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 do not fall into a binary sex. However, sex and gender can affect the way symptoms of ADHD are treated and diagnosed.
ADHD is typically diagnosed in childhood before the age of 12. ADHD must show signs before the age of 12 and cause problems in more than one environment to be able to receive a diagnosis.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Inattention is at the heart of ADHD and affects both genders. Women may have a tougher focus, particularly since symptoms may manifest differently than they do in men.
Women are more likely than men to be unorganized and impulsive, for instance. They are also more likely to become emotional and have difficulty putting things into perspective. These issues can lead to an inability to concentrate on work, which can lead to an inability to perform at work or at home. They are also more likely to not remember their medication or miss appointments with doctors.
Women's hormones, in addition to these inherent differences, can cause ADHD symptoms. Females have a bigger hippocampus, which aids in learning and memory, and hormone changes during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopausal changes can affect their brain's function.
In the end, women who do not have a diagnosis of ADHD may face major difficulties in relationships, at school, and at work. They could also struggle with a variety of comorbid disorders, including depression, anxiety eating disorders, bipolar disorder.
For these reasons, it is crucial for health care professionals to recognize the many indicators that females suffering from ADHD frequently exhibit. They must recalibrate their approaches to diagnosing and treating women with ADHD to account for emotional dysregulation, hormonal fluctuations, and other factors that influence the severity of symptoms. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Females with ADHD are more likely to have trouble controlling their emotions, particularly when they interact with other people. This can result in emotional dysregulation, which is a major aspect of ADHD symptoms and is associated with many negative life consequences. These include poor self-esteem, co-occurring depression and anxiety, difficult relationships with loved ones that can result in intimate partner violence, problems with friendships and a messy home or personal space, and a failure to manage time or money.
Gender stereotypes may also impact the way women who suffer from ADHD are treated. They may be misunderstood because they are thought to be more sensitive or prone a mood swings. This can exacerbate their frustrations about being a victim of untreated ADHD.
The portion of the brain that controls impulses the brain, also known as the prefrontal cortex is impaired in people suffering from ADHD. This means they are more prone to making decisions and sticking in their intentions. This can make it hard to resist the urge to eat another piece of cake or blurt out an inappropriate comment in public.
Adults with ADHD may benefit from medications that help to control their tendency to be impulsive. Stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can aid in reduce the impulsive behavior, while nonstimulant medicines like clonidine and guanfacine can be effective too. Patients with ADHD may also benefit from behavioral therapy, which helps to change their thinking patterns and develop better methods of coping.
A good night's sleep and eating a balanced diet, and meditating can also help to control the impulsiveness and restlessness of people with ADHD. It's also a good idea to keep track of their symptoms throughout the day and to share this information with their physician to assess whether the treatment regimen is effective.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a common problem in people with ADHD and can have a negative impact on their work and personal lives. They may find it difficult to complete tasks and their productivity could be diminished. They might also be late and feel overwhelmed on a daily basis.
Insanity can also make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. They may forget important events or lose things like keys or purses. In the end, they might feel lonely and alone. Family and friends may also misunderstand their feelings. Disorders are more common in menopausal and perimenopausal women when hormones change and symptoms become more severe.
Women often cover up their ADHD symptoms to fit into societal norms or to avoid being considered a failure. This can result in self-blame and feelings of shame or guilt. It can also be a reason for why women and girls are often not diagnosed with ADHD particularly during adolescence, when symptoms are more evident.
In the end women who are not treated for ADHD may have trouble with their academic or work performance. This can affect their job, grades or their image. This could also cause issues for their personal lives. For example it could lead to difficulties with relationships with their partners or breakups with family and friends.
Women who are constantly disorganized could benefit from the one-on-one support of a non-judgmental friend. They can teach them strategies to stay organized, such as making lists of daily tasks and setting reminders for them. In add in adult women , a qualified mental health professional can suggest medications and lifestyle changes to reduce ADHD symptoms. These can include eating small meals throughout the day to ensure steady energy and avoiding caffeine, which can cause an increase in the adverse effects of stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is a trait that can affect decision-making across a wide range of aspects of our lives. Several instruments have been developed to assess indecisiveness. These include the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness is also associated with neuroticism, and the tendency to employ worst case scenario thinking, which is where people perceive ambiguous situations as dangerous. It is also believed to be correlated with a fear of being wrong, which could help explain why it's common for people suffering from adhd to have trouble making decisions.
In the study of qualitative research on adult women with adhd that were interviewed the participants said they were not capable of making decisions regarding their professional and personal lives. They struggled to find a job they liked or to stay 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 complete projects such as arranging childcare. They often felt they were being hindered by their ADHD symptoms, such as difficulties in starting, staying focused and impulsivity.
They had a difficult time keeping friendships and had difficulty relaxing and recharging their mental health. They described high levels of stress and anxiety, as well as a sleeping insufficiently and having inadequate nutrition. They also reported feeling stigmatized by the media and adults. The diagnosis of ADHD offered them an explanation for their struggles which was beneficial to their self-esteem since it meant they were not blamed for their condition. It also provided them with access to appropriate treatments.
The interviews revealed that women had a number of positive characteristics, but they were struggling to overcome the impact of their ADHD symptoms on a variety of aspects of their lives. The women reported the absence of a job or romantic opportunities, difficulties maintaining relationships and a messy home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Certain of the symptoms that are a part of ADHD are considered to be less acceptable socially for girls and women than they are for boys and men Some women choose to conceal their impulsivity, hyperactivity, and disorganization. They also may internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping mechanisms like self-harm (cutting burns, scratching, cutting). This can result in lower self-esteem and could cause anxiety, depression or eating disorders.
A high self-esteem is a precursor to healthier relationships and a better outlook on life. If people do not have a strong 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 relationships.
In addition to a sense of self-worth, women with ADHD often have a feeling that they don't deserve the good things in their lives. These feelings can manifest as a need to please or "keep up" with other people. This can cause toxic workplaces and a negative self-image and an addiction of food or substances.
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 a blessing or a curse depending on the way they perceive their ability to control it. Many of them also recognize personal strengths that they believe are a result of to their ADHD such as the ability to be creative, high energy, determination and the ability to get easily interested in new subjects. They also discuss their individual struggles in the context of the larger picture, which includes biological and gender distinctions, as well as cultural and family issues.