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 be more severe in periods of hormonal changes, like the premenstrual or pregnancy cycles.
Many girls and women resort to compensatory strategies, hiding their impairments and symptoms that can delay time until referral.
This group of patients faces particular issues that must be considered when treating them.
1. Self-esteem issues
The social and emotional challenges associated with ADHD can leave women feeling down. Even when they're doing well and have a good time, it's easy for them to feel like a failure due to things they cannot control. This can result in an unending cycle where they are constantly overwhelmed and never good enough which can take a toll on their self-esteem and mental health.
Girls who don't have treatment for ADHD are at greater risk of developing chronic low self-esteem as well as anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression and substance abuse. As adults, they are more likely to be parents on their own to a child suffering from ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or underemployment. They are also more likely than other people to suffer from eating disorders and to pass their bad habits on to their children.
It's crucial for girls to get an accurate diagnosis because it will give them an understanding of their struggles and allow them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women say that they feel much more at ease after receiving their diagnosis, allowing them to stop beating themselves up over the little things they are unable to manage. It can also help to reframe their issues and help them focus on the things that matter (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopausal age, their hormone levels could change and ADHD symptoms may worsen. This can make it harder for them to be diagnosed and treated since they are often misdiagnosed as having anxiety or mood disorder, and their symptoms are dismissed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt daily routines, making her feeling exhausted and angry. She may feel that she can't refuse people, causing her to be overwhelmed and resentful of those around her. She may find it difficult to manage her work and home life, resulting in missed appointments and lost documents. She can also be more easily triggered by rejection so she may be more likely to be defensive and even lash out at the people she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a condition that causes you to feel a strong sense of when you are rejected, whether it is real or perceived. It could be caused by an argument with your partner or a negative review from a coworker at work. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms are over-stimulated, and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result can harm your self-esteem and relationships. The sensitivity to rejection can also lead to depression, anxiety and mood fluctuations.
Although it's often attributed to ADHD, rejection sensitiveness is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation that affects how your brain handles emotions and how you respond to them. Other mental health issues like borderline personality disorder can also show these symptoms.
RSD patients may perceive events through a filter, which makes them appear darker or brighter than they are. This causes them to perceive and interpret things as being related to rejection, even though they are not. RSD can make you in a state of being unable to control your emotions. This is why it is crucial to develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage RSD.
Check out the following articles to learn more about the sensitivity to rejection.
While there is no cure for RSD but it is possible to manage your symptoms with the help of a mental health professional. You can use coping techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also establish an alliance of support and practice mindfulness to reduce the chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD, so you can live a happier and more satisfying life. Avoid relationships that are toxic, because they can cause more symptoms. If women and adhd are in an abusive relationship, seek out counseling to find out how you can get out. This will reduce the risk of experiencing feelings of rejection, such anxiety and depression. By focusing on healthy relationships that you are in, you will increase your self-esteem. This will make you feel more confident in your abilities and provide an honest view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship challenging. This can cause sexual dysfunctions or risky behavior. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at higher risk of developing these sexual issues than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can lead to feelings of guilt and shame and can have a negative impact on the quality of their relationships and overall wellbeing.
In one study, adults with ADHD were found to be more likely than people without ADHD to exhibit a sexual interest. Both genders were affected. This could be due to their higher levels of impulsivity which can make them more likely to act upon their sexual desires and ideas. The study revealed that females who suffer from adhd are more likely to indulge in paraphilic fantasies and behavior. This included submissive role-play and bondage as well as sexual relations with strangers. It was also more typical for them to go to sexual clubs and parties.
Both women and men who suffer from adhd were more likely to be in a relationship than those who didn't have the disorder. This was due to their lack of impulse control and alcohol disinhibition. This is probably due to their higher levels of insecurity, and feeling misunderstood or misjudged by their partners. The survey asked participants about their experiences with extra-partner relationships and sexual relationships without contraception. Table 6 shows the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to ask participants about their sexual issues. This questionnaire consists of 19 items that are grouped into three subscales. Each item is rated using a five-point scale, ranging between 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, the more symptomatology there is. The HBI-19 was used in order to assess sexual behavior between adults with ADHD and those who do not.
These findings are important because the psychosexual experiences of people with ADHD are not well-studied. They have been linked with sexual dysfunctions such as STIs and unwanted pregnancy relationships, dissatisfaction with relationships and adult onset infidelity, and risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have issues with their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clarity in communication, and misunderstandings due to symptoms like inattention and forgetfulness can cause frustration, resentment, and conflict within the relationship. A supportive 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 own thoughts or impulsive behavior, which could cause them to miss out on the main reason for a discussion. People with ADHD are more likely to struggle with multitasking, too, which can cause them to tune out of conversations or perform other things while others talk.
These conflicts can lead to a cycle where the non-ADHD partner becomes overwrought with anger and stress and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood, and defensive. They then tend to become more introverted, and the problem escalates from there.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their lives. They may feel shame or low self-esteem because of their impulsive, disorganized behavior. Or they might feel that they are unable to manage their chores and bills. They might also feel mood swings, rejection sensitivity and low sexual desire.
It is important that those who suffer from ADHD find a treatment and seek help. It is important that those who are closest to them, particularly spouses, are aware of ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they will create an action plan to achieve their goals. For example the partner who is not ADHD could be more involved in the financial responsibility, while the person with ADHD may be more focused on completing chores and organizing the house.
In addition, both parties should be able to communicate clearly and effectively, and establish a routine that includes regular sleep patterns, meal times and time for rest and relaxation. It's also important to discover ways to make life easier for both parties for example, splitting household chores, or outsourcing some of the tasks that are challenging for a person with ADHD like hiring cleaning services or using apps to manage costs.