ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related to biology, the hormonal makeup of the body and its chromosomal makeup. It also acknowledges that many people do not belong to a sex binary. Sexe and gender can affect the way ADHD symptoms are treated and diagnosed.
ADHD is a condition that is recognized in the early years of childhood, usually before the age of 12. ADHD must present symptoms before 12 years of age and cause problems in multiple environments to qualify for a diagnoses.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is the core of ADHD and it's a problem for all genders. Women may have more difficulty to attain the attention they require, especially because symptoms often appear in different ways than for men.
Women are more likely to experience indecisiveness and disorganization, for example. They are also more likely than men to be emotionally afflicted and have a difficult time putting things in perspective. These issues can lead to an inability to concentrate on work, which can lead to a lack of productivity at work or home. They are also more likely to forget their medication and miss appointments with their doctor.
The hormones that women experience along with these inherent differences, can cause ADHD symptoms. The hippocampus of females is bigger which helps with learning and memory. Menstrual hormone fluctuations as well as pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopausal changes can also affect brain function.
Women with undiagnosed ADHD may struggle in their relationships, at school, and at work. They may also be struggling with a variety of comorbid disorders, including anxiety, depression eating disorders, bipolar disorder.
It is essential that health care professionals recognize the many clues females with ADHD display. They need to rethink their approach to diagnosing and treating women suffering from ADHD to take into account hormonal fluctuations, emotional dysregulation, and other factors that affect the severity of symptoms. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Females who suffer 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 key element of ADHD symptoms and is linked to a variety of negative life consequences. This can include low self-esteem, anxiety and depression that coexist, problematic romantic relationships, which can lead to conflicts between partners, problems with friendships, a messy home or personal space, an inability manage time or money and a messy home.
The gender stereotypes of women can influence how women with ADHD will be treated. They might be misunderstood since they are thought to be more sensitive or prone a mood swings. This can exacerbate their frustrations 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 prone to making decisions and sticking with their intentions. This could cause you to want to eat more cake or make a snide comment.
Adults suffering from ADHD are able to benefit from medications that help to control their impulsivity. Stimulants like amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can help reduce the impulsive behavior, while nonstimulant medicines like the guanfacine and clonidine are effective as well. People suffering from ADHD might also benefit from a behavioral therapy, which helps to change their mental patterns and develop more effective coping techniques.
Meditation, eating a balanced diet and getting enough rest can all be helpful in reducing the impulsiveness and restlessness of people suffering from ADHD. It's important to keep track of their symptoms throughout the day and share the information with their doctor to assess whether the treatment regimen is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization can be a problem for those suffering from ADHD and affect their personal and professional lives. They may have difficulty to complete their tasks and their productivity could be reduced. They could also miss deadlines or feel overwhelmed every day.
Lack of organization can also make it hard to maintain healthy relationships. People may forget important events or lose possessions such as keys or purses. This can cause them to feel lonely and isolated. They may also feel that they are not understood by family members and friends. Disorders are more common during perimenopause or menopause when hormones are changing and symptoms increase.
It is not uncommon for women to hide their ADHD symptoms in order to conform with society's norms and avoid being thought of as a problem. This can lead women to blame themselves and feel shame or guilt. It can also be a reason why girls and women are frequently not diagnosed with ADHD especially during adolescence, when symptoms are more evident.
As a result women suffering from untreated ADHD might experience poor work or school performance. This could affect their career, grades or their overall image. It can also cause problems in their personal life like issues with romantic partners, or strained relationships with family members and friends members.
Women with chronic disorganization can get help one-on-one from a non-judgmental, supportive person. They can provide strategies to stay organized, such as making an agenda of the daily tasks and setting reminders for them. A qualified mental health professional can recommend medication or lifestyle changes that can help minimize ADHD symptoms. This could include eating small meals throughout the day to maintain stable energy and avoiding caffeine, which can increase the side effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness can affect decision-making in many aspects of daily life. A variety of 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, and the tendency to think of worst-case scenarios. This is when people interpret ambiguous circumstances as being dangerous. It was also found to be related to a fear of making a mistake, which could be the reason people with adhd have trouble making decisions.
In the study of qualitative research on adult women suffering from adhd who were interviewed, they described not being in a position to make decisions regarding their professional and personal lives. adhd in adults women struggled to find the job they wanted or to stay in, and also found it difficult to manage their finances as well as their relationships, and health. They frequently had to wait for others to decide or were unable to complete projects on their own, for example, scheduling childcare. They felt that their ADHD symptoms like the inability to focus and impulsivity, or getting started on projects were preventing them from progressing.
They had a difficult time keeping friendships and had difficulty relaxing, leading to problems with their mental health. They described anxiety and stress, lack of sleep and inadequate nutrition. They also described feeling stigmatized by their peers and the media. The diagnosis of ADHD offered them an explanation for their struggles, which was helpful for self-esteem since it meant they weren't blamed for their condition. It also gave them access to appropriate treatment strategies.
The interviews revealed that women had a lot of positive qualities but struggled to overcome the impact of their ADHD symptoms on various aspects of their lives. These included a lack of possibilities for romance or work, difficulty maintaining relationships and an unclean home.
5. Insecurity about oneself
Women can hide their hyperactivity and impulsivity because they believe these behaviors aren't as acceptable for men and boys. They may also take on their ADHD symptoms and develop coping mechanisms such as self-harm (cutting, burning, scratching). This can lead to feelings of low self-esteem that can cause anxiety, depression or eating disorders.
Being able to identify your inner worth is a prerequisite for better relationships and a more positive outlook on life. When people lack a strong sense of self-worth, they tend to seek outside things - like careers, relationships, wealth, and power to feel worthy. Therapist licensed Cheryl Clarke says this can cause an absence of communication within relationships, which could eventually end it.
Women who suffer from ADHD might also feel they do not deserve good things in their lives. These feelings may manifest as a desire to please or "keep up" with other people. This can lead to toxic work cultures as well as a negative self-image and a dependence on substances or food.
While these are serious issues however, the women who took part in this study also discovered a number of positive aspects of living with ADHD. They describe ADHD as positive or negative depending on how they feel about their ability to manage it. Some of them have identified personal strengths they believe are due to their ADHD. These include high energy, creativity and determination, as well as the ability to quickly become interested in new subjects. They also discuss their individual struggles as part of a bigger picture that includes cultural and family issues as also gender and biological differences.