ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that sex and a gender are based on biology, including the body's chromosomal makeup as well as hormones. A lot of people do not fall into a binary sexuality. However, gender and sex can influence the way symptoms of ADHD are identified and treated.
ADHD is typically diagnosed in childhood before the age of 12. Symptoms must be present before age 12 and cause difficulties in multiple settings to be able to receive a diagnosis.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Inattention is the core of ADHD and it's an issue for everyone. However, women might have a harder time to get the focus they require, especially because symptoms often manifest in different ways in men.
Women are more likely to be prone to disorganization and indecisiveness for instance. They also are more likely to become emotional and have difficulty putting things in perspective. These issues can cause an inability to focus and can result in a lack productivity at home or work. They're also more likely to not attend doctor appointments or neglect to take their medications.
The hormones of women, in addition to these innate differences can exacerbate ADHD symptoms. Females have a bigger hippocampus, which aids in memory and learning, and hormonal changes during menstrual cycles and during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause can affect their brain's function.
In the end, women who do not have a diagnosis of ADHD might have a difficult time in relationships at school, in their relationships as well as at work. They might also suffer from multiple comorbid disorders including anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
It is essential that health professionals are aware of the many clues females with ADHD exhibit. They must recalibrate their approaches for diagnosing and treating females with ADHD to account for emotional dysregulation and hormonal fluctuations. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Females suffering from ADHD are more likely to have trouble controlling their emotions, especially when they interact with other people. This can lead emotional dysregulation which is a major cause of ADHD symptoms. It can also be associated with negative life outcomes. This includes low self-esteem anxiety and depression that coexist, problematic romantic relationships that can result in violence 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 how women with ADHD are treated. Because they are often perceived as being more sensitive or prone to mood swings, they can be viewed as emotionally unstable. This can increase their frustration about being a victim of untreated ADHD.
The impulse control portion of the brain, also known as the prefrontal cortex, is impaired in individuals with ADHD. This means they are more prone to making decisions and executing with their goals. This can make it difficult to resist the temptation to eat a second piece of cake or to make an inappropriate comment in public.
For adults with ADHD medication can assist to increase their ability to manage their impulsivity. The use of stimulants such as amphetamine or dextroamphetamine are able to reduce the behavior of impulsivity. Nonstimulants like clonidine or guanfacine are also effective. Behavioral therapy can also be recommended, which can help people with ADHD modify their thinking patterns and develop 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 monitor their symptoms throughout the day, and share this information with their doctor in order to assess whether their treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization can be a problem for those suffering from ADHD and can affect their professional and personal life. It could take longer to complete tasks and reduce their productivity. They might also miss deadlines and become overwhelmed on a daily basis.
A lack of organization can make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. They may miss important dates or misplace things like keys or purses. They might feel lonely and unloved due to this. Friends and family may misunderstand their feelings. The disorder can become more severe in menopausal or perimenopausal women, when hormones change and symptoms increase.
Women often cover up 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. It can also be the reason girls and women are frequently not diagnosed with ADHD particularly in adolescence where symptoms become more apparent.
Women with untreated ADHD may not perform as well at school or at work. This can have a negative impact on their job, grades or even their reputation. It can also cause problems in their personal life, such as difficulties with romantic partners or strained 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 get and remain organized, for example, making lists of daily tasks and creating reminders for them. Additionally, a certified mental health professional can suggest changes in lifestyle and medications to reduce ADHD symptoms. This could include eating small meals throughout the day to ensure steady energy and avoiding caffeine, which can worsen the negative effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness can affect decision-making in many aspects of life. Indecisiveness is measured by various instruments, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the Indecisiveness scale. Indecisiveness is also linked to neuroticism, and the tendency to think of worst-case scenarios. This is because people perceive ambiguous situations as being threatening. It has also been found to be linked with anxiety about being wrong, which could help explain why it is common for people with adhd to struggle with making decisions.
In the qualitative study of adult women suffering from adhd, interviewees said they were not able to make decisions regarding their work and personal lives. They struggled to manage their finances and relationships and had difficulty finding jobs they enjoyed. They often had to wait for others to make decisions, or were unable complete projects such as scheduling childcare. They believed that their ADHD symptoms, such as the inability to focus and impulsivity, or starting projects was preventing them from completing.
They had trouble relaxing and maintaining friendships which resulted in mental health issues. They reported stress and anxiety, as well as a sleeping insufficiently and having inadequate nutrition. They also felt stigmatized by adults and the media. treatment for adhd in women of ADHD provided them with a reason for their struggles, which was helpful for self-image because it meant they were not blamed for their condition. They also had access to appropriate treatment strategies.
The interviews revealed that women were extremely positive however, they struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD in different areas of their lives. These included a lack romantic or career opportunities as well as difficulties maintaining relationships. a messy home.
5. inattentive add in women -esteem issues
Women can cover up their impulsivity and hyperactivity because they believe these behaviors aren't as acceptable for boys and men. They may also take on their ADHD symptoms and develop coping strategies such as self-harm (cutting, burning, scratching). This can cause lower self-esteem and could cause depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
Having high inner worth is a prerequisite for healthier 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 careers, relationships, wealth, and power to feel a sense of worthiness. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, suggests that this can also result in the lack of communication in relationships.
Alongside a feeling of lack of self-worth, those with ADHD frequently struggle with the feeling that they don't deserve the good things happening in their lives. These feelings may manifest as a desire for others to "keep up with" or to please. This can result in negative work environments and a negative image of the body and an addiction to food or other substances.
Despite these major difficulties, women who took part in this study discovered a number of positive aspects of living with ADHD. They described ADHD as either a blessing or a curse depending on the way they perceive their ability to manage it. Several of them also identify their own strengths that they believe are partly due to their ADHD which include the ability to be creative, high energy, determination, and the ability to get easily interested in new subjects. They also talk about their own struggles within the context of an overall picture that includes gender and biological differences, as well cultural and family issues.