ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are a reflection of biology, the hormonal makeup of the body and its chromosomal makeup. It also acknowledges that many people don't fit into a sex binary. However, sex and gender can influence how symptoms of ADHD are identified and treated.
ADHD is a condition that is recognized in the early years of the early years of childhood, typically before age 12. ADHD must show signs before 12 years of age and cause problems in more than one environment to be eligible for a diagnosis.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Inattention is at the heart of ADHD and it's a problem for all genders. Women may have a harder focus, particularly since symptoms can manifest differently than in men.
Women are more likely to experience indecisiveness and disorganization, for example. They are also more likely than men to be emotional and struggle to put things in perspective. These problems can create an inability to focus on tasks, leading to an inability to perform at work or home. They're also more likely skip doctor appointments and forget to take their medications.
The hormones that women experience, in addition to these inherent differences, can cause ADHD symptoms. The hippocampus of females is larger which helps in memory and learning. Menstrual hormone fluctuations as well as pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopausal cycles can influence brain function.
Women with undiagnosed ADHD may have difficulty in their relationships, at school and at work. They could also be suffering from various comorbidities, such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders.
In these circumstances, it is crucial for health professionals to be aware of the numerous indications that females with ADHD often exhibit. They must recalibrate their approaches to diagnosing and treating women with ADHD to take into account emotional dysregulation, hormonal fluctuations and other factors that can influence symptom severity. That way, these patients will receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Women who suffer from ADHD often struggle to control their emotions. This is especially the case when they interact with others. This can lead to emotional dysregulation that is a component of ADHD symptoms. It can also be linked to negative life outcomes. This includes low self-esteem anxiety and depression that coexist, problematic romantic relationships that can result in conflict between partners, issues with relationships, a messy home or personal space, inability to manage time or money, and a messy house.
Gender stereotypes can affect the way women who suffer from ADHD are treated. Because they are often considered to be more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings, they can be viewed as emotionally unstable. This can increase their frustration in being a victim of untreated ADHD.
The part of the brain that controls impulses the brain, referred to as the prefrontal cortex is impaired in people suffering from ADHD. This means they are more difficult to make decisions and following through with their intentions. This could make you want to eat more cake or make an inappropriate comment.
For those who suffer from ADHD medications can help to enhance their ability to control their impulsivity. stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can help decrease the impulsive behavior while nonstimulant medicines like Guanfacine and clonidine can be effective too. People suffering from ADHD may also benefit from a behavioral therapy, which helps them alter their mental patterns and develop more effective coping techniques.
Meditation and eating a balanced, healthy diet, and getting enough sleep can all be helpful in reducing restlessness and impulsiveness in people with ADHD. It's also a great idea to monitor their symptoms throughout the day, and to share this information with their physician in order to assess whether or not their treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization can be a problem for people suffering from ADHD and can affect their work and personal lives. It can take longer to complete their tasks and reduce their efficiency. They might also be late or overwhelmed every day.
Inability to organize 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 as a result. Friends and family members may misunderstand them. Disorders are more common during menopausal or perimenopausal cycles when hormones are changing and symptoms are increasing.
It is not unusual for women to mask their ADHD symptoms to fit in with societal norms and avoid being judged. This can cause women to blame themselves and feel shame or guilt. It may be a reason why women and girls aren't diagnosed with ADHD. This is especially true in adolescence, when symptoms become more obvious.
Women who are not treated for ADHD may have poor performance at work or in school. This could affect their work, grades or their overall image. It could also cause issues in their personal life, such as difficulties with romantic partners, or strained relationships with friends and family members.
Women with chronic disorganization can receive one-on-one assistance from a non-judgmental, supportive person. They can assist women in learning to stay organized by making lists and establishing reminders. Additionally, a certified mental health professional can suggest medication and lifestyle changes to reduce ADHD symptoms. This could include eating smaller frequent meals to maintain energy levels and avoiding caffeine, which can cause adverse effects of stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness affects decision-making in many aspects of life. Indecisiveness can be measured using various instruments, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale of Indecisiveness. 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 dangerous. It was also found to be associated with the fear of making a mistake, which could help explain why people with adhd have difficulty making decisions.
In the study of qualitative research on adult women with adhd that were interviewed, they described not being able to make choices about their personal and professional lives. They had a difficult time finding an occupation they enjoyed or to stay in, and found it difficult to manage their finances as well as their relationships and health. They often waited for others to make decisions, or were unable to complete tasks like scheduling childcare. They felt that their ADHD symptoms like inattention and impulsivity or difficulty beginning projects was preventing them from completing.
They struggled to keep friendships and were unable to relax which led to issues with their mental health. They reported high levels of anxiety and stress as well as sleeping less and a poor diet. They also described feeling stigmatized by other adults and by the media. They were able to articulate their struggles with ADHD which helped them improve their self-esteem because they weren't blaming themselves. Additionally, it gave them access to the appropriate treatment strategies.
The interviews revealed that the women were very positive and able to overcome the effects of ADHD in different areas of their lives. The women complained of a lack in career or romantic opportunities, problems maintaining relationships and a messy home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Women can cover up their impulsivity and hyperactivity because they feel that their behavior is less acceptable for boys and men. They may also be able to internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping mechanisms such as self-harm (cutting or burning, or scratching). This can result in feelings of low self-esteem that contribute to depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
Having high inner worth is a precursor to healthier relationships and a better outlook on life. People who lack a strong self-worth are more likely to look outside themselves for validation, such as careers, relationships as well as money and power. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, suggests that this can also result in a lack in communication within relationships.
Alongside a feeling of lack of self-worth, women with ADHD frequently struggle with feeling like they don't have enough of the good things in their lives. These feelings can manifest as a desire for others to "keep up" or to please. This can lead to toxic work cultures and a negative self-image and an addiction of substances or food.
While these are major challenges however, the women who took part in this study found many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They generally say that they view their ADHD as a gift or a curse, based on whether they believe they can control it. Some of them have also identified their own strengths that they believe are partially due to their ADHD. These include high energy, creativity and determination and the ability to easily get interested in new subjects. adhd in adult women test talk about their individual struggles in the context of an overall picture that includes biological and gender differences, as well as cultural and family issues.