ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender refer to biology--the hormonal makeup of the body and its chromosomal makeup. It also acknowledges that many people don't belong to a sex binary. However, sex and gender can affect how symptoms of ADHD are identified and treated.
ADHD is typically diagnosed in childhood prior to the age of 12. ADHD symptoms must be present before the age of 12 and cause problems in multiple settings to qualify for a diagnoses.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is at the heart of ADHD and it's an issue for everyone. However, women might have a harder time to achieve the attention they require due to the fact that symptoms usually manifest in different ways for men.
Women are more likely than men to be disorganized and indecisive, for example. They are also more likely than men to be emotional and have difficulty putting things in perspective. These issues can lead to an inability to concentrate on work, resulting in a lack of productivity at work or home. They're also more likely to not attend doctor appointments or forget to take their medications.
In addition to these innate differences, women's hormones can make their ADHD symptoms worse. The hippocampus of females is larger, which aids in learning and memory. The fluctuations in hormones during menstruation or pregnancy, breastfeeding or menopausal changes can also influence brain function.
As a result, women with undiagnosed ADHD might have a difficult time in relationships at school, in relationships and at work. They may also have a variety of comorbid disorders including depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
It is important that health professionals are aware of the numerous signs that females with ADHD exhibit. They should rethink their approaches to diagnosing and treating women with ADHD to account for hormonal fluctuations, emotional dysregulation and other factors that can influence symptom severity. In this way, these patients can finally get the treatment they need.
2. adult adhd in women with ADHD often struggle to control their emotions. This is especially true when they interact with other people. This can cause to emotional dysregulation that is a major cause of ADHD symptoms. It is also linked to negative life outcomes. This can include low self-esteem, anxiety and depression and a strained relationship with a partner which can lead to conflict between partners, issues with friendships, a messy home or personal space, an inability to manage time or money, and a messy house.
Gender stereotypes may also impact the way women who suffer from ADHD are treated. Because they are typically viewed as more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings, they can be misinterpreted or dismissed as overly emotional. This can lead to their frustration over being diagnosed with ADHD.
The impulse control portion of the brain, also known as the prefrontal cortex, is impaired in people suffering from ADHD. This means they have more trouble making decisions and sticking with their intentions. This could make you want to take a bite more cake or to make an inappropriate comment.
For adults with ADHD, medication can help to enhance their ability to manage their impulsivity. The use of stimulants such as amphetamine or dextroamphetamine can reduce the behavior of impulsivity. Non-stimulants like clonidine and Guanfacine are also effective. Patients with ADHD may also benefit from a behavioral therapy, which helps them alter their thinking patterns and develop healthier coping techniques.
Getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and meditating can also help to control restlessness and impulsiveness in those with ADHD. It is also a great idea to monitor their symptoms throughout the day and then share this information with their doctor in order to assess whether or not their treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a frequent issue for people suffering from ADHD, and can affect their personal and professional life. It could take longer to complete tasks and decrease their efficiency. They may also miss deadlines or feel overwhelmed every day.
A lack of organization can cause problems to maintain healthy relationships. They may forget important events or lose belongings like keys or purses. They may feel lonely and unloved as a result. They may also feel unloved by their family and friends. Disorders are more common during perimenopause or menopause when hormones are changing and symptoms increase.
Women often mask their ADHD symptoms to fit into societal 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 women and girls are often not diagnosed with ADHD especially in adolescence when symptoms become more apparent.
As a result women suffering from untreated ADHD might have poor academic or work performance. This could affect their job, grades, or overall standing. It could also cause issues in their personal lives including issues with romantic partners, or strained relationships with friends and family members.
Women with chronic disorganization can get help one-on-one from a nonjudgmental support person. They can help them learn strategies to remain organized, for example, making an agenda of the daily tasks and creating reminders for them. A licensed mental health professional can also recommend medication and lifestyle changes that will help minimize ADHD symptoms. This may include eating small, frequent meals to keep energy levels up and avoiding caffeine, which can increase side effects of stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is a trait that can affect decision-making across a wide range of aspects of life. There are a variety of instruments that have been created to measure indecisiveness, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. made my day has also been linked to neuroticism, and the tendency to imagine worst-case scenarios. This is when people perceive ambiguous situations as dangerous. It was also found to be related to the fear of making a mistake, which could explain why people with adhd have difficulty making decisions.
In the study of qualitative research on adult women with adhd that were interviewed the participants said they were not in a position to make decisions about their professional and personal lives. They struggled to manage their finances and relationships, and had difficulty finding jobs they enjoyed. They often were dependent on others to take decisions, or were unable complete projects like scheduling childcare. They believed that their ADHD symptoms like the inability to focus and impulsivity, or starting projects was preventing them from completing.
They had difficulty finding time to relax and keeping friendships alive which resulted in mental health problems. They reported having high levels of stress and anxiety as well as sleeping less and a poor diet. They also reported feeling snubbed by other adults and by the media. They were able explain their struggles with ADHD and helped increase their self-esteem since they weren't blaming others. They also had access to appropriate treatment strategies.
The interviews revealed that the women had many positive qualities, but they struggled to overcome the impact of their ADHD symptoms on a variety of aspects of their lives. The women complained of an absence in their careers or romantic opportunities, issues maintaining relationships, and a messy house.
5. Self-esteem issues
Women might hide their hyperactivity and impulsivity because they believe these behaviors aren't as acceptable than for men and boys. They also may be able to internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping mechanisms like self-harm (cutting, burning, scratching). This can result in feelings of self-esteem loss which can lead to anxiety, depression, or eating disorders.
A strong sense of self-esteem and worth is the foundation for more positive relationships and an optimistic outlook on life. When people lack a strong sense of self-worth they tend to look for outside things - like relationships, careers as well as wealth and power to feel a sense of worthiness. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, suggests that this can also result in the lack of communication in the relationship.
Women who suffer from ADHD may also feel they don't deserve the best things in life. These feelings can manifest as a need to please or to "keep up" with others. This can lead to negative work environments and a negative image of the body, and an addiction to foods or substances.
Although these are significant challenges, the women who participated in this study discovered many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They describe ADHD as positive or negative depending on how they feel about their ability to control 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 topics. They also discuss their unique struggles as part of a larger picture that includes family and cultural issues, as well as biological and gender differences.