ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related to biology, the hormonal makeup of the body and its chromosomal makeup. It also acknowledges that many people don't fall into a binary of sex. Gender and sexes can impact the way ADHD symptoms are diagnosed and treated.
ADHD is typically diagnosed in childhood before the age of 12. ADHD must show signs before 12 years of age and cause problems in multiple settings to be eligible for a diagnosis.
1. Problems with Focusing
Inattention is at the heart of ADHD, and it's an issue for everyone. Women may have a harder time focusing, especially since symptoms can manifest differently than males.
Women are more likely to experience disorganization and indecisiveness for instance. They are also more likely to experience emotional stress and have trouble putting things in perspective. These issues can cause an inability to focus on tasks, leading to a lack of productivity at work or at home. They're also more likely to miss doctor appointments and forget to take their medications.
Women's hormones as well as these natural differences, can contribute to ADHD symptoms. Females have a bigger hippocampus, which helps with learning and memory, and hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause can affect their brain function.
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD may have difficulty in their relationships, at school and at work. simply click the next internet page might also suffer from multiple comorbid disorders including depression, anxiety and eating disorders.
It is important that health professionals understand the many clues females with ADHD display. They should rethink their strategies for diagnosing and treating females suffering from ADHD to recognize hormonal fluctuations and emotional dysregulation. Patients can then receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Women with ADHD frequently have difficulty controlling their emotions. This is particularly true when they interact with other people. This can cause emotional dysregulation which is a key aspect of ADHD symptoms and is associated with a range of negative life consequences. This includes low self-esteem, anxiety and depression that coexist, problematic romantic relationships which can lead to conflicts between partners, problems with friendships, a messy home or personal space, inability to manage time or money and a messy home.
Gender stereotypes can also influence how women who suffer from ADHD will be treated. Because they are often considered to be more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings, they could be misinterpreted or dismissed as overly emotional. This can lead to their frustration over living with untreated ADHD.
The portion of the brain that controls impulses the brain, also known as the prefrontal cortex is impaired in individuals with ADHD. This means that they have a harder time making decisions and executing their intentions. This can make you want to indulge in more cake or make a snide comment.
Adults suffering from ADHD are able to benefit from medications that help them control their impulses. stimulants like amphetamine and dextroamphetamine may reduce impulsive behavior. Non-stimulants such as clonidine or Guanfacine can also be effective. People suffering from ADHD might also benefit from a behavioral therapy, which helps them change their mental patterns and develop better strategies for coping.
Meditation and eating a balanced, healthy diet, and getting enough sleep can all be helpful in reducing the impulsiveness and restlessness of people suffering from ADHD. It is also a good idea to keep track of their symptoms throughout the day and to share the information with their doctor to assess whether their treatment regimen is working.
3. adult adhd in women is a typical issue in people with ADHD and can impact their work and personal lives. It may take longer to complete tasks and decrease their efficiency. They might also fail to meet deadlines and become overwhelmed on a daily basis.
Inability to organize can make it hard to maintain healthy relationships. They may forget important events or lose possessions such as keys or purses. Consequently, they may feel isolated and lonely. They may also feel unloved by family members and friends. Disorders are more common during perimenopause or menopause when hormones are changing and symptoms become more severe.
Women often mask their ADHD symptoms to conform to the norms of society or to avoid being thought of as a problem. This can lead women to blame themselves and feel shame or guilt. This could also be the reason women and girls aren't diagnosed with ADHD. This is especially evident in adolescence when symptoms become more obvious.
In the end women who are not treated for ADHD may have trouble with their academic or work performance. This can affect their job, grades, or overall standing. It can also create problems for their personal lives. For example it can cause problems with their romantic partners or strained relationships with family and friends.
Women who are chronically 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 an agenda of the daily tasks and creating reminders for them. A qualified mental health professional may recommend medication or lifestyle changes to aid in reducing ADHD symptoms. This may include eating small, frequent meals to maintain energy levels and avoiding caffeine, which can increase side effects of stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is one of the traits that affects decision making in a variety of areas of our lives. Indecisiveness is measured by several instruments, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale for Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness can also be linked to neuroticism, and the tendency to employ worst-case scenario thinking, where people perceive ambiguous situations as threatening. It has also been proven to be correlated with anxiety about being wrong, which may help explain why it's common for people with adhd to struggle with making decisions.
In the study that was qualitative of women who have adhd in their adult lives, interviewees reported being unable to make decisions in their work and personal lives. They struggled to find an occupation they enjoyed or to stay in, and found it difficult to manage their finances, relationships and health. They frequently were dependent on others to make decisions or were unable complete tasks on their own, like arranging childcare. They believed that their ADHD symptoms like inattention and impulsivity or difficulty beginning projects were preventing them from progressing.
They had a difficult time in establishing and maintaining friendships which resulted in mental health issues. They reported stress and anxiety, a lack of sleep and inadequate nutrition. They also expressed feeling slighted by media and adults. The diagnosis of ADHD offered them an explanation for their difficulties, which was helpful for self-esteem since it meant they weren't blamed for their condition. It also gave them access to appropriate treatment strategies.
The interviews showed that the women had many positive qualities however, they struggled to overcome the impact of their ADHD symptoms on a variety of aspects of their life. The women reported a lack in career or romantic opportunities, issues maintaining relationships, and a messy house.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Women may cover up their impulsivity and hyperactivity because they feel that their behavior is less acceptable for boys and men. They may also be able to internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping mechanisms like self-harm (cutting or burning, or scratching). This can cause low self-esteem, which can cause depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
A strong sense of self-esteem and worth is the basis for better relationships and an optimistic outlook on life. When people lack a strong sense of self-worth they tend to look for outside things - like relationships, careers as well as wealth and power to feel a sense of worthiness. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, says that this can also lead to the lack of communication in the relationship.
In addition to a lack of self-worth, women with ADHD often struggle with the feeling that they don't deserve the good things in their lives. These feelings can manifest as a need to please or "keep up" with others. This can cause toxic workplaces and a negative self-image and a dependence on substance or food.
While these are major challenges but the women who participated in this study found many positive aspects of living with ADHD. The majority of them describe their ADHD as a gift or a curse, depending on whether they feel they can manage it. Many of them also recognize their own strengths that they believe are a result of to their ADHD such as the ability to be creative, high energy, determination and the ability to be easily interested in new topics. They also discuss their unique challenges as part of a bigger picture that encompasses cultural and family issues as well as biological and gender differences.