Inattentive ADHD in Women
Many women had to struggle for years before they were diagnosed with ADHD. When they do, it can be like an epiphany.
Symptoms often fluctuate with hormonal changes. Women might be aware that their symptoms are worse during their menstrual cycles or during pregnancy.
Women also can take on ADHD traits which leads to depression. This makes it more difficult to diagnose and treat their ADHD.
Causes
Women who suffer from inattention ADHD typically are not diagnosed until adulthood, when their problems begin to impact with school, work, and personal relationships. This is due to gender biases, both in the clinical setting as well as in teachers' and parents perceptions. Girls are less likely than men 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 planning ahead. They may also have difficulty maintaining focus during conversations, and be easily distracted by external stimuli, internal thoughts or daydreaming. These issues can result in poor performance at work or at school, leading to low self-esteem.
Friends, family members and coworkers are often misinformed about women who have inattention ADHD. Their anger over their symptoms can increase the misperceptions they face. This can result in strained relations. They are often viewed by others as sour or crazy. This can increase their feeling of being misunderstood.
Women with inattentive ADHD are also afflicted by various emotional issues that include anxiety and depression. These problems can be exacerbated by hormonal fluctuations, like during menstruation, pregnancy, or perimenopause. At these times, hormone levels of estrogen decrease and progesterone levels increase which can aggravate ADHD symptoms.
The environment can also trigger inattentive ADHD for example, the chaos of your home or in a workplace with little structure. Women with inattentive ADHD frequently have difficulty staying on track at work and may get behind in their work. This can lead to feelings of self-doubt and a sense of failure. They might also find it difficult to accept criticism or negative feedback. This can further undermine confidence and lead to people avoiding social interactions.
Women with inattention ADHD have a greater tendency to have difficulty developing and maintaining romantic relationships. They are more likely than other women to be suffering from anxiety or depression, and they are more susceptible to rejection. This can make them less willing to risk a romantic connection. This can cause isolation, which can also contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression.
conversational tone and symptoms
Often, women with undiagnosed ADHD suffer from low self-esteem when they try to manage the disorder. Others may comment that they are reckless or forgetful. They may develop unhealthy coping mechanisms like excessive drinking or drugs. They might also resort to non-suicidal self-injury, including cutting, burning, or scratching. ADHD symptoms can affect relationships, work, and school.
Women and girls with ADHD are often more likely to be misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression. This is because many of the symptoms of these disorders overlap with those of ADHD. Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD can also have mood swings that make them appear anxious or depressed. These symptoms can be caused by major changes in life like getting married, starting a new career or having children.
Adults with inattention ADHD are often misdiagnosed and are often mistaken as bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. These symptoms include difficulty in concentrating and feelings of sadness or hopelessness, as well as difficulties managing stress and criticism. These symptoms, when combined with poor time-management, can cause problems at school or work and with family members and friends.
Inattentional ADHD can lead to problems with coping skills for girls and women, such as procrastination or underestimating how long an activity will take (timeblindness). They can have trouble keeping track of schedules and appointments, can easily lose or misplace belongings and are susceptible to jump from one task to the next. They might also be struggling with the ability to control their impulses. This can include making decisions impulsively or interrupting others.
It is important for women suffering from undiagnosed ADHD to be aware of their symptoms and seek help. They can seek help from their primary care physician or a mental health specialist. In addition they can improve their coping skills by using organizational strategies, such as making lists or planning ahead. Exercise releases neurotransmitters that improve concentration and attention. It's also recommended for them to share household and caregiving tasks with their spouse or a different support system to ensure they don't feel overwhelmed.
Treatment
Treatments for ADHD symptoms usually include medication and therapy. Stimulant medications such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamines may help reduce the inattention symptoms of ADHD. There are also nonstimulant medicines, such as atomoxetine. Behavioral therapy can help with the emotional and organizational aspects of ADHD. Some therapists offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in which they help people change negative thoughts or behavior. Some offer one-on-one therapy which focuses on self-esteem and emotional regulation. Support groups can help people with ADHD connect with others with the same condition and share tips for managing symptoms.
For some women, a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD is difficult to accept. They may believe that their troubles stem from the lack of discipline or poor parenting, and this may impact their self-esteem. They might be embarrassed and ashamed by their inability maintain their school schedule or work.
Symptoms of ADHD can be heightened during hormonal changes like those brought on by pregnancy, menstrual cycle, or menopausal. This can make it difficult to deal with emotional manifestations, such as mood swings or irritability. These symptoms can also contribute to relationship difficulties because of how they are perceived by others, particularly male friends or colleagues.
Women with inattentive ADHD often struggle to maintain an orderly home life, and this can lead to issues at school or at work. For example, they might forget important appointments or pay bills late. They might have difficulty organizing their school or work materials, and may be unable to finish assignments. They might be unable to comprehend the boundaries of social interaction and may interrupt other people while talking. These issues can create conflicts in relationships and impact a woman's overall perception of self-worth.
Many women who suffer from inattention ADHD have a difficult time deciding whether to seek assistance. They might think that their problems are not serious enough to warrant attention or they believe that "pulling themselves up by the bootstraps" is possible. They might also be afraid of the stigma that comes with getting a diagnosis of ADHD, which can make it harder for them to seek treatment. If left untreated, ADHD in women can result in depression or suicidal thoughts. They could also resort to unhealthy coping strategies, such alcohol or drug abuse. This can lead to health issues and other issues such as self-harming that is not suicidal (NSSI), including burning or cutting.
Self-Esteem
Women suffering from ADHD often struggle with feelings of inadequateness or chronic stress. This makes it harder to identify and articulate symptoms and seek treatment. It's also common for women to hide their symptoms or devise strategies to disguise their symptoms from others, particularly as they get older. Masking can cause issues at work or at school and can affect relationships.
Research has shown that women with ADHD have a higher risk of experiencing rejection sensitivity and finding it difficult to get a job. These experiences can trigger negative thoughts that 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 appropriate diagnosis and treatment. It's important that they have access to a clinician or therapist that is aware of the difficulties that girls and women confront with ADHD.
As women and girls grow older, they could be confronted with cultural and societal expectations that place the majority of the household and parenting responsibilities on them, and differ from those placed on fathers. These pressures can increase anxiety and depression, and result in chaotic, messy homes, unfinished projects, and a refusal to ask for assistance or admit that they are struggling.
Premenstrual dysphoria and symptoms of adolescents are also common in females with ADHD. The monthly fluctuations in hormone levels can make these symptoms more severe and can be misinterpreted as a sign of other issues such as anxiety or mood swings.
Women with ADHD are often unable to communicate their condition because of insufficient awareness of their condition, and they're less likely to receive treatment than males. Because of this, they're more at risk of negative outcomes as they age, including relationships, unemployment and addiction. They are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed, and remain undiagnosed for the remainder of their lives. This gap could be closed through increased awareness and advocacy efforts to assist health professionals, teachers and parents recognize the signs of ADHD in women and girls.