ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related to biology, the hormones and chromosomal makeup of the body, and that many people do not belong to a sex binary. Genre and gender can influence how ADHD symptoms are treated and diagnosed.
ADHD is usually diagnosed in adhd symptoms in women test before the age of 12. The symptoms must be present prior to 12 years of age and cause difficulties in multiple settings to qualify for an assessment.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is the core of ADHD, and it's a problem for all genders. Women may have a harder time focusing, especially since symptoms can appear differently than males.
Women are more likely to be prone to disorganization and indecisiveness for instance. They are also more likely to experience emotional stress and have difficulty putting things in perspective. These issues can lead to an inability to focus and can result in an absence of productivity at work or home. They're also more likely to skip doctor appointments and forget to take their medication.
In addition to these inherent variations, hormones in women can make ADHD symptoms worse. The hippocampus of females is bigger, which aids in memory and learning. The fluctuations in hormones during menstruation or pregnancy, breastfeeding or menopausal changes can also affect brain function.
Women with undiagnosed ADHD might struggle with their relationships, at school and at work. They may also be struggling with a host of comorbid disorders, including anxiety, depression eating disorders, bipolar disorder.
In these circumstances, it is essential for health care professionals to be aware of the various clues that females with ADHD often show. They must recalibrate their approaches to diagnosing and treating women suffering from ADHD to account for emotional dysregulation, hormonal fluctuations and other factors that can influence symptom severity. In this way, these patients will receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Women with ADHD often have trouble controlling their emotions. This is particularly true when they are interacting with others. This can lead emotional dysregulation which is a major cause of ADHD symptoms. It is also linked to negative life outcomes. This includes low self-esteem, coexisting depression and anxiety and a strained relationship with a partner which can lead to violence between partners, problems with relationships, a messy home or personal space, an inability manage time or money and a messy home.
Gender stereotypes can affect how women who suffer from ADHD are treated. Because they are frequently viewed as more sensitive or prone to mood swings, they can be misinterpreted or dismissed as being emotionally prone. This can cause them to feel more frustrated in being a victim of untreated ADHD.
Individuals with ADHD suffer from impaired impulse control which is also referred to as the prefrontal cortex. This means that they are more prone to making decisions and sticking in their intentions. This could make you want to take a bite more cake or to make a rude comment.
For people who suffer from ADHD, medication can help to enhance their ability to manage their behavior. Stimulants like amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can aid in reduce the impulsive behavior, while nonstimulant medicines like the guanfacine and clonidine are effective too. Behavioral therapy can also be advised, which will help those suffering from ADHD change their thinking patterns and learn more effective ways of coping.
Meditation and eating a balanced diet and getting enough rest can all help control anxiety and impulsiveness among people suffering from ADHD. It is also a great idea to track their symptoms throughout the day and share this information with their doctor to determine whether or not their treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization can be a problem for those suffering from ADHD and affect their work and personal lives. They may have difficulty to complete their tasks and their productivity could be reduced. They could also miss deadlines or feel overwhelmed throughout the day.
A lack of organization can cause problems in maintaining healthy relationships. They might forget important dates or lose belongings like keys or purses. They might feel lonely and isolated because of this. They may also feel unloved by family members and friends. Disorders are more common during menopausal or perimenopausal cycles when hormones change and symptoms are increasing.
Women often hide their ADHD symptoms to fit into societal norms or to avoid being judged. This can lead to self-blame and feelings of shame or guilt. It could also be a reason for why girls and women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD, particularly during adolescence, when symptoms are more obvious.
Women with untreated ADHD might have a poor performance at school or at work. This can affect their job, grades, or their overall image. It could also cause issues in their personal lives, such as difficulties with their romantic partners or the strain of relationships with family members and friends members.
Women who are chronically disorganized can benefit from one-on-one help from a non-judgmental, supportive person. They can help them learn strategies to get and keep their lives organized, such as making a list of daily tasks and setting reminders for them. A licensed mental health professional may also recommend medication and lifestyle changes to reduce ADHD symptoms. This can include eating small frequent meals to keep energy levels up and avoiding caffeine, which can cause adverse effects from stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness can affect decision-making in many aspects of daily 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 has also been linked to neuroticism, and the tendency to think of worst-case scenarios. This is when people interpret uncertain situations as being threat. It was also discovered to be associated with a fear of making a mistake which could help explain why people suffering from adhd have difficulty making decisions.
In the qualitative study of adult women with adhd interviewed they said they were not capable of making decisions regarding their personal and professional lives. They struggled to find a job they liked or stayed in, and found it difficult to manage their finances as well as their relationships and health. They often had to wait for others to make decisions for them, or were unable complete projects such as arranging childcare. They often felt that they were restricted by their ADHD symptoms, like difficulties in starting, staying focused and impulsive.
They struggled to maintain friendships and had difficulty relaxing, leading to problems with their mental health. They described stress and anxiety, as well as a sleep deprivation and inadequate nutrition. They also reported feeling stigmatized by the media and adults. The diagnosis of ADHD offered them an explanation for their struggles, which was helpful for self-esteem since it meant they weren't blamed for their condition. They also had access to the appropriate treatment strategies.
The interviews revealed that women were very optimistic however, they struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD in different areas of their lives. These included a lack of career or romantic opportunities, difficulty maintaining relationships and an unclean home.
5. Self-esteem issues
Some of the signs that comprise ADHD are seen as less acceptable socially for women and girls than they are for boys and men and so women may hide their hyperactivity, impulsivity and disorganization. They may also be able to internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping mechanisms such as self-harm (cutting burns, scratching, cutting). This can cause feelings of low self-esteem that contribute to anxiety, depression or eating disorders.
A high sense of inner worth is the foundation for better relationships and an optimistic outlook on life. People who do not have a strong self-worth tend to look outside themselves for validation, like relationships, careers as well as money and power. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, suggests that this can lead to a lack in communication within the relationship.
Women suffering from ADHD might also feel they don't deserve the best things in their lives. These feelings may manifest as a desire for others to "keep up" or to please. This can lead to an unhealthy work environment and a negative image of the body, and an addiction to foods or substances.
Despite these significant difficulties, women who took part in this study discovered many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They describe ADHD as either a blessing or a curse depending on how they feel about their ability to manage it. Several of them also identify their own strengths that they believe are partly 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 describe their individual struggles as part of a larger picture that includes cultural and family issues as also gender and biological differences.