ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related to biology, the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones--and that many people don't fall into a binary of sex. However, sex and gender can affect the way symptoms of ADHD are treated and diagnosed.
ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood before the age of 12. Symptoms must be present before age 12 and cause difficulties in multiple settings to be eligible for the diagnosis.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is the root of ADHD and affects both genders. But women may have more difficulty to attain the focus they need, especially because symptoms often manifest in different ways for men.
Women are more likely to be prone to disorganization and indecisiveness, for example. They're also more likely to be emotionally triggered and have trouble putting things into perspective. These problems can lead to an inability to focus and can result in an absence of productivity at home or work. They're also more likely to miss doctor appointments and forget to take their medications.
In addition to these natural gender differences, hormones of women can make their ADHD symptoms more severe. Females have a bigger hippocampus, which aids in learning and memory, and hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopausal cycles can affect brain's functioning.
This is why women who aren't diagnosed with ADHD can have major struggles in relationships at school, in their relationships, and at work. They may also be struggling with a host of comorbid disorders, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder.
It is essential that health care professionals recognize the numerous signs that females with ADHD show. They must recalibrate their approaches to diagnosing and treating women with ADHD to account for emotional dysregulation, hormonal fluctuations and other factors that can influence symptom severity. The patients will then receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Women with ADHD frequently have difficulty controlling their emotions. This is especially the case when they interact with others. This can cause emotional dysregulation, which is a major component of ADHD symptoms and is associated with many negative life consequences. These include poor self-esteem, co-occurring depression and anxiety, difficult relationships that can result in intimate partner violence, problems with friends as well as a messy home or personal space, and an inability to manage time or money.
Gender stereotypes may also impact how women who suffer from ADHD are treated. Because they are typically viewed as more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings, they could be viewed as emotionally unstable. This can increase their frustration over being a victim of untreated ADHD.
The portion of the brain that controls impulses the brain, known as the prefrontal cortex, is impaired in people suffering from ADHD. This means that they have a difficult time making decisions and following through with 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 may benefit from medication that helps them manage their impulsivity. Stimulants like amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can help decrease the impulsive behavior while nonstimulant medicines like Guanfacine and clonidine can be effective too. Behavioral therapy may also be advised, which will aid people suffering from ADHD modify their thinking patterns and develop healthier coping skills.
Meditation and eating a balanced, healthy diet and getting enough sleep can all help to control anxiety and impulsiveness among people with ADHD. It is also a great idea to track their symptoms throughout the day, and to share this information with their physician to determine whether their treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a frequent issue for people suffering from ADHD and can have a negative impact on their professional and personal lives. It can take longer to complete tasks, and decrease their productivity. related internet page might also be late and feel overwhelmed on a daily basis.
A lack of organization can make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. They might forget important dates or lose things like keys or purses. They may feel lonely and unloved because of this. Friends and family members may be confused about their feelings. Disorders are more common during menopausal or perimenopausal cycles when hormones are changing and symptoms increase.
It is not uncommon for women to hide their ADHD symptoms in order to conform with the norms of society and avoid being considered a failure. This can cause women to blame themselves and feel guilt or shame. It could also be the reason women and girls aren't diagnosed with ADHD. This is especially during adolescence, when symptoms become more obvious.
Women who suffer from untreated ADHD may not perform as well at school or at work. This can impact their work, grades or overall standing. This could also cause issues for their personal life. For instance it could lead to problems with their romantic partners or strain relationships with family and friends.
Women who are constantly disorganized will benefit from the one-on-1 assistance of a non-judgmental individual. They can help them learn strategies to get and remain organized, for example, making a list of daily tasks and setting reminders for them. A licensed mental health professional can also suggest medication and lifestyle changes that will reduce ADHD symptoms. This could include eating small meals throughout the day to maintain a steady energy and avoiding caffeine, which can increase the adverse effects of stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness influences decision-making in a variety of aspects of daily life. Several instruments have been developed to measure indecisiveness, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness has also been linked to neuroticism, and the tendency to imagine worst-case scenarios. This is when people interpret ambiguous circumstances as threat. It has also been proven to be correlated with the fear of being wrong, which could help explain why it's common for people suffering from adhd to have difficulty making decisions.
In the study of qualitative research on adult women suffering from adhd who were interviewed the participants said they were not capable of making choices about their professional and personal lives. They had a difficult time finding 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 or were unable complete projects on their own, for example, scheduling childcare. They often felt that they were held back by their ADHD symptoms, such as difficulties with getting started or staying focused and impulsive.
They had trouble relaxing and maintaining friendships which led to mental health issues. They described high levels of stress and anxiety, a sleep deprivation and inadequate nutrition. They also described feeling stigmatized by other adults and by the media. The diagnosis of ADHD gave them a reason for their struggles which was beneficial to their self-esteem since it meant they weren't blamed for their own problems. They also had access to the appropriate treatment.
The interviews revealed that the women had a number of positive characteristics, but they struggled to overcome the effects of their ADHD symptoms on various aspects of their lives. These included a lack career or romantic opportunities as well as difficulties maintaining relationships. an unclean home.
5. Lack of Self-Esteem
Some of the signs that are a part of ADHD are viewed as less socially acceptable for girls and women than they are for males and females Some women choose to are able to hide their impulsivity, hyperactivity, and disorganization. They also may take on their ADHD symptoms and develop coping mechanisms such as self-harm (cutting, burning, scratching). This can result in low self-esteem, which can cause anxiety, depression or eating disorders.
A sense of inner worth is the basis for better relationships and a positive outlook on life. If people do not have a strong sense of self-worth they tend to look for external things - such as relationships, careers, wealth, and power to feel a sense of worthiness. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, suggests that this can also lead to a lack in communication within a relationship.
Women suffering from ADHD may also feel that they don't deserve the best things in life. These feelings can manifest as a need to please or to "keep up" with others. This can lead to an unhealthy work environment and a negative image of the body, and an addiction to food or other substances.
While these are major challenges, the women who participated in this study also discovered a number of 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 manage it. A few of them also point out personal strengths they believe are due to their ADHD which include the ability to be creative, high energy determination, and the ability to become easily interested in new subjects. They also describe their unique struggles in the context of an overall picture that includes biological and gender differences, as well as cultural and family issues.