ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that gender and sexuality are dependent on biology, which includes the body's chromosomal makeup as well as hormones. Many people don't fit neatly into an unisexual gender. Sexe and gender can affect how ADHD symptoms are treated and diagnosed.
ADHD is a condition that is recognized in the early years of the early years of childhood, typically before the age of 12. Symptoms must be present before 12 years of age and cause difficulties in more than one setting to be able to receive a diagnosis.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is the core of ADHD and it's a problem for all genders. Women might have a harder time to attain the attention they require, especially because symptoms often manifest in different ways in men.
Women are more likely than men to be unorganized and impulsive, for instance. They are also more likely than men to be emotionally afflicted and struggle to put things in perspective. These issues can cause an inability to focus which can lead to an absence of productivity at work or at home. They are also more likely to forget their medication and skip doctor's appointments.
In addition to these natural gender differences, hormones of women can make their ADHD symptoms more severe. The female hippocampus is larger which helps in learning and memory. Hormone fluctuations during menstruation or pregnancy, breastfeeding or menopausal cycles can affect brain function.
Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD might struggle with their relationships, at school and at work. They may also have multiple comorbid disorders, such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
It is essential that health care professionals recognize the many clues females with ADHD exhibit. They need to rethink their methods for diagnosing and treating females with ADHD in order to recognize emotional dysregulation and hormonal fluctuations. Patients can then receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Females who suffer from ADHD are often unable to controlling their emotions, especially when they interact with other people. This can result in emotional dysregulation which is a major component of ADHD symptoms and is associated with many negative life outcomes. This includes low self-esteem, anxiety and depression that coexist and a strained relationship with a partner which can lead to conflicts between partners, problems with friendships, a messy house or personal space, an inability to manage time or money and a messy home.
Gender stereotypes can affect the way women with ADHD are treated. Because they are frequently considered to be more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings, they may be viewed as emotionally unstable. This can cause them to feel more frustrated at living with untreated ADHD.
People suffering from ADHD have impaired impulse control which is also referred to as the prefrontal cortex. This means they have a harder time making decisions and following up with their intentions. This can make it hard to resist the urge to eat another piece of cake or blurt out an inappropriate statement in public.
Adults suffering from ADHD are able to benefit from medication that helps them control their impulsivity. The use of stimulants such as amphetamine or dextroamphetamine may reduce the impulsive behavior. Non-stimulants like clonidine and guanfacine are also effective. People suffering from ADHD might also benefit from behavioral therapy, which helps them change their thinking patterns and develop better coping techniques.
Meditation and eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep can all help control anxiety and impulsiveness among people with ADHD. It is also a good idea to track their symptoms throughout the day and to share this information with their physician so they can assess whether their treatment plan is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a common problem for people suffering from ADHD and can have a negative impact on their professional and personal lives. It may take them longer to complete tasks, and decrease their efficiency. They could also be late and feel overwhelmed on a daily basis.
Inability to organize can make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. They may miss important dates or misplace things like keys or purses. They may feel lonely and unloved due to this. Friends and family members may be confused about them. Disorders are more common during perimenopause or menopause when hormones are changing and symptoms become more severe.
Women often mask their ADHD symptoms in order to conform to social norms or to avoid being thought of as a problem. 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 especially in adolescence when symptoms become more apparent.
As a result women who are not treated for ADHD might experience poor work or school performance. This could negatively impact their work, grades, or reputation. adhd in adult women could also cause issues in their personal life like issues with their romantic partners or the strain of relationships with friends and family members.
Women with chronic disorganization could benefit from one-on-one help from a non-judgmental, supportive person. 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. Additionally, a certified mental health professional may recommend medication and lifestyle changes to help minimize ADHD symptoms. This could include eating small meals throughout the day to maintain a steady energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can worsen the side effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness affects decision-making in many aspects of daily life. A variety of instruments have been developed to measure indecisiveness, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness is also correlated with neuroticism, and the tendency to employ worst case scenario thinking, where people interpret uncertain situations as threatening. It is also believed to be correlated with anxiety about being wrong, which may help explain why it is common for people suffering from adhd to have difficulty making decisions.
In the qualitative study of adult women with adhd participants, they reported being not able to make decisions in their personal and professional lives. They had difficulty to manage their finances and relationships and had difficulty finding a job that they liked. They often waited for others to make decisions, or were unable to complete tasks such as arranging childcare. They felt that their ADHD symptoms, such as the inability to focus and impulsivity, or beginning projects were preventing them from progressing.
They had a difficult time in establishing and maintaining friendships which resulted in mental health issues. They described stress and anxiety, a sleeping insufficiently and having poor nutrition. They also reported feeling snubbed by their peers and the media. They were able explain their struggles with ADHD which helped them increase their self-esteem since they weren't blaming others. It also provided them with access to appropriate treatments.
The interviews revealed that women were extremely positive, but struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD in different areas of their lives. The women reported a lack in career or romantic opportunities, issues maintaining relationships and a messy home.
5. Insecurity about oneself
Some of the signs that make up ADHD are viewed as less acceptable socially for girls and women than they are for males and females and so women may conceal their impulsivity, hyperactivity and disorder. Women may take on the characteristics of ADHD and develop coping strategies like self-harming (cutting, burning or scratching). This can cause feelings of self-esteem issues which can lead to anxiety, depression, or eating disorders.
A strong sense of self-esteem and worth is the basis for better relationships and a positive outlook on life. When people lack a strong sense of self-worth they tend to look for external things - such as relationships, careers, wealth, and power - to feel worthy. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, suggests that this can lead to the lack of communication in the relationship.
Women with ADHD may also feel they do not deserve good things in life. These feelings can manifest themselves as a desire to "keep up with" or to please. This can result in toxic workplace cultures, a negative self-image, and an addiction of substances or food.
Despite these difficulties the women who participated in this study discovered many positive aspects to living with ADHD. They describe ADHD as positive or negative depending on how they feel about their ability to manage it. A few of them also point out personal strengths they believe are due to their ADHD such as the ability to be creative, high energy determination, and the ability to get easily interested in new subjects. They also discuss their individual struggles in the context of a larger picture that includes biological and gender differences, as well cultural and family issues.