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 a condition that is recognized in the early years of early childhood, typically before the age of 12. The symptoms must be present before age 12 and cause difficulties in more than one environment to be eligible for a diagnosis.
1. Problems with Focusing
Inattention is at the core of ADHD and can affect both men and women. Women may have a difficult time focusing, especially since symptoms can appear differently than in males.
Women are more likely to be prone to disorganization and indecisiveness for instance. They also are more likely to be emotionally triggered and struggle to put things into perspective. These issues can lead to an inability to concentrate on work, which can lead to a lack of productivity at work or at home. They're also more likely to miss doctor appointments and forget to take their medication.
Women's hormones along with these innate differences can exacerbate ADHD symptoms. Females have a larger hippocampus, which aids in learning and memory, as well as hormonal changes during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopausal changes can affect their brain function.
Women with undiagnosed ADHD may struggle in their relationships, at school and at work. They could also be suffering from various comorbidities like depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
It is crucial that health professionals understand the numerous signs that females with ADHD display. They need to rethink their methods to diagnose and treat females with ADHD in order to take into account emotional dysregulation and hormonal fluctuations. In this way, these patients will receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Females with ADHD are more likely to have trouble controlling their emotions, particularly when they interact with other people. This can result in emotional dysregulation which is a key element of ADHD symptoms and is linked to a variety of negative life outcomes. This can include low self-esteem, coexisting depression and anxiety as well as problematic relationships with loved ones that can result in violence between partners, problems with friendships, a messy home or personal space, an inability manage time or money and a messy home.
Gender stereotypes can also affect how women who suffer from ADHD are treated. They might be misunderstood since they are thought to be more sensitive or prone to mood swings. This can cause them to feel more frustrated at being a victim of untreated ADHD.
The impulse control portion of the brain, known as the prefrontal cortex is impaired in people suffering from ADHD. This means they have a difficult time making decisions and following up with their intentions. This can make it difficult to resist the urge to eat another piece of cake or to make an inappropriate statement in public.
For adults with ADHD, medication can help to improve their ability to control their impulsivity. Stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can help to decrease the impulsive behavior while nonstimulant medications such as clonidine and guanfacine can be efficient too. People suffering from ADHD may also benefit from a behavioral therapy, which can help them change their thinking patterns and develop more effective strategies for coping.
A good night's sleep, eating a healthy diet, and meditating can also help in reducing the impulsiveness and restlessness of people with ADHD. It's also a great idea to keep track their symptoms throughout the day and share the information with their doctor to determine whether the treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a typical issue in people with ADHD and can impact their work and personal lives. They may find it difficult to complete tasks and their efficiency may be reduced. They may also fail to meet deadlines and find themselves overwhelmed on a regular basis.
Insanity can also make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. They might miss important dates or misplace things like keys or purses. They might feel lonely and isolated because of this. Family and friends may also misunderstand them. It is more difficult to organize during menopausal and perimenopausal cycles as hormones alter and symptoms intensify.
Women often hide their ADHD symptoms to fit into societal norms or to avoid being judged. This can cause women to blame themselves and feel guilt or shame. adhd in adult women treatment can also be a reason for why girls and women are frequently not diagnosed with ADHD, particularly during adolescence, when symptoms are more evident.
Women with untreated ADHD may not perform as well at school or at work. This can affect their job, grades or their image. This could also cause issues in their personal lives. For instance it can cause difficulties with romantic partners or strained relationships with family and friends.
Women who are constantly disorganized will benefit from the one-on-1 support of a non-judgmental friend. They can assist women in learning to stay organized by creating lists and establishing reminders. Additionally, a certified mental health professional may recommend medication and lifestyle changes to reduce ADHD symptoms. This could include eating small meals throughout the day to ensure steady energy and avoiding caffeine, which can increase the side effects of stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is a characteristic that influences decision-making in a variety of areas of our lives. Indecisiveness can be measured using various instruments, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory by 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 ambiguous circumstances as being threatening. It was also discovered to be linked to the fear of making a mistake, which could help explain why people with adhd have trouble making decisions.
In the study that was qualitative of women who have adhd in their adult lives, interviewees reported being not able to make decisions in their personal and professional lives. They struggled to find the job they wanted or to stay 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 or were unable complete projects themselves, such as organizing childcare. They believed that their ADHD symptoms like inattention and impulsivity or difficulty getting started on projects were holding them back.
They had trouble finding time to relax and keeping friendships alive, which led to mental health problems. They reported high levels of anxiety and stress, sleeping less, and poor nutrition. They also expressed feeling slighted by adults and the media. The diagnosis of ADHD provided them with a reason for their difficulties which was beneficial for self-image because it meant they were not blamed for their own problems. It also gave them access to appropriate treatment strategies.
The interviews revealed that women had a lot of positive qualities, but they struggled to overcome the impact of their ADHD symptoms on a variety of aspects of their life. The women complained of the absence of a job or romantic opportunities, problems maintaining relationships and a messy home.
5. Insecurity about oneself
Women might cover up their impulsivity and hyperactivity because they feel that their behavior is less acceptable for men and boys. Women who suffer from ADHD may take on the characteristics of ADHD and develop strategies to cope, such as self-harming (cutting or burning). This can cause feelings of self-esteem loss that contribute to anxiety, depression, or eating disorders.
Being able to identify your inner worth is a precursor to healthier relationships and a positive outlook on life. People who lack self-worth tend to look outside themselves to find validation, including jobs, relationships as well as money and power. Therapist licensed Cheryl Clarke says this can cause an absence of communication within relationships, which could eventually end it.
Alongside a feeling of lack of self-worth, women with ADHD frequently struggle with a feeling that they don't deserve the good things happening in their lives. These feelings may manifest as a desire to please or to "keep up" with others. This can lead to a toxic work culture and a negative image of the body, and an addiction to food or substances.
While these are serious issues, the women who participated in this study discovered many positive aspects of living with ADHD. Most of them describe their ADHD as a gift or a curse, based on whether they believe they can control it. A few of them also point out personal strengths they believe are due to their ADHD, including high energy, creativity determination, and the ability to get easily interested in new topics. They also describe their individual struggles as part of a bigger picture that includes cultural and family issues, as also gender and biological differences.