ADHD Traits in Women
Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that gender and sexuality are dependent on biology, which includes the body's chromosomal make-up and hormones. adhd in women checklist do not fit neatly into an unisexual sexuality. Genre and gender can influence the way ADHD symptoms are treated and diagnosed.
ADHD is typically diagnosed in childhood prior to the age of 12. Symptoms must be present before age 12 and cause problems in more than one environment to be able to receive the diagnosis.
1. Problems with Focusing
Inattention is at the core of ADHD and is a problem that affects both men and women. However, women might have a harder time to achieve the focus they need, especially because symptoms often manifest in different ways for men.
Women are more likely to experience indecisiveness and disorganization for instance. They are also more likely than men to be emotionally afflicted and struggle to put things in perspective. These problems can create an inability to concentrate on work, resulting in a decrease in productivity at work or at home. They are also more likely to not remember their medication or miss appointments with their doctor.
In addition to these inherent variations, hormones in women can make ADHD symptoms worse. The hippocampus of females is bigger, which aids in memory and learning. Hormone fluctuations during menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause may also influence brain function.
In the end, women who do not have a diagnosis of ADHD might have a difficult time in relationships at school, in relationships, and at work. They could also struggle with a variety of co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety, depression eating disorders, bipolar disorder.
It is important that health professionals understand the many clues females with ADHD exhibit. They must recalibrate their approaches to diagnosing and treating women suffering from ADHD to account for hormonal fluctuations, emotional dysregulation and other variables that influence the severity of symptoms. The patients will then receive the treatment they require.
2. Impulsivity
Females who suffer from ADHD are often unable to controlling their emotions, particularly when they interact with other people. This can lead to emotional dysregulation that is a symptom of ADHD symptoms. It can also be associated with negative outcomes in life. This includes low self-esteem, depression that is co-occurring with anxiety, difficult romantic relationships which can lead to intimate partner violence, trouble with friends, a messy house or personal space, and a failure to manage time or money.
The gender stereotypes of women can influence the way women with ADHD will be treated. They could be misunderstood as they are viewed as being more sensitive or prone to mood swings. This can exacerbate their frustrations about being a victim of untreated ADHD.
The part of the brain that controls impulses the brain, known as the prefrontal cortex is affected in people with ADHD. This means they have a harder time making decisions and following through with their intentions. This could make you want to indulge in more cake or make an inappropriate comment.
For people who suffer from ADHD medications can help to enhance their ability to control their behavior. Stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Ritalin) can help decrease the impulsive behavior while nonstimulant medications such as the guanfacine and clonidine are effective too. People with ADHD might also benefit from behavioral therapy, which can help to change their thinking patterns and develop more effective strategies for coping.
Meditation and eating a balanced, healthy diet and getting enough rest can all be helpful in reducing anxiety and impulsiveness among people suffering from ADHD. It's important to track their symptoms throughout the day and communicate this information with their physician to determine if their treatment regimen is working.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a typical issue in people with ADHD and can impact their professional and personal lives. It may take longer to complete their tasks and decrease their productivity. They might also be late or overwhelmed each day.
A lack of organization can cause problems to maintain healthy relationships. They might forget important dates or lose things like keys or purses. This can cause them to feel lonely and alone. They may also feel unloved by family members and friends. The disorder is more prevalent in menopausal and perimenopausal women when hormones change and symptoms are increasing.
Women often hide their ADHD symptoms in order to fit into societal norms or to avoid being considered a failure. This can lead women to blame themselves and feel shame or guilt. It may also be the reason women and girls aren't diagnosed with ADHD. This is particularly true in adolescence, when symptoms become more obvious.
Women with untreated ADHD may have poor performance at school or at work. This could affect their work, grades, or reputation. It can also create 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 from a nonjudgmental support person. They can help them learn strategies to keep their lives organized, such as making an agenda of the daily tasks and making reminders for them. In addition, a qualified mental health professional may recommend medications 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 worsen the adverse effects of stimulant medications.
4. adhd in women checklist affects decision-making in many aspects of life. A variety of instruments have been developed to assess indecisiveness. These include the Decision Behaviors Inventory (Barkley-Levenson and Fox) and the Indecisiveness Scale. Indecisiveness is also associated with neuroticism and with the tendency to use worst-case scenario thinking, where people perceive ambiguous situations as threatening. It was also found to be related to the fear of making a mistake, which could be the reason people with adhd have difficulty making decisions.
In the qualitative study of women who have adhd in their adult lives the participants reported being not able to make decisions in their personal and professional lives. They struggled to manage their finances and relationships, and had trouble finding jobs they enjoyed. They often had to wait for others to make decisions or were unable complete projects themselves, such as scheduling childcare. They often felt they were being hindered by their ADHD symptoms, for example, difficulties in starting, staying focused and impulsive.
They had a difficult time in establishing and maintaining friendships which led to mental health problems. They reported having high levels of anxiety and stress and an inability to sleep and a poor diet. They also felt stigmatized by media and adults. They were able explain their struggles with ADHD, which helped them boost their self-esteem as they weren't blaming themselves. It also provided them with access to the appropriate treatment.
The interviews showed that the women had a number of positive characteristics but were struggling to overcome the impact of their ADHD symptoms on a variety of aspects of their lives. The women complained of a lack in career or romantic opportunities, difficulties maintaining relationships, and a messy house.
5. Lack of self-esteem
Women may conceal their impulsivity and hyperactivity because they believe that these behaviors aren't as acceptable than for boys and men. They may also take on their ADHD symptoms and develop coping strategies such as self-harm (cutting or burning, or scratching). This can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss that contribute to depression, anxiety or eating disorders.
Having high inner worth is a key factor in better relationships and a more positive outlook on life. When people lack a strong sense of self-worth and feel they are not worthy, they will seek external things - such as careers, relationships, wealth, and power to feel a sense of worthiness. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, says that this can also result in an absence of communication within a relationship.
Women suffering from ADHD may also feel they do not deserve good things in life. These feelings can manifest themselves as a desire to "keep up" or to please. This can lead to a toxic work culture, a negative body image and a dependence on food or other substances.
Despite these significant difficulties the women who participated in this study found many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They generally say that they view their ADHD as a blessing or a curse, depending on whether they believe they can control it. Many of them also recognize their own strengths that they believe are a result of to their ADHD such as high energy, creativity determination, and the ability to get easily interested in new subjects. They also discuss their unique struggles as part of a larger picture that includes cultural and family issues, as well as biological and gender differences.