ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that gender and sex are determined by biology, including the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones. A lot of people do not fall into the binary gender. However, sex and gender can affect the way symptoms of ADHD are identified and treated.
ADHD is a condition that is recognized in the early years of childhood, usually before age 12. ADHD must present symptoms before 12 years of age and cause problems in multiple settings to be able to receive a diagnosis.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is at the heart of ADHD and is a problem that affects both genders. But women may find it more challenging to achieve the attention they require, especially because symptoms often manifest differently for men.
Women are more likely to be prone to disorganization and indecisiveness for instance. They are also more likely than men to be emotional and have a difficult time putting things in perspective. These issues can cause an inability of concentration and can result in an inability to perform at work or home. They are also more likely to not remember their medication or miss appointments with doctors.
In addition to these natural gender differences, hormones of women can make their ADHD symptoms more severe. The hippocampus of females is bigger which helps in memory and learning. Hormone fluctuations during menstruation or pregnancy, breastfeeding or menopausal changes can also affect brain function.
Women who have not been 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.
In these circumstances, it is crucial for health professionals to be aware of the various indicators that females suffering from ADHD often show. They should rethink their approaches to diagnosing and treating women with ADHD to account for hormonal fluctuations, emotional dysregulation and other factors that influence the severity of symptoms. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Females with ADHD are often unable to managing their emotions, particularly when interacting with others. This can cause emotional dysregulation which is a component of ADHD symptoms. It can also be associated with 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 manage time or money and a messy home.
blog may also impact how women with ADHD are treated. Because they are typically considered to be more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings, they could be misunderstood or dismissed as overly emotional. This can lead to their frustration over being a victim of untreated ADHD.
People with ADHD suffer from impaired impulse control Also known as the prefrontal cortex. This means they have a harder time making decisions and executing their intentions. This makes it difficult to resist the temptation to eat another piece of cake or to make an inappropriate comment in public.
Adults with ADHD may benefit from medication that helps them manage their impulses. The use of stimulants such as amphetamine or dextroamphetamine may reduce the impulsive behavior. Nonstimulants like clonidine or Guanfacine can also be effective. People with ADHD might also benefit from a behavioral therapy, which helps them change their thinking patterns and develop more effective coping techniques.
Getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and meditating can also help to control impulsiveness and restlessness in people with ADHD. It's also a good idea to track their symptoms throughout the day and communicate this information with their physician to assess whether the treatment regimen is effective.
3. adult add women is a frequent issue in people with ADHD, and can affect their personal and professional life. They may have difficulty to complete tasks, and their productivity may be reduced. They may also fail to meet deadlines or feel overwhelmed each day.
Inability to organize can cause problems in maintaining healthy relationships. People may miss important dates or misplace items like keys or purses. They may feel lonely and isolated as a result. They may also feel that they are not understood by family members and friends. Disorganization is more common in menopausal and perimenopausal women when hormones are changing and symptoms become more severe.
Women often mask their ADHD symptoms to fit into societal norms or to avoid being judged. This can lead women to blame themselves and feel shame or guilt. This could be a reason why women and girls are not diagnosed with ADHD. This is particularly evident in adolescence when symptoms are more evident.
As a result, women with untreated ADHD might have poor work or school performance. This can affect their job, grades, or overall standing. It could also cause issues in their personal life like issues with their romantic partners or the strain of relationships with family and friends members.
Women with chronic disorganization could benefit from one-on-one help from a nonjudgmental support person. They can assist women in learning to stay organized by creating an agenda and establishing reminders. In addition, a qualified mental health professional can suggest medication and lifestyle changes to reduce ADHD symptoms. This may include eating smaller meals throughout the day to ensure steady energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can cause an increase in the negative effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is a characteristic that affects decision making in many areas of life. There are a variety of instruments that have been created to assess indecisiveness. These include the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness is also correlated with neuroticism and with the tendency to employ worst-case scenario thinking, in which people interpret ambiguous situations as potentially dangerous. It has also been found to be linked with the fear of being wrong, which could help explain why it is common for people suffering from adhd to struggle with making decisions.
In the qualitative study of women who have adhd in their adult lives participants, they said they were not able to make decisions in their personal and professional lives. They struggled to manage their finances and relationships and struggled to find jobs they enjoyed. They frequently waited for other people to make decisions or were unable to complete projects themselves, such as arranging childcare. They often felt they were being held back by their ADHD symptoms, such as difficulties in starting, staying focused and impulsive.
They struggled to maintain friendships and were unable to relax which led to issues with their mental health. They reported anxiety and stress, lack of sleep and poor nutrition. They also reported feeling snubbed by adults and the media. The diagnosis of ADHD provided them with a reason for their difficulties which was beneficial to their self-image because it meant they were not blamed for their condition. They also had access to appropriate treatments.
The interviews revealed that women had a lot of positive qualities however, they were struggling to overcome the impact of their ADHD symptoms on different aspects of their life. The women complained of a lack in career or romantic opportunities, difficulties maintaining relationships, and a messy house.
5. Self-esteem issues
Certain of the symptoms that make up ADHD are considered to be less socially acceptable for girls and women than they are for males and females and so women may hide their hyperactivity, impulsivity and disorganization. Women who suffer from ADHD might take on the characteristics of ADHD and adopt coping strategies such as self-harming (cutting, burning or scratching). This can lead to feelings of low self-esteem which can lead to anxiety, depression or eating disorders.
A strong sense of self-esteem and worth is the foundation for 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 careers, relationships, money, and power. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, suggests that this can lead to an absence of communication within relationships.
Women with ADHD may also feel they are not worthy of good things in life. These feelings can manifest as a desire to "keep up" or to please. This can cause toxic workplaces as well as a negative self-image and an addiction of substances or food.
While these are major challenges, the women who participated in this study found many positive aspects of living with ADHD. Most of them say that they view their ADHD as a gift or a curse, based on whether they feel they have control over it. A few of them also point out their own strengths that they believe are a result of to their ADHD which include high energy, creativity, determination, and the ability to be easily interested in new topics. They also discuss their own struggles within the context of the larger picture, which includes biological and gender distinctions, as well as cultural and family issues.