ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that gender and sexuality are determined by biology, including the body's chromosomal make-up and hormones. Many people do not easily fit into a binary sexuality. add in women test and sexes can impact the way ADHD symptoms are diagnosed and treated.
ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood before the age of 12. adhd traits in women must be present before age 12 and cause difficulties in more than one environment to be eligible for an assessment.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is at the core of ADHD and can affect both genders. Women may have a difficult time focusing, especially since symptoms can manifest differently than in males.
Women are more likely to be prone to disorganization and indecisiveness, for example. They're also more likely to experience emotional stress and have difficulty putting things into perspective. These issues can lead to an inability to focus which can lead to a lack productivity at work or at home. They are also more likely to forget their medication and miss appointments with doctors.
In addition to these inherent variations, hormones in women can make ADHD symptoms more severe. Females have a bigger hippocampus that aids in learning and memory, as well as hormone changes during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopausal cycles can affect brain's functioning.
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD may have difficulty in their relationships, at school, and at work. They could also be suffering from various comorbidities, such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders.
It is essential that health professionals are aware of the many signs females suffering from ADHD display. They need to rethink their approach to diagnosing and treating women suffering from ADHD to account for emotional dysregulation, hormonal fluctuations and other factors that affect the severity of symptoms. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Females suffering from ADHD are more likely to have trouble managing their emotions, particularly when they interact with others. This can result in to emotional dysregulation, which is a component of ADHD symptoms. It can also be linked to negative life outcomes. These include low self-esteem, depression that is co-occurring with anxiety, difficult relationships that can result in intimate partner violence, problems with friendships and a messy home or personal space, and an inability to manage time or money.
Gender stereotypes can affect how women with ADHD are treated. They could be misunderstood as they are viewed as being more sensitive or prone a mood swings. This can increase their frustration about living with untreated ADHD.
The impulse control portion of the brain, known as the prefrontal cortex is impaired in individuals with ADHD. This means that they have a harder time making decisions and sticking in their intentions. This could cause you to want to eat more cake or make a snide comment.
For adults with ADHD, medication can help to improve their ability to control their impulses. Stimulants like amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can help to decrease the impulsive behavior while nonstimulant medicines like clonidine and guanfacine can be efficient too. Behavioral therapy is also suggested, which can aid people suffering from ADHD change their thinking patterns and develop more effective ways of coping.
A good night's sleep, eating a healthy diet, and meditating can also help to control impulsiveness and restlessness in people with ADHD. It's also a good idea to keep track their symptoms throughout the day, and then share the information with their doctor in order to assess whether the treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a typical issue for people suffering from ADHD and can have a negative impact on their professional and personal lives. It could take longer to complete their tasks and reduce their productivity. They might also miss deadlines or feel overwhelmed every day.
Inability to organize can make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. People may forget important events or lose possessions such as keys or purses. In the end, they might feel lonely and isolated. Family and friends may also be confused about them. Disorganization can be worse during perimenopause and menopause, when hormones change and symptoms intensify.
It is not unusual for women to hide their ADHD symptoms in order to conform with societal norms and avoid being considered a failure. This can cause women to blame themselves and feel shame or guilt. It may be a reason for why women and girls aren't diagnosed with ADHD. This is particularly evident in adolescence when symptoms are more apparent.
Women who suffer from untreated ADHD might have a poor performance at work or in school. This could affect their work, grades or overall reputation. This could also cause issues in their personal lives. For instance it can cause issues with relationships with their partners or breakups with family and friends.
Women who are chronically disorganized can get help one-on-one from a non-judgmental, supportive person. They can assist women in learning to stay organized by making lists and setting reminders. A qualified mental health professional could also recommend medication and lifestyle changes that can reduce ADHD symptoms. This can include eating small, frequent meals to maintain energy levels and avoiding caffeine, which can cause adverse effects of stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is a trait that influences decision-making in many areas of our lives. There are a variety of instruments that have been created to assess indecisiveness. These include the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness is also correlated with neuroticism and with the tendency to employ worst case scenario thinking, in which people interpret ambiguous situations as threatening. It has also been proven to be linked with anxiety about being wrong, which may help explain why it's common for people with adhd to have trouble making decisions.
In the qualitative study of adult women with adhd, interviewees said they were unable to make decisions in their personal and professional lives. They had a difficult time finding a job they liked or stayed in, and also found it difficult to manage their finances as well as their relationships and health. They frequently were dependent on others to decide or were unable to finish projects themselves, such as arranging childcare. They believed that their ADHD symptoms like impulsivity and difficulty focusing or beginning projects were holding them back.
They had difficulty in establishing and maintaining friendships which led to mental health issues. They described anxiety and stress, sleep deprivation and poor nutrition. They also described feeling stigmatized by other adults and by the media. The diagnosis of ADHD provided them with a reason for their difficulties which was beneficial for self-image because it meant they weren't blaming themselves. Additionally, it gave them access to appropriate treatment strategies.
add in women test revealed that the women were very positive however, they struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD in different areas of their lives. The women reported an absence in their careers or romantic opportunities, difficulties maintaining relationships and a messy home.
5. Self-esteem issues
Some of the symptoms that comprise ADHD are seen as less acceptable socially for girls and women than they are for men and boys Some women choose to hide their hyperactivity, impulsivity, and disorganization. They may also be able to internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping mechanisms like self-harm (cutting, burning, scratching). This can lead to lower self-esteem and could cause depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
Having high inner worth is a key factor in healthier relationships and a positive outlook on life. If someone isn't feeling a solid sense of self-worth and feel they are not worthy, they will seek outside things - like careers, relationships, wealth, and power - to feel worthy. A licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can result in an absence of communication in the relationship, which could ultimately end it.
Women suffering from ADHD might also feel they are not worthy of good things in life. These feelings can manifest as a need to please or to "keep up" with others. This can result in toxic workplace cultures as well as a negative self-image and an addiction of food or substances.
While these are serious issues however, the women who took part in this study discovered many positive aspects of living with ADHD. Most of them identify their ADHD as a blessing or a curse, depending on whether they feel they can control it. Some of them have identified personal strengths they believe are partially due to their ADHD. These include high energy, creativity and determination as well as the ability to quickly become fascinated by new subjects. They also talk about their individual struggles in the context of the larger picture, which includes biological and gender distinctions, as well as cultural and family issues.