Inattentive ADHD in Women
Many women had to struggle for years before being diagnosed with ADHD. It could be a lightbulb moment when they are diagnosed.
Symptoms can fluctuate due to hormonal changes. For example, women may feel their symptoms worsen during their menstrual cycle or during pregnancy.
Women also have the ability to internalize their ADHD characteristics, which can lead to depression. This can make it more difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Causes
Women who suffer from inattention ADHD typically are not diagnosed until the age of adulthood, when their problems start to interfere with school, work and personal relationships. This is partly due to gender biases in both clinical settings and in the perceptions of teachers and parents, who are less likely to recognize ADHD symptoms for girls than boys, even when the symptoms are obvious (Ohan and Visser, 2009).
Inattentional ADHD causes women to forget appointments, miss 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 have difficulty staying focused during conversations, and become easily distracted by external stimuli, internal thoughts or daydreaming. These symptoms can result in poor performance at school or at work, which leads to low self-esteem and frustration.
Many women suffering from inattention ADHD are often misunderstood by their family, friends and coworkers. Their anger over their symptoms can lead to more misunderstandings they encounter. This can result in strained relations. They are often dismissed by others as sour or irrational. This can increase their feeling of being misunderstood.
Women with inattentive ADHD may also be suffering from depression and anxiety. These issues can be made worse by hormone fluctuations, such as during menstrual cycles, pregnancy or perimenopause. During this time estrogen levels decrease, and progesterone levels increase, which can worsen ADHD.
Environmental factors can also cause inattentive ADHD like a chaotic environment at home or at work with little structure. Women who suffer from inattentive ADHD often have trouble staying on track at work and get behind in their work. This leads to a sense of inadequacy and low self-esteem. They may also have a harder time accepting criticism or negative feedback, which can further erode their confidence and result in them avoiding social interactions.
Women with inattention ADHD have a greater tendency to struggle in developing and maintaining romantic relationships. They are more likely than the rest to be suffering from depression or anxiety and they can be more vulnerable to rejection. I Am Psychiatry may make them reluctant to risk a romantic relationship. This can cause isolation which can lead to anxiety and depression.
Symptoms
Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD frequently suffer from low self esteem due to their struggle to cope. They can be discouraged by comments from others that they are negligent, forgetful, or aloof. They might adopt unhealthy coping strategies, such as excessive drinking or drugs. They may also resort to self-injury that is not suicide-related, such as cutting, burning, or scratching. The symptoms of ADHD can interfere with relationships as well as work and school.
Girls and women with ADHD are often misdiagnosed more often as suffering from depression or anxiety disorders. This is due to the fact that many of the symptoms of these disorders overlap with those of ADHD. Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD can also have mood swings that make them appear anxious or depressed. These symptoms can also be brought on by major life changes like getting married, beginning in a new job or becoming a mother.
Inattentional inattention that is not diagnosed ADHD in adults is also frequent, and is often mistaken as bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. These symptoms include difficulty concentrating as well as feelings of despair or sadness, and difficulty handling stress and criticism. In conjunction with poor time management, these symptoms could cause problems at school or at work and cause problems with family and friends.
Inattentional ADHD can cause problems with coping skills in women and girls, including procrastination or a tendency of underestimating the time a task will take (timeblindness). They may have trouble keeping an eye on their schedules and appointments and may lose or misplace their belongings quickly, and easily jump from one task to the next. They might also be struggling with impulse control. This could include making impulsive decisions or interrupting others.
It is essential for women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD to recognize their symptoms and get help. They can seek treatment from their primary care physician or a mental health specialist. In addition, they can try to improve their coping skills by making use of organizational strategies, such as writing lists or planning ahead. Exercise releases neurotransmitters which improve concentration and attention. It's also a good idea for them to share household and caregiving chores with their partner or another support network so that they don't feel overwhelmed.
Treatment
A combination of treatments is typically needed to manage ADHD symptoms, which can include medication and therapy. Stimulant medications such as methylphenidate and amphetamines can reduce ADHD symptoms of inattention. There are also nonstimulant medications such as atomoxetine. Behavioral therapy can aid in the emotional and organizational aspects of ADHD. Therapists may offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), in which they help people change negative thoughts or behaviors. Some offer one-on-one therapy which focuses on self-esteem and emotional regulation. Support groups can help people with ADHD connect with others who suffer from the disorder and share ideas about managing symptoms.
A diagnosis of inattention ADHD could be difficult for some women to accept. They may think that their troubles result from a lack of discipline or poor parenting, and this may affect their self-esteem. They may be embarrassed and ashamed by their inability keep up with school or work.
ADHD symptoms can be exacerbated by hormonal changes, such as those that occur during menstruation and pregnancy or menopausal. This makes it more difficult to deal with emotional symptoms like mood swings and irritability. These symptoms can also contribute to relationship difficulties due to how they are perceived by others, particularly male colleagues or partners.
Women who are not attentive ADHD often struggle to maintain a steady home life and this can lead to problems at work or school. For instance, they might forget important appointments or pay their bills late. They may have trouble organizing their work or school materials, and may struggle to complete assignments. They might have trouble understanding the boundaries of social interaction and may interrupt other people while talking. These issues can cause conflicts in relationships, and impact a woman's sense of self-worth.
Many women with inattentive ADHD are unable to ask for help. They might think that their issues aren't enough serious to warrant attention, or that they should be able to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps." They might also be scared 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 could also resort to unhealthy strategies for coping, such as alcohol or drug abuse. This can cause health problems and other issues such as self-harming that is not suicidal (NSSI) which includes burning or cutting.
Self-Esteem
Women with ADHD often struggle with feelings of unworthiness or chronic stress. This can make it more difficult to recognize and articulate symptoms and seek treatment. Women often mask symptoms or use compensatory strategies, particularly as they age, to cover the signs. Masking can cause issues at work or school and may affect relationships.
Furthermore, research suggests that women with ADHD are more likely than men to experience symptoms related to rejection sensitivity, and also to be unable to find jobs. These experiences can lead to negative thoughts, which can lead to a lack of confidence and difficulties in interpersonal relationships.
For these reasons, it is crucial for women suffering from ADHD to have access to the right diagnosis and treatment. It's also essential to have a therapist or therapist who is familiar with the unique challenges that females and girls confront with the disorder.
As girls and women grow older, they could encounter cultural and social norms that place the majority of the household and parenting responsibilities on them, and differ from those imposed on fathers. These pressures can trigger depression and anxiety, and can result in a disorganized and chaotic home with unfinished projects, as well as a reluctance for women and girls to ask for help.
It's also normal for females with ADHD to experience symptoms that are related to adolescence and puberty, and also to experience premenstrual dysphoria. These symptoms can be caused by the fluctuations in hormones, and may be misinterpreted as anxiety or mood swings.
Women suffering from ADHD are often unable to communicate their condition because of a lack of awareness about their condition, and they're less likely to seek treatment than men. This means that they're more at risk of negative consequences as adults such as unemployment, relationship problems and substance use. They are also more likely than males to be misdiagnosed and remain undiagnosed for the duration of their lives. This gap could be eliminated by increasing education and advocating for health professionals as well as teachers and parents to recognize the signs of ADHD for women and girls.