Inattentive ADHD in Women
Many women struggled for years before they were diagnosed with ADHD. It could be a moment of lightbulb when they receive a diagnosis.
The symptoms may change due to hormonal changes. Women might notice that their symptoms get worse during their menstrual cycles or during pregnancy.
Women can also be prone to internalizing ADHD traits which leads to depression. This can make it harder to get diagnosed and treat their ADHD.
Causes
Women with inattentional ADHD are often not diagnosed until adulthood, when their issues begin to affect their work or school as well as personal relationships. This is partly due to gender bias in both clinical settings and the perceptions of teachers and parents, who are less likely to recognize ADHD symptoms in girls than boys even if the symptoms are obvious (Ohan and Visser, 2009).
Inattentional ADHD can cause women to forget important dates, forget deadlines, and lose track of time. They also have difficulty prioritizing tasks, organizing their thoughts or making plans for the future. They may also have difficulties staying focused during conversations, and become easily distracted by external stimuli, internal thoughts or daydreaming. These symptoms can lead to poor performance at work or at school, which can lead to low self-esteem.
Friends, family members and coworkers are often misinformed about women with inattention ADHD. Their frustration with their symptoms increases the mistrust they face which can cause tensions in relationships. They are often dismissed by others as moody or crazy. This can increase their feeling of being untrusted.
Women who have inattention ADHD are also afflicted by various emotional issues such as anxiety and depression. These issues can be made worse by hormonal fluctuations like during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy or perimenopause. During this time, estrogen levels decrease and progesterone levels rise, which can exacerbate ADHD.
External factors can also contribute to inattentive ADHD, such as the chaos of your home or in a workplace without a clear structure. Women with inattentive ADHD are often unable to stay on track at work and can be unable to keep up with their work, which leads to a sense of inadequacy and low self-esteem. They may also be unable to accept criticism or negative feedback. This can further diminish confidence and cause people to avoid social interactions.
Women with inattentive ADHD have a greater tendency to have difficulty developing and maintaining romantic relationships. They are more likely than others to suffer from depression or anxiety, and they are more sensitive to rejection. This can cause them to be less willing to risk a romantic relationship. This can cause isolation which can lead to feelings of depression and anxiety.
Signs and symptoms
Often, women with undiagnosed ADHD suffer from low self-esteem when they try to manage the disorder. adhd symptoms in women test can be discouraged by comments from others that they are negligent or forgetful. They may develop unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as excessive alcohol or drug use. They may also resort non-suicidal ways of self-injury, such as cutting, burning, or scratching. ADHD symptoms can affect relationships, work and school.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are often more likely to be misdiagnosed with depression or anxiety. This is because the signs of anxiety and depression are often similar to those of ADHD. In addition women who are not diagnosed with ADHD can experience mood swings that cause them to appear anxious or depressed. These symptoms can also be brought on by major life changes such as getting married, beginning an entirely new job or becoming a mother.
Adults who have inattentive ADHD are often misdiagnosed, and may be mistaken for bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. These symptoms include difficulty staying focused, feelings of despair or sadness, and difficulties coping with criticism and stress. When combined with poor time management, these issues can create problems at work or school and can cause issues with family and friends.
Inattentive ADHD in women and girls can lead to problems with the ability to cope, including procrastination and a tendency to underestimate the time tasks will take (time blindness). They may have trouble keeping track of appointments and schedules and may lose or misplace their belongings easily, and flit from one task to the next. They might also be struggling with impulse control. This can include making impulsive choices or interrupting others.
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD must be aware of their symptoms and seek assistance. They can seek treatment from their primary care physician or mental health specialist. They can also try to improve their coping abilities through organizing techniques, such as making lists or planning ahead. Exercise releases neurotransmitters which 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. The stimulant medications like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamines may help to reduce the symptoms of inattention of ADHD. Non-stimulant medications like atomoxetine (Strattera) are also available. Behavioral therapy is a good option to treat the organizational and emotional aspects of ADHD. Therapists may employ cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which helps people to change negative thoughts and behaviors as well as offer one-on-one therapy to improve self-esteem and emotional regulation. Support groups can help those with ADHD connect with others who suffer from the disorder and share strategies for managing symptoms.
A diagnosis of inattention ADHD could be a challenge for some women to accept. They may believe that their issues result from the lack of discipline or bad parenting, and this can affect their self-esteem. They might also feel embarrassed and ashamed by their inability maintain their school schedule or work.
Symptoms of ADHD can heighten during hormonal changes that are caused by menstrual cycles, pregnancy or menopause. This can make it more difficult to manage emotional symptoms like mood swings and irritability. These symptoms can cause relationship problems because of how they are perceived by other people, especially male colleagues or partners.
Women with inattentive ADHD often struggle to maintain a steady home life which can cause difficulties at school or at work. For instance, they might forget important appointments, or pay their bills late. They might have issues organizing their work or school materials and may have difficulty completing tasks. They may have difficulty understanding the social boundaries and interrupting people when they talk. These issues can create conflicts in relationships and can affect a woman's overall sense of self-worth.
Many women who suffer from inattention ADHD have a difficult time deciding whether to ask for help. They might think that their issues aren't serious enough to require attention or that they should be capable of "pull themselves up by their bootstraps." They may also be afraid of the stigma that comes with being diagnosed with ADHD, which can make it difficult for them to seek treatment. Women with untreated ADHD can become depressed or suicidal. They may also engage in unhealthy coping behaviors like alcohol or substance abuse, which can cause health problems and other issues, like nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) which can involve burning or cutting.
Self-Esteem
Women with ADHD are often suffering from feelings of inadequacy and constant stress. This can make it difficult to recognize and articulate the symptoms and seek treatment. Women often hide symptoms or resort to compensatory strategies, especially as they get older, to conceal the signs. Masking can cause problems at school or work and may affect relationships.
In addition, research shows that women suffering from ADHD are more likely than men to experience symptoms that are related to rejection sensitivity, and to have trouble finding jobs. These experiences can lead to negative thoughts, which can lead to a lack of confidence and issues in interpersonal relationships.
It is crucial that women with ADHD receive the correct diagnosis and treatment. It's important that they are able to access an therapist or a therapist who is aware of the difficulties that girls and women confront with ADHD.
As women and girls grow older, they could encounter societal and cultural expectations that place the majority of the household and parenting responsibilities on them, and which differ from those placed on fathers. These pressures can increase anxiety and depression and can lead to disorganized, chaotic home environments, unfinished projects and a lack of willingness to seek assistance or admit that they are struggling.
It's also normal for females with ADHD to experience symptoms related to puberty and adolescence and also suffer from premenstrual dysphoria. These symptoms can be made worse by the fluctuations in hormones and can be mistaken for anxiety or mood shifts.
Women with ADHD are less likely than men to be aware of their condition and seek treatment. This means that they're more at risk of negative outcomes as they age, including unemployment, relationship problems and addiction. They're also more likely be misdiagnosed than males and are more likely to remain undiagnosed throughout their lives. This gap could be closed through increased education and advocacy efforts to assist health professionals, teachers and parents recognize the symptoms of ADHD in girls and women.