ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender refer to biology--the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones--and that many people do not belong to a sex binary. Genre and gender can influence how ADHD symptoms are diagnosed and treated.
ADHD is usually diagnosed in the early years of childhood, before the age of 12. ADHD must present symptoms before 12 years of age and cause problems in more than one environment to qualify for a diagnoses.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Inattention is at the core of ADHD and is a problem that affects both genders. However, women may have more difficulty to attain the focus they need particularly since symptoms typically manifest in different ways in men.
Women are more likely to experience disorganization and indecisiveness for instance. They are also more likely than men to be emotionally disturbed and struggle to put things in perspective. These issues can cause an inability to focus which can lead to a lack productivity at work or at home. They are also more likely to forget their medication and skip doctor's appointments.
In addition to these natural differences, women's hormones can make ADHD symptoms worse. Females have a larger hippocampus, which aids in memory and learning, and hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopausal changes can affect their brain's function.
In the end, women who do not have a diagnosis of ADHD might have a difficult time in relationships at school, in their relationships and at work. They could also struggle with a myriad of comorbid conditions, including depression, anxiety eating disorders, bipolar disorder.
It is important that health care professionals recognize the many signs females suffering from ADHD show. They should rethink their approaches to diagnosing and treating women with ADHD to account for emotional dysregulation, hormonal fluctuations and other variables that affect the severity of symptoms. That way, these patients can finally get the treatment they require.
2. I Am Psychiatry suffering from ADHD often struggle to control their emotions. This is particularly true when they interact with others. This can result in emotional dysregulation which is a key component of ADHD symptoms and is associated with many negative life results. This can include low self-esteem, coexisting depression and anxiety, problematic romantic relationships that can result in conflict between partners, issues with friendships, a messy home or personal space, an inability manage time or money, and a messy house.
Gender stereotypes may also impact the way women who suffer from ADHD are treated. Because they are frequently perceived as being more sensitive or prone to mood swings, they may be misunderstood or dismissed as emotionally unstable. This can exacerbate their frustrations about living with untreated ADHD.
People suffering from ADHD have a reduced ability to control impulses which is also referred to as the prefrontal cortex. This means they have a difficult time making decisions and following through with their intentions. This can make it difficult to resist the temptation to eat another piece of cake or blurt out an inappropriate statement in public.
For adults with ADHD medication can assist to improve their ability to control their impulsivity. Stimulants like amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can aid in reduce impulsive behavior, while nonstimulant medications such as Guanfacine and clonidine can be effective too. Patients with ADHD might also benefit from a behavioral therapy, which can help them alter their thinking patterns and develop more effective coping techniques.
Meditation and eating a balanced diet and getting enough rest can all help to control anxiety and impulsiveness among people suffering from ADHD. It's also a good idea to monitor their symptoms throughout the day and to share this information with their doctor to determine whether or not their treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a frequent issue for people suffering from ADHD, and can affect their personal and professional life. It can take longer to complete tasks, and reduce their productivity. They could also miss deadlines and feel overwhelmed on a daily basis.
Inability to organize can make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. People may not remember important dates or even lose things like purses or keys. They might feel lonely and unloved due to this. They may also feel unloved by their family and friends. Disorders are more common during perimenopause or menopause when hormones change and symptoms are increasing.
It is not uncommon for women to mask their ADHD symptoms in order to conform with society's norms and avoid being judged. This can cause women to blame themselves and feel guilt or shame. This could be the reason women and girls are often not diagnosed with ADHD, particularly during adolescence, when symptoms become more apparent.
In the end women who are not treated for ADHD may have trouble with their work or school performance. This can impact their job, grades, or overall standing. This could also cause issues for their personal lives. For instance it could lead to issues with romantic partners or strained relationships with family and friends.
Women with chronic disorganization can get help one-on-one from a non-judgmental, supportive person. They can teach them strategies to remain organized, for example, making an agenda of the daily tasks and creating reminders for them. Additionally, a certified mental health professional can suggest changes in lifestyle and medications to help minimize ADHD symptoms. This may include eating small frequent meals to keep energy levels up and avoiding caffeine that can trigger side effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness influences decision-making in a variety of aspects of life. Indecisiveness can be measured with various instruments, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale of Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness is also associated with neuroticism and with the tendency to apply worst case scenario thinking, where people perceive ambiguous situations as dangerous. It is also believed to be associated with anxiety about being wrong, which could help explain why it's common for people with adhd to 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 about their professional and personal lives. They found it hard to manage their finances and relationships, and struggled to find an occupation they liked. They frequently were dependent on others to make decisions or were unable complete projects themselves, such as scheduling childcare. They often felt that they were held back by their ADHD symptoms, such as difficulties in starting, staying focused and impulsivity.
They had trouble finding time to relax and keeping friendships alive which led to mental health issues. They described having high levels of anxiety and stress and a lack of sleep, and poor nutrition. They also described feeling stigmatized by adults and the media. The diagnosis of ADHD offered them an explanation for their difficulties, which was helpful for self-esteem because it meant they weren't blamed for their condition. It also provided them with access to appropriate treatments.
The interviews revealed that the women were very positive however, they struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD on various aspects of their lives. This included a lack of career or romantic opportunities and difficulties in maintaining relationships. an unclean home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Women might cover up their impulsivity and hyperactivity because they feel that these symptoms are less acceptable for boys and men. They may also internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping strategies such as self-harm (cutting or burning, or scratching). This can lead to low self-esteem, which could cause depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
Having high inner worth is a precursor to better relationships and a more positive outlook on life. People who lack a strong self-worth are more likely to look outside themselves to find validation, including relationships, careers money, power, and relationships. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed psychotherapist, says this can also lead to the lack of communication in relationships.
Women with ADHD might also feel they don't deserve the best things in life. These feelings can manifest as a need to please or "keep up" with other people. This can lead to an unhealthy work environment, a negative body image and an addiction to food or substances.
Although these are significant challenges, the women who participated in this study discovered many positive aspects of living with ADHD. The majority of them identify their ADHD as a blessing or a curse, depending on whether they believe they have control over it. Many of them also recognize their own strengths that they believe are a result of to their ADHD, including high energy, creativity determination and the ability to be easily interested in new subjects. They also discuss their unique struggles in the context of the larger picture, which includes biological and gender differences, as well as cultural and family issues.