Inattentive ADHD in Women
Many women suffer for years prior to being diagnosed with ADHD. When they do, it may be like a lightbulb moment.
The symptoms often change in response to hormonal changes. Women might be aware that their symptoms are worse during their menstrual cycles or during pregnancy.
Women also have the ability to be prone to internalizing ADHD traits that lead to depression. This can make it more difficult to identify and treat ADHD.
Causes
Women who suffer from inattention ADHD tend to not be diagnosed until they reach adulthood, at which point their problems start to interfere with work, school and personal relationships. This is partly due to gender biases in both clinical settings and the perceptions of parents and teachers, who are less likely to recognize ADHD symptoms in girls than boys, even when the symptoms are clear (Ohan and Visser 2009).
Attention-deficit ADHD causes women to forget appointments, forget deadlines and lose track of time, making it difficult for them to plan ahead, organize their thoughts or prioritize tasks. They might be unable to focus on conversations and can easily be distracted by external stimuli, or internal thoughts and daydreaming. These issues can result in low performance at work or in school, which can lead to a low self-esteem.
Family members, friends and coworkers are often misinformed about women with inattentive ADHD. Their frustration with their symptoms can increase the misperceptions they face. This can lead to tensions between people. They are often dismissed by others as sour or crazy. This can increase their feeling of being misunderstood.
Women with inattention ADHD may also be suffering from depression and anxiety. These issues can be made worse by fluctuations in hormone levels, such as during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy or perimenopausal. In these instances, estrogen levels drop and progesterone levels increase which can aggravate ADHD symptoms.
Another cause of inattention ADHD is environmental factors like a chaotic house environment or work life that does not provide enough structure. Women with inattentive ADHD are prone to having difficulty staying on task and become distracted at work, leading to feelings of insecurity and a sense of failure. They may also find it difficult to accept criticism or negative feedback. This can further diminish confidence and lead to people avoiding social interaction.
Women with inattentive ADHD have a greater tendency to struggle with creating and maintaining romantic relationships. They are more likely to suffer from coexisting anxiety or depression and are more prone to rejection, which could make them less willing to commit to a relationship. This can lead to isolation and can contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety.
Symptoms
Often, women with undiagnosed ADHD have low self-esteem when they try to deal with the condition. Others may comment that they are reckless or forgetful. They may adopt unhealthy coping strategies that include excessive drinking or drugs. They might also resort to non-suicidal ways of self-injury, such as cutting, burning, or scratching. Symptoms of ADHD can interfere with relationships as well as work and school.
Women and girls with ADHD are often more likely to be misdiagnosed as having anxiety or depression. This is because the symptoms of anxiety and depression are typically similar to those of ADHD. Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD might also experience mood swings, making them appear anxious or depressed. These symptoms can also be triggered by major life events, such as getting married, beginning a new job or becoming a mother.
Adults who have inattentive ADHD are also often misdiagnosed and are often mistaken for bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. These symptoms include difficulty concentration as well as feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and difficulty handling stress and criticism. These symptoms, when combined with poor time-management, can lead to issues at work or school as well as with family members and friends.
Inattentive ADHD in girls and women can lead to problems with managing skills, like procrastination and a tendency to underestimate how long tasks will take (time blindness). They may have difficulty keeping an eye on their schedules and appointments and may lose or misplace their belongings easily, and flit from one task to the next. They can also have problems with controlling their impulses, for example, interrupting others or making impulsive decisions.
Women with undiagnosed ADHD must be aware of their symptoms and seek help. They can seek treatment through their primary care provider or a mental health professional. They can also seek to improve their coping abilities by employing organizational methods like making lists or preparing in advance. They can also take part in physical exercise, which releases neurotransmitters that increase focus and attention. It's also a good idea for them to share household and caregiving chores with their partner or a different support system to ensure they do not feel overwhelmed.
Treatment
A combination of treatments is often required to treat ADHD symptoms, which includes medication and therapy. The stimulant medications like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamines can aid in reducing the symptoms of inattention of ADHD. Non-stimulant drugs like atomoxetine (Strattera) are also available. Behavioral therapy can aid in the emotional and organizational aspects of ADHD. Therapists may offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that is where they teach people how to modify negative thoughts or behaviors. Others provide one-on-one therapy which focuses on self-esteem and emotional regulation. Support groups are an excellent way for those suffering from ADHD to connect with other people with the same diagnosis and learn about how to manage symptoms.
A diagnosis of inattentive ADHD can be difficult for some women to accept. They may think that their issues result from an absence of discipline or bad parenting, which can affect their self-esteem. They may also feel embarrassed and ashamed because they are unable to maintain their school schedule or work.
Symptoms of ADHD can be heightened when hormonal changes occur that are caused by menstrual cycles, pregnancy or menopausal. This can make it harder to deal with emotional manifestations, such as anger or mood swings. These symptoms can contribute to relationship difficulties because of how they are perceived by other people, especially male colleagues or partners.
Women with inattention ADHD often struggle to maintain a stable home life, and this can lead to issues at school or at work. For instance, they could miss important appointments or pay bills late. They may have trouble organizing their schoolwork or materials, and may have difficulty completing assignments. They may have difficulty understanding social boundaries or interrupting other people while they're talking. These issues can lead to conflict in relationships and affect women'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 problems are not severe enough to warrant attention, or they believe that "pulling themselves up by the bootstraps" is possible. They may also be afraid of the stigma associated with being diagnosed with ADHD which could make them less likely to seek treatment. Women with untreated ADHD can be depressed or suicidal. They could also resort to unhealthy coping strategies, such alcohol or drug abuse. This could lead to health problems and other issues, such as self-harming and non-suicidal (NSSI) such as burning or cutting.
Self-Esteem
Women suffering from ADHD are often plagued by feelings of inadequacy and chronic stress. This can make it harder to recognize and articulate the symptoms and seek treatment. It's also common for women to cover up their symptoms or develop strategies to conceal their symptoms from others, particularly as they age. Masking can cause difficulties at school or work, and can cause relationships to suffer.
Research suggests that women suffering from ADHD are at a higher likelihood of experiencing sensitivity to rejection and finding it difficult to get an employment. These experiences can reinforce negative thoughts, which can lead to a lack in confidence and problems with interpersonal relationships.
In undiagnosed adhd in women , it is crucial for women suffering from ADHD to have access to proper diagnosis and treatment. It's crucial that they can access a clinician or therapist that is familiar with the challenges both women and girls confront with ADHD.
As women and girls mature as they get older, they will be faced with societal and cultural expectations which place the majority of household and parenting responsibilities on them. These expectations differ from those imposed on men. These pressures can trigger anxiety and depression and result in a messy and chaotic home environment, unfinished projects, and the reluctance of women and girls to ask for assistance.
Premenstrual dysphoria and symptoms of the adolescent years are also common among females who suffer from ADHD. These symptoms can be exacerbated by the monthly fluctuations in hormones, and may be misinterpreted as anxiety or mood shifts.
Women who suffer from ADHD are less likely than men to be aware of their condition and to seek treatment. They are more likely to experience negative outcomes as they age, such as relationships, unemployment and addiction issues. They are also more likely to be misdiagnosed than men and are more likely to remain undiagnosed throughout their lives. This gap can be lowered by increasing education and advocating for health professionals as well as teachers and parents to recognize the symptoms of ADHD for women and girls.