ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that sex and a gender are based on biology, including the body's chromosomal makeup as well as hormones. Many people do not fit neatly into an unisexual gender. Gender and sexes can impact the way ADHD symptoms are treated and diagnosed.
ADHD is typically diagnosed in the early years of childhood, before the age of 12. ADHD must present symptoms before 12 years of age and cause problems in more than one environment to be able to receive a diagnosis.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Inattention is at the core of ADHD and can affect both genders. Women might have a harder time to achieve the focus they need, especially because symptoms often manifest in different ways in men.
adhd test for women are more likely to experience indecisiveness and disorganization, for example. They are also more likely than men to be emotionally disturbed and have difficulty putting things in perspective. These issues can cause an inability to focus on work, resulting in an inability to perform at work or home. They're also more likely to not attend doctor appointments or neglect to take their medications.
In addition to these natural gender differences, hormones of women can make their ADHD symptoms worse. Females have a larger hippocampus, which aids in memory and learning, and hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopausal cycles can affect brain's functioning.
Women with undiagnosed ADHD may struggle in their relationships, at school and at work. They could also be suffering from various comorbidities like anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
It is essential that health professionals understand the numerous signs that females with ADHD show. They must recalibrate their approaches to diagnosing and treating women suffering from ADHD to take into account hormonal fluctuations, emotional dysregulation, and other factors that can influence symptom severity. That way, these patients can finally get the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Females who suffer from ADHD are often unable to controlling their emotions, particularly when interacting with others. This can lead to emotional dysregulation which is a key component of ADHD symptoms and is associated with many negative life consequences. This can include low self-esteem, anxiety and depression that coexist, problematic romantic relationships that can result in conflict between partners, issues with relationships, a messy home or personal space, an inability manage time or money and a messy home.
The gender stereotypes of women can influence the way women with ADHD are treated. They might be misunderstood since they are thought to be more sensitive or prone a mood swings. This can exacerbate their frustrations about living with untreated ADHD.
Individuals with ADHD have impaired impulse control, also known as the prefrontal cortex. This means they have more trouble making decisions and following through with their goals. This could make you want to take a bite more cake or to make a rude comment.
For those who suffer from ADHD medications can help to increase their ability to control their impulsivity. Stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can help to decrease the impulsive behavior while nonstimulant medicines like clonidine and guanfacine can be effective as well. Behavioral therapy can also be advised, which will help people with ADHD alter their thinking patterns and develop healthier coping skills.
Meditation, eating a balanced diet and getting enough rest can all help control restlessness and impulsiveness in people with ADHD. It's also a good idea to monitor their symptoms throughout the day, and then share the information with their doctor to determine whether the treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a typical issue for people suffering from ADHD and can impact their work and personal lives. It can take longer to complete their tasks and reduce their productivity. add test for women might also miss deadlines or feel overwhelmed throughout the day.
Inability to organize can make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. People may not remember important dates or even lose things like keys or purses. They might feel lonely and unloved as a result. They may also feel unloved by family members and friends. Disorders are more common during perimenopause or menopause when hormones are changing and symptoms increase.
adhd test for women hide their ADHD symptoms to conform to the norms of society or to avoid being judged. This can cause women to blame themselves and feel guilt or shame. It could also be a reason for why women and girls are often not diagnosed with ADHD especially in adolescence where symptoms are more evident.
Women who are not treated for ADHD might have a poor performance at school or at work. This can negatively impact their work, grades, or even their reputation. It can also cause problems in their personal life including issues with romantic partners, or strained relationships with friends and family members.
Women with chronic disorganization could benefit from one-on-one help by a non-judgmental therapist. They can help them learn strategies to stay organized, such as making a list of daily tasks and setting reminders for them. In addition, a qualified mental health professional can suggest medications and lifestyle changes to help minimize ADHD symptoms. These can include eating small meals throughout the day to maintain stable energy and avoiding caffeine, which can increase the negative effects of stimulant medication.
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 measure indecisiveness, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness is also associated with neuroticism and the tendency to apply worst-case scenario thinking, in which people perceive ambiguous situations as dangerous. It was also found to be associated with the fear of making a mistake which could help explain why people with adhd have trouble making decisions.
In the qualitative study of adult women suffering from adhd who were interviewed they said they were not in a position to make decisions regarding their professional and personal lives. They had a difficult time finding a job they liked or stayed in, and found it difficult to manage their finances as well as their relationships, and health. They frequently had to wait for others to decide or were unable to complete projects on their own, for example, scheduling childcare. They often felt they were hindered by their ADHD symptoms, like difficulties with getting started or staying focused and impulsivity.
They had a difficult time keeping relationships and had trouble relaxing which led to issues with their mental health. They described having high levels of anxiety and stress and a lack of sleep, and poor nutrition. They also expressed feeling slighted by adults and the media. The diagnosis of ADHD provided them with a reason for their struggles, which was helpful for self-image because it meant they were not blaming themselves. Additionally, it gave them access to treatment strategies that were appropriate.
The interviews showed that the women had many positive qualities, but they were struggling to overcome the effects of their ADHD symptoms on various aspects of their lives. These included a lack of career or romantic opportunities, difficulty maintaining relationships and a messy home.
5. Self-esteem issues
Women can conceal their impulsivity and hyperactivity because they believe these behaviors aren't as acceptable than for boys and men. They may also internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping strategies such as self-harm (cutting or burning, or scratching). This can result in low self-esteem, which could cause depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
A high sense of inner worth is the foundation for better relationships and a positive outlook on life. If people do not have a strong sense of self-worth they tend to look for outside things - like relationships, careers wealth, power, and relationships to feel a sense of worthiness. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, says that this can also result in a lack in communication within the relationship.
Women who suffer from ADHD might also feel they do not deserve good things in their lives. These feelings can manifest as a desire for others to "keep up with" or to please. This can lead to negative work environments as well as a negative image of one's body and a dependence on food or substances.
Despite these significant challenges, women who took part in this study discovered a number of positive aspects of living with ADHD. They describe ADHD as either a blessing or a curse according to how they feel about their ability to manage it. A few of them also point out their own strengths that they believe are due to their ADHD which include the ability to be creative, high energy determination, and the ability to become easily interested in new topics. They also discuss their individual struggles as part of a bigger picture that includes family and cultural issues, as also gender and biological differences.