ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related to biology, the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones--and that many people don't fall into a binary of sex. However, gender and sex can influence the way symptoms of ADHD are diagnosed and treated.
ADHD is a condition that is recognized in the early years of the early years of childhood, typically before the age of 12. ADHD must show signs before the age of 12 and cause problems in more than one environment to be able to receive a diagnosis.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Inattention is the root of ADHD and is a problem that affects both genders. Women may have more difficulty to get the attention they require due to the fact that symptoms usually manifest in different ways for men.
Women are more likely to experience indecisiveness and disorganization, for example. They are also more likely to experience emotional stress and have difficulty putting things into perspective. These issues can cause an inability to focus which can lead to a lack productivity at home or work. They are also more likely to forget their medication and skip doctor's appointments.
Women's hormones, in addition to these natural differences, can contribute to ADHD symptoms. The female hippocampus is larger which helps in memory and learning. Menstrual hormone fluctuations as well as pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopausal changes can also influence brain function.
Women with undiagnosed ADHD may struggle in their relationships, at school and at work. They might also struggle with a host of comorbid disorders, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder.
It is crucial that health care professionals recognize the numerous signs that females with ADHD display. They need to rethink their approach to diagnosing and treating women with ADHD to take into account emotional dysregulation, hormonal fluctuations, and other factors that influence the severity of symptoms. In this way, these patients will finally receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Women suffering from ADHD often have trouble controlling their emotions. This is especially true when they are interacting with others. This can result in emotional dysregulation which is a key element of ADHD symptoms and is associated with a range of negative life outcomes. This includes low self-esteem, depression that is co-occurring with anxiety, difficult relationships that can result in intimate partner violence, problems with friends as well as a messy home or personal space, and an inability to manage time or money.
The gender stereotypes of women can influence how women who suffer from ADHD will be treated. They may be misunderstood because they are thought to be more sensitive or prone to mood swings. This can exacerbate their frustrations about being a victim of untreated ADHD.
The portion of the brain that controls impulses the brain, referred to as the prefrontal cortex is affected in people with ADHD. This means they have more trouble making decisions and sticking with their goals. This could cause you to want to indulge in more cake or make an inappropriate comment.
For adults with ADHD medications can help to increase their ability to manage their impulsivity. stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can help reduce the impulsive behavior, while nonstimulant medications such as Guanfacine and clonidine can be efficient too. Behavioral therapy is also recommended, which can help people with ADHD alter their thinking patterns and learn more effective ways of coping.
Meditation, eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep can all help to control anxiety and impulsiveness among people suffering from ADHD. It is important to keep track of their symptoms throughout the day and to share the information with their doctor to determine if their treatment regimen is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a typical issue in people with ADHD and can impact their personal and professional life. It can take them longer to complete tasks and reduce their efficiency. They might also fail to meet deadlines and feel overwhelmed on a daily basis.
Lack of organization can also cause problems in maintaining healthy relationships. People may forget important dates or lose items like keys or purses. They may feel lonely and isolated as a result. Friends and family members may confuse them. Disorganization can be worse in menopausal or perimenopausal women as hormones alter and symptoms increase.
Women often mask their ADHD symptoms in order to conform to social norms or to avoid being thought of as a problem. This can lead women to blame themselves and feel guilt or shame. This could be a reason for why girls and women are frequently not diagnosed with ADHD especially in adolescence where symptoms become more apparent.
In the end women who are not treated for ADHD might have poor academic or work performance. This can affect their job, grades or their image. This can also cause problems for their personal life. For instance it can cause problems with their relationships with their partners or breakups with family and friends.
Women with chronic disorganization can benefit from one-on-one help from a non-judgmental, supportive person. They can assist women in learning to stay organized by creating lists and establishing reminders. A licensed mental health professional could also suggest medication and lifestyle changes that will reduce ADHD symptoms. This may include eating small, frequent meals to maintain energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can increase side effects from stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is a trait that can affect decision-making across a wide range of aspects of our lives. Indecisiveness can be measured with various instruments, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale of Indecisiveness. simply click the next internet page can also be linked to neuroticism and with the tendency to apply worst case scenario thinking, which is where people perceive ambiguous situations as dangerous. It has also been proven to be linked with the fear of being wrong, which could be the reason why it is common for people with adhd to have difficulty making decisions.
In the qualitative study on adult women with adhd interviewed they said they were not able to make decisions about their professional and personal lives. They had a difficult time finding the job they wanted or stayed in, and were difficult to manage their finances, relationships and health. They frequently were dependent on others to decide or were unable complete projects on their own, for example, scheduling childcare. They felt that their ADHD symptoms such as the inability to focus and impulsivity, or getting started on projects was preventing them from completing.
They had a difficult time in establishing and maintaining friendships which resulted in mental health problems. They reported high levels of stress and anxiety, as well as a sleep deprivation and inadequate nutrition. They also reported feeling stigmatized by adults and the media. They were able explain their struggles with ADHD which helped them increase their self-esteem since they were not blaming themselves. They also had access to the appropriate treatment strategies.
The interviews revealed that women were extremely positive, but struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD on different aspects of their lives. These included a lack of possibilities for romance or work as well as difficulties maintaining relationships. a messy home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Women might hide their hyperactivity and impulsivity because they believe that their behavior is less acceptable for boys and men. They may also take on their ADHD symptoms and develop coping strategies such as self-harm (cutting or burning, or scratching). This can cause low self-esteem, which can contribute to depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
Being able to identify your inner worth is a precursor to healthier relationships and a better outlook on life. People who lack self-worth tend to look beyond themselves to find validation, including careers, relationships as well as money and power. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, says that this can also result in an absence of communication within a relationship.
Women suffering from ADHD may also feel that they don't deserve the best things in life. These feelings can manifest themselves as a desire to "keep up" or to please. This can result in negative work environments, a negative body image, and an addiction to food or substances.
While these are major challenges however, the women who took part in this study also discovered a number of positive aspects of living with ADHD. The majority of them say that they view their ADHD as a gift or a curse, based on whether they believe they can manage it. Some of them have identified their own strengths that they believe are a result of to their ADHD. These include the ability to be creative, energetic and determination as well as the ability to easily get fascinated by new subjects. In addition, they describe their individual struggles as part of a bigger picture that includes family and cultural issues, as well as biological and gender differences.