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. A lot of people do not fit neatly into a binary gender. However, sex and gender influence how symptoms of ADHD are identified and treated.
ADHD is typically diagnosed in the early years of childhood, before the age of 12. Symptoms must be present before age 12 and cause problems in more than one setting to be eligible for an assessment.
1. Problems with Focusing
Inattention is the primary cause of ADHD, and it's an issue for everyone. However, women might have a harder time to achieve the focus they need particularly since symptoms typically manifest differently for men.
Women are more likely than men to be disorganized and impulsive, as an example. They are also more likely to become emotional and have difficulty putting things into perspective. These problems can lead to an inability to focus, which can lead to an absence of productivity at work or home. They are also more likely to not attend doctor appointments or forget to take their medication.
In addition to these innate variations, hormones in women can make their ADHD symptoms worse. Females have a larger hippocampus that aids in memory and learning, and hormone fluctuations during menstrual cycles as well as during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopausal cycles can affect brain's functioning.
As a result, women with undiagnosed ADHD may face major difficulties in relationships at school, in their relationships as well as at work. They might also suffer from a variety of comorbid disorders like anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
It is crucial that health professionals understand the many clues females with ADHD exhibit. They must recalibrate their approaches for diagnosing and treating females with ADHD to account for hormonal fluctuations and emotional dysregulation. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Women who suffer from ADHD often struggle to control their emotions. This is especially true when they interact with others. This can cause emotional dysregulation, which is a major element of ADHD symptoms and is associated with many negative life consequences. This includes low self-esteem, coexisting depression and anxiety as well as problematic relationships with loved ones 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 home.
Gender stereotypes can affect the way women with ADHD are treated. They could be misunderstood as they are viewed as being more sensitive or prone to mood swings. This can cause them to feel more frustrated over being diagnosed with ADHD.
The portion of the brain that controls impulses the brain, known as the prefrontal cortex, is impaired in individuals with ADHD. This means they have more trouble making decisions and executing in their intentions. This can make it hard to resist the temptation to eat another piece of cake or blurt out an inappropriate comment in public.
Adults with ADHD can benefit from medication that helps them control their impulsivity. Stimulants like amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can help to reduce the impulsive behavior, and non-stimulant drugs like Guanfacine and clonidine can be effective as well. Behavioral therapy is also advised, which will aid people suffering from ADHD modify their thinking patterns and develop healthier coping skills.
Sleeping enough, eating a healthy diet, and meditating can help control impulsiveness and restlessness in people with ADHD. It is important to track their symptoms throughout the day and communicate this information with their physician so they can assess whether their treatment regimen is effective.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a typical issue in people with ADHD, and can affect their personal and professional life. It may take longer to complete tasks and decrease their efficiency. They might also be late or overwhelmed each day.
Lack of organization can also make it hard to maintain healthy relationships. They may forget important events or lose possessions such as keys or purses. They may feel lonely and isolated due to this. They may also feel unloved by their family and friends. The disorder can become more severe in menopausal or perimenopausal women when hormones shift and symptoms increase.
It is not uncommon for women to hide their ADHD symptoms to fit in with society's norms and 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, particularly in adolescence when symptoms are more evident.
In the end women who are not treated for ADHD might experience poor academic or work performance. This can have a negative impact on their career, grades, or their image. This can also cause problems for their personal lives. For example, it may lead to problems with their relationships with their partners or breakups with family and friends.
Women who are chronically disorganized could benefit from the one-on-one support of a non-judgmental person. They can assist women in learning to stay organized by creating lists and establishing reminders. A licensed mental health professional may also recommend medication and lifestyle changes to aid in reducing ADHD symptoms. These can include eating small meals throughout the day to ensure steady energy and avoiding caffeine, which can worsen the side effects of stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is a characteristic that influences decision-making in a variety of areas of life. Indecisiveness can be measured using various instruments, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale for Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness has also been 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 associated with anxiety about being wrong, which could be the reason why it is common for people with adhd to struggle with making decisions.
In the qualitative study of adult women with adhd that were interviewed, they described not being capable of making decisions about their personal and professional lives. They struggled to find an occupation they enjoyed or to stay in, and were difficult to manage their finances, relationships and health. They frequently were dependent on others to decide or were unable complete tasks on their own, like scheduling childcare. They believed that their ADHD symptoms like impulsivity and difficulty focusing or beginning projects was preventing them from completing.
They struggled to keep friendships and were unable to relax, leading to problems with their mental health. They described having high levels of stress and anxiety and an inability to sleep, and poor nutrition. They also expressed feeling devalued by other adults and by the media. They were able explain their struggles with ADHD which helped them increase their self-esteem since they weren't blaming others. It also gave them access to the 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 a variety of aspects of their life. These included a lack possibilities for romance or work, difficulty maintaining relationships and a messy home.
5. Insecurity about oneself
Women can conceal their impulsivity and hyperactivity because they believe these behaviors aren't as acceptable for boys and men. Women might take on the characteristics of ADHD and develop strategies to cope, such as self-harming (cutting or burning). This can result in feelings of low self-esteem that contribute to depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
attention deficit disorder in women of inner worth is the basis for more positive relationships and a positive outlook on life. People who do not have a strong self-worth tend to look outside themselves to find validation, including relationships, careers as well as money and power. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, says that this can also result in a lack in communication within relationships.
In addition to a sense of self-worth, women with ADHD often struggle with a feeling that they don't deserve the positive things happening in their lives. These feelings may manifest as a desire to "keep up" or to please. This can lead to negative work environments as well as a negative image of one's body and a dependence on food or other substances.
While these are major challenges however, the women who took part in this study found many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They described ADHD as either a blessing or a curse depending on how they feel about their ability to control it. Several of them also identify personal strengths they believe are a result of to their ADHD which include the ability to be creative, high energy determination and the ability to be easily interested in new topics. They also discuss their unique struggles as part of a bigger picture that includes cultural and family issues as well as biological and gender differences.