Inattentive ADHD in Women
Many women struggled for years before they were diagnosed with ADHD. When they do, it can be like an epiphany.
The symptoms often change in response to hormonal changes. For example, women may feel their symptoms worsen during their menstrual cycle or during pregnancy.
Women can also internalize their ADHD characteristics, which can lead to depression. This can make it more difficult to identify and treat ADHD.
Causes
Women who have inattentive ADHD tend to not be diagnosed until adulthood, when their problems start to interfere with school, work and personal relationships. This is due to gender bias in both the clinical setting and in teachers' and parents perceptions. Teachers and parents are less likely than boys to recognize ADHD symptoms.
Inattentional ADHD can cause women to forget important dates, miss 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 trouble keeping their attention during conversations and become easily distracted by external stimuli, inner thoughts or daydreaming. These symptoms can result in poor performance at school or at work and can lead to low self-esteem and anger.
Friends, family members and colleagues often misunderstand women with inattentive ADHD. Their anger over their symptoms can lead to more misunderstandings they encounter. This can result in tensions between people. They are often viewed by others as sour or irrational. This can increase their feeling of being misunderstood.
Women with inattention ADHD are also susceptible to depression and anxiety. These issues can be made worse by hormonal fluctuations like during menstrual cycles and pregnancy or perimenopausal. During this time estrogen levels decrease, and progesterone levels rise, which can exacerbate ADHD.
The environment can also trigger inattentive ADHD, such as an unorganized home or at work without a clear structure. Women who suffer from inattentive ADHD are often unable to stay focused at work and may be unable to keep up with their work, which leads to a sense of inadequacy and low self-esteem. They may also find it difficult to accept criticism or negative feedback. This can further undermine confidence and cause people to avoid social interactions.
Women who are inattentive ADHD have a greater tendency to struggle in developing and maintaining romantic relationships. They are more likely to have coexisting anxiety or depression and are more prone to rejection, which could make them more reluctant to risk a relationship. This can lead to isolation, which can also contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety.
Signs and symptoms
Most women with undiagnosed ADHD suffer from low self-esteem while trying to deal with the disorder. Some may say that they are careless or forgetful. They could adopt unhealthy coping strategies like excessive drinking or drug use. They might also resort to non-suicidal forms of self-injury such as cutting, burning, or scratching. ADHD symptoms can impact relationships, work, and school.
Girls and women with ADHD are often more likely to be misdiagnosed as having depression or anxiety. This is because many of the symptoms of these disorders are similar with the symptoms of ADHD. Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD can also experience mood swings, making them appear depressed or anxious. These symptoms can also be caused by major life changes such as getting married, beginning a new job or becoming a parent.
Undiagnosed inattention ADHD in adults is common, and can be mistaken as bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. These symptoms include difficulty concentrating and feelings of despair or sadness, as well as difficulties managing stress and criticism. These symptoms, when combined with poor time management, could result in difficulties at work or in school as well as with family members and friends.
Inattentional ADHD can lead to problems with coping skills for girls and women, which can include procrastination, or underestimating the time an activity 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 may also have issues with the ability to control their impulses. This could include making decisions impulsively or interrupting others.
It is important for women suffering from undiagnosed ADHD to be aware of their symptoms and get help. They can seek treatment from their primary care physician or a mental health professional. They can also try to improve their coping skills by using organizational techniques, such as making lists or preparing in advance. Exercise releases neurotransmitters, which enhance concentration and focus. It's also recommended for them to share household and caregiver duties with their partner or a different support system to ensure they do not feel overwhelmed.
Treatment
Treatments for ADHD symptoms usually include therapy and medication. The stimulant medications like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamines could aid in reducing the symptoms of inattention of ADHD. Non-stimulant drugs like atomoxetine (Strattera) are also available. Behavioral therapy can help with the emotional and organizational aspects of ADHD. Some therapists offer cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) that is where they instruct people on how to change negative thoughts or behavior. Others provide one-on-one therapy that focuses on self-esteem as well as emotional regulation. Support groups are an excellent way for those who suffer from ADHD to connect with others with the same diagnosis and learn about how to manage their symptoms.
A diagnosis of inattention ADHD can be difficult for some women to accept. They may believe that their troubles stem from a lack of discipline or bad parenting, and this may affect their self-esteem. They might also feel embarrassed and ashamed due to their inability to keep up with school or work.
ADHD symptoms can be made worse by hormonal changes, such as those that occur during menstrual cycles and pregnancy or menopausal. This can make it more difficult to deal with emotional symptoms, like irritability and mood swings. These symptoms can cause relationship problems because of the way they are perceived by other people, especially male colleagues or partners.
Women with inattention ADHD struggle to maintain a stable family life. This can cause problems at school or at work. For instance, they might forget important appointments or pay their bills late. They may have trouble organizing their school or work materials, and they may have difficulty completing assignments. They might have trouble understanding the social boundaries and interrupting people when they're talking. These issues can lead to conflicts in relationships and affect a woman's overall sense of self-worth.
Many women who suffer from inattention ADHD have difficulty asking for help. They might think that their difficulties are not serious enough to require attention or that they shouldn't be capable of "pull themselves up by their bootstraps." They might also be afraid of the stigma associated with getting a diagnosis of ADHD which can make it harder for them to seek treatment. Untreated ADHD in women can cause depression or suicidal thoughts. They might also adopt unhealthy coping strategies, such alcohol or drug abuse. This can cause health problems and other issues, such as nonsuicidal harming themselves (NSSI) such as burning or cutting.
Self-Esteem
Women suffering from ADHD are often suffering from feelings of inadequacy and constant stress. This can make it difficult to recognize and articulate the symptoms, and get treatment. It's also common for women to hide their symptoms or develop strategies to disguise them from others, particularly as they get older. Masking can lead to problems at work or school and can affect relationships.
Research shows that women with ADHD are at a higher chance of feeling a sensitivity to rejection and having difficulty finding a job. These experiences can lead to negative thoughts that can lead to a lack of confidence and difficulties in interpersonal relationships.
In these circumstances, it's crucial for women suffering from ADHD to be able to access appropriate diagnosis and treatment. It's also essential that they work with a doctor or therapist who understands the unique challenges that girls and women face with the disorder.
As women and girls become teenagers, they might encounter cultural and social norms that place the majority of parenting and household duties on them, and differ from the expectations placed on fathers. These pressures can cause anxiety and depression, and result in disorganized, chaotic living spaces, incomplete projects, and a refusal to ask for help or admit they are struggling.
It's also common for females with ADHD to experience symptoms related to puberty and adolescence, and to struggle with premenstrual dysphoria. The fluctuation in hormone levels can make these symptoms worse, and they might be misinterpreted as other problems like anxiety or mood swings.
adhd symptoms in women test suffering from ADHD are less likely than men to be aware of their condition and to seek treatment. As a result, they have a higher rate of negative outcomes as adults, including unemployment, relationship problems and substance use. They are also more likely to be misdiagnosed than men and are more likely to remain undiagnosed for the rest of their lives. This gap can be reduced by educating the public and advocating for health professionals as well as parents and teachers to recognize the symptoms of ADHD for women and girls.