Inattentive ADHD in Women
Many women struggle for years before being diagnosed with ADHD. It could be a lightbulb moment for them when they are diagnosed.
Symptoms can fluctuate due to hormonal changes. Women may notice that their symptoms get worse when they are experiencing menstrual cycle or during pregnancy.
Women also have the ability to take on ADHD traits that lead to depression. This can make it harder to get diagnosed and treat their ADHD.
Causes
Women who have inattentive ADHD typically are not diagnosed until they reach adulthood, at which point their issues begin to affect them with work, school and personal relationships. This is due to gender biases in the clinical setting and in the parents' and teachers perceptions. Teachers and parents are less likely than males to recognize ADHD symptoms.
Inattentive ADHD can cause women to forget appointments, forget deadlines and lose track of time, making it difficult for them to plan ahead, organize their thoughts or prioritize tasks. They might also have difficulty to maintain focus on conversations and easily become 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 anger.
Family members, friends and coworkers often misunderstand women with inattentive ADHD. Their anger over their symptoms can lead to more misunderstandings they encounter. This can result in strained relations. They are often dismissed as irrational and moody, which can increase their feeling of being misunderstood.
Women who have inattention ADHD also suffer from a range of emotional problems that include anxiety and depression. These issues can be made more difficult by hormonal fluctuations, like during menstruation, pregnancy, or perimenopause. During this time estrogen levels decrease and progesterone levels rise which can cause an increase in ADHD.
Environmental factors can also cause inattentive ADHD like an unorganized home or at work with little structure. Women with inattentive ADHD often have trouble staying on task at work and fall behind quickly, which can lead to feelings of self-doubt and a sense of failure. They may also be unable to accept criticism or negative feedback. This can further erode confidence and cause people to avoid social interaction.
Additionally, women who have inattention ADHD are more likely to struggle with in establishing and maintaining romantic relationships. They are more likely than the rest to be suffering from depression or anxiety and are more sensitive to rejection. This may make them less willing to risk a romantic relationship. This can cause them to feel isolated and can lead to anxiety and depression.
Signs and symptoms
Women with undiagnosed ADHD often suffer from low self esteem due to their struggle to deal with. People may tell them that they are reckless or forgetful. They might develop unhealthy coping strategies like excessive drinking or drugs. They may also resort non-suicidal ways of self-injury, such as cutting, burning, or scratching. ADHD symptoms can impact relationships, work and school.
Recommended Resource site and women with ADHD are often frequently misdiagnosed as having depressive or anxiety disorders. This is because the symptoms of depression and anxiety are often similar to those of ADHD. Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD can also experience mood swings, making them appear depressed or anxious. These symptoms can be triggered by major life changes like getting married, starting a new career or having children.
Undiagnosed inattention ADHD in adults is also common, and can be mistaken for bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. The symptoms include trouble concentrating and a feeling of sadness or hopelessness, and difficulties in coping with stress and criticism. When combined with poor time management, these symptoms can cause problems at work or school and cause problems with family and friends.
Inattentive ADHD in women and girls can affect managing skills, like procrastination and the tendency to underestimate the length of time tasks will take (time blindness). They may have trouble keeping track of appointments and schedules, misplace or lose belongings easily, and jump from one task to the next. They may also have issues with controlling their impulses. This could include making decisions impulsively or interrupting others.
Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD should understand their symptoms and seek help. 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 using organizational strategies, such as making lists or preparing ahead. They can also engage in exercise, which releases neurotransmitters that improve concentration and attention. It is also recommended to divide the household and caregiving duties with their spouse or another support networks, so that they are not overloaded by chores or other errands.
Treatment
A combination of treatments is often needed to manage ADHD symptoms, which can include medication and therapy. Stimulant drugs such as methylphenidate and amphetamines can aid in reducing ADHD symptoms of inattention. There are also non-stimulant drugs like atomoxetine. The behavioral therapy method is a great method to address the emotional and organizational aspects of ADHD. Certain therapists employ cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) which helps people to change negative thoughts and behavior, while others offer one-on-one therapy to improve self-esteem and emotional control. Support groups are a great way for people suffering from ADHD to meet other people who have the same disorder and learn about ways to manage symptoms.
For some women, a diagnosis of inattention ADHD is difficult to accept. They may think that their issues are due to the lack of discipline or bad parenting, which can affect their self-esteem. Additionally, they might feel frustrated by their inability to keep up with their work or school, which can lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment.
ADHD symptoms can be made worse by hormonal changes like those that happen during menstrual cycle and pregnancy or menopausal. This can make it more difficult to deal with emotional symptoms like irritability and mood swings. These symptoms can cause problems in relationships due to how they are perceived by others, particularly male friends or colleagues.
Women with inattention ADHD struggle to ensure a stable home life. This can lead to problems at school or at work. For instance, they may not remember important appointments or pay bills late. They might have difficulty organizing their work or school materials, and they might struggle to complete assignments. They might have trouble in recognizing social boundaries or interrupting people when they're talking. These issues can result in conflict in relationships and impact a woman's self-esteem.
Many women with inattentive ADHD are unable to seek assistance. They might think that their issues aren't sufficient to warrant attention, or they believe that "pulling themselves up by the bootstraps" is possible. They might also be afraid of the stigma associated from being diagnosed with ADHD, which can make them less likely to seek treatment. Women who have untreated ADHD can be depressed or suicidal. They might also adopt unhealthy strategies for coping, such as drinking or using substances. This can cause health problems and other issues, such as nonsuicidal harming themselves (NSSI) which includes burning or cutting.
Self-Esteem
Women with ADHD often have to cope with feelings of inadequateness or chronic stress. This can make it harder to identify and explain the symptoms, and seek treatment. It's also normal for women to cover up their symptoms or develop strategies to disguise their symptoms from others, particularly as they get older. Masking can cause problems at school or work and may affect relationships.
Additionally, research has shown that women with ADHD are more likely than males to experience symptoms relating to rejection sensitivity and also to be unable to find jobs. These experiences can reinforce negative thoughts that lead to a lack of confidence and problems with interpersonal relationships.
For these reasons, it is crucial for women suffering from ADHD to have access to the right diagnosis and treatment. It's crucial that they are able to access the right therapist or clinician who is aware of the difficulties that girls and women face with ADHD.
As girls and women mature as they get older, they will be faced with societal and cultural expectations which place the majority of parenting and household responsibilities on them. These expectations are different from those that men are expected to meet. These pressures can trigger anxiety and depression and result in a messy and chaotic home environment with unfinished projects, as well as the reluctance of girls and women to ask for assistance.
It is also common for females suffering from ADHD to experience symptoms that are related to puberty and adolescence and also to experience premenstrual dysphoria. These symptoms can be caused by the fluctuations in hormones, and could be mistaken for anxiety or mood shifts.
Women suffering from ADHD are less likely than men to be aware of their condition and receive treatment. They are more likely to experience negative outcomes as they age including unemployment, relationship issues, and substance abuse. They are also more likely than men to be misdiagnosed and go undiagnosed for the rest of their lives. This gap could be eliminated by increasing education and advocating for health professionals as well as parents and teachers to recognize the symptoms of ADHD among girls and women.