Inattentive ADHD in Women
Many women have to struggle for years before being diagnosed with ADHD. It could be a lightbulb moment when they receive a diagnosis.
Symptoms often fluctuate with hormonal changes. Women might notice that their symptoms worsen when they are experiencing menstrual cycle or during pregnancy.
Women can also internalize their ADHD traits, which leads to depression. This can make it more difficult to diagnose and treat ADHD.
Causes
Women with inattentional ADHD are typically not diagnosed until adulthood when their problems begin to affect their work or school as well as personal relationships. This is due to gender biases in the clinical setting and in parents' and teachers' perceptions, who are less likely than males to recognize ADHD symptoms.
Attention-deficit ADHD can cause women to forget important dates, miss deadlines, and lose track of the time. They also have difficulty prioritizing tasks, organizing their thoughts or making plans for the future. They may also have difficulty to focus on conversations and can easily get distracted by external stimuli or their own internal thoughts and daydreaming. These symptoms can result in poor work or school performance and can lead to low self-esteem and frustration.
Friends, family members and colleagues often misunderstand women with inattention ADHD. Their discontent with their condition heightens the misunderstandings they experience and can result in strained relationships. They are often viewed as moody and irrational, which can further increase their feelings of being misunderstood.
Women who have inattention ADHD also suffer from various emotional issues such as anxiety and depression. These issues can be made worse by hormonal fluctuations, such as during menstrual cycles and pregnancy or perimenopausal. During this time estrogen levels decrease and progesterone levels increase, which can cause an increase in ADHD.
Another reason for inattentive ADHD is the influence of environmental factors, like a chaotic home environment or a work schedule that lacks structure. Women who suffer from inattentive ADHD frequently have difficulty staying on track at work and fall behind quickly, which leads to a sense of failure and low self-esteem. They might also have difficulty accepting criticism or negative feedback which can further undermine their confidence and result in them avoiding social interactions.
Lastly, women with inattentive ADHD are more likely to experience difficulties establishing and maintaining romantic relationships. They are more likely than other women to be suffering from depression or anxiety and they are more sensitive to rejection. This could cause them to be less willing to take on a romantic relationship. This can lead to a feeling of isolation, which can also contribute to anxiety and depression.
Symptoms
Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD often suffer from low self-esteem due to their struggle to cope. Others may comment that they are reckless or forgetful. They may develop unhealthy coping methods, such as excessive drinking or use of drugs. They might also resort to self-injury that is not suicide-related, such as cutting or burning. ADHD symptoms can impact relationships, work and school.
Girls and women with ADHD are often frequently misdiagnosed as having anxiety or depressive disorders. This is because the signs of anxiety and depression are typically similar to those of ADHD. Additionally women who are not diagnosed with ADHD are prone to mood swings that make them appear depressed or anxious. These symptoms can be brought on by major changes in life like marriage, starting an entirely new job, or becoming parents.
Adults with inattentive ADHD are also often misdiagnosed and are often mistaken as bipolar or borderline personality disorder. The symptoms include trouble staying focused, feelings of despair or sadness and difficulties coping with criticism and stress. These symptoms, when paired with poor time management, can lead to problems at school or work as well as with family members and friends.
Inattentional ADHD in girls and women can cause trouble with managing skills, like procrastination, and a tendency to underestimate the time tasks will take (time blindness). They may have difficulty keeping an eye on their schedules and appointments, misplace or lose belongings quickly, and easily jump from one task to the next. They may also struggle with controlling their impulses, for example, interrupting others or making decisions impulsively.
Women with undiagnosed ADHD should understand their symptoms and seek help. They can seek help from their primary care physician or a mental health specialist. They can also attempt to improve their ability to cope by using organizational techniques, such as making lists or planning in advance. Exercise releases neurotransmitters that improve focus and attention. It's also an excellent idea to share household and caregiving duties with their partner or another support group so that they don't feel overwhelmed.
Treatment
A combination of treatments is typically required to treat ADHD symptoms, including medication and therapy. Stimulant medications like amphetamines and methylphenidate can aid in reducing ADHD symptoms of inattention. Non-stimulant drugs like atomoxetine (Strattera) are also available. Behavioral therapy is a good method to address the organizational and emotional aspects of ADHD. Certain therapists employ cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which teaches people to modify negative thoughts and behaviors, while others offer individual therapy for self-esteem and emotional regulation. Support groups are a great way for people who suffer from ADHD to connect with others with the same diagnosis and learn about how to manage their symptoms.
A diagnosis of inattentive ADHD could be difficult for some women to accept. They may think that their problems are due to a lack of discipline or bad parenting, and this can affect their self-esteem. In addition, they could be frustrated with their inability to keep up with work or school, and this can cause feelings of shame and embarrassment.
add symptoms in adult women of ADHD can be heightened due to hormonal changes that are caused by menstruation, pregnancy, or menopausal. This makes it more difficult to cope with emotional symptoms like mood swings and irritability. These symptoms can contribute to relationship difficulties because of how they are perceived by others, particularly male partners or colleagues.
Women with inattentive ADHD frequently struggle to maintain a stable home life, and this can cause difficulties at school or at work. They may, for instance forget important appointments or pay their bills late. They may have trouble organizing their school or work materials and may be unable to complete tasks. They may have difficulty understanding social boundaries or interrupting others while they're talking. These issues can result in conflicts in relationships, and affect a woman’s self-esteem.
Many women suffering from inattention ADHD are unable to ask for help. They may believe that their problems are not serious enough to warrant attention or they believe that "pulling themselves up by the bootstraps" is possible. They may also be scared of the stigma that comes with getting a diagnosis of ADHD, which can make it more difficult to seek treatment. Women who have untreated ADHD may develop depression or suicidal. They may also engage in unhealthy coping strategies such as drinking alcohol or substance abuse, which can lead to health problems and other issues, including self-injury that is non-suicidal (NSSI) which can involve burning or cutting.
Self-Esteem
Women with ADHD frequently have to deal with feelings of inadequateness or chronic stress. This can make it more difficult to identify and explain the symptoms, and seek treatment. Women often mask symptoms or resort to compensatory strategies, especially as they age, to hide their symptoms. Masking can cause problems at school or work and may cause relationships to suffer.
Research shows that women with ADHD are more at risk of experiencing rejection sensitivity and having difficulty finding an employment. These experiences can reinforce negative thoughts that can lead to a lack in confidence and difficulties with interpersonal relationships.
It is crucial that women suffering from ADHD receive a proper diagnosis and treatment. It's also essential to have a therapist or therapy professional who is knowledgeable of the unique challenges that girls and women face with the disorder.
As women and girls grow older, they could encounter societal and cultural expectations that place the majority of parenting and household duties on them, and which differ from those imposed on fathers. These pressures can lead to anxiety and depression and lead to chaotic, unorganized home environments, unfinished projects and a reluctance to seek help or admit they are struggling.
It's also normal for females with ADHD to experience symptoms related to adolescence and puberty, and also to experience premenstrual dysphoria. The monthly fluctuations in hormone levels can cause these symptoms to become more severe and could be misinterpreted as a sign of other issues like anxiety or mood shifts.
Women suffering from ADHD are less likely than males to be aware of their condition and seek treatment. They are more likely to suffer negative consequences in adulthood, such as relationships, unemployment, and substance abuse. They're also more likely be misdiagnosed compared to men, and to go undiagnosed for the rest of their lives. This gap can be reduced by increasing education and arguing for health professionals, parents and teachers to recognize the signs of ADHD among girls and women.