ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that gender and sexuality are determined by biology, including the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones. Many people do not easily fit into an unisexual gender. However, sex and gender influence how symptoms of ADHD are diagnosed and treated.
ADHD is diagnosed in the early years of childhood, typically before age 12. ADHD symptoms must be present before the age of 12 and cause problems in multiple settings to qualify for a diagnoses.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is the primary cause of ADHD, and it's a problem for all genders. Women may have a difficult to concentrate, particularly because symptoms can manifest differently than in men.
Women are more likely to experience disorganization and indecisiveness for instance. They are also more likely than men to be emotionally afflicted and have a difficult time putting things in perspective. These issues can cause an inability to concentrate on tasks, leading to an inability to perform at work or at home. They're also more likely to skip doctor appointments and forget to take their medication.
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 fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause can affect their brain's function.
This is why women with undiagnosed ADHD may face major difficulties in relationships at school, in relationships, and at work. They might also struggle with a myriad of comorbid conditions, including anxiety, depression eating disorders, bipolar disorder.
It is important that health care professionals recognize the many clues females with ADHD display. They should rethink their strategies to diagnose and treat females suffering from ADHD in order to recognize emotional dysregulation and hormonal fluctuations. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Women suffering from ADHD often struggle to control their emotions. This is especially true when they are interacting with others. This can lead to emotional dysregulation, which is a major cause of ADHD symptoms. It is also linked to negative life outcomes. These include low self-esteem, depression that is co-occurring with anxiety, difficult romantic relationships that can result in intimate partner violence, problems with friendships as well as a messy home or personal space, and the inability to manage time or money.
Gender stereotypes can affect how women with ADHD are treated. They may be misunderstood because they are viewed as being more sensitive or prone to mood swings. This can cause them to feel more frustrated about being a victim of untreated ADHD.
People with ADHD have impaired impulse control which is also referred to as the prefrontal cortex. This means they have more trouble making decisions and executing in their intentions. This could make you want to take a bite more cake or to make a rude comment.
Adults with ADHD are able to benefit from medications that help them control their tendency to be impulsive. Stimulants such as amphetamine and dextroamphetamine may reduce the impulsive behavior. Nonstimulants like clonidine or guanfacine are also effective. People suffering from ADHD may also benefit from a behavioral therapy, which helps to change their mental patterns and develop healthier strategies for coping.
Getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet, and practicing meditation can also help to control the impulsiveness and restlessness of people with ADHD. It is important to track their symptoms throughout the day and share this information with their physician to assess whether the treatment regimen is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a frequent issue in people with ADHD, and can affect their professional and personal lives. It could take them longer to complete tasks and reduce their efficiency. They might also miss deadlines or feel overwhelmed throughout the day.
A lack of organization can also 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 confuse their feelings. visit my web site are more common during menopausal or perimenopausal cycles when hormones are changing and symptoms increase.
It is not uncommon for women to cover up their ADHD symptoms to conform with the norms of society and avoid being thought of as a problem. 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 particularly true 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 have a negative impact on their work, grades, or their image. It can also create problems in their personal life like issues with romantic partners, or strained relationships with family members and friends members.
Women who are chronically unorganized will benefit from the one-on-1 support of a non-judgmental person. They can help them learn strategies to get and stay organized, such as making lists of daily tasks and making reminders for them. A qualified mental health professional could also recommend medication and lifestyle changes to help minimize ADHD symptoms. This could include eating smaller, frequent meals to ensure energy levels and avoiding caffeine that can trigger side effects from stimulant medications.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is one of the traits that influences decision-making in a variety of areas of life. A variety of instruments have been developed to measure indecisiveness, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory (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 because people perceive ambiguous situations as being dangerous. It was also found to be associated with the fear of making a mistake, which could be the reason people suffering from adhd have difficulty making decisions.
In the qualitative study of adult women with adhd interviewed, they described not being able to make choices about their professional and personal lives. They struggled to find an occupation they enjoyed or to stay in, and also found it difficult to manage their finances as well as their relationships and health. They often had to wait for others to make decisions or were unable to complete tasks on their own, like scheduling childcare. They often felt they were being hindered by their ADHD symptoms, like difficulties with getting started or staying focused and impulsive.
They had difficulty finding time to relax and keeping friendships alive which resulted in mental health issues. They described having high levels of stress and anxiety, a lack of sleep and a poor diet. They also felt stigmatized by the media and adults. They were able explain their struggles with ADHD, which helped them increase their self-esteem since they were not blaming themselves. It also provided them with access to appropriate treatments.
The interviews revealed that the women had a number of positive characteristics, but they struggled to overcome the impact of their ADHD symptoms on different aspects of their life. This included a lack of romantic or career opportunities as well as difficulties maintaining relationships. an unclean home.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Some of the signs that make up ADHD are considered to be less socially acceptable for girls and women than they are for men and boys and so women may hide their hyperactivity, impulsivity, and disorganization. They also may internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping strategies such as self-harm (cutting, burning, scratching). This can cause low self-esteem, which can contribute to depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
A strong sense of self-esteem and worth is the precursor to more positive relationships and a positive outlook on life. People who lack self-worth tend to look outside themselves for validation, like jobs, relationships money, power, and relationships. A licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can cause an absence of communication within a relationship, which can eventually end it.
Women who suffer from ADHD may also feel that they do not deserve good things in life. These feelings can manifest themselves as a desire for others to "keep up with" or to please. This can result in an unhealthy work environment and a negative image of the body 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. They described ADHD as either an advantage or a disadvantage depending on how they feel about their ability to control it. Some of them have identified their own strengths that they believe are a result of 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 a larger picture that includes gender and biological distinctions, as well as cultural and family issues.