Inattentive ADHD in Women
Many women struggled for years before they were diagnosed with ADHD. When they do, it could be like a lightbulb moment.
Symptoms often fluctuate with hormonal changes. For example, women may feel their symptoms worsen during their menstrual cycle or during pregnancy.
Women also have the ability to accept their ADHD traits, which can lead to depression. This can make it difficult to get diagnosed and treat their ADHD.
Causes
Women who suffer from inattentive ADHD are often not diagnosed until they reach adulthood when their problems begin to affect their work or school as well as personal relationships. This is due in part to gender biases in both clinical settings as well as in the perceptions of parents and teachers who are less likely to recognize ADHD symptoms in girls than boys even when the symptoms are obvious (Ohan and Visser 2009).
Attention-deficit ADHD causes women to forget appointments, forget deadlines and lose track of time, which makes it difficult to plan ahead and organize their thoughts. It can also be difficult to prioritize tasks. They may also have difficulty maintaining focus during conversations, and become easily distracted by external stimuli, internal thoughts or daydreaming. These symptoms can result in poor work or school performance which can cause low self-esteem and anger.
Family members, friends and coworkers are often misinformed about women who have inattention ADHD. Their anger over their symptoms can lead to confusion and mistrust, and this can result in tensions in relationships. They are often seen as moody and irrational, which can further increase their feelings of being misunderstood.
Women with inattention ADHD are also susceptible to depression and anxiety. These issues can be made worse by hormone fluctuations, such as during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or during perimenopausal. In these instances, hormone levels of estrogen decrease and progesterone levels rise and can cause an increase in ADHD symptoms.
Another reason for inattention ADHD is environmental factors, like a chaotic home environment or work life that lacks structure. Women with inattentive ADHD frequently have difficulty staying focused at work and may get behind in their work. This results in a feeling of inadequacy and low self-esteem. They might also have difficulty accepting negative feedback or criticism, which can further erode their confidence and cause them to avoid social interactions.
Women with inattentive ADHD have a higher tendency to struggle with developing and maintaining romantic relationships. They are more likely to suffer from depression or anxiety that is co-existing and are more prone to rejection, which may make them less willing to risk a relationship. This can cause isolation which can lead to anxiety and depression.
Symptoms
Many women who are not diagnosed with ADHD suffer from low self-esteem while trying to cope with the disorder. They can be discouraged by criticism from people that they are careless, forgetful, or aloof. They could develop unhealthy coping strategies like excessive drinking or drugs. They may also resort to non-suicidal ways of self-injury, such as cutting, burning, or scratching. ADHD symptoms can impact relationships, work and school.
iampsychiatry and women who suffer from ADHD are often more likely to be misdiagnosed with depression or anxiety. This is because the symptoms of anxiety and depression are often similar to those of ADHD. In addition women with undiagnosed ADHD can experience mood swings that cause them to appear depressed or anxious. These symptoms can be brought on by major life changes, such as getting married, starting an entirely new job or having children.
Undiagnosed inattentive ADHD in adults is frequent, and is often mistaken as bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. These symptoms include difficulty concentrating as well as feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and difficulty handling stress and criticism. Combined with poor time management, these symptoms can create problems at work or school and can cause issues with family and friends.
Inattentional ADHD for girls and women can cause trouble with the ability to cope, including procrastination, and a tendency to underestimate how long tasks will take (time blindness). They can have trouble keeping track of their schedules and appointments, are prone to lose or misplace belongings and are prone to jump from one task to another. They may also struggle with impulse control, such as interrupting others or making decisions impulsively.
Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD must be aware of the signs and symptoms and seek treatment. They can seek help through their primary care provider or a mental health specialist. In addition, they can try to improve their coping abilities by making use of strategies for organizing, such as making lists or making plans. They can also take part in exercises, which release neurotransmitters that boost attention and focus. It's also an excellent idea to share household and caregiver chores with their partner or another support group so that they aren't overwhelmed.
Treatment
A combination of treatments is often required to control ADHD symptoms, including medication and therapy. Stimulant medications such as methylphenidate and amphetamines can aid in reducing ADHD symptoms of inattention. There are also non-stimulant drugs, such as atomoxetine. Behavioral therapy can aid in the organizational and emotional aspects of ADHD. Therapists may employ cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which teaches people to modify negative thoughts and behaviors and others provide individual therapy for self-esteem and emotional control. Support groups can help those with ADHD connect with others who suffer from the disorder and share ideas about managing symptoms.
A diagnosis of inattentive ADHD could be a challenge for some women to accept. Some women may believe that their issues are caused by a lack discipline or poor parenting. This can affect their self-esteem. In addition, they could be frustrated at their inability to keep up with their work or school, which could lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment.
The symptoms of ADHD can be heightened due to hormonal changes that are caused by menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause. This can make it harder to manage emotional symptoms like irritability and mood swings. These symptoms can also cause problems in relationships due to the way they are perceived by other people, especially male colleagues or partners.
Women with inattentive ADHD struggle to keep a stable home life. This can cause problems at school or at work. For instance, they could not remember important appointments or pay bills late. They might have issues organizing their school or work materials and might have difficulty completing tasks. They might have trouble understanding the social boundaries and interrupting other people while they talk. These issues can lead to conflicts in relationships and can affect a woman's overall sense of self-worth.
Many women with inattentive ADHD find it difficult to ask for help. They may think that their issues aren't enough serious to warrant attention or that they shouldn't be able to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps." They may also be scared of the stigma that comes with being diagnosed with ADHD which can make it more difficult to seek treatment. Untreated ADHD in women can result in depression or suicidal thoughts. They could also resort to unhealthy coping strategies, like alcohol or drug abuse. This could lead to health problems and other issues such as nonsuicidal harming themselves (NSSI) such as burning or cutting.
Self-Esteem
Women suffering from ADHD frequently have to deal with feelings of unworthiness or constant stress. This can make it difficult to recognize and articulate the symptoms, and seek treatment. Women often hide symptoms or use strategies to compensate, particularly as they age, to cover them. Masking can cause issues at school or work and can affect relationships.
Furthermore, research suggests that women with ADHD are more likely than males to experience symptoms relating to sensitivity to rejection, and to have trouble finding jobs. These experiences can trigger negative thoughts, which can lead to a lack in confidence and difficulties in interpersonal relationships.
This is why it's important for women with ADHD to be able to access proper diagnosis and treatment. It's also essential to have a therapist or therapist who understands the unique challenges females and girls face with the disorder.
As women and girls grow older, they could be confronted with cultural and societal expectations that place the bulk of parenting and household duties on them, and differ from those placed on fathers. These pressures can cause anxiety and depression and lead to chaotic, messy home environments, unfinished projects and a lack of willingness to seek help or admit that they have a problem.
Premenstrual dysphoria and symptoms of adolescence are also common in females with ADHD. These symptoms can be made worse by the monthly fluctuations in hormones, and could be mistaken for anxiety or mood fluctuations.
Women suffering from ADHD are less likely than males to be aware of their condition and receive treatment. Because of this, they're more at risk of negative outcomes as adults such as unemployment, relationship problems and addiction. They are also more likely than males 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, teachers and parents to be aware of the signs of ADHD in women and girls.