous. It has also been proven to be linked with the fear of being wrong, which could help explain why it's common for people with adhd to struggle with making decisions.
In the study that was qualitative of women who have adhd in their adult lives the participants said they were incapable of making decisions in their work and personal lives. They found it hard to manage their finances and relationships, and had difficulty finding a job that they liked. They often waited for other people to decide or were unable to finish projects themselves, such as organizing childcare. They often felt like they were being restricted by their ADHD symptoms, for example, difficulty with starting or staying focused and impulsivity.
They struggled to maintain friendships and were unable to relax which led to issues with their mental health. They described high levels of stress and anxiety, a sleep deprivation and poor nutrition. They also described feeling stigmatized by adults and the media. They were able to articulate their struggles with ADHD which helped them improve their self-esteem because they were not blaming themselves. They also had access to appropriate treatment strategies.
The interviews revealed that the women had many positive qualities however, they struggled to overcome the effects of their ADHD symptoms on various aspects of their lives. These included a lack romantic or career opportunities and difficulties in maintaining relationships. an unclean home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Some of the signs that make up ADHD are seen as less acceptable socially for women and girls than they are for males and females, so some women hide their hyperactivity, impulsivity and disorganization. They may also internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping mechanisms like self-harm (cutting or burning, or scratching). This can cause lower self-esteem and could cause anxiety, depression or eating disorders.
A high self-esteem is a precursor to healthier relationships and a positive outlook on life. When people lack a strong sense of self-worth and feel they are not worthy, they will seek outside things - including relationships, careers wealth, power, and relationships - to feel worthy. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, says that this can also result in a lack in communication within relationships.
Women with ADHD might also feel they don't deserve the best things in their lives. These feelings can manifest as a desire to "keep up with" or to please. This can cause toxic workplaces as well as a negative self-image and an addiction of substances or food.
Although these are significant challenges but the women who participated in this study discovered many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They described ADHD as either positive or negative according to the way they perceive their ability to manage it. Many of them also recognize personal strengths they believe are a result of to their ADHD such as high energy, creativity determination and the ability to become easily interested in new subjects. In addition, they describe their unique challenges as part of a bigger picture that encompasses family and cultural issues, as well as biological and gender differences.