Inattentive ADHD in Women
Many women have to struggle for years before getting a diagnosis of ADHD. It can be a real moment of lightbulb when they are diagnosed.
Symptoms can fluctuate due to hormonal changes. For instance, women could be able to notice that their symptoms become more severe during their menstrual cycle, or during pregnancy.
Women also have the ability to be prone to internalizing ADHD traits that lead to depression. This makes it more difficult to identify and treat ADHD.
Causes
Women with inattentional ADHD are usually not diagnosed until adulthood, when their issues start to affect work, school, and personal relationships. This is due to gender bias, both in clinical settings and in teachers' and parents' perceptions, who are less likely than males 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 be unable to keep their attention on conversations and can easily be distracted by external stimuli or their own internal thoughts and daydreaming. These signs can lead to poor performance at work or in school, which could lead to a low self-esteem.
Friends, family members and coworkers often misunderstand women with inattention ADHD. Their anger over their symptoms can lead to confusion and mistrust, and this can result in strained relationships. adhd in women adults are often viewed as being irrational and moody which can increase their feeling of being misunderstood.
Women who are not attentive ADHD are also susceptible to anxiety and depression. These issues can be made worse by hormonal fluctuations like during menstrual cycles, pregnancy or perimenopause. In this period estrogen levels decrease and progesterone levels increase, which can worsen ADHD.
Another reason for inattention ADHD is 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 can get behind in their work. This results in a feeling of failure and low self-esteem. They may also have a harder time accepting criticism or negative feedback which can further degrade their confidence and make them avoid social interactions.
Women with inattentive ADHD have a higher tendency to have difficulty establishing and maintaining romantic relations. They are more likely to have depression or anxiety that is co-existing and may be particularly sensitive to rejection, which could cause them to be more reluctant to commit to a relationship. This can lead them to feel lonely which can cause anxiety and depression.
Signs and symptoms
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD often have low self esteem due to their struggles to cope. Others may comment that they're careless or forgetful. They may adopt unhealthy coping strategies that include excessive drinking or drug use. They may also resort non-suicidal ways of self-injury, 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 tend to be mistakenly diagnosed more often as having anxiety or depressive disorders. This is because a lot of symptoms of these disorders overlap with the symptoms of ADHD. In addition, women who have undiagnosed ADHD may experience mood swings that make them appear depressed or anxious. These symptoms can be triggered by major changes in your life such as marriage, beginning a new career or having children.
Inattentional inattention that is not diagnosed ADHD in adults is common, and can be mistaken for bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. The symptoms include trouble concentrating, feelings such as sadness or hopelessness and difficulties handling stress and criticism. These symptoms, when combined with poor time management, can cause issues at work or school, as well as with family members and friends.
Attention-deficit ADHD can cause issues with coping skills for girls and women, which can include procrastination, or underestimating the time an activity will take (timeblindness). They may have difficulty keeping track of their schedules and appointments, easily lose or misplace belongings, and are prone to jumping from one task to the next. They may also have issues with controlling their impulses. This could include making impulsive choices or interrupting others.
Women with undiagnosed ADHD should understand the signs and symptoms and seek treatment. They can seek treatment through their primary care physician or a mental health professional. They can also seek to improve their coping skills by using organizational techniques like creating lists or planning ahead. Exercise releases neurotransmitters that improve focus and attention. It is also recommended to divide the household and caregiving duties with their partner or other support network, so they aren't stressed by chores or running errands.
Treatment
A combination of treatments is often required to control ADHD symptoms, including medication and therapy. Stimulant medications like amphetamines and methylphenidate can help reduce the ADHD symptoms of inattention. Non-stimulant drugs like atomoxetine (Strattera) are also available. 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, while others offer one-on-one therapy to improve self-esteem and emotional regulation. Support groups are an excellent way for people who suffer from ADHD to connect with other people with the same diagnosis and to learn how to manage symptoms.
For some women, the diagnosis of inattentive ADHD is difficult to accept. They might believe that their problems result from the lack of discipline or bad parenting, and this may affect their self-esteem. In addition, they could be frustrated with their inability to keep up with work or school, which can lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment.
ADHD symptoms can be exacerbated by hormonal changes such as those that happen during menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or menopausal. This makes it more difficult to deal with emotional symptoms, like mood swings and irritability. These symptoms can also lead to difficulties in relationships because of the way they are perceived by others.
Women with inattention ADHD struggle to keep a stable home life. This can lead to problems at school or at work. For example, they might not remember important appointments or pay bills late. They may have issues organizing their work or school materials, and they may have difficulty completing assignments. They might have trouble understanding social boundaries or interrupting other people while they are talking. These problems can lead to conflicts in relationships, and impact a woman's sense of self-worth.
Many women suffering from inattention ADHD have difficulty asking for help. They might think that their issues aren't serious enough to warrant attention or that "pulling themselves up by the bootstraps" is possible. They might also be afraid of the stigma associated with being diagnosed with ADHD which can make it difficult for them to seek treatment. Women who are not treated for ADHD can be depressed or suicidal. They can also resort to unhealthy coping strategies, such as alcohol or substance abuse, which can result in health issues and other issues, such as self-injury that is non-suicidal (NSSI) that includes cutting or burning.
Self-Esteem
Women suffering from ADHD often struggle with feelings of inadequacy or chronic stress. This can make it difficult to recognize and articulate the symptoms, and get treatment. Women often mask symptoms or employ compensatory strategies, especially as they get older, to conceal them. Masking can lead to difficulties at school or work and may cause relationships to suffer.
Furthermore, research suggests that women with ADHD are more likely than men to experience symptoms that are related to rejection sensitivity, and have difficulty finding jobs. These experiences can lead to negative self-talk that leads to an insecurity and difficulties in interpersonal relationships.
It is crucial that women suffering from ADHD receive a correct diagnosis and treatment. It's crucial that they are able to access a clinician or therapist that is familiar with the challenges that women and girls face with ADHD.
As women and girls mature, they may face 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 trigger depression and anxiety, and can result in a messy and chaotic home with unfinished projects, as well as an inability for girls and women to reach out for assistance.
Premenstrual dysphoria and symptoms of adolescence are also common in females suffering from ADHD. The fluctuations in hormone levels can cause these symptoms to become more severe and can be mistaken for other issues like anxiety or mood fluctuations.
Women who suffer from ADHD typically experience a lack of awareness about their condition, and are less likely to receive treatment than men. This means that they have a higher rate of negative consequences as adults which include relationships, unemployment and substance use. 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 advocating for health professionals as well as teachers and parents to recognize the signs of ADHD in women and girls.