ADHD Traits in Women

Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related to biology, the body's chromosomal makeup and hormones--and that many people don't fit into a sex binary. However, sex and gender can affect 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 prior to 12 years of age and cause difficulties in more than one environment to be able to receive a diagnosis.

1. Problems with Focusing

Inattention is at the heart of ADHD and it's a problem for all genders. However, women may have more difficulty to attain the attention they require, especially because symptoms often manifest in different ways in men.

Women are more likely than men to be unorganized and impulsive, for instance. They are also more likely to be emotionally triggered and struggle to put things in perspective. These issues can cause an inability to concentrate on work, which can lead to a decrease in productivity at work or at home. They're also more likely skip doctor appointments and forget to take their medications.

In addition to these innate differences, women's hormones can make ADHD symptoms worse. The hippocampus of females is bigger which helps in learning and memory. Hormone fluctuations during menstruation as well as pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopausal changes can also affect brain function.

Women with undiagnosed ADHD may have difficulty in their relationships, at school and at work. They could also be suffering from a variety of comorbid disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.

In these circumstances, it's critical for health professionals to recognize the many clues that females with ADHD frequently exhibit. They must recalibrate their approaches for diagnosing and treating females suffering from ADHD to account for emotional dysregulation and hormonal fluctuations. These patients can then finally receive the treatment they require.

2. Impulsivity

Females with ADHD are often unable to controlling their emotions, particularly when they interact with others. This can result in emotional dysregulation, which is a major component of ADHD symptoms and is linked to a variety of negative life outcomes. This includes low self-esteem, coexisting depression and anxiety as well as problematic relationships with loved ones that can result in violence between partners, problems with relationships, a messy home or personal space, an inability to manage time or money, and a messy house.

Gender stereotypes can also influence the way women who suffer from ADHD are treated. They could be misunderstood as they are perceived as more sensitive or susceptible to mood swings. This can exacerbate their frustrations about living with untreated ADHD.

The impulse control portion of the brain, known as the prefrontal cortex, is affected in people with ADHD. This means that they have more trouble making decisions and executing with their intentions. This can 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 manage their impulsivity. Stimulants such as amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are able to reduce the impulsive behavior. Nonstimulants like clonidine or guanfacine are also effective. Behavioral therapy is also suggested, which can aid people suffering from ADHD change their thinking patterns and learn healthier coping skills.

Meditation, eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep can all be helpful in reducing anxiety and impulsiveness among people with ADHD. It's also a good idea to monitor their symptoms throughout the day and to share this information with their physician in order to assess whether the treatment is working.

3. Disorganization

Disorganization is a common issue for people with ADHD and can affect their personal and professional lives. They may have trouble to complete tasks and their productivity could be diminished. They might also miss deadlines and feel overwhelmed on a daily basis.

A lack of organization can make it hard to maintain healthy relationships. They may forget important dates or lose things like keys or purses. They might feel lonely and unloved due to this. They can also feel misunderstood by family members and friends. The disorder is more prevalent during menopausal or perimenopausal cycles when hormones are changing 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 result in self-blame and feelings of guilt or shame. This could be a reason for why women and girls are often not diagnosed with ADHD especially during adolescence, when symptoms are more evident.

Women with untreated ADHD may not perform as well at work or in school. This could have a negative impact on their work, grades, or even their reputation. This could also cause issues in their personal lives. For instance it can cause issues with romantic partners or strained relationships with family members and friends.


Women who are chronically disorganized can receive one-on-one assistance from a nonjudgmental support person. They can help women learn to stay organized by creating lists and establishing reminders. A licensed mental health professional could recommend medication or lifestyle changes to help minimize ADHD symptoms. This may include eating smaller meals throughout the day to maintain stable energy levels and avoiding caffeine which can cause an increase in the adverse effects of stimulant medication.

4. Indecisiveness

Indecisiveness influences decision-making in a variety of aspects of our lives. Indecisiveness is measured by various instruments, including the Decision Behaviors Inventory by Barkley-Levenson and Fox and the scale for Indecisiveness. Indecisiveness is also associated with neuroticism, and the tendency to use worst-case scenario thinking, where people interpret ambiguous situations as potentially dangerous. It has also been found to be linked with anxiety about being wrong, which may help explain why it's common for people with adhd to have trouble making decisions.

In the study of qualitative research on adult women suffering from adhd who were interviewed the participants said they were not capable of making decisions about their professional and personal lives. signs of adhd in women Links to an external site. found it hard to manage their finances and relationships, and had difficulty finding an occupation they liked. They often had to wait for others to take decisions, or were unable complete projects such as scheduling childcare. They often felt that they were held back by their ADHD symptoms, for example, difficulties in starting, staying focused and impulsivity.

They had difficulty finding time to relax and keeping friendships alive which led to mental health issues. They reported high levels of anxiety and stress, sleep deprivation and poor nutrition. 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 others. It also provided them with access to the appropriate treatment.

The interviews revealed that the women were very positive, but struggled to overcome the effects of ADHD on different aspects of their lives. The women reported the absence of a job or romantic opportunities, problems maintaining relationships, and a messy house.

5. Lack of self-esteem

Women might conceal their impulsivity and hyperactivity because they believe that their behavior is less acceptable for men and boys. They also may be able to internalize their ADHD symptoms and develop coping strategies such as self-harm (cutting, burning, scratching). This can lead to low self-esteem, which could contribute to depression, anxiety or eating disorders.

A strong sense of self-esteem and worth is the foundation for better relationships and an optimistic outlook on life. People who lack a strong self-worth tend to look beyond themselves to find validation, including jobs, relationships money, power, and relationships. Cheryl Clarke, a licensed psychotherapist, says this can lead to the lack of communication in a relationship.

Women who suffer from ADHD may also feel that they do not deserve good things in life. These feelings can manifest as a need to please or to "keep up" with other people. This can lead to toxic work cultures and a negative self-image and an addiction to food or substances.

While these are serious issues however, the women who took part in this study discovered many positive aspects of living with ADHD. They generally describe their ADHD as a gift or a curse, based on whether they feel they can manage it. A few of them also point out personal strengths they believe are partly due to their ADHD, including high energy, creativity determination and the ability to be easily interested in new subjects. In addition, they describe their unique challenges as part of a larger picture that includes family and cultural issues, as in addition to gender and biological differences.