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https://www.iampsychiatry.uk/adult-adhd-in-women/

ADHD Traits in Women Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are a reflection of biology the hormones and chromosomal makeup of the body and that many people do not fall into a binary of sex Gender and sexes can impact how ADHD symptoms are diagnosed and treated ADHD is typically diagnosed in childhood prior to the age of 12 ADHD must show signs 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 its a problem for all genders But women might have a harder time to attain the focus they need due to the fact that symptoms usually manifest differently for men Women are more likely to be prone to disorganization and indecisiveness for example wwwiampsychiatryuk are also more likely than men to be emotional and have difficulty putting things in perspective These issues can lead to an inability to concentrate on work which can lead to an inability to perform at work or at home Theyre also more likely to not attend doctor appointments or neglect to take their medications Womens hormones along with these natural differences can contribute to ADHD symptoms The female hippocampus is larger which aids in memory and learning Hormone fluctuations during menstruation as well as pregnancy breastfeeding and menopausal changes can also affect brain function This is why women who arent diagnosed with ADHD might have a difficult time in relationships at school and at work They might also suffer from a variety of comorbid disorders such as depression anxiety and eating disorders This is why it is essential for health professionals to be aware of the numerous indicators that females suffering from ADHD frequently exhibit They need to rethink their methods to diagnose and treat females with ADHD to take into account emotional dysregulation and hormonal fluctuations This way patients will receive the treatment they need 2 Impulsivity Women with ADHD often have trouble controlling their emotions This is especially the case when they are interacting with others This can lead to emotional dysregulation which is a major aspect of ADHD symptoms and is associated with a range of negative life outcomes These include poor selfesteem depression that is cooccurring with anxiety difficult romantic relationships which can lead to intimate partner violence problems with friends a messy house or personal space and a failure to manage time or money Gender stereotypes can also affect the way women with ADHD are treated They could be misunderstood as they are perceived as more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings This can increase their frustration in living with untreated ADHD The impulse control portion of the brain referred to as the prefrontal cortex is impaired in people suffering from ADHD This means that they have a harder time making decisions and sticking in their intentions This can make it difficult to resist the temptation to eat a second piece of cake or make an inappropriate comment in public Adults with ADHD are able to benefit from medications that help to control their impulses Stimulants such as amphetamine Adderall and dextroamphetamine Ritalin can help to decrease the impulsive behavior and nonstimulant drugs like clonidine and guanfacine can be effective as well Behavioral therapy can also be suggested which can help people with ADHD alter their thinking patterns and learn more effective ways of coping Meditation and eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep can all help to control anxiety and impulsiveness among people with ADHD It is also a good idea to keep track of their symptoms throughout the day and communicate the information with their doctor to determine if their treatment regimen is effective 3 Disorganization Disorganization can be a problem for people suffering from ADHD and impact their work and personal lives They may have difficulty to complete tasks and their productivity could be diminished They could also miss deadlines or feel overwhelmed throughout the day A lack of organization can make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships They may forget important events or lose belongings like keys or purses In the end they might feel lonely and isolated Friends and family may confuse them Disorganization can be worse during menopausal and perimenopausal cycles when hormones shift and symptoms become more severe Women often cover up their ADHD symptoms in order to conform to the norms of society or to avoid being thought of as a problem This can cause women to blame themselves and feel shame or guilt This could be a reason for why women and girls are not diagnosed with ADHD This is especially during adolescence when symptoms are more apparent In the end women who are not treated for ADHD might experience poor academic or work performance This can have a negative impact on their work grades or their image It could also cause issues in their personal life like issues with their romantic partners or the strain of relationships with friends and family members Women who are constantly disorganized will benefit from the oneon1 assistance of a nonjudgmental individual They can provide strategies to keep their lives organized such as making an agenda of the daily tasks and setting reminders for them In addition a qualified mental health professional may recommend changes in lifestyle and medications to help minimize ADHD symptoms This may include eating small frequent meals to ensure energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can trigger side effects of stimulant medication 4 Indecisiveness Indecisiveness is a trait that can affect decisionmaking in many areas of our lives Several instruments have been developed to measure indecisiveness including the Decision Behaviors Inventory BarkleyLevenson and Fox and the Indecisiveness Scale Indecisiveness is also linked to neuroticism as well as the tendency to think of worstcase scenarios This is because people perceive ambiguous situations as threat It is also believed to be associated with the fear of being wrong which could help explain why it is common for people suffering from adhd to have difficulty making decisions In the qualitative study of adult women suffering from adhd who were interviewed they described not being able to make decisions about their professional and personal lives They struggled to manage their finances and relationships and struggled to find a job that they liked They frequently were dependent on others to decide or were unable to finish projects themselves such as organizing childcare They believed that their ADHD symptoms like inattention and impulsivity or difficulty beginning projects were holding them back They had trouble finding time to relax and keeping friendships alive which led to mental health problems They reported having high levels of stress and anxiety a lack of sleep and a poor diet They also reported feeling stigmatized by media and adults The diagnosis of ADHD gave them a reason for their struggles which was beneficial for selfesteem since it meant they were not blaming themselves Additionally it gave them access to treatment strategies that were appropriate The interviews showed that the women had many positive qualities but they struggled to overcome the impact of their ADHD symptoms on various aspects of their lives The women complained of a lack in career or romantic opportunities difficulties maintaining relationships and a messy house 5 Insecurity about oneself Some of the signs that make up ADHD are viewed as less socially acceptable for girls and women than they are for boys and men and so women may hide their hyperactivity impulsivity and disorder They may also be able to internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping strategies such as selfharm cutting burns scratching cutting This can lead to low selfesteem which could cause anxiety depression or eating disorders A high selfesteem is a prerequisite for healthier relationships and a better outlook on life People who lack selfworth are more likely to look outside themselves to find validation including jobs relationships money power and relationships Therapist licensed Cheryl Clarke says this can also cause an absence of communication in the relationship which could ultimately end it Women who suffer from ADHD may also feel they do not deserve good things in life These feelings can manifest as a need to please or keep up with other people This can lead to toxic work cultures a negative selfimage and an addiction to food or substances Despite these significant challenges women who took part in this study discovered a number of positive aspects to living with ADHD They describe ADHD as a blessing or a curse depending on how they feel about their ability to control it Some of them have identified their own strengths that they believe are a result of to their ADHD They have high energy creativity and determination as well as the ability to quickly become fascinated by new subjects They also talk about their unique struggles in the context of the larger picture which includes biological and gender differences as well as cultural and family issues