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 don't belong to a sex binary. However, sex and gender can affect the way symptoms of ADHD are diagnosed and treated.
ADHD is a condition that is recognized in the early years of the early years of childhood, typically before the age of 12. ADHD must show signs before 12 years of age and cause problems in more than one environment to qualify for a diagnoses.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Inattention is the root of ADHD and is a problem that affects both men and women. However, women may have more difficulty to get the attention they require, especially because symptoms often manifest in different ways in men.
Women are more likely than men to be unorganized and indecisive, for example. adhd symptoms in women adults are also more likely than men to be emotional and have a difficult time putting things in perspective. These issues can cause an inability of concentration which can lead to an inability to perform at work or at home. They are also more likely to forget their medication and skip appointments with doctors.
In addition to these innate variations, hormones in women can make their ADHD symptoms worse. Females have a larger hippocampus, which helps with learning and memory, and hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopausal cycles can affect brain function.
Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD may struggle in their relationships, at school and at work. They could also struggle with a variety of comorbid conditions, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder.
It is important that health care professionals recognize the numerous signs that females with ADHD show. They should rethink their strategies to diagnose and treat females suffering from ADHD to recognize hormonal fluctuations and emotional dysregulation. The patients will then receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Females with ADHD tend to have difficulty controlling their emotions, especially when interacting with others. This can result in emotional dysregulation, which is a major element of ADHD symptoms and is linked to a variety 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 friends as well as a messy home or personal space, and an inability to manage time or money.
Gender stereotypes can also affect how women with ADHD are treated. Because they are often perceived as being more sensitive or prone to mood swings, they could be viewed as emotionally unstable. This can cause them to feel more frustrated about being a victim of untreated ADHD.
People with ADHD suffer from impaired impulse control, also known as the prefrontal cortex. This means that they have a harder time making decisions and following through with their intentions. This makes it difficult to resist the temptation to eat another piece of cake or make an inappropriate comment in public.
Adults with ADHD can benefit from medications that help to control their impulses. stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can help to decrease the impulsive behavior while nonstimulant medicines like the guanfacine and clonidine are efficient too. Behavioral therapy is also recommended, which can help those suffering from ADHD modify their thinking patterns and learn healthier coping skills.
Sleeping enough, eating a healthy diet, and practicing meditation can help control impulsiveness and restlessness in people with ADHD. It's important to track their symptoms throughout the day and to share this data with their doctor to assess whether their treatment regimen is effective.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a common issue for people with ADHD and can affect their personal and professional lives. It can take longer to complete tasks and decrease their efficiency. They might also be late and become overwhelmed on a daily basis.
Inability to organize can make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. People may not remember important dates or even lose items like keys or purses. They may feel lonely and unloved as a result. They can also feel misunderstood by family and friends. Disorganization is more common during perimenopause or menopause when hormones change and symptoms increase.
Women often cover up their ADHD symptoms to conform to social norms or to avoid being thought of as a problem. This can lead to self-blame and feelings of shame or guilt. This could be a reason for why girls and women are frequently not diagnosed with ADHD particularly in adolescence where symptoms become more apparent.
As a result, women with untreated ADHD may have trouble with their academic or work performance. This could have a negative impact on their work, grades, or their image. This can also cause problems for their personal life. For example it can cause issues with romantic partners or strain relationships with family and friends.
Women who are chronically unorganized will benefit from the one-on-1 support of a non-judgmental person. They can teach them strategies to stay organized, such as making a list of daily tasks and creating reminders for them. Additionally, a certified mental health professional can suggest changes in lifestyle and medications to help minimize ADHD symptoms. This may include eating smaller meals throughout the day to maintain a steady energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can worsen the negative effects of stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness affects decision-making in many aspects of life. A variety of instruments have been developed to measure indecisiveness, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness is also correlated with neuroticism and with the tendency to apply worst case scenario thinking, in which people interpret ambiguous situations as potentially dangerous. It has also been found to be correlated with anxiety about being wrong, which could help explain why it is common for people with adhd to have trouble making decisions.
In the qualitative study of adult women suffering from adhd who were interviewed, they described not being capable of making decisions regarding their professional and personal lives. They struggled to manage their finances and relationships and had difficulty finding an occupation they liked. They often were dependent on others to make decisions for them, or were unable to finish projects like arranging childcare. They believed that their ADHD symptoms such as the inability to focus and impulsivity, or getting started on projects were preventing them from progressing.
They had trouble finding time to relax and keeping friendships alive which resulted in mental health problems. They described stress and anxiety, a lack of sleep and poor nutrition. They also felt stigmatized by the media and adults. The diagnosis of ADHD gave them a reason for their struggles which was beneficial for self-image because it meant they were not blaming themselves. They also had access to the appropriate treatment.
The interviews revealed that women were extremely positive and able to overcome the effects of ADHD on different aspects of their lives. This included a lack of romantic or career opportunities, difficulty maintaining relationships and a messy home.
5. Lack of Self-Esteem
Some of the symptoms that are a part of ADHD are viewed as less acceptable socially for girls and women than they are for boys and men, so some women are able to hide their impulsivity, hyperactivity and disorder. They also may take on their ADHD symptoms and develop coping strategies such as self-harm (cutting or burning, or scratching). This can lead to low self-esteem, which could cause anxiety, depression or eating disorders.
A high self-esteem is a key factor in healthier relationships and a better outlook on life. When people lack a strong sense of self-worth and feel they are not worthy, they will seek external things - such as relationships, careers as well as wealth and power - to feel worthy. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, suggests that this can also result in a lack in communication within a relationship.
In addition to a sense of self-worth, women with ADHD frequently struggle with a feeling that they don't have enough of the good things happening in their lives. These feelings may manifest as a desire to please or "keep up" with other people. This can result in toxic workplace cultures as well as a negative self-image and an addiction of substance or food.
Despite these difficulties However, the women who took part in this study found many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They described ADHD as an advantage or a disadvantage according to how they feel about their ability to manage it. Some of them have also identified personal strengths they believe are partially due to their ADHD. These include high energy, creativity and determination and the ability to quickly become fascinated by new subjects. They also talk about their individual struggles in the context of a larger picture that includes gender and biological distinctions, as well as cultural and family issues.