ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that gender and sex are based on biology, including the body's chromosomal make-up and hormones. Many people don't easily fit into an unisexual gender. Gender and sexes can impact the way ADHD symptoms are treated and diagnosed.
ADHD is diagnosed in early childhood, typically before age 12. The symptoms must be present before age 12 and cause problems in more than one setting to be able to receive the diagnosis.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is at the heart of ADHD and affects both women and men. Women may have a harder time focusing, especially since symptoms may manifest differently than in males.
Women are more likely than men to be unorganized and impulsive, as an example. They're also more likely to experience emotional stress and have difficulty putting things into perspective. These problems can create an inability to concentrate on tasks, leading to a lack of productivity at work or home. They are also more likely to forget their medication and miss doctor's appointments.
Women's hormones as well as these innate differences can exacerbate ADHD symptoms. Females have a bigger hippocampus, which helps with learning and memory, and hormone changes during menstrual cycles as well as during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopausal cycles can affect brain function.
Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD might struggle with their relationships, at school, and at work. They might also struggle with a variety of comorbid conditions, including depression, anxiety eating disorders, bipolar disorder.
In these circumstances, it's critical for health care professionals to recognize the many clues that females with ADHD often exhibit. They need to rethink their methods to diagnose and treat females suffering from ADHD in order to account for hormonal fluctuations and emotional dysregulation. This way, patients will receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Females suffering from ADHD are more likely to have trouble managing their emotions, particularly when interacting with others. This can result in emotional dysregulation which is a major component 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 violence between intimate partners, issues with friends and a messy home or personal space, and an inability to manage time or money.
The gender stereotypes of women can influence the way women with ADHD are treated. They may be misunderstood because they are thought to be more sensitive or prone a mood swings. This can increase their frustration over living with untreated ADHD.
People with ADHD have impaired impulse control which is also referred to as the prefrontal cortex. This means they have a harder time making decisions and executing their intentions. This can make it hard to resist the urge to eat a second piece of cake or to make an inappropriate statement in public.
Adults with ADHD are able to benefit from medications that help them control their tendency to be impulsive. The use of stimulants such as amphetamine or dextroamphetamine are able to reduce the behavior of impulsivity. adhd in adult women treatment like clonidine or Guanfacine can also be effective. Patients with ADHD may also benefit from a behavioral therapy, which can help to change their thinking patterns and develop healthier strategies for coping.
A good night's sleep and eating a balanced diet, and meditating can help control the impulsiveness and restlessness of people with ADHD. It is important to track their symptoms throughout the day and to share the information 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 have a negative impact on their professional and personal lives. They may find it difficult to complete their tasks, and their productivity may be reduced. They might also be late or overwhelmed throughout the day.
Insanity can make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. They may forget important events or lose possessions such as keys or purses. They may feel lonely and isolated because of this. They can also feel misunderstood by their family and friends. The disorder can become more severe during menopausal and perimenopausal cycles, when hormones change and symptoms increase.
It is not uncommon for women to hide their ADHD symptoms to fit in with the norms of society and avoid being judged. This can result in self-blame and feelings of shame or guilt. This could be a reason why girls and women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD particularly in adolescence when symptoms are more evident.
Women with untreated ADHD may have poor performance at school or at work. This could negatively impact their career, grades, or reputation. It could also cause issues in their personal lives, such as difficulties with romantic partners or strained relationships with family and friends members.
Women who are chronically unorganized can benefit from the one-on-one support of a non-judgmental person. They can help them learn strategies to remain organized, for example, making a list of daily tasks and making reminders for them. Additionally, a certified mental health professional can suggest medications and lifestyle changes to help minimize ADHD symptoms. This may include eating smaller meals throughout the day to maintain stable energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can increase the adverse effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is a trait that affects decision making in a variety of areas of our lives. Several instruments have been developed to measure indecisiveness, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness is also linked to neuroticism, as well as the tendency to imagine worst-case scenarios. This is because people perceive ambiguous situations as dangerous. It has also been found to be linked with anxiety about being wrong, which may help explain why it is common for people suffering from adhd to have difficulty making decisions.
In the study that was qualitative of adult women with adhd participants, they reported being unable to make decisions in their personal and professional lives. They struggled to find a job they liked or stayed in, and also found it difficult to manage their finances, relationships, and health. They often were dependent on others to make decisions for them, or were unable to complete tasks such as arranging childcare. They often felt like they were being hindered by their ADHD symptoms, such as difficulty with starting or staying focused and impulsivity.
They struggled to keep friendships and were unable to relax and recharging their mental health. They reported high levels of anxiety and stress and sleeping less and a poor diet. They also expressed feeling slighted by the media and adults. The diagnosis of ADHD provided them with a reason for their struggles, which was helpful for self-esteem because 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 extremely positive however, they struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD on various aspects 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
Some of the signs that are a part of ADHD are seen as less socially acceptable for girls and women than they are for males and females, so some women conceal their impulsivity, hyperactivity and disorder. Some women might internalize their ADHD and develop strategies to cope, such as self-harming (cutting, burning or scratching). This can result in feelings of low self-esteem which can lead to depression, anxiety, or eating disorders.
Having high inner worth is a prerequisite for healthier relationships and a better outlook on life. If someone isn't feeling a solid sense of self-worth, they tend to seek external things - such as careers, relationships wealth, power, and relationships to feel a sense of worthiness. A licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can also cause a lack of communication in a relationship, which can eventually end it.
Alongside a feeling of lack of self-worth, those with ADHD frequently struggle with the feeling that they don't deserve the good things in their lives. These feelings may manifest as a desire to please or "keep up" with others. adhd women uk can lead to a toxic work culture and a negative image of the body and a dependence on foods or substances.
Despite these significant difficulties the women who participated in this study discovered a number of positive aspects to living with ADHD. Most of them say that they view their ADHD as a blessing or a curse, depending on whether they feel they can control it. A few of them also point out their own strengths that they believe are a result of to their ADHD, including the ability to be creative, high energy determination and the ability to be easily interested in new subjects. They also discuss their individual struggles in the context of the larger picture, which includes gender and biological differences, as well as cultural and family issues.