Inattentive ADHD in Women
Many women struggled 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 menstrual cycles or during pregnancy.
Women may also internalize their ADHD traits, which leads to depression. This makes it harder to recognize and treat ADHD.
Causes
Women with inattentive ADHD are often not diagnosed until adulthood, at which point their problems begin to affect work or school as well as personal relationships. This is partly due to gender biases in both clinical settings and in the perceptions of parents and teachers, who are less likely to recognize ADHD symptoms for girls than boys, even when those symptoms are evident (Ohan and Visser 2009).
Inattentional ADHD causes women to forget appointments, forget deadlines and lose track of time, which makes it hard for them to plan ahead and organize their thoughts. It can also be difficult to prioritize tasks. They may be unable to focus on conversations and can easily become distracted by external stimuli, or internal thoughts and daydreaming. These issues can lead to poor performance at school or at work and can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss and frustration.
Many women suffering from inattention ADHD are often misunderstood by their friends, family and coworkers. Their anger over their symptoms can increase the misunderstandings that they face. This can result in tensions in relationships. They are often viewed by others as moody or crazy. This can increase their feeling of being untrusted.
Women who are not attentive ADHD are also susceptible to anxiety and depression. These issues can be exacerbated by hormone fluctuations that occur during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy or perimenopause. During this time estrogen levels decrease, and progesterone levels rise which can worsen ADHD.
The environment can also trigger inattentive ADHD like an unorganized home or a work life that is not structured. inattentive adhd in women who suffer from inattentive ADHD often have trouble staying on track at work and can be unable to keep up with their work, which leads to a sense of self-doubt and a sense of failure. They may also have a harder time accepting criticism or negative feedback which can further undermine their confidence and cause them to avoid social interactions.
Additionally, women who have inattention ADHD are more likely to experience difficulties establishing and maintaining relationships with their partners. They are more likely to suffer from depression or anxiety and are more prone to rejection, which may cause them to be more reluctant to risk a relationship. This can cause them to feel lonely which can cause depression and anxiety.
Signs and symptoms
Women who have not been diagnosed with ADHD often have low self esteem due to their struggle to cope. They may become discouraged by comments from others who say they are reckless, forgetful, or aloof. They might develop unhealthy coping mechanisms like excessive drinking or drugs. They may also resort to self-injury that is not suicide-related, such as cutting or burning. The symptoms of ADHD can affect relationships, work, and school.
Girls and women who suffer from ADHD are more likely to be misdiagnosed as having depression or anxiety. This is due to the fact that many of the symptoms of these disorders overlap with those of ADHD. Additionally women who are not diagnosed with ADHD can experience mood swings that cause them to appear anxious or depressed. These symptoms can be brought on by major life changes, such as marriage, beginning an entirely new job, or becoming parents.
Adults with inattentive ADHD are also often misdiagnosed and are often mistaken as bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. These symptoms include difficulty staying focused, feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and difficulty handling criticism and stress. When combined with poor time management, these issues can cause difficulties at school or at work, and lead to difficulties with family and friends.
Inattentional ADHD can lead to problems with coping skills for girls and women, which can include procrastination, or underestimating how long a task will take (timeblindness). They can have trouble keeping track of their schedules and appointments, can easily lose or misplace belongings and are prone to flitting from one task to the next. They may also have issues with the ability to control their impulses. This could mean making impulsive decisions or interrupting others.
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD should understand their symptoms and seek assistance. They can seek treatment through their primary care provider or mental health specialist. They can also try to improve their coping skills by employing organizational methods like making lists or planning ahead. They can also take part in physical exercise, which releases neurotransmitters that boost focus and attention. It is also recommended to divide the household and caregiving duties with their spouse or another support networks, so that they don't get stressed by chores or running run-of-the-mill chores.
Treatment
A combination of treatments is usually required to treat ADHD symptoms, which can include medication and therapy. Stimulant medications such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamines can help to reduce the symptoms of inattention of ADHD. There are also non-stimulant drugs, such as atomoxetine. Behavioral therapy can aid in the organizational and emotional aspects of ADHD. Some therapists offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that is where they instruct people on how to change negative thoughts or behaviors. Others provide one-on-one therapy that focuses on self-esteem as well as emotional regulation. Support groups are a great way for people with ADHD to connect with others who share the same condition and to learn how to manage symptoms.
For some women, a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD can be difficult to accept. Some women may think that their problems stem from a lack of discipline or a lack of parenting. This could affect their self-esteem. In adhd test for women , they may feel frustrated by their inability to keep up with work or school, and this could lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment.
ADHD symptoms can be exacerbated by hormonal changes like those that happen during menstrual cycle or pregnancy, or menopausal. This can make it harder to deal with emotional manifestations, such as anger or mood swings. These symptoms can cause relationship problems due to the way they are perceived by other people, especially male colleagues or partners.
Women with inattention ADHD often have difficulty maintaining an orderly home life, and this can cause difficulties at school or at work. For instance, they may not remember important appointments or pay bills late. They might have issues organizing their work or school materials and may be unable to complete tasks. They might have trouble in recognizing social boundaries or interrupting people when they talk. These issues can result in conflicts in relationships, and impact a woman's self-esteem.
Many women with inattentive ADHD find it difficult to ask for help. They may think that their problems are not sufficient to warrant attention or they believe that "pulling themselves up by the bootstraps" is possible. They may also be scared of the stigma associated with getting a diagnosis of ADHD which could make it difficult for them to seek treatment. Women who have untreated ADHD can become depressed or suicidal. They may also engage in unhealthy coping strategies, like drinking or using substances. This can lead to health issues and other issues such as nonsuicidal harming themselves (NSSI) such as cutting or burning.
Self-Esteem
Women suffering from ADHD often have to cope with feelings of inadequacy or chronic stress. This can make it difficult to recognize and articulate the symptoms and seek treatment. It's also common for women to mask their symptoms or develop compensatory strategies to hide their symptoms from others, particularly as they get older. Masking can cause issues at work or school and can affect relationships.
In addition, research shows that women with ADHD are more likely than males to experience symptoms relating to rejection sensitivity, and to have trouble finding jobs. These experiences can reinforce negative thoughts that lead to a lack in confidence and difficulties in interpersonal relationships.
For these reasons, it's important for women with ADHD to be able to access appropriate diagnosis and treatment. It's also essential that they work with a doctor or therapist who is familiar with the unique challenges females and girls face with the disorder.
As women and girls grow up, they may encounter societal and cultural expectations that place the majority of household and parenting duties on them, and differ from those placed on fathers. These pressures can increase depression and anxiety, and result in chaotic, unorganized living spaces, incomplete projects and a reluctance to seek assistance or admit that they have a problem.
The symptoms of premenstrual dysphoria as well as the adolescent years are also common among females with ADHD. These symptoms can be made worse by the fluctuation in hormones and can be mistaken for anxiety or mood shifts.
Women with ADHD often experience a lack of awareness about their condition, and are less likely to seek treatment than males. They are more likely to suffer negative consequences in adulthood which include problems with relationships, unemployment and abuse of substances. They are also more likely to be misdiagnosed than men, and to go undiagnosed throughout their lives. This gap can be lowered by increasing education and advocating for health professionals, teachers and parents to recognize the symptoms of ADHD for women and girls.