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 belong to a sex binary. Sexe and gender can affect the way ADHD symptoms are diagnosed and treated.

ADHD is diagnosed in the early years of childhood, typically before the age of 12. Symptoms must be present before age 12 and cause difficulties in more than one environment to qualify for an assessment.

1. Difficulty Focusing

Inattention is at the core of ADHD and can affect both genders. Women may have a tougher focus, particularly since symptoms may manifest differently than they do in males.

Women are more likely than men to be disorganized and impulsive, as an 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 on work, resulting in a lack of productivity at work or at home. They're also more likely to miss doctor appointments and forget to take their medication.

In addition to these natural differences, women's hormones can make their ADHD symptoms more severe. Females have a bigger hippocampus, which aids in 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 in women ADHD might struggle with their relationships, at school, and at work. They may also have multiple comorbid disorders including anxiety, depression and eating disorders.

It is crucial that health professionals understand the many signs females suffering from ADHD display. They should rethink their strategies for diagnosing and treating females suffering from ADHD to take into account hormonal fluctuations and emotional dysregulation. That way, these patients will finally receive the treatment they require.

2. Impulsivity

Women who suffer from adhd diagnosis in adult women often struggle to control their emotions. This is especially the case when they interact with others. This can result in to emotional dysregulation that is a component of ADHD symptoms. It is also associated with negative life outcomes. This includes low self-esteem, coexisting depression and anxiety and a strained relationship with a partner that can result in conflict between partners, issues with friendships, a messy home or personal space, an inability to manage time or money, and a messy house.

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

The impulse control portion of the brain, known as the prefrontal cortex, is impaired in individuals with ADHD. This means they have a harder time making decisions and executing their intentions. This could cause you to want to eat more cake or make a snide comment.

For adults with ADHD medication can assist to improve their ability to control their behavior. The use of stimulants such as amphetamine or dextroamphetamine are able to reduce the behavior of impulsivity. Non-stimulants like clonidine and Guanfacine can also be effective. Behavioral therapy may also be advised, which will help people with ADHD alter their thinking patterns and develop more effective ways of coping.

Meditation, eating a balanced diet and getting enough rest can all help control anxiety and impulsiveness among people with ADHD. It is also a good idea to track their symptoms throughout the day and to share the information with their doctor to assess whether the treatment regimen is effective.

3. Disorganization

Disorganization is a common issue for people suffering from ADHD and impact their personal and professional lives. They may have trouble to complete their tasks and their productivity could be diminished. They could also fail to meet deadlines and feel overwhelmed on a daily basis.

A lack of organization can also make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. People may miss important dates or misplace things like purses or keys. Consequently, they may feel isolated and lonely. Friends and family may misunderstand them. The disorder can become more severe in menopausal or perimenopausal women as hormones alter and symptoms increase.

Women often cover up their ADHD symptoms to conform to the norms of society or to avoid being considered a failure. This can cause women to blame themselves and feel shame or guilt. It could also be a reason for why girls and women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD particularly during adolescence, when symptoms become more apparent.

Women who are not treated for ADHD may not perform as well at work or in school. This could have a negative impact on their career, grades, or reputation. It can also cause problems in their personal life, such as difficulties with romantic partners, or strained relationships with family members and friends members.

Women with chronic disorganization could get help one-on-one by a non-judgmental therapist. They can help them learn strategies to get and stay organized, such as making an agenda of the daily tasks and making reminders for them. In addition, a qualified mental health professional may recommend medication and lifestyle changes to reduce ADHD symptoms. This may include eating small frequent meals to keep energy levels up and avoiding caffeine that can cause adverse effects of stimulant medication.

4. Indecisiveness

Indecisiveness influences decision-making in a variety of aspects of daily life. There are a variety of instruments that have been created to assess indecisiveness. These include the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness is also associated with neuroticism, and the tendency to use worst case scenario thinking, in which people perceive ambiguous situations as dangerous. It was also discovered to be linked to the fear of making a mistake, which could help explain why people suffering from adhd in adult women test have difficulty making decisions.

In the qualitative study of women who have adhd in their adult lives the participants described being unable to make decisions regarding their work and personal lives. They struggled to find a job they liked or stayed in, and found it difficult to manage their finances as well as their relationships, and health. They frequently were dependent on others to make decisions or were unable to finish tasks on their own, like scheduling childcare. They felt that their ADHD symptoms, such as the inability to focus and impulsivity, or beginning projects was preventing them from completing.

They had a difficult time keeping friendships and had difficulty relaxing and recharging their mental health. They reported having high levels of stress and anxiety and a lack of sleep and a poor diet. They also felt stigmatized by media and adults. They were able to articulate their struggles with ADHD which helped them increase their self-esteem since they weren't blaming themselves. Additionally, it gave them access to the appropriate treatment.

The interviews revealed that the women were very positive and able to overcome the effects of ADHD on various aspects of their lives. The women complained of an absence in their careers or romantic opportunities, difficulties maintaining relationships, and a messy house.

5. Lack of self-esteem

Some of the symptoms that make up ADHD are considered to be less acceptable socially 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 burns, scratching, cutting). This can cause feelings of self-esteem loss that can cause depression, anxiety, or eating disorders.

A high sense of inner worth is the precursor to better relationships and an optimistic outlook on life. People who do not have a strong self-worth tend to look beyond themselves for validation, like jobs, relationships money, power, and relationships. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed psychotherapist, says this can lead to the lack of communication in the relationship.

In addition to a sense of self-worth, those with ADHD frequently struggle with feeling like they don't deserve the good things happening in their lives. These feelings may manifest as a desire to "keep up" or to please. This can lead to a toxic work culture and a negative image of the body and a dependence on foods or substances.

Despite these significant difficulties the women who participated in this study found many positive aspects to living with ADHD. They generally describe their ADHD as a blessing or a curse, based on whether they feel they can manage it. Several types of adhd In women them also identify their own strengths that they believe are a result of to their ADHD which include the ability to be creative, high energy determination, and the ability to get easily interested in new subjects. They also describe their individual struggles as part of a larger picture that includes cultural and family issues as in addition to gender and biological differences.