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 belong to a sex binary. However, sex and gender can influence the way symptoms of ADHD are treated and diagnosed.
ADHD is typically diagnosed in childhood prior to the age of 12. ADHD must show signs before the age of 12 and cause problems in multiple environments to qualify for a diagnoses.
1. Problems with Focusing
Inattention is at the heart of ADHD and it's a problem for all genders. Women may have a difficult time focusing, especially since symptoms may manifest differently than in men.
Women are more likely to experience disorganization and indecisiveness for instance. They are also more likely than men to be emotionally afflicted and have a difficult time putting things in perspective. These problems can create an inability to focus on work, resulting in an inability to perform at work or home. They are also more likely to forget their medication and skip appointments with doctors.
Women's hormones along with these inherent differences, can cause ADHD symptoms. Females have a larger hippocampus, which aids in learning and memory, and hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopausal changes can affect their brain function.
Women with undiagnosed ADHD may struggle in their relationships, at school and at work. They could also struggle with a myriad of comorbid conditions, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder.
In these circumstances, it is essential for health professionals to be aware of the numerous indicators that females suffering from ADHD frequently exhibit. They should rethink their strategies for diagnosing and treating females suffering from ADHD in order to take into account emotional dysregulation and hormonal fluctuations. Patients can then receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Women with ADHD frequently have difficulty controlling their emotions. This is especially true when they are interacting with others. This can lead to emotional dysregulation which is a major element of ADHD symptoms and is associated with a range of negative life outcomes. These include low self-esteem, depression that is co-occurring with anxiety, difficult relationships with loved ones that can result in intimate partner violence, problems with friendships as well as a messy home or personal space, and an inability to manage time or money.
Gender stereotypes may also impact how women who suffer from ADHD are treated. Because they are frequently perceived as being more sensitive or prone to mood swings, they could be misunderstood or dismissed as emotionally unstable. This can exacerbate their frustrations about living with untreated ADHD.
Individuals with ADHD have a reduced ability to control impulses, also known as the prefrontal cortex. This means they are more difficult to make decisions and following through with their intentions. This can make it difficult to resist the urge to eat another piece of cake or make an inappropriate comment in public.
For people who suffer from ADHD medication can assist to improve their ability to control their impulses. Stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can aid in decrease the impulsive behavior while nonstimulant medicines like the guanfacine and clonidine are effective as well. Behavioral therapy may also be advised, which will aid people suffering from ADHD alter their thinking patterns and learn healthier coping skills.
Getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet, and meditating can also help to control impulsiveness and restlessness in people with ADHD. It is also a great idea to keep track their symptoms throughout the day and then share the information with their doctor in order to assess whether their treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a frequent issue for people suffering from ADHD and can impact their work and personal lives. It can take them longer to complete their tasks and reduce their productivity. They might also fail to meet deadlines or feel overwhelmed each day.
An absence of organization could also make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. People may forget important dates or lose things like purses or keys. They might feel lonely and unloved due to this. Family and friends may also be confused about them. The disorder can become more severe in menopausal or perimenopausal women, when hormones change and symptoms intensify.
It is not unusual for women to cover up their ADHD symptoms to conform with societal norms and avoid being judged. This can cause women to blame themselves and feel guilt or shame. It may also be the reason women and girls aren't diagnosed with ADHD. This is particularly evident in adolescence when symptoms become more obvious.
Women who are not treated for ADHD may have poor performance at school or at work. This could affect their career, grades or their overall image. adult female adhd symptoms could also cause issues in their personal life, such as difficulties with their romantic partners or the strain of relationships with family and friends members.
Women who are chronically unorganized could benefit from the one-on-one support of a non-judgmental friend. They can help women learn to stay organized by creating lists and setting reminders. Additionally, a certified mental health professional can recommend medications 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 worsen the side effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is a trait that affects decision making in many areas of life. Indecisiveness can be measured using various instruments, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the Indecisiveness scale. Indecisiveness has also been linked to neuroticism, and the tendency to imagine worst-case scenarios. This is when people perceive ambiguous situations as threatening. It has also been proven to be correlated with anxiety about being wrong, which could help explain why it's common for people suffering from adhd to have difficulty making decisions.
In the study that was qualitative of women who have adhd in their adult lives participants, they reported being incapable of making decisions regarding their work and personal lives. They had a difficult time finding an occupation they enjoyed or stayed in, and were difficult to manage their finances as well as their relationships, and health. They often were dependent on others to decide or were unable to finish projects on their own, for example, organizing childcare. They often felt like they were being restricted by their ADHD symptoms, like difficulties in starting, staying focused and impulsivity.
They had trouble relaxing and maintaining friendships, which led to mental health issues. They reported high levels of anxiety and stress as well as an inability to sleep and a poor diet. They also felt stigmatized by media and adults. The diagnosis of ADHD offered them an explanation for their struggles which was beneficial for self-image because it meant they weren't blamed for their own problems. It also gave them access to treatment strategies that were appropriate.
The interviews revealed that women were very optimistic, but struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD on different aspects of their lives. These included a lack of possibilities for romance or work and difficulties in maintaining relationships. an unclean home.
5. Insecurity about oneself
Some of the symptoms that make up ADHD are seen as less acceptable socially for women and girls than they are for men and boys and so women may are able to hide their impulsivity, hyperactivity and disorder. They may also internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping mechanisms like self-harm (cutting or burning, or scratching). This can result in low self-esteem, which could contribute to depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
Being able to identify your inner worth is a prerequisite for healthier relationships and a better outlook on life. If someone isn't feeling a solid sense of self-worth they tend to look for outside things - like relationships, careers, wealth, and power to feel a sense of worthiness. Licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can result in an absence of communication in a relationship, which can ultimately end it.
Alongside a feeling of lack of self-worth, women who have ADHD often have feeling like they don't deserve the positive things in their lives. These feelings may manifest as a desire to "keep up with" or to please. This can result in toxic workplace cultures and a negative self-image and an addiction of substances or food.
Although these are significant challenges however, the women who took part in this study discovered many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They generally say that they view their ADHD as a gift or a curse, depending on whether they believe they have control over it. Some have identified strengths they believe are due to their ADHD. They have high energy, creativity and determination and the ability to quickly become interested in new subjects. They also describe their unique struggles as part of a bigger picture that encompasses cultural and family issues as in addition to gender and biological differences.