High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd experience discontent and confusion in their relationships. The symptoms may be more severe in times of hormonal changes like the premenstrual or menstrual cycles.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies to mask their impairments and symptoms can delay the time for referral.
This group of patients has particular issues which must be considered when treating them.
1. Lack of self-esteem
The emotional and social issues that come with ADHD can make women feel down. Even when they're doing well, it's easy to feel like a failure due to things they can't control. This can result in an endless feeling of being overwhelmed and unsatisfied. This can have a negative impact on their mental health.
Girls who suffer from ADHD who aren't treated are at a higher risk for chronic low self-esteem and teenage pregnancy. They also have a higher chance of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. As adults, they are at a higher risk of becoming single-parents to a child with ADHD and facing financial hardship or unemployment. They're also more likely to suffer with eating disorders, and their unhealthy patterns could be passed on to their children.
It's important for girls to receive an assessment, as it will give them a better understanding of their challenges and allow them to manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women report that they feel more confident after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to stop beating themselves up over the small things they cannot control. It helps them to see their struggles as strengths and help them focus their attention on the things that matter most (Waite 2010,).
As women age and enter menopausal, their hormone levels can change, and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. It isn't easy to diagnose and treat women with ADHD due to the fact that their symptoms can be incorrectly identified and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating effects on a woman's self-esteem, and her relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt daily routines, making her feeling exhausted and angry. She might feel that she is unable to say no to anyone which causes her to burden herself and become angry with those close to her. It could be difficult to manage her work and home life, leading to missed appointments and lost files. She could also be more easily affected by rejection and is more likely to snap at those she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
The sensitivity to rejection causes you to feel very hurt when rejected. This could be real or perceived. You might be triggered by a disagreement with your partner or a negative review from a coworker at work. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become overwhelmed and the thoughts and feelings that result could harm your relationships and self-esteem. Rejection sensitivity can also result in anxiety, depression and mood shifts.
Rejection sensitivity, while often associated with ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This affects the way your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. The symptoms can also be observed in other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).
RSD patients might perceive events through a filter, which makes them appear brighter or darker than they are. This can lead them 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 which is why it's important to develop healthy strategies for coping to manage this.
Learn more about the sensitivity to rejection by reading the following articles:
While there is no cure for RSD however, you can manage your symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can use coping techniques like cognitive behavior therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also practice mindfulness and build a network of support to decrease your chance of experiencing negative reactions to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and allow you to lead a more pleasant and satisfying life. It is also essential to avoid toxic relationships as they can cause symptoms to become worse. If you're in an abusive relationship, seek counsel to find out the best method to leave. This can lower the chance of feeling depressed and anxious such as depression and anxiety. By focusing on relationships that are healthy, you can improve your self-esteem. This will make you feel more confident in your abilities and give a realistic perspective on life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make the maintenance of a healthy relationship a challenge. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions or risky behavior. Women with high functioning adhd are at a higher risk of developing sexual problems. These behaviors can also cause feelings of shame and guilt, which can negatively impact their relationships and wellbeing.
In one study, those with ADHD were found to be more likely than people without ADHD to be sexually adventurous. fascination. Both genders were affected. This is likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity, which could make them more likely to act on 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 bondage, submissive roles, and sex with strangers. They also attended sex parties and clubs more often.
signs and symptoms of adhd in women and females with adhd had a higher risk of infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This was due to their poor impulse control and alcohol-related disinhibition, as well as their desire for sensation. This is likely due to their higher levels of insecurity, and feeling misunderstood or misjudged by their loved ones. The survey asked respondents about their experiences with extra-partner relationships and sexual relationships without contraception. Table 6 outlines the results from this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire of participants about their problematic sexual behavior. The questionnaire is comprised of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is evaluated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, the more symptoms are present. The HBI-19 was used to evaluate the sexual behavior of people with and without ADHD.
These findings are significant, because the psychosexual results for adults with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions, such as STI's and unplanned pregnancies, relationship dissatisfaction, infidelity that begins at the onset of adulthood and adolescence and risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD struggle with their romantic relationships. Insufficient communication and misunderstandings triggered by signs such as forgetfulness and inattention can result in anger, frustration and conflict in relationships. A strong network of family and friends members who can understand is beneficial in maintaining healthy relationships.
It is also important to note that people suffering from ADHD often have difficulty listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behaviors which could cause them to miss out on the central point of a discussion. People with ADHD are more likely to be struggling in multitasking which could cause them to become disengaged of conversations or do other activities while others talk.
These conflicts can result in an unending cycle where the person who isn't ADHD becomes overwhelmed with stress and resentment and the ADHD person feels untrusted. They can then withdraw and the issue can escalate from there.
Women with high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their everyday life. They might experience feelings of shame and low self-esteem because of their chaotic and impulsive behavior, or feel like they're not able to handle their bills and chores. They may also have mood swings, rejection sensitivity and a lack of sexual desire.
For these reasons, it is essential for those suffering from ADHD to develop a treatment plan and seek out help. It is also important for those close to them particularly spouses, to be aware of the condition and how it affects their loved ones. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they can create an action plan to meet their goals. The non-ADHD partner could assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD will be focused on organising and completing the housework.
In addition, both partners should work to communicate more clearly and effectively and establish a regular routine that includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times and time for relaxation and rest. It is also crucial to find ways to make things easier for both of you, such as splitting household chores, or outsourcing some of the tasks that are challenging for a person with ADHD for example, hiring a cleaning service or using apps to manage expenses.