ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that gender and sexuality are based on biology, including the body's chromosomal make-up and hormones. Many people don't fall into the binary sex. Sexe and gender can affect how ADHD symptoms are diagnosed and treated.
ADHD is diagnosed in childhood, usually before age 12. ADHD must show signs before 12 years of age and cause problems in multiple environments to be eligible for a diagnosis.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Inattention is at the heart of ADHD and is an issue for everyone. Women may have more difficulty to get the attention they require due to the fact that symptoms usually manifest differently in men.
Women are more likely than men to be disorganized and impulsive, for instance. They are also more likely than men to be emotional and have difficulty putting things in perspective. These problems can lead to an inability to focus, which can lead to an inability to perform at home or work. They are also more likely to forget their medication and skip doctor's appointments.
Women's hormones along with these inherent differences, can cause ADHD symptoms. The female hippocampus is larger, which aids in learning and memory. The fluctuations in hormones during menstruation or pregnancy, breastfeeding or menopausal changes can also affect brain function.
Women with undiagnosed ADHD might struggle with their relationships, at school, and at work. They could also be suffering from multiple comorbid disorders including anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
It is crucial that health professionals understand the numerous signs that females with ADHD show. They must recalibrate their approaches for diagnosing and treating females with ADHD in order to account for hormonal fluctuations and emotional dysregulation. This way, patients will receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Women suffering from ADHD often struggle to control their emotions. This is particularly true when they interact with other people. This can cause to emotional dysregulation, which is a major cause of ADHD symptoms. It is also associated with negative life outcomes. This can include low self-esteem, anxiety and depression that coexist and a strained relationship with a partner that can result in conflicts between partners, problems with relationships, a messy home or personal space, an inability to manage time or money and a messy home.
Gender stereotypes can also affect how women who suffer from ADHD are treated. Because they are typically viewed as more sensitive or prone to mood swings, they may be viewed as being emotionally prone. This can cause them to feel more frustrated about living with untreated ADHD.
adhd in women signs of the brain that controls impulses the brain, known as the prefrontal cortex is impaired in individuals with ADHD. This means they are more prone to making decisions and executing in their intentions. This can make it hard to resist the urge to eat another piece of cake or blurt out an inappropriate statement in public.
Adults with ADHD are able to benefit from medication that helps them control their impulses. Stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can aid in reduce the impulsive behavior, and non-stimulant drugs like the guanfacine and clonidine are effective too. Behavioral therapy can also be suggested, which can help those suffering from ADHD change their thinking patterns and learn better ways to cope with stress.
Meditation and eating a balanced diet and getting enough rest can all help to control the impulsiveness and restlessness of people suffering from ADHD. It's also a great idea to keep track their symptoms throughout the day, and share the information with their doctor to determine whether their treatment is working.
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 have trouble to complete their tasks and their productivity could be diminished. They could also fail to meet deadlines and feel overwhelmed on a daily basis.
Inability to organize can cause problems in maintaining healthy relationships. They might not remember important dates or even lose things like purses or keys. Consequently, they may feel isolated and lonely. Friends and family may misunderstand them. The disorder can become more severe during perimenopause and menopause, when hormones change and symptoms increase.
It is not unusual for women to hide their ADHD symptoms to fit in with society's norms and avoid being considered a failure. This can lead to self-blame and feelings of shame or guilt. This could be the reason girls and women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD particularly in adolescence when symptoms are more obvious.
As a result women who are not treated for ADHD may have trouble with their academic or work performance. This can affect their career, grades, or reputation. This could also cause issues for their personal life. For example, it may lead to problems with their romantic partners or strain relationships with family members and friends.
Women who are chronically unorganized could benefit from the one-on-one assistance of a non-judgmental individual. They can help them learn strategies to get and remain organized, for example, making an agenda of the daily tasks and setting reminders for them. In addition, a qualified mental health professional may recommend changes in lifestyle and medications to reduce ADHD symptoms. This may include eating smaller meals throughout the day to maintain a steady energy and avoiding caffeine, which can increase the negative effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is one of the traits that can affect decision-making in many areas of our lives. Indecisiveness can be measured using several instruments, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale of Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness has also been linked to neuroticism, as well as the tendency to imagine worst-case scenarios. This is because people interpret ambiguous circumstances as being threatening. It was also discovered to be associated with 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 with adhd that were interviewed the participants said they were not in a position to make decisions regarding their professional and personal lives. They struggled to manage their finances and relationships and struggled to find a job that they liked. They often were dependent on others to take decisions, or were unable to finish projects like scheduling childcare. They often felt that they were held back by their ADHD symptoms, for example, difficulty with starting or staying focused and impulsivity.
They had difficulty finding time to relax and keeping friendships alive, which led to mental health issues. They described anxiety and stress, sleeping insufficiently and having poor nutrition. They also expressed feeling slighted by the media and adults. They were able explain their struggles with ADHD, which helped them increase their self-esteem since they were not blaming themselves. Additionally, it gave them access to treatment strategies that were appropriate.
The interviews revealed that the women had many positive qualities but struggled to overcome the effects of their ADHD symptoms on different aspects of their lives. This included a lack of possibilities for romance or work and difficulties in maintaining relationships. an unclean home.
5. Insecurity about oneself
Some of the signs that are a part of ADHD are viewed as less socially acceptable for women and girls than they are for boys and men, so some women 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 cause feelings of self-esteem issues that can cause depression, anxiety, or eating disorders.
A sense of inner worth is the basis for better relationships and an optimistic outlook on life. People who do not have a strong self-worth tend to look beyond themselves for validation, such as careers, relationships, money, and power. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, says that this can also lead to the lack of communication in relationships.
In addition to a sense of self-worth, those with ADHD frequently struggle with feeling like they don't deserve the good things happening in their lives. These feelings can manifest as a need to please or to "keep up" with other people. This can cause toxic workplaces as well as a negative self-image and an addiction of substances or food.
Despite attention deficit disorder in women challenges the women who participated in this study discovered a number of positive aspects to living with ADHD. They generally identify their ADHD as a blessing or a curse, depending on whether they feel they can manage it. Some of them have also identified their own strengths that they believe are partially due to their ADHD. These include the ability to be creative, energetic and determination, as well as the ability to effortlessly become fascinated by new subjects. In addition, they describe their unique challenges as part of a bigger picture that includes cultural and family issues as well as biological and gender differences.