ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that gender and sexuality are based on biology, including the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones. A lot of people do not fit neatly into the binary sexuality. Genre and gender can influence how ADHD symptoms are diagnosed and treated.
ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood before the age of 12. The symptoms must be present prior to 12 years of age and cause difficulties in more than one environment to be able to receive an assessment.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is at the heart of ADHD and can affect both genders. Women might have a harder time to attain the attention they require particularly since symptoms typically manifest in different ways for men.
Women are more likely to experience indecisiveness and disorganization, for example. They also are more likely to experience emotional stress and have difficulty putting things in perspective. These issues can lead to an inability to focus on work, which can lead to an inability to perform at work or at home. They are also more likely to not remember their medication or miss doctor's appointments.
Women's hormones, in addition to these inherent differences, can cause ADHD symptoms. The hippocampus of females is bigger which helps with learning and memory. The fluctuations in hormones during menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause may also affect brain function.
In the end, women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD might have a difficult time in relationships at school, in their relationships and at work. They might also suffer from various comorbidities, such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
It is crucial that health professionals understand the many clues females with ADHD display. They need to rethink their approach to diagnosing and treating women suffering from ADHD to account for emotional dysregulation, hormonal fluctuations and other variables that affect the severity of symptoms. In this way, these patients will receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Women with ADHD often have trouble controlling their emotions. This is especially the case when they interact with other people. This can cause emotional dysregulation, which is a major element of ADHD symptoms and is associated with a range of negative life results. These include poor self-esteem, depression that is co-occurring with anxiety, difficult relationships with loved ones which can lead to violence between intimate partners, issues with friendships and a messy home or personal space, and the inability to manage time or money.
Gender stereotypes can also affect how women with ADHD are treated. They might be misunderstood since they are perceived as more sensitive or prone to mood swings. This can increase their frustration about being a victim of untreated ADHD.
Individuals with ADHD suffer from impaired impulse control Also known as the prefrontal cortex. This means that they are more difficult to make decisions and following through with their intentions. This can make you want to take a bite more cake or to make a snide comment.
Adults suffering from ADHD are able to benefit from medications that help to control their impulsivity. 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 suggested, which can help people with ADHD modify their thinking patterns and learn healthier coping skills.
Meditation, eating a balanced diet and getting enough rest can all help control the impulsiveness and restlessness of people with ADHD. It is also a good idea to keep track of their symptoms throughout the day and communicate this data with their doctor so they can assess whether their treatment regimen is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a typical issue for people suffering from ADHD, and can affect their work and personal lives. They may have difficulty to complete tasks and their productivity could be diminished. They might also miss deadlines or feel overwhelmed every day.
A lack of organization can cause problems to maintain healthy relationships. People may forget important events or lose things like keys or purses. Consequently, they may feel isolated and lonely. They can also feel misunderstood by their family and friends. Disorders are more common during perimenopause or menopause when hormones change and symptoms are increasing.
It is not uncommon for women to hide their ADHD symptoms to fit in with society's norms and avoid being thought of as a problem. This can result in self-blame and feelings of guilt or shame. This could be a reason for why women and girls aren't diagnosed with ADHD. This is especially evident in adolescence when symptoms are more evident.
Women with untreated ADHD may not perform as well at work or in school. This can negatively impact their job, grades or their image. It could also cause issues in their personal lives, such as difficulties with their romantic partners or the strain of relationships with friends and family members.
Women who are chronically unorganized could benefit from the one-on-one support of a non-judgmental person. They can teach women how to stay organized by creating lists and setting reminders. In addition, a qualified mental health professional can suggest medication and lifestyle changes to reduce ADHD symptoms. This may include eating smaller meals throughout the day to maintain stable energy and avoiding caffeine, which can worsen the negative effects of stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness can affect decision-making in many aspects of daily life. Indecisiveness can be measured with several instruments, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale of Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness is also correlated with neuroticism and with the tendency to employ worst case scenario thinking, in which people interpret ambiguous situations as threatening. It is also believed to be associated with a fear of being wrong, which could be the reason why it is common for people suffering from adhd to struggle with making decisions.
In add women of women who have adhd in their adult lives participants, they reported being incapable of making decisions in their personal and professional lives. They struggled to find an occupation they enjoyed or stayed in, and found it difficult to manage their finances, relationships, and health. They frequently had to wait for others to decide or were unable complete tasks on their own, like arranging childcare. They often felt like they were restricted by their ADHD symptoms, for example, difficulty with starting or staying focused and impulsive.
They had difficulty relaxing and maintaining friendships which led to mental health issues. They reported high levels of anxiety and stress as well as sleeping less, and poor nutrition. They also reported feeling stigmatized by media and adults. The diagnosis of ADHD offered them an explanation for their struggles which was beneficial for self-esteem since it meant they weren't blamed for their own problems. Additionally, it gave them access to appropriate treatments.
The interviews revealed that the women were very optimistic, but struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD on different aspects of their lives. These included a lack possibilities for romance or work as well as difficulties maintaining relationships. an unclean home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Some of the signs that comprise ADHD are considered to be less acceptable socially for girls and women than they are for males and females, so some women hide their hyperactivity, impulsivity, and disorganization. They may also internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping mechanisms such as self-harm (cutting or burning, or scratching). This can cause feelings of self-esteem issues that can cause anxiety, depression, or eating disorders.
A sense of inner worth is the basis for better relationships and a positive outlook on life. When people lack a strong sense of self-worth, they tend to seek outside things - including careers, relationships wealth, power, and relationships to feel a sense of worthiness. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, suggests that this can also lead to the lack of communication in a relationship.
Women who suffer from ADHD may also feel that they do not deserve good things in life. These feelings may manifest as a desire to please or "keep up" with others. This can lead to an unhealthy work environment, a negative body image and an addiction to foods or substances.
While these are serious issues, the women who participated in this study also discovered a number of positive aspects of living with ADHD. They generally identify their ADHD as a gift or a curse, based on whether they feel they can manage it. Some have identified strengths they believe are due to their ADHD. They have the ability to be creative, energetic and determination and the ability to quickly become interested in new subjects. In addition, they describe their unique struggles as part of a larger picture that encompasses family and cultural issues, as in addition to gender and biological differences.