ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that gender and sex are determined by biology, including the body's chromosomal make-up and hormones. Many people do not fall into a binary gender. However, sex and gender influence the way symptoms of ADHD are identified and treated.
ADHD is a condition that is recognized in the early years of childhood, usually before the age of 12. The symptoms must be present prior to age 12 and cause difficulties in more than one setting to be able to receive the diagnosis.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Inattention is the root of ADHD and affects both women and men. But women might have a harder time to get the attention they require particularly since symptoms typically appear in different ways than in men.
Women are more likely than men to be disorganized and impulsive, for instance. They are also more likely than men to be emotionally afflicted 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 at home. They are also more likely to forget their medication and skip appointments with their doctor.
The hormones that women experience as well as these inherent differences, can cause ADHD symptoms. The female hippocampus is larger which helps with memory and learning. Menstrual hormone fluctuations or pregnancy, breastfeeding or menopause may also influence brain function.
Women with undiagnosed ADHD may struggle in their relationships, at school, and at work. They could also be suffering from a variety of comorbid disorders, such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders.
It is crucial that health care professionals recognize the many signs females suffering from ADHD display. They must recalibrate their approaches to diagnosing and treating women suffering from ADHD to account for hormonal fluctuations, emotional dysregulation, and other factors that affect the severity of symptoms. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Females who suffer from ADHD are more likely to have trouble managing their emotions, particularly when they interact with others. This can lead emotional dysregulation which is a component of ADHD symptoms. It is also linked to negative life outcomes. These include low self-esteem, depression that is co-occurring with anxiety, difficult relationships that can result in violence between intimate partners, issues with friends as well as a messy home or personal space, and the inability to manage time or money.
Gender stereotypes can affect the way women with ADHD are treated. Because they are frequently perceived as being more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings, they may be misinterpreted or dismissed as overly emotional. This can cause them to feel more frustrated about living with untreated ADHD.
Individuals with ADHD suffer from impaired impulse control Also known as the prefrontal cortex. This means they are more difficult to make decisions and following up with their intentions. This can make it hard to resist the urge to eat another piece of cake or make an inappropriate comment in public.
Adults with ADHD are able to benefit from medication that helps to control their impulsivity. stimulants like amphetamine and dextroamphetamine may reduce the impulsive behavior. Nonstimulants like clonidine or Guanfacine can also be effective. People suffering from ADHD might also benefit from a treatment called behavioral therapy, which can help them change their thinking patterns and develop better strategies for coping.
A good night's sleep, eating a healthy diet, and practicing meditation can also help to 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 doctor in order to assess whether or not their treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization can be a major issue for people with ADHD and impact their personal and professional lives. They may have difficulty to complete their tasks and their efficiency may be diminished. They might also miss deadlines or feel overwhelmed throughout the day.
A lack of organization can cause problems to maintain healthy relationships. They might forget important dates or lose belongings like keys or purses. Consequently, they may feel isolated and lonely. undiagnosed adhd in women and family members may misunderstand their feelings. Disorganization can be worse during perimenopause and menopause when hormones shift and symptoms become more severe.
Women often cover up their ADHD symptoms in order to conform to the norms of society or to avoid being considered a failure. This can result in self-blame and feelings of guilt or shame. It can also be a reason why girls and women are frequently not diagnosed with ADHD particularly in adolescence when symptoms are more evident.
Women who are not treated for ADHD might have a poor performance at work or in school. This could negatively impact their job, grades or even their reputation. It can also create problems in their personal lives like issues with romantic partners, or strained relationships with friends and family members.
Women who are chronically disorganized can benefit from the one-on-one assistance of a non-judgmental individual. They can teach them strategies to get and keep their lives organized, such as making lists of daily tasks and creating reminders for them. A licensed mental health professional could also recommend medication and lifestyle changes that can reduce ADHD symptoms. This may include eating small, frequent meals to maintain energy levels and avoiding caffeine that can increase side effects from stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness influences decision-making in a variety of aspects of life. Indecisiveness can be measured with various instruments, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the Indecisiveness scale. Indecisiveness is also linked to neuroticism, and the tendency to think of worst-case scenarios. This is when people interpret uncertain situations as threatening. It was also found to be associated with the fear of making a mistake which could explain why people with adhd have trouble making decisions.
In the qualitative study on adult women suffering from adhd who were interviewed the participants said they were not in a position to make choices about 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 projects themselves, such as organizing childcare. They often felt that they were being hindered by their ADHD symptoms, such as difficulties in starting, staying focused and impulsivity.
They struggled to maintain relationships and had trouble relaxing, leading to problems with their mental health. They reported high levels of stress and anxiety as well as sleeping less, and poor nutrition. They also expressed feeling slighted by adults and the media. The diagnosis of ADHD offered them an explanation for their difficulties, which was helpful for self-esteem because it meant they were not blaming themselves. They also had access to appropriate treatments.
The interviews showed that the women had a lot of positive qualities, but they struggled to overcome the effects of their ADHD symptoms on various aspects of their life. The women reported the absence of a job or romantic opportunities, issues maintaining relationships and a messy home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Some of the signs that comprise ADHD are viewed as less acceptable socially for girls and women than they are for males and females Some women choose to conceal their impulsivity, hyperactivity and disorganization. They also may take on their ADHD symptoms and develop coping strategies such as self-harm (cutting, burning, scratching). This can lead to lower self-esteem and could cause anxiety, depression or eating disorders.
Having high inner worth is a prerequisite for healthier relationships and a positive outlook on life. People who lack a strong self-worth are more likely to look outside themselves for validation, like relationships, careers, money, and power. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, says that this can also lead to a lack in communication within relationships.
In addition to a lack of self-worth, those with ADHD frequently struggle with a feeling that they don't have enough of the good things in their lives. These feelings can manifest as a need to please or "keep up" with other people. This can result in an unhealthy work environment and a negative image of the body and a dependence on foods or substances.
Despite these major issues the women who participated in this study found many positive aspects to living with ADHD. They describe ADHD as an advantage or a disadvantage according to how they feel about their ability to manage it. Some have identified their own strengths that they believe are partially due to their ADHD. They have high energy, creativity and determination as well as the ability to easily get fascinated by new subjects. They also describe their unique struggles as part of a larger picture that encompasses family and cultural issues, as in addition to gender and biological differences.