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 an epiphany.
The symptoms can change due to hormonal changes. For instance, women might feel their symptoms worsen during their menstrual cycle or during pregnancy.
Women also have the ability to internalize their ADHD traits, which can lead to depression. This makes it more difficult to diagnose and treat their ADHD.
Causes
Women with inattentive ADHD typically are not diagnosed until adulthood, when their problems start to interfere with work, school and personal relationships. This is due to gender bias in both clinical settings and in parents' and teachers' perceptions, who are less likely than boys to recognize ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD can cause women to forget important dates, forget deadlines, and lose track of time. They also have trouble prioritizing tasks, organizing their thoughts or making plans for the future. They may also have difficulties keeping their attention during conversations and become easily distracted by external stimuli, inner thoughts or daydreaming. These issues can result in poor performance at work or in school, which can lead to low self-esteem.
Many women suffering from inattention ADHD are often misunderstood by their friends, family and coworkers. Their anger over their symptoms can increase the misperceptions they encounter. This can lead to strained relations. They are often dismissed by others as moody or irrational. This can increase their feeling of being misunderstood.
Women with inattention ADHD can also suffer from depression and anxiety. These issues can be made worse due to hormonal fluctuations, for instance during menstrual cycles and pregnancy, as well as perimenopausal. During this time estrogen levels decrease and progesterone levels rise, which can cause an increase in ADHD.
External factors can also contribute to inattentive ADHD for example, a chaotic environment at home or in a workplace that is not structured. Women who suffer from inattentive ADHD are prone to having difficulty keeping on track and may become distracted at work, resulting in feelings of insecurity and a sense of failure. They might also have difficulty accepting criticism or negative feedback which can further degrade their confidence and make them avoid social interactions.
Lastly, women with inattentive ADHD are more likely to experience difficulties creating and maintaining romantic relationships. They are more likely than others to suffer from depression or anxiety and they can be more susceptible to rejection. This may make them reluctant to risk a romantic relationship. This can lead to isolation and can contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression.
Signs and symptoms
Many women who are not diagnosed with ADHD have low self-esteem as they struggle to cope with the disorder. Others may comment that they're careless or forgetful. They may develop unhealthy coping methods, such as excessive drinking or drug use. They may also resort to non-suicidal forms of self-injury such as cutting, burning or scratching. The symptoms of ADHD can affect relationships as well as work and school.
Women and girls with ADHD are often misdiagnosed more often as having depressive or anxiety disorders. This is because the symptoms of anxiety and depression are often similar to the symptoms of ADHD. In addition women with undiagnosed ADHD can experience mood swings that make them appear anxious or depressed. These symptoms can be caused by major changes in your life, such as marriage, starting an entirely new job, or becoming parents.
Undiagnosed inattention ADHD in adults is also frequent, and is often mistaken for bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. The symptoms include trouble concentrating or concentrating, as well as feelings like sadness or despair and difficulties dealing with criticism and stress. In conjunction with poor time management, these symptoms can cause problems at work or school, and lead to difficulties with family and friends.
Inattentive ADHD can cause problems with coping skills in girls and women, which can include procrastination, or underestimating the time the task will take (timeblindness). They may struggle to keep an eye on their schedules and appointments, misplace or lose belongings easily, and jump from one task to the next. They also may have issues with impulse control, like interrupting others or making decisions impulsively.
It is crucial for women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD to understand their symptoms and get help. They can seek treatment from their primary care provider or a mental health specialist. Additionally, they can try to improve their coping abilities by using strategies for organizing, such as writing lists or making plans. Exercise releases neurotransmitters, which enhance focus and attention. It is also an excellent idea to split up household and caregiving responsibilities with their partner or other support network, so they don't get overwhelmed by chores or errands.
Treatment
A combination of treatments is usually needed to manage ADHD symptoms, including therapy and medication. Stimulant medications such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamines may help to reduce the symptoms of inattention of ADHD. Nonstimulant medications such as atomoxetine (Strattera) are also available. Behavioral therapy can help with the organizational and emotional aspects of ADHD. Some therapists offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), in which they teach people how to change negative thoughts or behaviors. Other therapists offer one-onone therapy that focuses on self-esteem and emotional regulation. Support groups can help people with ADHD connect with other people with the same condition and share ideas about managing symptoms.
For some women, a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD can be difficult to accept. They may think that their troubles stem from a lack of discipline or poor parenting, and this may impact their self-esteem. In adhd in older women , they could feel frustrated by their inability to keep up with work or school, which can lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment.
ADHD symptoms can be made worse by hormonal changes, such as those that happen during menstrual cycle and pregnancy or menopausal. This can make it harder to deal with emotional manifestations like anger or mood swings. These symptoms can also contribute to relationship difficulties because of the way they are perceived by others, especially male friends or colleagues.
Women with inattentive ADHD struggle to ensure an orderly family life. This can lead to problems at school or at work. For instance, they could forget important appointments or pay bills late. They may have issues organizing their school or work materials, and they might have difficulty completing assignments. They may have difficulty understanding the social boundaries and interrupting others while they talk. These problems can cause conflicts in relationships and can affect women's overall sense of self-worth.
Many women suffering from inattention ADHD find it difficult to seek help. They may believe that their difficulties are not serious enough to require attention or that they shouldn't be in a position to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps." They might also be afraid of the stigma that comes when they are diagnosed with ADHD, which can make it difficult for them to seek treatment. Untreated ADHD in women can result in depression or suicidal thoughts. They can also resort to unhealthy coping methods such as drinking alcohol or substance abuse which can result in health issues and other issues, like self-injury that is not suicidal (NSSI) which can involve cutting or burning.
Self-Esteem
Women with ADHD often struggle with feelings of inadequacy or constant stress. This can make it difficult to identify and articulate symptoms, and get treatment. It is also common for women to hide their symptoms or develop strategies to conceal their symptoms from others, particularly as they get older. Masking can cause problems at school or work and can cause relationships to suffer.
Research has shown that women with ADHD have a higher chance of feeling a sensitivity to rejection and having difficulty finding a job. These experiences can lead to negative self-talk which leads to anxiety and difficulties in interpersonal relationships.
This is why it's important for women with ADHD to have access to the right diagnosis and treatment. It's important that they can access a clinician or therapist that is knowledgeable about the issues that girls and women have to face when dealing with ADHD.
As girls and women become teenagers, they might be confronted with cultural and societal expectations that place the majority of household and parenting duties on them, and differ from the expectations placed on fathers. These pressures can lead to anxiety and depression and can lead to chaotic, unorganized living spaces, incomplete projects and a reluctance to seek help or admit that they have a problem.
It is also common for females with ADHD to experience symptoms related to puberty and adolescence and to struggle with premenstrual dysphoria. The monthly fluctuations in hormone levels can make these symptoms worse, and they might be misinterpreted as a sign of other issues such as anxiety or mood swings.
Women who suffer from ADHD are less likely than men to be aware of their condition and seek treatment. As a result, they are more likely to experience a variety of negative consequences as adults which include relationships, unemployment and use of drugs. They're also more likely to be misdiagnosed compared to men and are more likely to remain undiagnosed throughout their lives. This gap can be eliminated through increased education and advocacy efforts to assist health professionals, teachers and parents recognize the signs of ADHD in women and girls.