ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender refer to biology--the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones--and that many people do not fall into a binary of sex. Gender and sexes can impact the way ADHD symptoms are diagnosed and treated.
ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood before the age of 12. ADHD symptoms must be present before 12 years of age and cause problems in multiple environments to be eligible for a diagnosis.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is at the heart of ADHD and is a problem for all genders. Women may have a harder focus, particularly since symptoms may manifest differently than males.
Women are more likely than men to be disorganized and impulsive, for instance. weblink are more likely to become emotional and have difficulty putting things into perspective. These issues can cause an inability to concentrate and can result in an absence of productivity at work or home. They are also more likely to not remember their medication or miss appointments with their doctor.
In addition to these innate gender differences, hormones of women can make their ADHD symptoms more severe. Females have a bigger hippocampus, which aids in learning and memory, as well as hormone changes during menstrual cycles as well as during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause can affect their brain function.
Women with undiagnosed ADHD might struggle with their relationships, at school, and at work. They may also be struggling with a myriad of comorbid disorders, including anxiety, depression eating disorders, bipolar disorder.
It is important that health professionals are aware of the numerous signs that females with ADHD display. They must recalibrate their approaches for diagnosing and treating females with ADHD to recognize emotional dysregulation and hormonal fluctuations. Patients can then receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Females with ADHD are more likely to have trouble 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 a range of negative life results. This can include low self-esteem, coexisting depression and anxiety and a strained relationship with a partner that can result in conflicts between partners, problems with friendships, a messy house or personal space, inability to manage time or money and a messy home.
Gender stereotypes can affect how women who suffer from 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 about living with untreated ADHD.
People with ADHD have impaired impulse control which is also referred to as the prefrontal cortex. This means that they have a difficult time making decisions and executing their intentions. This can make you want to take a bite more cake or to make a snide comment.
For people who suffer from ADHD medication can assist to increase their ability to control their impulses. stimulants like amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are able to reduce impulsive behavior. Non-stimulants like clonidine and guanfacine are also effective. Behavioral therapy is also advised, which will aid people suffering from ADHD modify their thinking patterns and learn healthier coping skills.
Meditation, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep can all help control anxiety and impulsiveness among people with ADHD. weblink 's also a good idea to keep track their symptoms throughout the day, and then share this information with their physician in order to assess whether or not their treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a frequent issue for people suffering from ADHD and can impact their professional and personal lives. They may have trouble to complete their tasks and their productivity could be diminished. They might also miss deadlines or feel overwhelmed each day.
Lack of organization can also make it hard to maintain healthy relationships. They may forget important events or lose things like keys or purses. They may feel lonely and isolated due to this. They can also feel misunderstood by family and friends. The disorder can become more severe during perimenopause and menopause as hormones alter and symptoms increase.
Women often mask their ADHD symptoms in order to fit into societal norms or to avoid being considered a failure. This can lead women to blame themselves and feel shame or guilt. This could be a reason why women and girls aren't diagnosed with ADHD. This is especially true in adolescence, when symptoms become more obvious.
Women who are not treated for ADHD might have a poor performance at work or in school. This can have a negative impact on their job, grades or their image. It can also create problems in their personal lives like issues with romantic partners or strained relationships with family and friends members.
Women who are chronically disorganized can receive one-on-one assistance by a non-judgmental therapist. They can teach them strategies to stay organized, such as making a list of daily tasks and setting reminders for them. A licensed mental health professional can recommend medication or lifestyle changes that will aid in reducing ADHD symptoms. This can include eating small, frequent meals to maintain energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can increase side effects of stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness influences decision-making in a variety of aspects of daily life. Indecisiveness is measured by various instruments, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale for Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness has also been linked to neuroticism, and the tendency to imagine worst-case scenarios. This is because people perceive ambiguous situations as threatening. It was also discovered to be associated with a fear of making a mistake which could explain why people with adhd have difficulty making decisions.
In the study that was qualitative of women who have adhd in their adult lives participants, they described being incapable of making decisions in their personal and professional lives. They had a difficult time finding a job they liked or to stay in, and also found it difficult to manage their finances, relationships and health. They frequently had to wait for others to make decisions or were unable to complete projects on their own, for example, arranging childcare. They felt that their ADHD symptoms like inattention and impulsivity or difficulty getting started on projects were preventing them from progressing.
They had a difficult time keeping friendships and had difficulty relaxing which led to issues with their mental health. They reported high levels of anxiety and stress, lack of sleep and poor nutrition. They also reported feeling snubbed by adults and the media. More hints were able to explain their struggles with ADHD and helped improve their self-esteem because they weren't blaming others. Additionally, it gave them access to the appropriate treatment.
The interviews revealed that women had many positive qualities but struggled to overcome the impact of their ADHD symptoms on a variety of aspects of their lives. The women complained of the absence of a job or romantic opportunities, difficulties maintaining relationships and a messy home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Some of the symptoms that make up ADHD are viewed as less acceptable socially for women and girls than they are for boys and men Some women choose to are able to hide their impulsivity, hyperactivity and disorder. They may also be able to internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping mechanisms such as self-harm (cutting, burning, scratching). This can cause low self-esteem, which can contribute to depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
A high sense of inner worth is the foundation for better relationships and a positive outlook on life. If someone isn't feeling a solid sense of self-worth, they tend to seek outside things - like careers, relationships wealth, power, and relationships to feel a sense of worthiness. A licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can result in an absence of communication in relationships, which could eventually end it.
Alongside a feeling of lack of self-worth, those with ADHD frequently struggle with a feeling that they don't have enough of the good things in their lives. These feelings can manifest as a desire to "keep up" or to please. This can lead to an unhealthy work environment and a negative image of the body and a dependence on foods or substances.
Although these are significant challenges, the women who participated in this study also discovered a number of positive aspects of living with ADHD. They described ADHD as either an advantage or a disadvantage depending on how they feel about their ability to control it. Some have identified their own strengths that they believe are due to their ADHD. These include high energy, creativity and determination, as well as the ability to effortlessly become fascinated by new subjects. They also talk about their own struggles within the context of an overall picture that includes biological and gender distinctions, as well as cultural and family issues.