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ADHD Traits in Women Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are a reflection of biology, the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones—and that many people don't fall into a binary of sex. However, sex and gender can influence how symptoms of ADHD are treated and diagnosed. ADHD is diagnosed in early childhood, typically before the age of 12. The symptoms must be present before age 12 and cause problems in more than one environment to be eligible for the diagnosis. 1. Trouble focusing Inattention is at the heart of ADHD, and it's an issue for everyone. But women might have a harder time to attain the attention they require due to the fact that symptoms usually 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 experience emotional stress and struggle to put things in perspective. These issues can cause an inability to focus on work, which can lead to a decrease in productivity at work or at home. They're also more likely skip doctor appointments and neglect to take their medications. The hormones that women experience along with these natural differences, can contribute to ADHD symptoms. The hippocampus of females is bigger, which aids in memory and learning. Hormone fluctuations during menstruation or pregnancy, breastfeeding or menopausal cycles can affect brain function. Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD might struggle with their relationships, at school and at work. They might also struggle with a variety of comorbid conditions, including depression, anxiety eating disorders, bipolar disorder. In these circumstances, it's critical for health care professionals to be aware of the numerous indicators that females suffering from ADHD frequently exhibit. They must recalibrate their approaches to diagnosing and treating women with ADHD to take into account hormonal fluctuations, emotional dysregulation and other variables that can influence symptom severity. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they need. 2. Impulsivity Women with ADHD often have trouble controlling their emotions. This is especially the case when they interact with others. This can result in to emotional dysregulation, which is a major cause of ADHD symptoms. It can also be associated with negative outcomes in life. This includes low self-esteem anxiety and depression that coexist as well as problematic relationships with loved ones that can result in conflict between partners, issues with friendships, a messy home or personal space, an inability manage time or money and a messy home. Gender stereotypes can affect the way women who suffer from ADHD will be treated. They might be misunderstood since they are perceived as more sensitive or prone a mood swings. This can increase their frustration at being a victim of untreated ADHD. The portion of the brain that controls impulses the brain, known as the prefrontal cortex is impaired in individuals with ADHD. This means that they are more difficult to make decisions and following up with their intentions. This makes it difficult to resist the temptation to eat a second piece of cake or blurt out an inappropriate statement in public. Adults suffering from ADHD can benefit from medications that help them manage their impulses. adhd in young women as amphetamine and dextroamphetamine can reduce the impulsive behavior. Nonstimulants like clonidine or guanfacine are also effective. Behavioral therapy can also be suggested, which can help people with ADHD alter their thinking patterns and develop better ways to cope with stress. Getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and meditating can also help to control the impulsiveness and restlessness of people with ADHD. It is also a good idea to keep track of their symptoms throughout the day and share this data with their doctor to determine if their treatment regimen is effective. 3. Disorganization Disorganization is a common problem in people with ADHD, and can affect their work and personal lives. They may have trouble to complete their tasks and their productivity could be reduced. They might also fail to meet deadlines and find themselves overwhelmed on a regular basis. Lack of organization can also make it hard to maintain healthy relationships. People may forget important dates or lose items like keys or purses. This can cause them to feel lonely and alone. They may also feel unloved by family and friends. Disorganization is more common in menopausal and perimenopausal women when hormones are changing and symptoms are increasing. It is not unusual for women to cover up their ADHD symptoms to fit in with society's norms and avoid being thought of as a problem. This can result in self-blame and feelings of shame or guilt. It can also be a reason for why girls and women are typically not diagnosed with ADHD, particularly in adolescence where symptoms are more obvious. Women with untreated ADHD may not perform as well at school or at work. This can affect their career, grades or overall standing. 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 who are chronically disorganized can get help one-on-one by a non-judgmental therapist. They can assist women in learning to stay organized by creating lists and setting reminders. A licensed mental health professional could also suggest medication and lifestyle changes to help minimize ADHD symptoms. These can include eating small meals throughout the day to maintain stable energy and avoiding caffeine, which can increase the adverse effects of stimulant medications. 4. Indecisiveness Indecisiveness is one of the traits that influences decision-making in many areas of life. Indecisiveness can be measured using various instruments, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale of Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness can also be linked to neuroticism and the tendency to employ worst case scenario thinking, where people interpret uncertain situations as dangerous. It was also discovered to be associated with the fear of making a mistake, which could explain why people suffering from adhd have difficulty making decisions. In the qualitative study of adult women suffering from adhd who were interviewed, they described not being capable of making decisions about their professional and personal lives. They struggled to manage their finances and relationships, and struggled to find jobs they enjoyed. They frequently were dependent on others to decide or were unable to complete tasks on their own, like scheduling childcare. They often felt they were restricted by their ADHD symptoms, for example, difficulties with getting started or staying focused and impulsivity. They had a difficult time keeping friendships and had difficulty relaxing which led to issues with their mental health. They reported high levels of stress and anxiety and a lack of sleep, and poor nutrition. They also reported feeling snubbed by adults and the media. They were able explain 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 women were very optimistic, but struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD on various aspects of their lives. The women complained of the absence of a job or romantic opportunities, problems maintaining relationships and a messy home. 5. Lack of self-esteem Some of the symptoms that comprise ADHD are viewed as less acceptable socially for women and girls than they are for boys and men and so women may are able to hide their impulsivity, hyperactivity and disorganization. Some women may be able to internalize their ADHD and develop coping strategies like self-harming (cutting, burning or scratching). This can result in feelings of self-esteem issues that can cause depression, anxiety, or eating disorders. Being able to identify your inner worth is a key factor in healthier relationships and a better outlook on life. People who lack self-worth are more likely to look outside themselves to find validation, including careers, relationships as well as money and power. Licensed therapist Cheryl Clarke says this can cause an absence of communication within a relationship, which can eventually end it. In addition to a lack of self-worth, women with ADHD often have the feeling that they don't deserve the positive things in their lives. These feelings can manifest themselves as a desire for others to “keep up” or to please. This can result in an unhealthy work environment as well as a negative image of one's body and an addiction to foods or substances. While these are major challenges however, the women who took part in this study also discovered a number of positive aspects of living with ADHD. They described ADHD as positive or negative depending on how they feel about their ability to control it. A few of them also point out their own strengths that they believe are a result of to their ADHD such as high energy, creativity determination, and the ability to be easily interested in new subjects. In addition, they describe their individual struggles as part of a bigger picture that includes cultural and family issues, as well as biological and gender differences.