Inattentive ADHD in Women
Many women have struggled for a long time before they were diagnosed with ADHD. When they do, it could be like a lightbulb moment.
The symptoms can change with hormonal changes. Women might notice that their symptoms worsen when they are experiencing menstrual cycle or during pregnancy.
Women also can be prone to internalizing ADHD characteristics that can lead to depression. This makes it more difficult to recognize and treat ADHD.
Causes
Women who suffer from inattentive ADHD are typically not diagnosed until they reach adulthood when their problems start to affect work or school as well as personal relationships. This is due to gender bias, both in the clinical setting as well as in parents' and teachers' perceptions, who are less likely than males to recognize ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive ADHD causes women to forget appointments, forget deadlines and lose track of time, making it hard to plan ahead or organize their thoughts. They also struggle to prioritize tasks. They may also find it difficult to keep their attention on conversations and can easily become distracted by external stimuli, or internal thoughts and daydreaming. These issues can lead to poor performance at school or at work, which leads to low self-esteem and anger.
Family members, friends and coworkers often misunderstand women who have inattention ADHD. Their anger over their symptoms can lead to confusion and mistrust which can cause tensions in relationships. They are often dismissed as being irrational and moody which can further aggravate their feeling of being misunderstood.
Women who have inattention ADHD are also afflicted by various emotional issues such as anxiety and depression. adhd in young women can be made worse by hormonal fluctuations like during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy or perimenopausal. In this period, estrogen levels decrease and progesterone levels rise, which can cause an increase in ADHD.
Another reason for inattentive ADHD is the influence of environmental factors, such as a chaotic home environment or work life that does not provide enough structure. Women who suffer from inattentive ADHD are often unable to stay focused at work and be unable to keep up with their work, which leads to a sense of self-doubt and a sense of failure. They may also be unable to accept criticism or negative feedback. This can further diminish confidence and lead to people avoiding social interaction.
Lastly, women with inattentive ADHD are more likely to have difficulty in establishing and maintaining relationships with their partners. They are more likely to suffer from depression or anxiety that is co-existing and are more prone to rejection, which could make them more reluctant to commit to a relationship. This can cause isolation which can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression.
Signs and symptoms
Most women with undiagnosed ADHD have low self-esteem as they struggle to cope with the condition. They may become depressed by comments from other people who say they are reckless, forgetful, or aloof. They may develop unhealthy coping methods that include excessive drinking or drugs. They might also turn to self-injury without suicide, like cutting, burning, or scratching. The symptoms of ADHD can affect relationships, work, and school.
Girls and women with ADHD are often more likely to be misdiagnosed as having depression or anxiety. This is because the signs of anxiety and depression are often similar to the symptoms of ADHD. In addition women who are not diagnosed with ADHD can experience mood swings that cause them to appear anxious or depressed. These symptoms can also be caused by major life events such as getting married, beginning in a new job or becoming a parent.
Inattentional inattention that is not diagnosed ADHD in adults is common, and can be mistaken as bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. These symptoms include difficulty concentration, feelings of despair or sadness, and difficulties coping with stress and criticism. These symptoms, when coupled with poor time management, could cause problems at school or work and with family members and friends.
Inattentional ADHD for girls and women can lead to problems with coping skills, such as procrastination and the tendency to underestimate the length of time tasks will take (time blindness). They may struggle to keep track of appointments and schedules and may lose or misplace their belongings easily, and jump from one task to the next. They may also have issues with the ability to control their impulses. This can include making impulsive decisions or interrupting others.
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD must be aware of their symptoms and seek help. They can seek help from their primary healthcare provider or a mental health specialist. They can also seek to improve their coping abilities by using organizational techniques like making lists or planning in advance. Exercise releases neurotransmitters which improve concentration and attention. It's also recommended for them to share household and caregiving chores with their partner or another support network to ensure they don't feel overwhelmed.
Treatment
Treatments for ADHD symptoms usually involve treatment and medication. Drugs that stimulate the brain, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamines may aid in reducing the symptoms of inattention of ADHD. There are also nonstimulant medications like atomoxetine. The behavioral therapy method is a great method to address the emotional and organizational aspects of ADHD. Some therapists use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which helps people to modify negative thoughts and behaviors and others provide individual therapy for self-esteem and emotional control. Support groups are a great way for people who suffer from ADHD to meet other people who share the same condition and learn about ways to manage symptoms.
A diagnosis of inattentive ADHD could be a challenge for some women to accept. Some women might believe that their issues are caused by a lack discipline or poor parenting. This could affect their self-esteem. In addition, they could be frustrated with their inability to keep up with their work or school, and this can cause feelings of shame and embarrassment.
Symptoms of ADHD can heighten when hormonal changes occur that are caused by menstrual cycles, pregnancy or menopausal. This makes it more difficult to cope with emotional symptoms, such as mood swings and irritability. These symptoms can cause issues in relationships due to how they are perceived by other people.
Women with inattention ADHD struggle to keep a stable home life. This can cause difficulties at school or at work. They might, for example forget important appointments or pay their bills late. They may have problems organizing their work or school supplies, and they may be unable to complete tasks. They may have difficulty understanding social boundaries or interrupting people when they are talking. These problems can lead to conflict in relationships and affect a woman’s self-esteem.
Many women who suffer from inattention ADHD are unable to seek assistance. They may believe that their difficulties are not enough serious to warrant attention or that they should be capable of "pull themselves up by their bootstraps." They may also be afraid of the stigma that comes with getting a diagnosis of ADHD which can make it more difficult to seek treatment. Women with untreated ADHD can be depressed or suicidal. They may also turn to unhealthy coping strategies such as drinking alcohol or substance abuse which can result in health problems and other issues, such as self-injury that is not suicidal (NSSI) that includes burning or cutting.
Self-Esteem
Women with ADHD are often plagued by feelings of inadequacy and constant stress. This makes it harder to recognize and articulate symptoms and seek treatment. Women often cover up symptoms or resort to compensatory strategies, especially as they age, to cover their symptoms. Masking can cause difficulties at work or school, and can result in relationships being damaged.
Additionally, research has shown that women with ADHD are more likely than men to experience symptoms that are related to rejection sensitivity and also to be unable to find jobs. These experiences can reinforce negative thoughts that lead to a lack in confidence and issues in interpersonal relationships.
In these circumstances, it is crucial for women suffering from ADHD to be able to access the right diagnosis and treatment. It's also vital that they have a clinician or therapy professional who is knowledgeable of the unique challenges girls and women face with the disorder.
As women and girls become teenagers, they might encounter societal and cultural expectations that place the bulk of household and parenting duties on them, and which differ from those placed on fathers. These pressures can lead to depression and anxiety and can lead to disorganized, chaotic homes, unfinished projects, and a refusal to ask for assistance or admit that they have a problem.
The symptoms of premenstrual dysphoria as well as adolescents are also common in females with ADHD. The monthly fluctuations in hormone levels can make these symptoms more severe and could be misinterpreted as a sign of other issues like anxiety or mood swings.
Women with ADHD often experience a lack of awareness about their condition, and they're less likely to seek treatment than men. They are more likely to experience negative consequences in adulthood including problems with relationships, unemployment and abuse of substances. They are also more likely than men to be misdiagnosed, and remain undiagnosed for the rest of their lives. This gap can be lowered by increasing education and arguing for health professionals, parents and teachers to recognize the signs of ADHD in women and girls.