Inattentive ADHD in Women
Many women had to struggle for years before they were diagnosed with ADHD. It could be a lightbulb moment for them when they receive a diagnosis.
Symptoms can fluctuate due to hormonal changes. Women may notice that their symptoms worsen when they are experiencing menstrual cycle or during pregnancy.
Women may also accept their ADHD characteristics, which can lead to depression. This makes it more difficult to get diagnosed and treat their ADHD.
Causes
Women who suffer from inattentional ADHD are typically not diagnosed until they reach adulthood, at which point their problems start to affect work, school, and personal relationships. This is because of gender bias, both in the clinical setting and in the parents' and teachers perceptions. Teachers and parents are less likely than boys to recognize ADHD symptoms.
Inattentional ADHD can cause women to forget important dates, miss deadlines, and lose track of the time. They also have difficulty managing their thoughts, or making plans for the future. They might also find it difficult to focus on conversations and can easily be distracted by external stimuli or internal thoughts and daydreaming. These symptoms can result in poor performance at school or at work and can lead to low self-esteem and frustration.
Many women who suffer from inattention ADHD are often misunderstood and mistreated by their friends, family and coworkers. Their anger over their symptoms can increase the misunderstandings that they face. This can lead to tensions between people. They are often viewed by others as moody or uninformed. This can lead to a feeling of being misunderstood.
Women with inattentive ADHD also suffer from a variety of emotional difficulties that include anxiety and depression. These issues can be made worse due to hormonal fluctuations, for instance during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or perimenopause. During these times, the estrogen levels drop and progesterone levels rise and can cause an increase in ADHD symptoms.
Another reason for inattentive ADHD is environmental factors such as a chaotic home environment or work life that lacks structure. Women with inattentive ADHD may have trouble staying on task and get behind in their work, resulting in feelings of being unworthy and low confidence. They might also have difficulty accepting negative feedback or criticism which can further degrade their confidence and result in them avoiding social interactions.
Additionally, women who have inattention ADHD are more likely to struggle with creating and maintaining relationships with their partners. They are more likely to suffer from coexisting anxiety or depression and can be especially sensitive to rejection, which may make them more reluctant to commit to a relationship. This can lead to a feeling of isolation, which can also contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety.
Signs and symptoms
Many women who are not diagnosed with ADHD have low self-esteem when they try to manage the condition. They can be discouraged by comments from others that they are negligent, forgetful, or aloof. They may develop unhealthy coping strategies like excessive drinking or drugs. They might also resort to non-suicidal self-injury, including cutting, burning, or scratching. Symptoms of ADHD can cause problems with relationships, work, and school.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD tend to be mistakenly diagnosed more often as having anxiety or depressive disorders. This is due to the fact that many of the symptoms of these disorders are similar with the symptoms of ADHD. Women with undiagnosed ADHD may also experience mood swings, making them appear anxious or depressed. These symptoms can be triggered by major life changes like getting married, starting an entirely new job, or becoming parents.
Adults who have inattentive ADHD are also often mistakenly diagnosed, and can be mistaken for borderline personality disorder or bipolar disorder. These symptoms include difficulty concentration and a feeling of despair or sadness and difficulties in coping with stress and criticism. These symptoms, when coupled with poor time-management, can cause issues at work or school, as well as with family members and friends.
Inattentional ADHD in girls and women can cause trouble with managing skills, like procrastination, and a tendency to underestimate the time tasks will take (time blindness). They can have trouble keeping track of their schedules and appointments, easily lose or misplace their belongings and are prone to flitting from one task to another. They also may have issues with controlling their impulses, for example, interrupting others or making impulsive choices.
It is crucial for women suffering from undiagnosed ADHD to understand the signs and symptoms and seek treatment. They can seek help through their primary care physician or a mental health specialist. They can also try to improve their coping abilities through organizing techniques like creating lists or preparing in advance. Exercise releases neurotransmitters which improve focus and attention. It's also a good idea for them to share household and caregiving tasks with their spouse or another support group to ensure they do not feel overwhelmed.
Treatment
A combination of treatments is often required to control ADHD symptoms, which can include therapy and medication. Stimulant medications such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamines may help to reduce the symptoms of inattention of ADHD. There are also nonstimulant medicines like atomoxetine. Behavioral therapy can help with the organizational and emotional aspects of ADHD. Some therapists use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which teaches people to change negative thoughts and behavior, while others offer one-on-one therapy to improve self-esteem and emotional control. Support groups can help people with ADHD connect with others who suffer from the disorder and share tips for managing symptoms.
For some women, the diagnosis of inattentive ADHD is difficult to accept. They may believe that their troubles stem from the lack of discipline or bad parenting, and this may impact their self-esteem. They might be embarrassed and ashamed due to their inability to keep up with school or work.
The symptoms of ADHD can be heightened when hormonal changes occur like those brought on by menstruation, pregnancy, or menopausal. This makes it more difficult to manage emotional symptoms, like irritability and mood swings. These symptoms can cause relationship problems because of the way they are perceived by other people, especially male friends or colleagues.
Women with inattention ADHD often have difficulty maintaining a steady home life and this can cause difficulties at school or at work. For instance, they might forget important appointments or pay their bills late. They may have problems organizing their work or school materials and might struggle to complete their tasks. They may have difficulty understanding social boundaries or interrupting people when they are talking. These issues can cause conflict in relationships and affect a woman’s self-esteem.
Many women who suffer from inattention ADHD aren't able to ask for assistance. They may believe that their problems are not sufficient to warrant attention or that "pulling themselves up by the bootstraps" is possible. They may also be afraid of the stigma associated when they are diagnosed with ADHD which could make them less likely to seek treatment. If left untreated, ADHD in women can cause depression or suicidal thoughts. They may also turn to unhealthy coping strategies, such as alcohol or drug abuse, which can cause health issues and other issues, like self-injury that is not suicidal (NSSI), which includes cutting or burning.
Self-Esteem
Women suffering from ADHD are often affected by feelings of inadequateness and chronic stress. This can make it harder to recognize and communicate symptoms and seek treatment. It's also normal for women to hide their symptoms or develop compensatory strategies to hide their symptoms from others, particularly as they age. Masking can cause problems at work or at school, and it can also affect relationships.
Research suggests that women suffering from ADHD are more at chance of feeling a sensitivity to rejection and finding it difficult to get an employment. These experiences can lead to negative self-talk, which can lead to anxiety and difficulties in interpersonal relationships.
It is important that women with ADHD receive a correct diagnosis and treatment. It's essential that they have access to the right therapist or clinician who is knowledgeable about the issues that women and girls face with ADHD.
As girls and women mature as they get older, they will be faced with social and cultural expectations that place the majority of the household and parenting obligations on them. These expectations differ from those imposed on men. These pressures can cause anxiety and depression and result in a disorganized and chaotic home environment as well as unfinished projects and an inability for girls and women to reach out for assistance.
It's also common for females suffering from ADHD to experience symptoms related to puberty and adolescence, and to struggle with premenstrual dysphoria. The fluctuation in hormone levels can cause these symptoms to become more severe and could be misinterpreted as other problems like anxiety or mood shifts.
Women suffering from ADHD typically experience a lack of awareness about their condition, and they're less likely to receive treatment than males. This means that they are more likely to experience a variety of negative outcomes as adults which include relationship issues, unemployment, and addiction. adhd in women adult are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed and go undiagnosed for the remainder of their lives. This gap could be closed by enhancing education and advocacy efforts to help health professionals as well as teachers and parents to recognize the signs of ADHD in girls and women.