ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that sex and a gender are determined by biology, including the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones. A lot of people do not fall into the binary sexuality. However, sex and gender influence the way symptoms of ADHD are identified and treated.
ADHD is typically diagnosed in the early years of childhood, before the age of 12. Symptoms must be present before age 12 and cause problems in multiple settings to be able to receive the diagnosis.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is at the core of ADHD and can affect both men and women. Women may have a difficult time focusing, especially since symptoms may manifest differently than in men.
Women are more likely to be prone to disorganization and indecisiveness for instance. They are also more likely to be emotionally triggered and have difficulty putting things into perspective. These issues can lead to an inability to concentrate on work, resulting in a decrease in productivity at work or home. They are also more likely to not remember their medication or miss doctor's appointments.
In addition to these natural differences, women's hormones can make their ADHD symptoms more severe. The hippocampus of females is larger which helps in memory and learning. The fluctuations in hormones during menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopausal changes can also affect brain function.
Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD might struggle with their relationships, at school and at work. They could also be suffering from various comorbidities, such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
For these reasons, it is essential for health care professionals to recognize the many indications that females with ADHD often show. They need to rethink their approach to diagnosing and treating women suffering from ADHD to take into account hormonal fluctuations, emotional dysregulation and other factors that can influence symptom severity. Patients can then receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Females suffering from ADHD tend to have difficulty controlling their emotions, particularly when they interact with others. This can cause emotional dysregulation which is a major element of ADHD symptoms and is associated with many negative life outcomes. This includes low self-esteem, coexisting depression and anxiety as well as problematic relationships with loved ones that can result in conflict between partners, issues with friendships, a messy home or personal space, an inability to manage time or money, and a messy house.
The gender stereotypes of women can influence how women who suffer from ADHD will be treated. They might be misunderstood since they are perceived as more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings. This can exacerbate their frustrations about being a victim of untreated ADHD.
The part of the brain that controls impulses the brain, known as the prefrontal cortex, is impaired in people suffering from ADHD. This means that they are more prone to making decisions and following through in their intentions. This makes it difficult to resist the temptation to eat another piece of cake or to make an inappropriate statement in public.
Adults suffering from ADHD may benefit from medication that helps to control their impulsivity. stimulants like amphetamine and dextroamphetamine can reduce the impulsive behavior. Non-stimulants like clonidine and Guanfacine can also be effective. Behavioral therapy can also be recommended, which can help those suffering from ADHD change their thinking patterns and develop better ways to cope with stress.
Sleeping enough, eating a healthy diet, and practicing meditation can also help in reducing restlessness and impulsiveness in those with ADHD. It's also a great idea to track their symptoms throughout the day and then share this information with their physician in order to assess whether the treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization can be a major issue for those suffering from ADHD and affect their personal and professional lives. They may have difficulty to complete tasks and their efficiency may be reduced. They may also fail to meet deadlines and feel overwhelmed on a daily basis.
A lack of organization can make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. They might not remember important dates or even lose things like purses or keys. Consequently, they may feel lonely and alone. They may also feel that they are not understood by family members and friends. The disorder is more prevalent during perimenopause or menopause when hormones are changing and symptoms are increasing.
It is not unusual for women to cover up their ADHD symptoms to conform with societal norms and avoid being considered a failure. This can lead women to blame themselves and feel guilt or shame. It can also be a reason for why girls and women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD especially in adolescence when symptoms are more obvious.
Women who are not treated for ADHD might have a poor performance at school or at work. This could have a negative impact on their work, grades, or their image. It could also cause issues in their personal life like issues with romantic partners or strained relationships with family members and friends members.
Women who are constantly disorganized could benefit from the one-on-one support of a non-judgmental friend. They can provide strategies to get and stay organized, such as making an agenda of the daily tasks and setting reminders for them. A licensed mental health professional can recommend medication or lifestyle changes that can reduce ADHD symptoms. This may include eating small frequent meals to keep energy levels up and avoiding caffeine that can increase side effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness can affect decision-making in many aspects of our lives. Indecisiveness is measured by several instruments, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the Indecisiveness scale. Indecisiveness is also associated with neuroticism and with the tendency to use worst-case scenario thinking, which is where people perceive ambiguous situations as potentially dangerous. It was also discovered to be related to the fear of making a mistake which could help explain why people with adhd have difficulty making decisions.
In the qualitative study of adult women suffering from adhd who were interviewed they said they were not capable of making choices about their personal and professional lives. They found it hard to manage their finances and relationships and had difficulty finding an occupation they liked. They often had to wait for others to take decisions, or were unable to finish projects such as arranging childcare. They believed that their ADHD symptoms such as the inability to focus and impulsivity, or getting started on projects were holding them back.
They had a difficult time relaxing and maintaining friendships which resulted in mental health issues. add in adult women reported high levels of stress and anxiety and an inability to sleep, and poor nutrition. They also reported feeling snubbed 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 blaming themselves. Additionally, it gave them access to treatment strategies that were appropriate.
The interviews revealed that the women had a lot of positive qualities, but they struggled to overcome the impact of their ADHD symptoms on a variety of aspects of their lives. The women reported a lack in career or romantic opportunities, issues maintaining relationships, and a messy house.
5. Lack of Self-Esteem
Women might cover up their impulsivity and hyperactivity because they believe their behavior is less acceptable for boys and men. Some women may take on the characteristics of ADHD and develop strategies to cope, such as self-harming (cutting or burning). This can lead to feelings of low self-esteem which can lead to anxiety, depression, or eating disorders.
A strong sense of self-esteem and worth is the foundation for better relationships and an optimistic outlook on life. People who lack a strong self-worth tend to look beyond themselves for validation, like jobs, relationships money, power, and relationships. A licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can cause an absence of communication in relationships, which could ultimately end it.
Women who suffer from ADHD may also feel that they don't deserve the best things in life. These feelings may manifest as a desire for others to "keep up with" or to please. This can lead to toxic work cultures and a negative self-image and an addiction of substances or food.
Despite these major issues the women who participated in this study discovered a number of positive aspects to living with ADHD. They describe ADHD as positive or negative depending on the way they perceive their ability to control it. Many of them also recognize personal strengths that they believe are partly due to their ADHD, including high energy, creativity determination, and the ability to be easily interested in new subjects. They also describe their individual struggles as part of a larger picture that encompasses cultural and family issues as well as biological and gender differences.