High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd can be unhappy and are often misunderstood in their relationships. The symptoms may increase during times of hormonal change, such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies in order to cover their impairments and symptoms can delay the time for referral.
This group of patients faces a unique set of challenges which must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Lack of Self-Esteem
The social and emotional challenges that accompany ADHD can cause women to feel down. Even when they are successful, it is easy to feel like an failure due to things they can't change. This can lead to an endless feeling of being overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative impact on their mental well-being.
Girls who suffer from ADHD who are not treated are at a higher chance of developing chronic low self-esteem and teen pregnancy. They also have a higher chance of depression, anxiety and abuse of substances. As adults, they are at a higher risk of becoming single-parents to a child with ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or underemployment. They're also more likely to be struggling with eating disorders, and their negative patterns could be passed on to their children.
It's crucial for girls to receive an accurate diagnosis because it will give them a better understanding of their issues and allow them to manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women report feeling empowered after receiving a diagnosis. They are no longer berating themselves over things they can't manage. It can also help to reframe their problems and refocus them on what is important (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopausal, their hormone levels can change, and ADHD symptoms may worsen. This can make it harder for them to be identified and treated, as they're often misdiagnosed as an anxiety or mood disorder, and their symptoms are viewed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."
Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating impacts on self-esteem of women, and her relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt daily routines, making her exhausted and irritable. She might feel that she is unable to refuse to be around people which causes her to burden herself and become angry with the people closest to her. It can be difficult to manage her work and home life, which can lead to missed appointments and lost documents. She may be more easily triggered when she is rejected and is more likely to lash out at people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel extremely when you're rejected, either real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner, or an unkind comment from a co-worker at work can trigger your symptoms. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms are overwhelmed and the thoughts emotions, feelings, and beliefs that result could harm your relationships and self-esteem. Rejection sensitivity can also lead to depression, anxiety and mood shifts.
Although it's often linked to ADHD The issue of rejection sensitivity is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation, which affects the way your brain handles emotions and the way you react to them. adhd in adult women can also be seen in other mental health conditions like borderline personality disorder (BPD).
click here for more suffering from RSD may see events through filters that make them appear darker or dimmer than they actually are. This can lead people to interpret things as being related to rejection even if they aren't. RSD can also cause you to have a harder time regulating your emotions and that's why it is important to have healthy coping strategies to manage this.
You can find out more about rejection sensitivity by reading the following articles:
While there is no cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the help of a mental health professional. You can utilize coping techniques like cognitive behavior therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also create an alliance of support and practice mindfulness to reduce the chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you overcome your RSD so that you can live a more fulfilling and happy life. It is also crucial to avoid relationships that are toxic as they can cause your symptoms to worsen. If you're in an abusive relationship, seek out counsel to find out the best way to leave. This can lower the chance of experiencing feelings of rejection like depression and anxiety. You can also increase your self-esteem by focusing on developing healthy relationships. This will help you feel more confident about your abilities and provide an objective view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make the maintenance of a healthy relationship a challenge. This can cause sexual dysfunctions or risky behaviors. Women with high functioning adhd may be at greater risk for sexual problems. These behaviors can also result in feelings of guilt and shame which can have a negative impact on the quality of their relationships and overall well-being.
In one study, adults with ADHD were found to be more likely than those without ADHD to exhibit a sexual fascination. Both males and women were affected. This was likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity, which can make them more likely to act on their sexual desires and ideas. Particularly, the study revealed that females with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and behaviors. This included submissive roles, bondage and sexing with strangers. It was also common for them to go to sexual clubs and parties.
Females and males with adhd had a greater rate of infidelity than people without the disorder. This was due their poor control of their impulses and alcohol withdrawal. It could also be a result of their higher rates of anxiety and feeling misunderstood by partners. The survey also asked participants to share their experiences with sexual affairs and sexual intercourse without contraception. Table 6 provides the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which surveyed participants to describe their problematic sexual behavior. The questionnaire consists of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored on 5 points, ranging between 1 (never to 5) (very often)). The higher the score, the more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was used in order to evaluate sexual behaviors between people with ADHD and those without.
These results are important because the psychosexual outcomes of adults with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been connected to sexual dysfunctions such as STI's and unplanned pregnancies, relationship problems, adult and adolescent onset infidelity and risky sexual behaviours.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have difficulties in their romantic relationships. A lack of communication and misunderstandings due to issues like inattention and forgetfulness can result in anger, resentment, and even conflict in the relationship. A strong network of family and friends members who can understand is beneficial in maintaining healthy relationships.
It is important to remember, too, that people with ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are easily distracted by their thoughts or their impulsive behavior that can cause them to miss out on the main point of a discussion. People with ADHD are more likely to have difficulty with multitasking as well, which can cause them to lose track of conversations or do other things while others talk.
These struggles can lead to a vicious cycle in which the partner who is not ADHD becomes overwhelmed with stress and resentment and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood. They can then become more withdrawn, and the problem escalates from there.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by their everyday demands. They may be feeling shame or low self-esteem due to their impulsive and disorganized behavior. Or they might feel that they are unable to keep up with their chores and bills. They may also experience mood swings and sensitivity to rejection as well as low sexual drive.
It is essential that those who suffer from ADHD find a treatment and seek out help. It is essential that the people closest to them, including spouses, understand ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they can come up with an action plan to achieve their goals. The non-ADHD partner can take on more financial responsibilities while the person with ADHD would focus on organizing and completing housework.
In addition, both partners should be able to communicate effectively and clearly and establish a regular routine that incorporates regular sleep patterns, meal times and time for rest and relaxation. It's also important to discover ways to make life simpler for both parties for example, dividing household chores, or outsourcing certain tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD like hiring a cleaning service or utilizing apps to manage costs.