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Inattentive ADHD in Women
Many women have to struggle for years before receiving a diagnosis of ADHD. It can be a real lightbulb moment for them when they are diagnosed.
Symptoms often fluctuate with hormonal changes. Women might notice that their symptoms worsen during menstrual cycles or during pregnancy.
Women may also take on their ADHD characteristics, which can lead to depression. This can make it harder to get diagnosed and treat their ADHD.
Causes
Women with inattentive ADHD are typically not diagnosed until adulthood, when their issues begin to affect their work at school, as well as personal relationships. This is due in part to gender biases in both clinical settings and the perceptions of teachers and parents, who are less likely to recognize ADHD symptoms for girls than boys, even when the symptoms are obvious (Ohan and Visser, 2009).
Inattentive ADHD causes women to forget appointments, forget deadlines and lose track of time, making it difficult to plan ahead and organize their thoughts. It can also be difficult to prioritize tasks. They may also have difficulty staying focused during conversations, and be easily distracted by external stimuli, inner thoughts or daydreaming. These signs can lead to low performance at work or at school, which can lead to low self-esteem.
Family members, friends and coworkers often misunderstand women who have inattention ADHD. Their anger over their symptoms can increase the misunderstandings that they encounter. This can result in strained relations. They are often seen as moody and irrational, which can increase their feelings of being misunderstood.
Women who are not attentive ADHD can also suffer from depression and anxiety. attention deficit disorder in women can be exacerbated due to hormonal fluctuations, for instance during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, or perimenopausal. During these times, the estrogen levels drop and progesterone levels rise and can cause an increase in ADHD symptoms.
External factors can also contribute to inattentive ADHD, such as an unorganized home or at work without a clear structure. Women with inattentive ADHD can have difficulty keeping on track and may get behind in their work, which can lead to a feeling of failure and low confidence. They may also have difficulty accepting negative feedback or criticism which can further undermine their confidence and result in them avoiding social interactions.
In addition, women with inattentive ADHD are more likely to experience difficulties establishing and maintaining romantic relationships. They are more likely than the rest to suffer from depression or anxiety and they are more sensitive to rejection. This could make them less willing to risk a romantic relationship. This can lead them to feel isolated which can cause anxiety and depression.
Symptoms
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD often suffer from low self-esteem due to their struggle to deal with. Some may say that they are reckless or forgetful. They might develop unhealthy coping methods, such as excessive drinking or drugs. They may also resort to non-suicidal ways of self-injury, such as cutting, burning, or scratching. Symptoms of ADHD can cause problems with relationships, work, and school.
Girls and women with ADHD are often more likely to be misdiagnosed as having depression or anxiety. This is because the symptoms of anxiety and depression are typically similar to the symptoms of ADHD. In addition women with undiagnosed ADHD can experience mood swings that make them appear anxious or depressed. These symptoms can also be triggered by major life events, such as getting married, beginning in a new job or becoming a parent.
Undiagnosed inattention ADHD in adults is also frequent, and is often mistaken for bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. The symptoms include trouble concentrating, feelings such as despair or sadness and difficulties dealing with criticism and stress. In conjunction with poor time management, these symptoms could cause difficulties at school or at work and can cause issues with family and friends.
Inattentive ADHD for girls and women can affect managing skills, like procrastination and a tendency to underestimate how long tasks will take (time blindness). They may struggle to keep track of appointments and schedules and may lose or misplace their belongings easily, and jump from one task to the next. They can also have problems with impulse control, such as interrupting others or making impulsive choices.
Women who are not diagnosed with ADHD must be aware of their symptoms and seek help. They can seek treatment through their primary care physician or a mental health specialist. They can also seek to improve their ability to cope through organizing techniques like creating lists or preparing in advance. Exercise releases neurotransmitters, which enhance focus and attention. It is also recommended to divide up household and caregiving responsibilities with their spouse or another support networks, so that they aren't overwhelmed by chores or other errands.
Treatment
A combination of treatments is often needed to manage ADHD symptoms, which can include therapy and medication. Drugs that stimulate the brain, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamines may aid in reducing the symptoms of inattention of ADHD. Non-stimulant medications 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) in which 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 can help people with ADHD connect with other people who suffer from the disorder and share ideas about managing symptoms.
A diagnosis of inattentive ADHD may be difficult for some women to accept. They may believe that their troubles stem from a lack of discipline or poor parenting, and this may impact their self-esteem. In addition, they could feel frustrated by their inability to keep up with their work or school, which could lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment.
ADHD symptoms can be made worse by hormonal changes such as those that occur during menstrual cycles or pregnancy, or menopausal. This can make it more difficult to manage emotional symptoms, such as mood swings and irritability. These symptoms can cause problems in relationships due to the way they are perceived by other people, especially male friends or colleagues.
Women with inattention ADHD struggle to keep a stable family life. This can lead to problems at school or at work. They may, for instance forget important appointments, or pay their bills late. They may have trouble organizing their school or work materials, and they may be unable to finish assignments. They may have difficulty understanding social boundaries and interrupting other people while talking. These issues can result in conflicts in relationships, and impact a woman's self-esteem.
Many women who suffer from inattention ADHD are hesitant to seek help. They may think that their problems are not severe enough to warrant attention or that "pulling themselves up by the bootstraps" is possible. They might also be afraid of the stigma associated from being diagnosed with ADHD which could make them less likely to seek treatment. Women with untreated ADHD can be depressed or suicidal. They may also turn to unhealthy coping methods such as drinking alcohol or substance abuse which can cause health problems and other issues, such as self-injury that is non-suicidal (NSSI) that includes cutting or burning.
Self-Esteem
Women with ADHD frequently have to deal with feelings of inadequacy or constant stress. This can make it more difficult to recognize and articulate the symptoms, and seek treatment. It's also common for women to mask their symptoms or develop strategies to conceal their symptoms from others, particularly as they age. Masking can cause difficulties at work or school and can cause relationships to suffer.
Furthermore, research suggests that women suffering from ADHD are more likely than men to experience symptoms related to rejection sensitivity and to have trouble finding jobs. These experiences can cause negative self-talk, which can lead to a lack of confidence and difficulties in interpersonal relationships.
For these reasons, it is crucial for women suffering from ADHD to be able to access proper diagnosis and treatment. It's essential that they can access an therapist or a therapist who is knowledgeable about the issues that girls and women face with ADHD.
As women and girls grow up, they may be confronted with cultural and societal expectations that place the majority of household and parenting duties on them, and which differ from the expectations placed on fathers. attention deficit disorder in women can lead to anxiety and depression and lead to chaotic, messy living spaces, incomplete projects, and a refusal to seek help or admit they are struggling.
The symptoms of premenstrual dysphoria as well as adolescents are also common in females suffering from ADHD. The fluctuation in hormone levels can cause these symptoms to become more severe and can be mistaken for other issues like anxiety or mood swings.
Women who suffer from ADHD are less likely than males to be aware of their condition and seek treatment. They are more likely to suffer negative consequences in adulthood which include relationships, unemployment and addiction issues. They are more likely than men to be misdiagnosed and remain undiagnosed for the rest of their lives. This gap can be closed by enhancing awareness and advocacy efforts to help health professionals as well as teachers and parents to recognize the signs of ADHD for women and girls.
