ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that sex and a gender are based on biology, including the body's chromosomal makeup as well as hormones. Many people don't fit neatly into an unisexual gender. However, gender and sex influence the way symptoms of ADHD are treated and diagnosed.
ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood prior to the age of 12. Symptoms must be present before 12 years of age and cause difficulties in more than one environment to be eligible for an assessment.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Inattention is the root of ADHD and can affect both men and women. But women may have more difficulty to get the focus they require, especially because symptoms often manifest in different ways for men.
Women are more likely than men to be disorganized and impulsive, as an example. They are also more likely than men to be emotional and have difficulty putting things in perspective. These issues can lead to an inability to focus on work, resulting in an inability to perform at work or home. They're also more likely not attend doctor appointments or forget to take their medication.
In addition to these natural differences, women's hormones can make ADHD symptoms worse. Females have a bigger hippocampus, which aids in learning and memory, and hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle as well as during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopausal cycles can affect brain function.
Women with undiagnosed ADHD may have difficulty in their relationships, at school and at work. They may also have various comorbidities like depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
It is essential that health professionals are aware of the numerous signs that females with ADHD display. They must recalibrate their approaches to diagnosing and treating women with ADHD to take into account emotional dysregulation, hormonal fluctuations, and other factors that affect the severity of symptoms. Patients can then receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Women who suffer from ADHD often struggle to control their emotions. This is particularly true when they interact with other people. This can cause emotional dysregulation which is a key component of ADHD symptoms and is associated with a range of negative life consequences. This includes low self-esteem, depression and anxiety, difficult relationships that can result in intimate partner violence, trouble with friends as well as a messy home or personal space, and an inability to manage time or money.
Gender stereotypes can affect how women with ADHD are treated. Because they are frequently viewed as more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings, they may be viewed as being emotionally prone. This can exacerbate their frustrations about living with untreated ADHD.
People suffering from ADHD have impaired impulse control Also known as the prefrontal cortex. visit the website means that they have a harder time making decisions and following up with their intentions. This can make it difficult to resist the urge to eat a second piece of cake or make an inappropriate statement in public.
For adults with ADHD medication can assist to enhance their ability to control their impulses. stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can help to reduce impulsive behavior, and non-stimulant drugs like the guanfacine and clonidine are effective as well. Behavioral therapy can also be suggested, which can help people with ADHD alter their thinking patterns and learn better ways to cope with stress.
A good night's sleep and eating a balanced diet, and meditating can help control the impulsiveness and restlessness of people with ADHD. It's also a good idea to monitor their symptoms throughout the day, and then share this information with their physician in order to assess whether the treatment is working.
3. click this is a frequent issue in people with ADHD and can have a negative impact on their work and personal lives. It may take longer to complete their tasks and reduce their productivity. They might also be late or overwhelmed throughout the day.
Lack of organization can also cause problems in maintaining healthy relationships. They may forget important dates or lose items like keys or purses. They might feel lonely and unloved because of this. Family and friends may also be confused about their feelings. The disorder can become more severe during menopausal and perimenopausal cycles, when hormones change and symptoms intensify.
It is not uncommon for women to mask their ADHD symptoms to fit in with societal norms and avoid being considered a failure. This can lead to self-blame and feelings of shame or guilt. It could also be a reason for why women and girls are often not diagnosed with ADHD particularly in adolescence when symptoms become more apparent.
Women who suffer from untreated ADHD may have poor performance at school or at work. This can negatively impact their job, grades or even their reputation. This could also cause issues for their personal lives. For instance, it may lead to problems with their relationships with their partners or breakups with family members and friends.
Women who are constantly disorganized can benefit from the one-on-one support of a non-judgmental person. They can assist women in learning to stay organized by creating an agenda and setting reminders. Additionally, a certified mental health professional may recommend changes in lifestyle and medications to reduce ADHD symptoms. This could include eating smaller, frequent meals to maintain energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can increase side effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness affects decision-making in many aspects of our lives. Indecisiveness is measured by various instruments, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale for Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness is also associated with neuroticism, and the tendency to apply worst case scenario thinking, which is where people interpret uncertain situations as potentially dangerous. It has also been found to be linked with anxiety about being wrong, which could help explain why it is common for people with adhd to struggle with making decisions.
In the qualitative study of women who have adhd in their adult lives, interviewees reported being not able to make decisions regarding their work and personal lives. They found it hard to manage their finances and relationships, and struggled to find an occupation they liked. They often had to wait for others to make decisions, or were unable complete projects such as organizing childcare. They often felt like they were hindered by their ADHD symptoms, like difficulties in starting, staying focused and impulsivity.
They had trouble in establishing and maintaining friendships, which led to mental health problems. They described high levels of stress and anxiety, as well as a sleeping insufficiently and having inadequate nutrition. They also expressed feeling devalued by other adults and by the media. They were able explain their struggles with ADHD which helped them boost their self-esteem as they weren't blaming others. They also had access to appropriate treatments.
The interviews revealed that the women had many positive qualities, but they struggled to overcome the effects of their ADHD symptoms on various aspects of their life. These included a lack possibilities for romance or work and difficulties in maintaining relationships. an unclean home.
5. Self-esteem issues
Women might hide their hyperactivity and impulsivity because they feel that these symptoms are less acceptable than for men and boys. They may also be able to internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping mechanisms such as self-harm (cutting or burning, or scratching). This can lead to lower self-esteem and could cause depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
A strong sense of self-esteem and worth is the basis for better relationships and an optimistic outlook on life. When people lack a strong sense of self-worth, they tend to seek outside things - including careers, relationships, wealth, and power to feel worthy. A licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can cause an absence of communication within a relationship, which can ultimately end it.
In addition to a lack of self-worth, those with ADHD often have feeling like they don't deserve the positive things happening in their lives. These feelings may manifest as a desire for others to "keep up with" or to please. This can lead to toxic work cultures as well as a negative self-image and an addiction of substance or food.
While these are major challenges, the women who participated in this study found many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They described ADHD as positive or negative depending on the way they perceive their ability to control it. Several of them also identify their own strengths that they believe are partly due to their ADHD, including high energy, creativity determination, and the ability to become easily interested in new subjects. They also describe their individual struggles in the context of an overall picture that includes biological and gender distinctions, as well as cultural and family issues.