15 Things You've Never Known About ADHD Traits In Women
ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that sex and a gender are based on biology, including the body's chromosomal make-up and hormones. Many people don't fit neatly into the binary sex. However, sex and gender can influence the way symptoms of ADHD are treated and diagnosed.
ADHD is typically diagnosed in childhood prior to the age of 12. ADHD must present symptoms before the age of 12 and cause problems in multiple environments to be able to receive a diagnosis.
1. Trouble focusing
Inattention is the core of ADHD, and it's an issue for everyone. But women might have a harder time to attain the attention they require particularly since symptoms typically manifest in different ways for men.
Women are more likely to experience disorganization and indecisiveness, for example. They are also more likely to be emotionally triggered and struggle to put things into perspective. These issues can lead to an inability to concentrate on work, which can lead to a decrease in productivity at work or home. They're also more likely to skip doctor appointments and forget to take their medications.
In addition to these inherent differences, women's hormones can make their ADHD symptoms more severe. Females have a bigger hippocampus that aids in memory and learning, and hormonal changes during menstrual cycles and during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopausal changes can affect their brain's functioning.
In the end, women who do not have a diagnosis of ADHD may face major difficulties in relationships at school, in their relationships and at work. They might also suffer from various comorbidities like depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
It is important that health care professionals recognize the numerous signs that females with ADHD show. They need to rethink their approach to diagnosing and treating women with ADHD to account for emotional dysregulation, hormonal fluctuations and other factors that can influence symptom severity. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they need.
2. Impulsivity
Women with ADHD often struggle to control their emotions. This is especially true when they interact with others. This can result in emotional dysregulation which is a key aspect of ADHD symptoms and is linked to a variety of negative life outcomes. This includes low self-esteem, anxiety and depression as well as problematic relationships with loved ones, which can lead to conflicts between partners, problems with friendships, a messy home or personal space, an 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 frequently considered to be more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings, they can be misunderstood or dismissed as overly emotional. This can lead to their frustration in being diagnosed with ADHD.
People suffering from ADHD suffer from impaired impulse control Also known as the prefrontal cortex. This means that they are more difficult to make decisions and executing their intentions. This can make you want to indulge in more cake or make an inappropriate comment.
For those who suffer from ADHD medication can assist to improve their ability to manage their behavior. stimulants like amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are able to reduce the impulsive behavior. Nonstimulants like clonidine or Guanfacine are also effective. Behavioral therapy can also be recommended, which can aid people suffering from ADHD alter their thinking patterns and develop better ways to cope with stress.
Meditation, eating a balanced diet and getting enough rest can all help to control anxiety and impulsiveness among people suffering from ADHD. It's also a good idea to track their symptoms throughout the day, and to share the information with their doctor to determine whether the treatment is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization can be a major issue for those suffering from ADHD and affect their professional and personal life. It may take them longer to complete their tasks and reduce their productivity. They could also miss deadlines or feel overwhelmed each day.
An absence of organization could make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. People may forget important events or lose belongings like keys or purses. They may feel lonely and unloved because of this. They can also feel misunderstood by their family and friends. The disorder is more prevalent during perimenopause or menopause when hormones change and symptoms are increasing.
It is not unusual for women to mask their ADHD symptoms to fit in with societal norms and avoid being considered a failure. This can lead women to blame themselves and feel guilt or shame. This could be a reason for why women and girls aren't diagnosed with ADHD. This is particularly true in adolescence, when symptoms are more apparent.
Women with untreated ADHD may have poor performance at school or at work. This can affect their career, grades or their overall image. It can also create problems in their personal life including issues with romantic partners, or strained relationships with family and friends members.
Women who are chronically disorganized can benefit from the one-on-one assistance of a non-judgmental individual. They can help women learn to stay organized by making lists and establishing reminders. In addition, a qualified mental health professional can suggest changes in lifestyle and medications 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 adverse effects of stimulant medication.
4. Indecisiveness
Indecisiveness is a trait that can affect decision-making in many areas of our lives. Indecisiveness is measured by various instruments, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale for Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness is also correlated with neuroticism, and the tendency to apply worst case scenario thinking, in which people perceive ambiguous situations as threatening. It was also found to be related to the fear of making a mistake which could help explain why people suffering from adhd have difficulty making decisions.
In the qualitative study of adult women with adhd that were interviewed they said they were not capable of making decisions about their professional and personal lives. They found it hard to manage their finances and relationships and struggled to find a job that they liked. They often were dependent on others to make decisions or were unable complete projects on their own, for example, arranging childcare. They believed that their ADHD symptoms such as impulsivity and difficulty focusing or getting started on projects were preventing them from progressing.
They had a difficult time keeping relationships and had trouble relaxing which led to issues with their mental health. They reported having high levels of stress and anxiety and a lack of sleep, and poor nutrition. They also reported feeling snubbed by adults and the media. They were able to explain their struggles with ADHD which helped them improve their self-esteem because they weren't blaming themselves. Additionally, it gave them access to treatment strategies that were appropriate.
The interviews showed that the women had a lot of positive qualities however, they were struggling to overcome the effects of their ADHD symptoms on various aspects of their lives. The women reported the absence of a job or romantic opportunities, issues maintaining relationships, and a messy house.
5. Self-esteem issues
Some of the signs that make up ADHD are seen as less acceptable socially for women and girls than they are for men and boys, so some women conceal their impulsivity, hyperactivity and disorganization. Some women might take on the characteristics of ADHD and develop strategies to cope, such as self-harming (cutting, burning or scratching). This can cause lower self-esteem and could cause anxiety, depression or eating disorders.
Being able to identify your inner worth 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 seek external things - such as relationships, careers as well as wealth and power to feel a sense of worthiness. Licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can result in an absence of communication in relationships, which could eventually end it.
In addition to a lack of self-worth, women who have ADHD often struggle with the feeling that they don't deserve the positive things in their lives. These feelings can manifest as a need to please or "keep up" with other people. navigate to these guys can result in negative work environments as well as a negative image of one's body, and an addiction to foods or substances.
Despite these difficulties, women who took part in this study discovered a number of positive aspects of living with ADHD. They describe ADHD as a blessing or a curse according to how they feel about their ability to control it. Many of them also recognize personal strengths they believe are a result of to their ADHD which include the ability to be creative, high energy determination, and the ability to be easily interested in new subjects. In addition, they describe their unique struggles as part of a larger picture that encompasses family and cultural issues, as well as biological and gender differences.