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, gender and sex influence how symptoms of ADHD are diagnosed and treated.
ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood before the age of 12. The symptoms must be present before age 12 and cause problems in more than one setting to be able to receive a diagnosis.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is at the core of ADHD and can affect both men and women. However, women may find it more challenging to achieve the focus they need particularly since symptoms typically manifest in different ways for men.
adhd in young women are more likely than men to be unorganized and impulsive, as an example. They are also more likely than men to be emotionally disturbed and have a difficult time putting things in perspective. These problems can lead to an inability of concentration and can result in an absence of productivity at work or home. They are also more likely to forget their medication and skip doctor's appointments.
The hormones of women along with these natural differences, can contribute to ADHD symptoms. Females have a bigger hippocampus that aids in memory and learning, and hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle as well as during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause can affect their brain's functioning.
This is why women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD may face major difficulties in relationships at school, in relationships as well as at work. They could also be suffering from multiple comorbid disorders like anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
In these circumstances, it is essential for health care professionals to recognize the many indications that females with ADHD frequently exhibit. They need to rethink their methods to diagnose and treat females suffering from ADHD to recognize hormonal fluctuations and emotional dysregulation. In this way, these patients will receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Females with ADHD tend to have difficulty managing their emotions, particularly when they interact with other people. This can result in emotional dysregulation, which is a major element of ADHD symptoms and is associated with a range of negative life results. This can include low self-esteem, anxiety and depression that coexist, problematic romantic relationships 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 house.
Gender stereotypes can also influence the way women who suffer from ADHD will be treated. Because they are typically considered to be more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings, they can be misunderstood or dismissed as emotionally unstable. This can exacerbate their frustrations about being a victim of untreated ADHD.
People suffering from ADHD have a reduced ability to control impulses, also known as the prefrontal cortex. This means that they are more prone to making decisions and sticking in their intentions. This can make it difficult to resist the temptation to eat another piece of cake or make an inappropriate comment in public.
For those who suffer from ADHD, medication can help to enhance their ability to control their impulses. Stimulants such as amphetamine and dextroamphetamine can reduce the impulsive behavior. Nonstimulants like clonidine or guanfacine are also effective. Behavioral therapy can also be suggested, which can help those suffering from ADHD modify their thinking patterns and learn more effective ways of coping.
Meditation, eating a balanced diet and getting enough rest can all help control restlessness and impulsiveness in people suffering from ADHD. It's also a good idea to keep track of their symptoms throughout the day and share this data with their doctor to assess whether their treatment plan is effective.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a common problem in people with ADHD, and can affect their work and personal lives. They may find it difficult to complete tasks and their productivity could be reduced. They could also miss deadlines and become overwhelmed on a daily basis.
Inability to organize can make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. They may not remember important dates or even lose things like keys or purses. They might feel lonely and unloved because of this. They can also feel misunderstood by their family and friends. The disorder can become more severe during perimenopause and menopause when hormones shift and symptoms increase.
It is not unusual for women to cover up their ADHD symptoms to fit in with society's norms and avoid being judged. This can lead to self-blame and feelings of guilt or shame. This could be the reason girls and women are frequently not diagnosed with ADHD especially in adolescence when symptoms become more apparent.
As a result, women with untreated ADHD may have trouble with their academic or work performance. This can negatively impact their career, grades, or their image. This can also cause problems in their personal lives. For instance it could lead to difficulties with romantic partners or strain relationships with family members and friends.
Women who are constantly disorganized will benefit from the one-on-1 support of a non-judgmental friend. They can help them learn strategies to get and keep their lives organized, such as making an agenda of the daily tasks and creating reminders for them. A qualified mental health professional can also recommend medication and lifestyle changes to help minimize ADHD symptoms. This can include eating small frequent meals to ensure energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can increase side effects of stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness affects decision-making in many aspects of daily life. Indecisiveness can be measured using several instruments, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale for Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness can also be linked to neuroticism, and the tendency to use worst case scenario thinking, which is where people interpret uncertain situations as threatening. It has also been proven to be linked with a fear of being wrong, which could help explain why it's common for people suffering from adhd to struggle with making decisions.
In the study of qualitative research on adult women with adhd interviewed they said they were not able to make decisions regarding their personal and professional lives. They had a difficult time finding a job they liked or to stay in, and were difficult to manage their finances, relationships and health. They often had to wait for others to make decisions, or were unable to finish projects like scheduling childcare. They often felt that they were restricted by their ADHD symptoms, like difficulty with starting or staying focused and impulsivity.
They struggled to maintain relationships and had trouble relaxing, leading to problems with their mental health. They described having high levels of stress and anxiety as well as a lack of sleep and a poor diet. They also felt stigmatized by the media and adults. The diagnosis of ADHD offered them an explanation for their difficulties which was beneficial for self-esteem since it meant they weren't blaming themselves. They also had access to the appropriate treatment strategies.
The interviews revealed that women had a number of positive characteristics but were struggling to overcome the impact of their ADHD symptoms on a variety of aspects of their lives. These included a lack possibilities for romance or work as well as difficulties maintaining relationships. an unclean home.
5. Insecurity about oneself
Certain of the symptoms that comprise ADHD are considered to be less socially acceptable for girls and women than they are for boys and men, so some women conceal their impulsivity, hyperactivity, and disorganization. Some women may be able to internalize their ADHD and develop coping strategies like self-harming (cutting or burning). This can cause low self-esteem, which can contribute to depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
Having high inner worth is a precursor to better relationships and a more positive outlook on life. People who do not have a strong self-worth tend to look outside themselves to find validation, including careers, relationships as well as money and power. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed psychotherapist, says this can also result in the lack of communication in a relationship.
In addition to a lack of self-worth, women with ADHD often struggle with the feeling that they don't have enough of the good things happening in their lives. These feelings can manifest themselves as a desire to "keep up with" or to please. This can lead to toxic work cultures, a negative self-image, and an addiction of substance or food.
Despite these issues, women who took part in this study discovered many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They describe ADHD as a blessing or a curse depending on the way they perceive their ability to control it. Several of them also identify personal strengths that they believe are due to their ADHD such as the ability to be creative, high energy, determination and the ability to be easily interested in new topics. In addition, they describe their unique struggles as part of a larger picture that includes cultural and family issues as well as biological and gender differences.