ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that sex and a gender are based on biology, including the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones. Many people do not fit neatly into a binary gender. Gender and sexes can impact the way ADHD symptoms are treated and diagnosed.
ADHD is diagnosed in the early years of childhood, typically before age 12. ADHD must present symptoms before 12 years of age and cause problems in multiple environments to be eligible for a diagnosis.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is at the core of ADHD and can affect both genders. Women may have a harder time focusing, especially since symptoms can appear differently than they do in males.
Women are more likely than men to be disorganized and impulsive, for instance. They are also more likely than men to be emotionally disturbed and have a difficult time putting things in perspective. These problems can create an inability to focus on tasks, leading to an inability to perform at work or at home. They are also more likely to forget their medication and miss appointments with their doctor.
The hormones that women experience along with these natural differences, can contribute to ADHD symptoms. The hippocampus of females is larger which helps in memory and learning. The fluctuations in hormones during menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause may also affect brain function.
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD may have difficulty in their relationships, at school, and at work. They might also struggle with a myriad of comorbid disorders, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder.
It is crucial that health professionals understand the numerous signs that females with ADHD show. They need to rethink their methods for diagnosing and treating females with ADHD in order to account for emotional dysregulation and hormonal fluctuations. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Females suffering from ADHD are more likely to have trouble controlling their emotions, especially when interacting with others. This can lead to emotional dysregulation, which is a major component of ADHD symptoms and is associated with a range of negative life results. This includes low self-esteem anxiety and depression that coexist and a strained relationship with a partner, which can lead to violence between partners, problems with friendships, a messy house or personal space, an inability to manage time or money, and a messy house.
Gender stereotypes can also affect how women who suffer from ADHD are treated. Because signs and symptoms of adhd in women are frequently perceived as being more sensitive or prone to mood swings, they may be misunderstood or dismissed as overly emotional. This can increase their frustration about being a victim of untreated ADHD.
People with ADHD suffer from impaired impulse control which is also referred to as the prefrontal cortex. This means they are more difficult to make decisions and following through with their intentions. This can make it hard to resist the temptation to eat another piece of cake or make an inappropriate comment in public.
For those who suffer from ADHD medications can help to improve their ability to manage their impulsivity. The use of stimulants such as amphetamine or dextroamphetamine may reduce impulsive behavior. Nonstimulants like clonidine or Guanfacine are also effective. Patients with ADHD might also benefit from a treatment called behavioral therapy, which helps them change their thinking patterns and develop healthier coping techniques.
Meditation and eating a balanced, healthy diet, and getting enough sleep can all be helpful in reducing restlessness and impulsiveness in people suffering from ADHD. It's also a good idea to keep track their symptoms throughout the day and share this information with their physician to determine whether the treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a typical issue for people suffering from ADHD and can have a negative impact on their personal and professional life. They may have difficulty to complete tasks and their productivity could be reduced. They may also be late or overwhelmed throughout the day.
Inability to organize can cause problems in maintaining healthy relationships. They might forget important dates or lose things like keys or purses. They may feel lonely and isolated due to this. They can also feel misunderstood by their family and friends. Disorganization can be worse in menopausal or perimenopausal women when hormones shift and symptoms intensify.
Women often hide their ADHD symptoms to fit into societal norms or to avoid being judged. This can cause women to blame themselves and feel guilt or shame. It could also be a reason for why girls and women are frequently not diagnosed with ADHD, particularly in adolescence where symptoms become more apparent.
Women with untreated ADHD may have poor performance at work or in school. This can impact their work, grades or overall reputation. It can also create problems in their personal lives including issues with romantic partners, or strained relationships with family and friends members.
Women with chronic disorganization can benefit from one-on-one help from a non-judgmental, supportive person. They can help them learn strategies to remain organized, for example, making lists of daily tasks and creating reminders for them. A licensed mental health professional could also recommend medication and lifestyle changes that can help minimize ADHD symptoms. This can include eating small frequent meals to keep energy levels up and avoiding caffeine, which can increase side effects from stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness can affect decision-making in many aspects of our lives. Indecisiveness can be measured with several instruments, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale of Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness is also associated with neuroticism and the tendency to think of worst-case scenarios. This is because people perceive ambiguous situations as being threat. It was also found to be associated with the fear of making a mistake, which could explain why people with adhd have difficulty making decisions.
In the study of qualitative research on adult women with adhd that were interviewed they said they were not capable of making choices about their professional and personal lives. They had difficulty to manage their finances and relationships and had difficulty finding an occupation they liked. They often had to wait for others to make decisions for them, or were unable to complete tasks like arranging childcare. They often felt like they were hindered by their ADHD symptoms, like difficulty with starting or staying focused and impulsive.
They struggled to maintain friendships and were unable to relax which led to issues with their mental health. They described high levels of anxiety and stress, lack of sleep and poor nutrition. They also expressed feeling slighted by media and adults. The diagnosis of ADHD provided them with a reason for their difficulties, which was helpful for self-image because it meant they were not blamed for their own problems. It also provided them with access to appropriate treatments.
The interviews revealed that women were extremely positive however, they struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD in different areas of their lives. These included a lack romantic or career opportunities, difficulty maintaining relationships and a messy home.
5. Lack of Self-Esteem
Some of the symptoms that are a part of ADHD are considered to be less acceptable socially for women and girls than they are for men and boys, so some women hide their hyperactivity, impulsivity, and disorganization. Women who suffer from ADHD may internalize their ADHD and develop strategies to cope, such as self-harming (cutting, burning or scratching). This can result in lower self-esteem and could cause depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
A high self-esteem is a precursor to better relationships and a more positive outlook on life. People who do not have a strong self-worth tend to look outside themselves for validation, like jobs, relationships, money, and power. Licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can result in an absence of communication within the relationship, which could eventually end it.
In simply click the following webpage to a sense of self-worth, women with ADHD often struggle with a feeling that they don't deserve the positive things happening in their lives. These feelings may manifest as a desire to please or "keep up" with other people. This can result in toxic workplace cultures, a negative self-image, and an addiction of food or substances.
While these are serious issues but the women who participated in this study also discovered a number of positive aspects of living with ADHD. They generally identify their ADHD as a gift or a curse, based on whether they feel they have control over it. Some have identified strengths they believe are due to their ADHD. These include high energy, creativity and determination as well as the ability to quickly become fascinated by new subjects. They also discuss their unique struggles in the context of a larger picture that includes gender and biological differences, as well cultural and family issues.