ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are a reflection of biology, the hormones and chromosomal makeup of the body, and that many people don't fall into a binary of sex. However, gender and sex influence the way symptoms of ADHD are identified and treated.
ADHD is a condition that is recognized in the early years of early childhood, typically before the age of 12. ADHD must show signs before 12 years of age and cause problems in more than one environment to be able to receive a diagnosis.
1. Problems with Focusing
Inattention is at the core of ADHD and is a problem that affects both genders. Women may have a difficult to concentrate, particularly because symptoms can manifest differently than in males.
Women are more likely than men to be disorganized and impulsive, as an example. They're also more likely to be emotionally triggered and have trouble putting things in perspective. These issues can cause an inability to concentrate on work, resulting in an inability to perform at work or at home. They are also more likely to forget their medication and miss doctor's appointments.
In addition to these inherent differences, women's hormones can make their ADHD symptoms more severe. Females have a larger hippocampus, which helps with learning and memory, and hormone changes during menstrual cycles and during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopausal changes can affect their brain's function.
As a result, women with undiagnosed ADHD may face major difficulties in relationships at school, in relationships and at work. They may also have various comorbidities like anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
adult add women is crucial that health care professionals recognize the many signs females suffering from ADHD display. They should rethink their approaches to diagnosing and treating women with ADHD to take into account emotional dysregulation, hormonal fluctuations and other variables that affect the severity of symptoms. Patients can then receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Women with ADHD often have trouble controlling their emotions. This is especially true when they are interacting with other people. This can cause to emotional dysregulation, which is a major cause of ADHD symptoms. It is also associated with negative outcomes in life. These include poor self-esteem, depression and anxiety, difficult relationships with loved ones that can result in intimate partner violence, trouble with friends, a messy house or personal space, and a failure to manage time or money.
Gender stereotypes can affect the way women who suffer from ADHD will be treated. Because they are typically perceived as being more sensitive or prone to mood swings, they could be misinterpreted or dismissed as being emotionally prone. This can lead to their frustration in being a victim of untreated ADHD.
The part of the brain that controls impulses the brain, referred to as the prefrontal cortex, is impaired in people suffering from ADHD. This means they have a harder time making decisions and executing their intentions. This could make you want to take a bite more cake or to make a snide comment.
Adults suffering from ADHD may benefit from medication that helps them manage their impulses. stimulants like amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are able to reduce impulsive behavior. Non-stimulants like clonidine and Guanfacine can also be effective. Patients with ADHD might also benefit from a treatment called behavioral therapy, which helps them alter their thinking patterns and develop more effective strategies for coping.
A good night's sleep and eating a balanced diet, and practicing meditation can also help in reducing restlessness and impulsiveness in those with ADHD. It's also a good idea to track their symptoms throughout the day and communicate the information with their doctor so they can assess whether the treatment regimen is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a frequent issue for people suffering from ADHD and can have a negative impact on their work and personal lives. It could take them longer to complete tasks, and decrease their productivity. They could also be late or overwhelmed each day.
An absence of organization could make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. People may miss important dates or misplace things like keys or purses. Consequently, they may feel lonely and isolated. They can also feel misunderstood by their family and friends. The disorder can become more severe during perimenopause and menopause when hormones shift and symptoms become more severe.
It is not unusual for women to hide their ADHD symptoms to fit in with the norms of society and avoid being thought of as a problem. This can lead to self-blame and feelings of shame or guilt. It could be a reason why women and girls are not diagnosed with ADHD. This is particularly evident in adolescence when symptoms become more obvious.
Women with untreated ADHD might have a poor performance at work or in school. This can affect their work, grades or their overall image. It can also create problems in their personal lives. For example it can cause issues with relationships with their partners or breakups with family and friends.
Women with chronic disorganization can get help one-on-one from a non-judgmental, supportive person. They can help them learn strategies to keep their lives organized, such as making lists of daily tasks and creating reminders for them. A licensed mental health professional may also recommend medication and lifestyle changes that can aid in reducing ADHD symptoms. These can include eating small meals throughout the day to maintain a steady energy and avoiding caffeine, which can cause an increase in the side effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is a trait that can affect decision-making in a variety of areas of our lives. Indecisiveness can be measured with various instruments, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale for Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness is also correlated with neuroticism and with the tendency to apply worst case scenario thinking, which is where people interpret uncertain situations as threatening. It has also been proven to be linked with anxiety about being wrong, which may help explain why it is common for people with adhd to have difficulty making decisions.
In the qualitative study of women who have adhd in their adult lives, interviewees said they were not able to make decisions in their personal and professional lives. They found it hard to manage their finances and relationships and had difficulty finding a job that they liked. They frequently had to wait for others to decide or were unable to finish tasks on their own, like arranging childcare. They felt that their ADHD symptoms such as inattention and impulsivity or difficulty getting started on projects was preventing them from completing.
They struggled to keep friendships and had difficulty relaxing which led to issues with their mental health. They described having high levels of anxiety and stress as well as sleeping less, and poor nutrition. They also expressed feeling devalued by adults and the media. They were able to articulate their struggles with ADHD and helped increase their self-esteem since they weren't blaming others. It also gave them access to appropriate treatment strategies.
The interviews revealed that women were very positive and able to overcome the effects of ADHD on various aspects of their lives. The women reported an absence in their careers or romantic opportunities, issues maintaining relationships, and a messy house.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Certain of the symptoms that make up 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 disorder. They also may be able to internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping strategies such as self-harm (cutting, burning, scratching). This can result in lower self-esteem and could contribute to depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
Having high inner worth is a key factor in healthier relationships and a positive outlook on life. When people lack a strong sense of self-worth they tend to look for outside things - including relationships, careers wealth, power, and relationships to feel worthy. Licensed This Webpage says this can result in an absence of communication within a relationship, which can ultimately end it.
In addition to a sense of self-worth, women with ADHD frequently struggle with the feeling that they don't deserve the good things happening in their lives. These feelings may manifest as a desire to please or "keep up" with others. adult add women can cause toxic workplaces and a negative self-image and an addiction to substances or food.
Despite these major challenges, women who took part in this study discovered many positive aspects to living with ADHD. They described ADHD as either a blessing or a curse depending on the way they perceive their ability to control it. Some of them have identified their own strengths that they believe are partially due to their ADHD. They have the ability to be creative, energetic and determination as well as the ability to quickly become fascinated by new subjects. They also describe their own struggles within the context of a larger picture that includes biological and gender differences, as well as cultural and family issues.