Everything You Need To Learn About ADHD Traits In Women
ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that sex and a gender are determined by biology, including the body's chromosomal makeup as well as hormones. Many people don't fall into a binary gender. Sexe and gender can affect the way ADHD symptoms are diagnosed and treated.
ADHD is diagnosed in the early years of childhood, typically before the age of 12. ADHD must present symptoms before the age of 12 and cause problems in more than one environment to be able to receive a diagnosis.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is the primary cause of ADHD and it's an issue for everyone. However, women may find it more challenging to achieve the focus they need particularly since symptoms typically manifest in different ways in men.
Women are more likely than men to be disorganized and impulsive, as an example. They are also more likely to become emotional and have trouble putting things into perspective. These problems can create an inability to focus on tasks, leading to a lack of productivity at work or home. They are also more likely to not remember their medication or miss appointments with their doctor.
In addition to these innate differences, women's hormones can make ADHD symptoms more severe. Females have a bigger hippocampus, which helps with learning and memory, and hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles as well as during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopausal cycles can affect brain function.
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD may struggle in their relationships, at school and at work. They might also struggle with a variety of comorbid disorders, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder.
It is essential that health care professionals recognize the many clues females with ADHD display. They should rethink their strategies for diagnosing and treating females suffering from ADHD to recognize emotional dysregulation and hormonal fluctuations. In this way, these patients can finally get the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Females with ADHD are often unable to controlling their emotions, especially when they interact with other people. This can lead to emotional dysregulation, which is a symptom of ADHD symptoms. It can also be linked to negative life outcomes. 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 home or personal space, an inability to manage time or money and a messy home.
Gender stereotypes can affect the way women with ADHD are treated. Because undiagnosed adhd in women are typically considered to be more sensitive or prone to mood swings, they can be misinterpreted or dismissed as being emotionally prone. This can exacerbate their frustrations about being a victim of untreated ADHD.
Individuals with ADHD have impaired impulse control, also known as the prefrontal cortex. This means that they have a harder time making decisions and following through with their intentions. This could cause you to want to eat more cake or make a snide comment.
For adults with ADHD medications can help to increase their ability to control their impulses. stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can help reduce impulsive behavior, while nonstimulant medications such as clonidine and guanfacine can be efficient too. Behavioral therapy may also be recommended, which can help people with 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 to control impulsiveness and restlessness in people with ADHD. It's also a good idea to track their symptoms throughout the day, and share the information with their doctor in order to assess whether their treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a frequent issue for people suffering from ADHD and can have a negative impact on their personal and professional life. It can take them longer to complete their tasks and decrease their productivity. They might also be late and find themselves overwhelmed on a regular basis.
Lack of organization can also make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. They may forget important events or lose things like keys or purses. They may feel lonely and unloved due to this. Friends and family may confuse their feelings. Disorders are more common in menopausal and perimenopausal women when hormones are changing and symptoms become more severe.
It is not uncommon for women to cover up their ADHD symptoms to fit in with the norms of society and avoid being considered a failure. This can lead women to blame themselves and feel guilt or shame. It may be a reason why women and girls are not diagnosed with ADHD. This is especially evident in adolescence when symptoms are more evident.
Women who suffer from untreated ADHD might have a poor performance at work or in school. This could affect their work, grades, or reputation. It can also create problems in their personal lives including issues with romantic partners or strained relationships with family and friends members.
Women who are constantly disorganized will benefit from the one-on-1 support of a non-judgmental person. They can provide strategies to get and stay organized, such as making a list of daily tasks and making reminders for them. In addition, a qualified mental health professional may recommend changes in lifestyle and medications to help minimize ADHD symptoms. These can include eating small meals throughout the day to ensure steady energy levels, and avoiding caffeine which can increase the negative effects of stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness affects decision-making in many aspects of daily life. There are a variety of instruments that have been created to measure indecisiveness, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness has also been associated with neuroticism and the tendency to imagine worst-case scenarios. This is because people perceive ambiguous situations as being threat. It is also believed to be correlated with anxiety about being wrong, which could help explain why it's common for people with adhd to have trouble making decisions.
In the study of qualitative research on adult women with adhd that were interviewed, they described not being in a position to make choices about their personal and professional lives. They struggled to find a job they liked or stayed in, and found it difficult to manage their finances, relationships and health. They often were dependent on others to make decisions, or were unable to finish projects such as arranging childcare. They often felt like they were being hindered by their ADHD symptoms, for example, difficulties in starting, staying focused and impulsive.
They struggled to keep friendships and were unable to relax, leading to problems with their mental health. They reported stress and anxiety, as well as a sleeping insufficiently and having inadequate nutrition. They also reported feeling snubbed by adults and the media. They were able to articulate their struggles with ADHD, which helped them boost their self-esteem as they were not blaming themselves. They also had access to appropriate treatments.
The interviews revealed that women had a number of positive characteristics but were struggling to overcome the impact of their ADHD symptoms on different 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
Some of the signs that are a part of ADHD are considered to be less socially acceptable for girls and women than they are for boys and men Some women choose to hide their hyperactivity, impulsivity, and disorganization. Women who suffer from ADHD may take on the characteristics of ADHD and develop coping strategies like self-harming (cutting or burning). This can cause lower self-esteem and could cause anxiety, depression or eating disorders.
Being able to identify your inner worth is a prerequisite for healthier relationships and a positive outlook on life. When people lack a strong sense of self-worth they tend to look for external things - such as careers, relationships as well as wealth and power to feel worthy. A licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can also cause an absence of communication within relationships, which could ultimately end it.
Women who suffer from ADHD may also feel that they are not worthy of good things in their lives. These feelings may manifest as a desire to please or "keep up" with other people. This can lead to negative work environments as well as a negative image of one's body, and an addiction to food or substances.
While these are serious issues, the women who participated in this study discovered many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They describe ADHD as a blessing or a curse depending on how they feel about their ability to control it. Some of them have also identified strengths 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 effortlessly become interested in new subjects. They also talk about their own struggles within the context of an overall picture that includes gender and biological distinctions, as well as cultural and family issues.