ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that sex and a gender are based on biology, including the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones. Many people don't fall into an unisexual gender. However, sex and gender influence how symptoms of ADHD are identified and treated.
ADHD is a condition that is recognized in the early years of childhood, usually before the age of 12. ADHD must show signs before the age of 12 and cause problems in multiple settings to qualify for a diagnoses.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Inattention is the core of ADHD and is an issue for everyone. However, women may find it more challenging to achieve the focus they require due to the fact that symptoms usually manifest differently in men.
Women are more likely to experience indecisiveness and disorganization for instance. They are also more likely than men to be emotionally afflicted and struggle to put things in perspective. These issues can lead to an inability to focus on work, which can lead to a lack of productivity at work or home. They're also more likely to not attend doctor appointments or neglect to take their medications.
In addition to these innate gender differences, hormones of women can make ADHD symptoms worse. Females have a larger hippocampus that aids in learning and memory, and hormonal changes during menstrual cycles as well as during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopausal cycles can affect brain's functioning.
As a result, women who do not have a diagnosis of ADHD can have major struggles in relationships at school, in relationships as well as at work. They might also suffer from various comorbidities like depression, anxiety and eating disorders.
In these circumstances, it's critical for health care professionals to recognize the many indicators that females suffering from ADHD frequently exhibit. They need to rethink their approach to diagnosing and treating women with ADHD to take into account emotional dysregulation, hormonal fluctuations, and other factors that influence the severity of symptoms. Patients can then receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Females suffering from ADHD tend to have difficulty managing their emotions, particularly when they interact with other people. This can lead to emotional dysregulation, which is a major component of ADHD symptoms and is linked to a variety of negative life outcomes. These include poor self-esteem, co-occurring depression and anxiety, difficult romantic relationships that can result in intimate partner violence, trouble with friendships and a messy home or personal space, and a failure to manage time or money.
Gender stereotypes can also influence the way women with ADHD are treated. They could be misunderstood as they are viewed as being more sensitive or prone a mood swings. This can increase their frustration at being a victim of untreated ADHD.
The portion of the brain that controls impulses the brain, also known as the prefrontal cortex is impaired in individuals with ADHD. This means they are more difficult to make decisions and executing their intentions. This could make you want to indulge in more cake or make a rude comment.
Adults with ADHD are able to benefit from medications that help to control their impulses. Stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can aid in reduce impulsive behavior, and non-stimulant drugs like Guanfacine and clonidine can be effective as well. Behavioral therapy may also be recommended, which can help those suffering from ADHD change their thinking patterns and develop more effective ways of coping.
Meditation, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep can all help control the impulsiveness and restlessness of people with ADHD. It's also a good idea to monitor their symptoms throughout the day and then share this information with their physician in order to assess whether their treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization can be a major issue for people with ADHD and affect their work and personal lives. They may have trouble to complete their tasks, and their productivity may be diminished. They could also miss deadlines and feel overwhelmed on a daily basis.
Inability to organize can cause problems in maintaining healthy relationships. People may not remember important dates or even lose things like purses or keys. They might feel lonely and isolated due to this. Friends and family may be confused about them. The disorder can become more severe during menopausal and perimenopausal cycles, when hormones change and symptoms intensify.
Women often mask their ADHD symptoms to conform to the norms of society or to avoid being considered a failure. This can lead to self-blame and feelings of guilt or shame. It could also be a reason for why women and girls are often not diagnosed with ADHD especially in adolescence when symptoms are more evident.
Women who are not treated for ADHD may not perform as well at school or at work. This can impact their career, grades or their overall image. This could also cause issues for their personal lives. For instance it could lead to issues with romantic partners or strained relationships with family and friends.
Women who are chronically disorganized can receive one-on-one assistance from a nonjudgmental support person. They can teach them strategies to remain organized, for example, making lists of daily tasks and creating reminders for them. A qualified mental health professional can also suggest medication and lifestyle changes to help minimize ADHD symptoms. This could include eating small meals throughout the day to ensure steady energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can worsen the side effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is a trait that influences decision-making in many areas of our lives. A variety of instruments have been developed to measure indecisiveness, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness is also associated with neuroticism, and the tendency to apply worst case scenario thinking, in which people interpret ambiguous situations as dangerous. It was also discovered to be associated with the fear of making a mistake which could be the reason people with adhd have difficulty making decisions.
In the study that was qualitative of adult women suffering from adhd, interviewees described being incapable of making decisions in their personal and professional lives. They struggled to manage their finances and relationships and had trouble finding jobs they enjoyed. They frequently were dependent on others to decide or were unable to complete projects on their own, for example, organizing childcare. They believed that their ADHD symptoms such as inattention and impulsivity or difficulty beginning projects was preventing them from completing.
They struggled to maintain friendships and had difficulty relaxing which led to issues with their mental health. They reported high levels of stress and anxiety and sleeping less and a poor diet. They also expressed feeling devalued by adults and the media. They were able to articulate their struggles with ADHD, which helped them increase their self-esteem since they weren't blaming themselves. They also had access to appropriate treatments.
The interviews showed that the women had a lot of positive qualities but struggled to overcome the impact of their ADHD symptoms on a variety of aspects of their lives. These included a lack career or romantic opportunities as well as difficulties maintaining relationships. a messy home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Women can cover up their impulsivity and hyperactivity because they feel that these symptoms are less acceptable for boys and men. They may also be able to internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping mechanisms such as self-harm (cutting burns, scratching, cutting). This can lead to feelings of self-esteem issues that contribute to depression, anxiety, or eating disorders.
A strong sense of self-esteem and worth is the precursor to more positive relationships and a positive outlook on life. If people do not have a strong sense of self-worth, they tend to seek outside things - like relationships, careers as well as wealth and power to feel worthy. A licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can also cause a lack of communication in relationships, which could ultimately end it.
Women with ADHD might also feel they do not deserve good things in life. These feelings may manifest as a desire to please or to "keep up" with other people. This can result in negative work environments, a negative body image and a dependence on foods or substances.
Despite adhd in women signs , women who took part in this study discovered many positive aspects to living with ADHD. They describe ADHD as either positive or negative according to the way they perceive their ability to control it. Some of them have also identified personal strengths they believe are due to their ADHD. They have high energy, creativity and determination and the ability to effortlessly become interested in new subjects. In addition, they describe their unique struggles as part of a bigger picture that includes cultural and family issues, as well as biological and gender differences.