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 easily fit into a binary sexuality. 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. ADHD must show signs before 12 years of age and cause problems in multiple settings to qualify for a diagnoses.

1. Problems with Focusing

Inattention is at the heart of ADHD and affects both women and men. But women may find it more challenging to get the focus they require, especially because symptoms often appear in different ways than in men.

Women are more likely than men to be unorganized and indecisive, for example. They are also more likely to be emotionally triggered and struggle to put things into perspective. These issues can cause an inability to focus which can lead to an inability to perform at home or work. They are also more likely to not remember their medication or miss appointments with their doctor.

The hormones that women experience as well as these inherent differences, can cause ADHD symptoms. Females have a larger hippocampus that aids in learning and memory, as well as hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle as well as during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopausal cycles can affect brain's function.

As a result, women who do not have a diagnosis of ADHD can have major struggles in relationships at school, in their relationships, and at work. They may also have multiple comorbid disorders like anxiety, depression and eating disorders.

It is essential that health care professionals recognize the many clues females with ADHD exhibit. They need to rethink their approach to diagnosing and treating women suffering from ADHD to account for hormonal fluctuations, emotional dysregulation and other variables that can influence symptom severity. This way, patients can finally get the treatment they need.

2. Impulsivity

Females suffering from ADHD are more likely to have trouble controlling their emotions, especially when they interact with other people. This can cause to emotional dysregulation that is a component of adhd with women symptoms. It can also be associated with negative life outcomes. This includes low self-esteem anxiety and depression as well as problematic relationships with loved ones, which can lead to conflict between partners, issues with friendships, a messy home or personal space, inability to manage time or money and a messy home.

Gender stereotypes can affect how women who suffer from ADHD will be treated. Because they are often perceived as being more sensitive or prone to mood swings, they may be misunderstood or dismissed as emotionally unstable. This can cause them to feel more frustrated over living with untreated ADHD.

Individuals with ADHD suffer from impaired impulse control which is also referred to as the prefrontal cortex. This means they have a harder time making decisions and executing their intentions. This makes it difficult to resist the urge to eat another piece of cake or to make an inappropriate comment in public.

For people who suffer from ADHD medication can assist to improve their ability to control their impulsivity. stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can help to reduce impulsive behavior, and non-stimulant drugs like clonidine and guanfacine can be efficient too. Behavioral therapy can also be suggested, which can help people with ADHD alter their thinking patterns and learn better ways to cope with stress.

A good night's sleep and eating a balanced diet, and practicing meditation can also help in reducing impulsiveness and restlessness in people with ADHD. It is also a great idea to monitor their symptoms throughout the day, and share this information with their doctor in order to assess whether or not their treatment is working.

3. Disorganization

Disorganization can be a major issue for people with ADHD and can affect their professional and personal life. They may have difficulty to complete tasks and their efficiency may be diminished. They may also miss deadlines and become overwhelmed on a daily basis.

An absence of organization could make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. They might forget important dates or lose things like keys or purses. In the end, they might feel lonely and alone. Family and friends may also confuse them. The attention deficit disorder in adult women can become more severe in menopausal or perimenopausal women when hormones shift and symptoms intensify.

It is not unusual for women to mask their ADHD symptoms to conform with society's norms and avoid being thought of as a problem. This can cause women to blame themselves and feel shame or guilt. This could be a reason why women and girls are often not diagnosed with ADHD, particularly in adolescence when symptoms become more apparent.

Women with untreated ADHD might have a poor performance at school or at work. This can affect their job, grades or their image. This can also cause problems for their personal life. For example, it may lead to difficulties with romantic partners or strain relationships with family and friends.

Women with chronic disorganization could get help one-on-one from a nonjudgmental support person. They can help women learn to stay organized by making a list and setting reminders. Additionally, a certified mental health professional can recommend medications and lifestyle changes to help minimize ADHD symptoms. This could include eating small meals throughout the day to ensure steady energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can cause an increase in the negative effects of stimulant medications.

4. Indecisiveness

Indecisiveness affects decision-making in many aspects of daily life. Indecisiveness can be measured with various instruments, such as the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale of Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness is also associated with neuroticism and with the tendency to employ worst case scenario thinking, in which people interpret uncertain situations as dangerous. 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 study that was qualitative of adult women suffering from adhd the participants described being incapable of making decisions in their work and personal lives. They had a difficult time finding the job they wanted or to stay in, and also found it difficult to manage their finances, 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 felt that their ADHD symptoms such as the inability to focus and impulsivity, or getting started on projects were preventing them from progressing.

They had a difficult time relaxing and maintaining friendships, which led to mental health problems. They reported stress and anxiety, as well as a sleeping insufficiently and having poor nutrition. They also expressed feeling devalued by adults and the media. The diagnosis of ADHD gave them a reason for their struggles which was beneficial to their self-esteem because it meant they were not blamed for their condition. They also had access to appropriate treatment strategies.

The interviews revealed that women were extremely positive however, they struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD on various aspects of their lives. These included a lack romantic or career opportunities, difficulty maintaining relationships and a messy home.

5. Lack of Self-Esteem

Certain of the symptoms that comprise ADHD are seen as less socially acceptable for women and girls than they are for men and boys Some women choose to hide their hyperactivity, impulsivity, and disorganization. Some women might internalize their ADHD and develop strategies to cope, such as self-harming (cutting or burning). This can lead to low self-esteem, which can cause anxiety, depression or eating disorders.

Being able to identify your inner worth is a key factor in better relationships and a more positive outlook on life. If people do not have a strong sense of self-worth, they tend to seek external things - such as careers, relationships as well as wealth and power - to feel worthy. A licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can also cause an absence of communication in a relationship, which can eventually end it.

In addition to a sense of self-worth, women who have ADHD frequently struggle with a feeling that they don't have enough of the good things happening add in adult women their lives. These feelings may manifest as a desire for others to "keep up" or to please. This can result in toxic workplace cultures, a negative self-image, and an addiction of food or substances.

Although these are significant challenges but the women who participated in this study found many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They described adhd symptoms for women as either a blessing or a curse depending on how they feel about their ability to control it. Some of them have identified personal strengths they believe are due to their ADHD. They have high energy, creativity and determination and the ability to easily get fascinated by new subjects. They also describe their unique struggles in the context of the larger picture, which includes gender and biological differences, as well as cultural and family issues.