ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related to biology, the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones--and that many people do not fit into a sex binary. Genre and gender can influence how ADHD symptoms are treated and diagnosed.
ADHD is typically diagnosed in childhood prior to the age of 12. The symptoms must be present prior to age 12 and cause problems in multiple settings to be eligible for an assessment.
1. Problems with Focusing
Inattention is the core of ADHD, and it's an issue for everyone. Women may have a tougher time focusing, especially since symptoms may manifest differently than they do in men.
Women are more likely than men to be unorganized and impulsive, as an example. They are also more likely to experience emotional stress and have difficulty putting things into perspective. These issues can lead to an inability to concentrate on work, resulting in a lack of productivity at work or home. They are also more likely to not attend doctor appointments or forget to take their medications.
In addition to these inherent gender differences, hormones of women can make ADHD symptoms worse. The hippocampus of females is larger, which aids in learning and memory. Menstrual hormone fluctuations or pregnancy, breastfeeding or menopausal changes can also affect brain function.
Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD may struggle in their relationships, at school, and at work. They might also struggle with a host of comorbid disorders, including anxiety, depression eating disorders, bipolar disorder.
It is essential that health care professionals recognize the numerous signs that females with ADHD display. They must recalibrate their approaches for diagnosing and treating females suffering from ADHD to recognize emotional dysregulation and hormonal fluctuations. The patients will then receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Females who suffer from ADHD are more likely to have trouble controlling their emotions, particularly when they interact with other people. This can lead to emotional dysregulation, which is a major element of ADHD symptoms and is linked to a variety of negative life results. These include low self-esteem, depression and anxiety, difficult relationships that can result in intimate partner violence, problems with friends as well as a messy home or personal space, and the inability to manage time or money.
The gender stereotypes of women can influence the way women with ADHD will be treated. They may be misunderstood because they are thought to be more sensitive or prone a mood swings. This can lead to their frustration at being diagnosed with ADHD.
The part of the brain that controls impulses the brain, referred to as the prefrontal cortex is affected in people with ADHD. This means that they are more difficult to make decisions and following through with their intentions. This makes it difficult to resist the temptation to eat another piece of cake or to make an inappropriate comment in public.
For people who suffer from ADHD, medication can help to improve their ability to control their impulsivity. stimulants like amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are able to reduce the behavior of impulsivity. Non-stimulants such as clonidine or guanfacine are also effective. Behavioral therapy is also recommended, which can help people with ADHD change their thinking patterns and develop healthier coping skills.
Meditation and eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep can all help to control restlessness and impulsiveness in people suffering from ADHD. It's important to keep track of their symptoms throughout the day and to share this information with their physician to determine if their treatment plan is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a typical issue for people suffering from ADHD and can impact their professional and personal lives. It may take longer to complete their tasks and decrease their productivity. They may also miss deadlines or feel overwhelmed each day.
An absence of organization could also make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. People may forget important events or lose belongings like keys or purses. In the end, they might feel lonely and alone. They may also feel that they are not understood by their family and friends. Disorganization is more common during menopausal or perimenopausal cycles when hormones change and symptoms are increasing.
Women often cover up their ADHD symptoms to fit into societal norms or to avoid being judged. This can result in self-blame and feelings of shame or guilt. This could also be the reason women and girls aren't diagnosed with ADHD. This is particularly during adolescence, when symptoms are more apparent.
Women who suffer from untreated ADHD might have a poor performance at school or at work. This could affect their work, grades or their overall image. It can also create problems for their personal lives. For instance it can cause difficulties with relationships with their partners or breakups with family and friends.
Women who are constantly disorganized will benefit from the one-on-1 support of a non-judgmental friend. They can provide strategies to keep their lives organized, such as making an agenda of the daily tasks and creating reminders for them. A licensed mental health professional may also recommend medication and lifestyle changes that can reduce ADHD symptoms. This may include eating smaller meals throughout the day to maintain stable energy and avoiding caffeine, which can increase the side effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness affects decision-making in many aspects of our lives. There are a variety of instruments that have been created to assess indecisiveness. These include the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness has also been linked to neuroticism, as well as the tendency to think of worst-case scenarios. This is when people perceive ambiguous situations as dangerous. It was also discovered to be associated with the fear of making a mistake which could be the reason people with adhd have trouble making decisions.
In the qualitative study of adult women with adhd that were interviewed, they described not being in a position to make choices about their personal and professional lives. They had difficulty to manage their finances and relationships and struggled to find a job that they liked. They frequently waited for other people to decide or were unable complete tasks on their own, like arranging childcare. They often felt they were held back by their ADHD symptoms, for example, difficulty with starting or staying focused and impulsive.
They had a difficult time finding time to relax and keeping friendships alive, which led to mental health issues. They reported having high levels of stress and anxiety, an inability to sleep and a poor diet. They also reported feeling snubbed by other adults and by the media. adhd test for women were able to explain their struggles with ADHD which helped them boost their self-esteem as they weren't blaming themselves. They also had access to the appropriate treatment.
The interviews revealed that the women were extremely positive, but struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD on various aspects of their lives. This included a lack of romantic or career opportunities as well as difficulties maintaining relationships. a messy home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Certain of the symptoms that comprise ADHD are seen as less acceptable socially for women and girls than they are for males and females, so some women are able to hide their impulsivity, hyperactivity and disorganization. They may also internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping strategies such as self-harm (cutting burns, scratching, cutting). This can lead to low self-esteem, which could contribute to depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
Having high inner worth is a precursor to better relationships and a more positive outlook on life. People who lack self-worth tend to look outside themselves to find validation, including relationships, careers money, power, and relationships. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed psychotherapist, says this can also lead to a lack in communication within a relationship.
Women who suffer from ADHD may also feel they are not worthy of good things in their lives. These feelings can manifest as a desire to please or to "keep up" with other people. This can cause toxic workplaces as well as a negative self-image and a dependence on substance or food.
Despite these major difficulties, women who took part in this study discovered a number of positive aspects to living with ADHD. They describe ADHD as positive or negative depending on how they feel about their ability to control it. Several of them also identify their own strengths that they believe are partly due to their ADHD such as the ability to be creative, high energy determination, and the ability to become easily interested in new subjects. They also describe their unique challenges as part of a bigger picture that includes cultural and family issues as in addition to gender and biological differences.