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 don't fit into a sex binary. However, sex and gender can influence the way symptoms of ADHD are diagnosed and treated.
ADHD is usually diagnosed in the early years of childhood, before the age of 12. ADHD symptoms must be present before 12 years of age and cause problems in more than one environment to qualify for a diagnoses.
1. Problems with Focusing
Inattention is at the heart of ADHD and can affect both genders. However, women may have more difficulty to get the focus they need particularly since symptoms typically manifest differently for men.
Women are more likely to experience indecisiveness and disorganization, for example. They're also more likely to be emotionally triggered and have difficulty putting things in perspective. These issues can cause an inability to concentrate on work, resulting in a lack of productivity at work or at home. They are also more likely to miss doctor appointments and forget to take their medication.
In addition to these innate gender differences, hormones of women can make their ADHD symptoms more severe. Females have a larger hippocampus, which aids in memory and learning, and hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles as well as during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause can affect their brain's function.
In the end, women with undiagnosed ADHD can have major struggles in relationships, at school as well as at work. They may also be struggling with a myriad of comorbid disorders, including anxiety, depression eating disorders, bipolar disorder.
It is important that health care professionals recognize the many clues females with ADHD display. They need to rethink their approach to diagnosing and treating women with ADHD to account for emotional dysregulation, hormonal fluctuations and other variables that affect the severity of symptoms. Patients can then receive the treatment they require.
2. add test for women with ADHD tend to have difficulty controlling their emotions, particularly when interacting with others. This can lead to emotional dysregulation that is a symptom of ADHD symptoms. It can also be associated with negative outcomes in life. This includes low self-esteem anxiety and depression and a strained relationship with a partner that can result in conflict between partners, issues with friendships, a messy home or personal space, inability to manage time or money, and a messy house.
The gender stereotypes of women can influence the way women with ADHD are treated. Because they are often perceived as being more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings, they can be viewed as overly emotional. This can lead to their frustration at being a victim of untreated ADHD.
People suffering from ADHD suffer from impaired impulse control, also known as the prefrontal cortex. This means that they are more prone to making decisions and following through in their intentions. This can make you want to indulge in more cake or make a snide comment.
For adults with ADHD medications can help to enhance their ability to manage their impulsivity. stimulants like amphetamine and dextroamphetamine may reduce impulsive behavior. Nonstimulants like clonidine or Guanfacine can also be effective. People suffering from ADHD may also benefit from behavioral therapy, which can help them change their thinking patterns and develop more effective strategies for coping.
Getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and meditating can also help to control restlessness and impulsiveness in those with ADHD. It's also a good idea to keep track of their symptoms throughout the day and communicate the information with their doctor to determine if their treatment regimen is effective.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization can be a major issue for people with ADHD and affect their professional and personal life. It could take longer to complete their tasks and decrease their productivity. They could also miss deadlines or feel overwhelmed every day.
add test for women to organize can cause problems in maintaining healthy relationships. People may forget important dates or lose things like keys or purses. They might feel lonely and unloved as a result. They may also feel unloved by family members and friends. The disorder is more prevalent during menopausal or perimenopausal cycles when hormones are changing and symptoms become more severe.
Women often cover up their ADHD symptoms in order to fit into societal norms or to avoid being considered a failure. This can cause women to blame themselves and feel guilt or shame. This could also be the reason women and girls are not diagnosed with ADHD. This is especially true in adolescence, when symptoms are more apparent.
Women with untreated ADHD might have a poor performance at school or at work. This can affect their work, grades or overall standing. This can also cause problems in their personal lives. For instance it could lead to issues with romantic partners or strained relationships with family and friends.
Women who are chronically disorganized can receive one-on-one assistance from a nonjudgmental support person. They can teach women how to stay organized by making an agenda and establishing reminders. A qualified mental health professional can recommend medication or lifestyle changes that can help minimize ADHD symptoms. This may include eating smaller meals throughout the day to maintain a steady energy and avoiding caffeine, which can increase the side effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is one of the traits that can affect decision-making in many areas of life. There are a variety of instruments that have been created to measure indecisiveness, including 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 imagine worst-case scenarios. This is because people interpret uncertain situations as being dangerous. It has also been proven to be associated with a fear of being wrong, which may be the reason why it is common for people suffering from adhd to struggle with making decisions.
In the qualitative study of adult women with adhd the participants reported being not able to make decisions in their personal and professional lives. They struggled to find a job they liked 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 decide or were unable to finish projects themselves, such as arranging childcare. They felt that their ADHD symptoms like impulsivity and difficulty focusing or getting started on projects was preventing them from completing.
They struggled to maintain friendships and had difficulty relaxing which led to issues with their mental health. They reported having high levels of anxiety and stress as well as sleeping less and a poor diet. They also expressed feeling devalued by their peers and the media. They were able to explain their struggles with ADHD which helped them improve their self-esteem because they weren't blaming others. 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 reported a lack in career or romantic opportunities, issues maintaining relationships and a messy home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Women might hide their hyperactivity and impulsivity because they believe that their behavior is less acceptable than for boys and men. Women who suffer from ADHD might be able to internalize their ADHD and develop coping strategies like self-harming (cutting or burning). This can cause lower self-esteem and could cause depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
A high sense of inner worth is the precursor to more positive relationships and a positive outlook on life. If someone isn't feeling a solid sense of self-worth and feel they are not worthy, they will seek outside things - like relationships, careers, wealth, and power to feel worthy. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed psychotherapist, says this can also result in a lack in communication within a relationship.
Women suffering from ADHD may also feel they do not deserve good things in their lives. These feelings can manifest as a desire to please or to "keep up" with others. This can lead to toxic work cultures as well as a negative self-image and an addiction of substances or food.
While these are serious issues, the women who participated in this study found many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They described ADHD as either an advantage or a disadvantage depending on the way they perceive their ability to manage it. Some have identified strengths they believe are partially due to their ADHD. They have the ability to be creative, energetic and determination and the ability to quickly become interested in new subjects. They also discuss their unique struggles in the context of an overall picture that includes gender and biological differences, as well as cultural and family issues.