ADHD Traits in Women

Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender refer to biology--the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones--and that many people do not fall into a binary of sex. However, gender and sex can affect how symptoms of ADHD are treated and diagnosed.

ADHD is typically diagnosed in childhood before the age of 12. The symptoms must be present prior to age 12 and cause difficulties in more than one setting to qualify for the diagnosis.

1. Difficulty Focusing

Inattention is at the heart of ADHD and affects both women and men. However, women may find it more challenging to get the focus they need due to the fact that symptoms usually manifest differently for men.

Women are more likely than men to be unorganized and indecisive, for example. They're also more likely to become emotional and have difficulty putting things into perspective. These issues can cause an inability of concentration, which can lead to an inability to perform at work or home. They are also more likely to not attend doctor appointments or forget to take their medications.

Women's hormones as well as these inherent differences, can cause ADHD symptoms. Females have a bigger hippocampus, which helps with learning and memory, and hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles and during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopausal changes can affect their brain's function.

Women with undiagnosed ADHD may struggle in their relationships, at school, and at work. They might also struggle with a host of co-occurring conditions, such as depression, anxiety eating disorders, bipolar disorder.

For these reasons, it's critical for health care professionals to be aware of the various indicators that females suffering from ADHD frequently exhibit. They should rethink their approaches to diagnosing and treating women suffering from ADHD to account for emotional dysregulation, hormonal fluctuations and other variables that affect the severity of symptoms. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they require.

2. Impulsivity

Women who suffer from ADHD often struggle to control their emotions. This is particularly true when they are interacting with others. This can lead to emotional dysregulation which is a major element of ADHD symptoms and is associated with many negative life outcomes. These include poor self-esteem, co-occurring depression and anxiety, difficult romantic relationships which can lead to intimate partner violence, trouble with friendships and a messy home or personal space, and the inability to manage time or money.

The gender stereotypes of women can influence the way women who suffer from ADHD are treated. Because they are typically considered to be more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings, they may be misinterpreted or dismissed as overly emotional. This can increase their frustration over living with untreated ADHD.

The part of the brain that controls impulses the brain, also known as the prefrontal cortex, is affected in people with ADHD. This means they have a difficult time making decisions and following through with their intentions. This could make you want to take a bite more cake or to make an inappropriate comment.

Adults suffering from ADHD may benefit from medications that help them manage their impulses. The use of stimulants such as amphetamine or dextroamphetamine are able to reduce impulsive behavior. Non-stimulants such as clonidine or Guanfacine can also be effective. People with ADHD may also benefit from a treatment called behavioral therapy, which helps them change their mental patterns and develop more effective methods of coping.

Meditation and eating a balanced, healthy diet and getting enough sleep can all be helpful in reducing the impulsiveness and restlessness of people with ADHD. It's also a good idea to monitor their symptoms throughout the day and to share the information with their doctor in order to assess whether their treatment is working.

3. Disorganization

Disorganization can be a major issue for people with ADHD and affect their professional and personal life. They may have trouble to complete tasks and their productivity could be diminished. They may also miss deadlines or feel overwhelmed each day.

Inability to organize can make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. They may forget important events or lose belongings like keys or purses. Consequently, they may feel lonely and alone. They may also feel that they are not understood by family and friends. The disorder is more prevalent in menopausal and perimenopausal women when hormones are changing and symptoms are increasing.

Women often cover up their ADHD symptoms in order to fit into societal norms or to avoid being thought of as a problem. This can lead to self-blame and feelings of guilt or shame. It may be a reason for why women and girls aren't diagnosed with ADHD. This is especially true in adolescence, when symptoms become more obvious.

As a result, women with untreated ADHD might experience poor work or school performance. This can negatively impact their career, grades, or reputation. This can also cause problems for their personal lives. For instance it can cause problems with their romantic partners or strained relationships with family and friends.

Women with chronic disorganization could benefit from one-on-one help from a nonjudgmental support person. They can help women learn to stay organized by creating an agenda and establishing reminders. Additionally, a certified mental health professional may recommend medication and lifestyle changes to reduce ADHD symptoms. These can include eating small meals throughout the day to maintain a steady energy levels, and avoiding caffeine which can increase the side effects of stimulant medication.

4. Indecisiveness

Indecisiveness affects decision-making in many aspects of life. There are a variety of instruments that have been created to measure indecisiveness, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness has also been linked to neuroticism, and the tendency to imagine worst-case scenarios. This is because people interpret ambiguous circumstances as threatening. It was also discovered to be related to a fear of making a mistake which could be the reason people with adhd have trouble making decisions.

In the qualitative study on adult women with adhd that were interviewed, they described not being able to make decisions regarding their professional and personal lives. They had a difficult time finding the job they wanted or to stay in, and 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 finish projects such as arranging childcare. They often felt that they were held back by their ADHD symptoms, like difficulties with getting started or staying focused and impulsivity.

They had trouble inattentive add in women establishing and maintaining friendships, which led to mental health problems. They reported high levels of stress and anxiety, as well as a lack of sleep and poor nutrition. They also reported feeling stigmatized by the media and adults. They were able to articulate their struggles with adhd in women treatment, which helped them boost their self-esteem as they weren't blaming themselves. Additionally, it gave them access to appropriate treatment strategies.

The interviews revealed that women were extremely positive and able to overcome the effects of ADHD in different areas of their lives. These included a lack of romantic or career opportunities, difficulty maintaining relationships and a messy home.

5. Self-esteem issues

Some of the symptoms that are a part of ADHD are considered to be less acceptable socially for girls and women than they are for boys and men Some women choose to hide their hyperactivity, impulsivity and Attention Deficit Disorder In Adult Women. Women who suffer from ADHD may be able to internalize their ADHD and adopt coping strategies such as self-harming (cutting, burning or scratching). This can result in feelings of low self-esteem that contribute to anxiety, depression, or eating disorders.

A high self-esteem is a precursor to better relationships and a more positive outlook on life. When people lack a strong sense of self-worth they tend to look for outside things - including careers, relationships wealth, power, and relationships - to feel worthy. A licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can also cause a lack of communication in the relationship, which could eventually end it.

In addition to a lack of self-worth, women who have ADHD often struggle with feeling like they don't deserve the good things happening in their lives. These feelings can manifest themselves as a desire to "keep up" or to please. This can lead to a toxic work culture as well as a negative image of one's body and an addiction to foods or substances.

Despite these challenges However, the women who took part in this study discovered a number of positive aspects of living with ADHD. They describe ADHD as either an advantage or a disadvantage according to how they feel about their ability to manage it. Some of them have also identified their own strengths that they believe are due to their ADHD. These include the ability to be creative, energetic and determination and the ability to easily get interested in new subjects. They also talk about their own struggles within the context of the larger picture, which includes biological and gender differences, as well cultural and family issues.