Inattentive ADHD in Women
Many women suffer for years prior to getting a diagnosis of ADHD. It could be a lightbulb moment for them when they receive a diagnosis.
The symptoms can change with hormonal changes. Women might notice that their symptoms get worse when they are experiencing menstrual cycle or during pregnancy.
Women can also internalize their ADHD traits, which leads to depression. This makes it more difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Causes
Women who suffer from inattentional ADHD are often not diagnosed until adulthood, when their issues start to affect work, school, and personal relationships. This is due to gender bias in both the clinical setting and in teachers' and parents perceptions. Teachers and parents are less likely than men to recognize ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive ADHD can cause women to forget important dates, miss deadlines and lose track of time. They also have difficulty managing their thoughts or making plans for the future. They might also have difficulty to focus on conversations and can easily be distracted by external stimuli or their own internal thoughts and daydreaming. These symptoms can lead to poor school or work performance which can cause low self-esteem and frustration.
Many women who suffer from inattention ADHD are often misunderstood and mistreated by their friends, family and coworkers. Their discontent with their condition can increase the misunderstandings that they experience. This can result in tensions in relationships. They are often viewed as being irrational and moody which can increase their feelings of being misunderstood.
Women with inattentive ADHD also suffer from a range of emotional problems such as anxiety and depression. These issues can be made worse by fluctuations in hormone levels like during menstrual cycles and pregnancy or perimenopausal. During this time estrogen levels decrease and progesterone levels rise, which can cause an increase in ADHD.
External factors can also contribute to inattentive ADHD for example, a chaotic environment at home or a work life that is not structured. Women who suffer from inattentive ADHD are prone to having difficulty staying on track and can get behind in their work, which can lead to a feeling of being unworthy and low confidence. They might also have a harder time accepting criticism or negative feedback, which can further erode their confidence and cause them to avoid social interactions.
Women with inattentive ADHD have a higher tendency to struggle with establishing and maintaining romantic relations. They are more likely to suffer from coexisting anxiety or depression and are more prone to rejection, which can make them more reluctant to commit to a relationship. This can lead to isolation and can contribute to anxiety and depression.
Symptoms
Most women with undiagnosed ADHD have low self-esteem while trying to cope with the disorder. Some may say that they are reckless or forgetful. They might develop unhealthy ways of coping that include excessive drinking or drugs. They might also resort to self-injury without suicide, like cutting, burning, or scratching. Symptoms of ADHD can affect relationships as well as work and school.
Girls and women with ADHD are often frequently misdiagnosed as having depressive or anxiety disorders. This is because many of the symptoms of these disorders overlap with the symptoms of ADHD. Additionally women with undiagnosed ADHD are prone to mood swings that make them appear anxious or depressed. These symptoms can be triggered by major life changes, such as marriage, starting an entirely new job or having children.
Adults who have inattentive ADHD are often mistakenly diagnosed, and can be mistaken for bipolar or borderline personality disorder. These symptoms include trouble concentration as well as feelings of despair or sadness and difficulties coping with stress and criticism. Combined with poor time management, these signs can create problems at work or school, and lead to difficulties with family and friends.
Inattentional ADHD can cause issues with coping skills in women and girls, including procrastination or a tendency of underestimating the time a task will take (timeblindness). They may have difficulty keeping an eye on their schedules and appointments, misplace or lose belongings easily, and flit from one task to the next. They can also have problems with controlling their impulses, for example, interrupting others or making impulsive decisions.
It is important for women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD to recognize the signs and symptoms and seek treatment. They can seek treatment from their primary care provider or a mental health specialist. They can also try to improve their coping abilities through organizing techniques like creating lists or planning ahead. They can also participate in exercise, which releases neurotransmitters that improve focus and attention. It is also a good idea to divide the caregiving and household responsibilities with their partner or other support networks, so that they aren't stressed by chores or running run-of-the-mill chores.
Treatment
Treatments for ADHD symptoms usually involve treatment and medication. Drugs that stimulate the brain, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamines may help to reduce the symptoms of inattention of ADHD. Nonstimulant medications such as atomoxetine (Strattera) are also available. Behavioral therapy can help with the emotional and organizational aspects of ADHD. Certain therapists employ cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) which helps people to change negative thoughts and behaviors, while others offer one-on-one therapy to improve self-esteem and emotional control. Support groups are an excellent way for those with ADHD to connect with others who share the same condition and learn about how to manage symptoms.
For some women, the diagnosis of inattentive ADHD can be difficult to accept. They might believe that their problems are due to a lack of discipline or bad parenting, and this may impact their self-esteem. In addition, they could be frustrated at their inability to keep up with work or school, and this can lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment.
ADHD symptoms can be made worse by hormonal changes like those that occur during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, or menopausal. This can make it more difficult to manage emotional manifestations like anger or mood swings. These symptoms can also lead to relationship problems because of how they are perceived by other people.
Women who are not attentive ADHD often struggle to maintain a stable home life, and this can cause difficulties at school or at work. For example, they might miss important appointments or pay bills late. They might have issues organizing their work or school supplies, and they may struggle to complete their tasks. They may have difficulty understanding social boundaries and interrupting other people while talking. These problems can cause conflict in relationships and affect women's overall sense of self-worth.
Many women with inattentive ADHD aren't able to ask for help. They might think that their issues aren't enough serious to warrant attention or that they shouldn't be capable of "pull themselves up by their bootstraps." They may also be afraid of the stigma associated when they are diagnosed with ADHD, which can make it more difficult to seek treatment. Women who have untreated ADHD can become depressed or suicidal. They might also adopt unhealthy coping strategies, like alcohol or substance abuse. This could lead to health problems and other issues like nonsuicidal harming themselves (NSSI) such as burning or cutting.
Self-Esteem
Women with ADHD are often suffering from feelings of inadequacy and constant stress. This makes it harder to identify and articulate symptoms and seek treatment. Women often mask symptoms or use strategies to compensate, particularly as they age, to hide the signs. Masking can cause adhd in adults women at school or at work, and can cause relationships to suffer.
Research shows that women with ADHD are more at chance of feeling a sensitivity to rejection and having difficulty finding jobs. These experiences can lead to negative self-talk that leads to an insecurity and difficulty in social relationships.
In these circumstances, it is crucial for women suffering from ADHD to have access to proper diagnosis and treatment. It's crucial that they can access a clinician or therapist that is familiar with the challenges that women and girls face with ADHD.
As girls and women grow older, they may face societal and cultural expectations which place the majority of household and parenting responsibilities on them. These expectations differ from those placed on men. These pressures can cause anxiety and depression and result in a chaotic and chaotic home environment as well as unfinished projects and an inability for women and girls to ask for assistance.
It's also common for females suffering from ADHD to experience symptoms that are related to adolescence and puberty, and also to experience premenstrual dysphoria. These symptoms can be made worse by the monthly fluctuations in hormones, and could be mistaken for anxiety or mood swings.
Women who suffer from ADHD typically experience a lack of awareness about their condition, and they're less likely to seek treatment than men. They are more likely to suffer negative consequences in adulthood which include problems with relationships, unemployment and addiction issues. They are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed and go undiagnosed for the duration of their lives. This gap can be reduced by increasing education and advocating for health professionals as well as parents and teachers to recognize the signs of ADHD among girls and women.