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ADHD Traits in Women Verywell Health acknowledges the fact that gender and sex are determined by biology, including the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones. Many people don't fall into an unisexual gender. Sexe and gender can affect 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 difficulties in multiple settings 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 genders. Women may have a difficult focus, particularly since symptoms can appear differently than they do in males. Women are more likely to experience indecisiveness and disorganization, for example. They're also more likely to be emotionally triggered and struggle to put things in perspective. These problems can create an inability to focus on work, resulting in a lack of productivity at work or home. They're also more likely skip doctor appointments and forget to take their medications. The hormones that women experience along with these natural differences, can contribute to ADHD symptoms. Females have a larger hippocampus, which aids in learning and memory, and hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause can affect their brain function. This is why women with undiagnosed ADHD may face major difficulties in relationships, at school and at work. They may also be struggling with a host of comorbid conditions, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder. In these circumstances, it's critical for health care professionals to be aware of the various clues that females with ADHD frequently exhibit. They need to rethink their methods to diagnose and treat females suffering from ADHD to account for hormonal fluctuations and emotional dysregulation. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they need. 2. Impulsivity Females suffering from ADHD are more likely to have trouble controlling their emotions, particularly when interacting with others. This can result in emotional dysregulation which is a major component of ADHD symptoms and is associated with a range of negative life consequences. This can include 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 manage time or money and a messy home. The gender stereotypes of women can influence how women who suffer from ADHD will be treated. Because they are often perceived as being more sensitive or prone to mood swings, they could be viewed as emotionally unstable. This can exacerbate their frustrations about being a victim of untreated ADHD. People with ADHD have impaired impulse control which is also referred to as the prefrontal cortex. This means that they have a harder time making decisions and executing with their goals. This could make you want to take a bite more cake or to make a rude comment. Adults suffering from ADHD can benefit from medications that help them manage their tendency to be impulsive. Stimulants such as amphetamine and dextroamphetamine may reduce the behavior of impulsivity. Non-stimulants such as clonidine or Guanfacine can also be effective. People suffering from ADHD may also benefit from a behavioral therapy, which can help to change their thinking patterns and develop better methods of coping. Sleeping enough, eating a healthy diet, and practicing meditation can also help to control restlessness and impulsiveness in those with ADHD. It's important to keep track of their symptoms throughout the day and to share the information with their doctor to assess whether their treatment regimen is working. 3. Disorganization Disorganization can be a problem for those suffering from ADHD and impact their professional and personal life. They may have difficulty to complete tasks and their efficiency may be diminished. signs and symptoms of adhd in women could also miss deadlines and become overwhelmed on a daily basis. A lack of organization can make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships. They might forget important dates or lose belongings like keys or purses. They might feel lonely and unloved because of this. Friends and family may be confused about them. Disorganization is more common during perimenopause or menopause when hormones change and symptoms increase. Women often cover up their ADHD symptoms to conform to social norms or to avoid being considered a failure. This can result in self-blame and feelings of guilt or shame. It could also be the reason women and girls are not diagnosed with ADHD. This is especially true in adolescence, when symptoms become more obvious. Women who are not treated for ADHD might have a poor performance at work or in school. This can affect their career, grades or overall standing. This could also cause issues for their personal life. For example, it may lead to difficulties with romantic partners or strain relationships with family members and friends. Women with chronic disorganization could benefit from one-on-one help from a nonjudgmental support person. They can help them learn strategies to remain organized, for example, 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. These can include eating small meals throughout the day to maintain a steady energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can cause an increase in the side effects of stimulant medication. 4. Indecisiveness Indecisiveness influences decision-making in a variety of aspects of our lives. 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 can also be linked to neuroticism, and the tendency to employ worst case scenario thinking, which is where people perceive ambiguous situations as potentially dangerous. It was also found to be associated with the fear of making a mistake, which could be the reason people suffering from adhd have difficulty making decisions. In the qualitative study on adult women with adhd that were interviewed the participants said they were not in a position to make decisions regarding their professional and personal lives. They found it hard to manage their finances and relationships and had difficulty finding jobs they enjoyed. They often waited for others to make decisions for them, or were unable complete projects like arranging childcare. They believed that their ADHD symptoms such as the inability to focus and impulsivity, or getting started on projects were holding them back. They struggled to maintain relationships and had trouble relaxing and recharging their mental health. They reported anxiety and stress, sleep deprivation and poor nutrition. They also reported feeling stigmatized by the media and adults. They were able to articulate their struggles with ADHD which helped them increase their self-esteem since they were not blaming themselves. They also had access to the appropriate treatment strategies. The interviews revealed that the women were very optimistic and able to overcome the effects of ADHD on different aspects of their lives. These included a lack of career or romantic opportunities and difficulties in maintaining relationships. an unclean home. 5. Lack of Self-Esteem Women may cover up their impulsivity and hyperactivity because they believe that their behavior is less acceptable than for boys and men. Women who suffer from ADHD may take on the characteristics of ADHD and develop strategies to cope, such as self-harming (cutting, burning or scratching). This can result in lower self-esteem and could cause anxiety, depression or eating disorders. A strong sense of self-esteem and worth is the precursor to more positive relationships and an optimistic outlook on life. When people lack a strong sense of self-worth, they tend to seek external things – such as careers, relationships as well as wealth and power to feel a sense of worthiness. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed therapist, says that this can also result in the lack of communication in relationships. Alongside a feeling of lack of self-worth, women with ADHD often struggle with feeling like they don't deserve the good things happening in their lives. These feelings can manifest as a need to please or to “keep up” with others. This can cause toxic workplaces as well as a negative self-image and an addiction of food or substances. Although these are significant challenges, the women who participated in this study discovered many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They described ADHD as a blessing or a curse according to how they feel about their ability to control it. Several of them also identify personal strengths that they believe are partly due to their ADHD such as the ability to be creative, high energy, determination, and the ability to get easily interested in new subjects. They also discuss their unique challenges as part of a bigger picture that encompasses family and cultural issues, as well as biological and gender differences.