High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd are dissatisfied and often misunderstood by their relationships. The symptoms can become more severe during times of hormonal change, like the pre-menstrual period and pregnancy.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies, hiding their impairments and symptoms, which can delay time to referral.
This patient group faces a unique set problems that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Self-Esteem is not a strong point.
Women can be depressed due to the social and emotional challenges of ADHD. Even when they're doing well it's easy to feel like a failure because of things they cannot control. This can result in a vicious cycle where they feel constantly overwhelmed and never satisfied, which can take a toll on their self-esteem and mental health.
Girls who don't have treatment for ADHD are more at risk of developing chronic low self-esteem, anxiety, teen pregnancy depression, and abuse of substances. As adults, they're at increased risk of single-parenting a child with ADHD and financial difficulties, as well as underemployment. They are also more likely than other people to be afflicted by eating disorders and to pass their bad habits on to their children.
It's important for girls to get a diagnosis, because it will give them a better understanding of their struggles and enable them to manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women report feeling more confident after receiving a diagnosis. They can stop being a victim of things they cannot manage. It can also help reframe their struggles and refocus on what's important (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopause their hormone levels may change and ADHD symptoms may worsen. This can make it difficult for them to be identified and treated since they are often misdiagnosed as anxiety or mood disorder and their symptoms are viewed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."
Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on women's self-esteem and her relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt daily routines, leaving her exhausted and irritable. It is possible that she cannot say no to people and end up overburdened herself and become resentful of those close to her. She might find it difficult to organize her home and work life and this can lead to missing appointments and lost files. She could also be more easily triggered when she is rejected, making her more likely to snap at people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel extremely when you're being rejected, either real or perceived. It could be caused by a disagreement with your partner or a negative feedback from a colleague at work. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms are over-stimulated and the thoughts emotions, feelings, and beliefs that result can harm your relationships and self-esteem. add women may also experience depression, anxiety and mood fluctuations as a result of sensitive to rejection.
Rejection sensitivity, which is often associated with ADHD is actually an indication of emotional dysregulation. This affects the way your brain processes emotions and how you respond to them. The symptoms can also be found in other mental health conditions like borderline personality disorder (BPD).
RSD patients may perceive events through a filter, making them appear darker or brighter than they are. This causes them to interpret and interpret events as being related to rejection, even though they are not. RSD can also cause you to have a harder time regulating your emotions which is why it's important to have healthy coping strategies to manage this.
Check out the following articles to learn more about rejection sensitivity.
While there is no cure for RSD however, you can manage your symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can employ strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which helps change your negative thought patterns. You can also develop mindfulness and build a network of support to reduce your risk of negative reactions to rejection. This can help you overcome your RSD so that you can live a more fulfilled and happy life. It is also important to stay clear of toxic relationships since they can cause symptoms to become worse. If you are in an abusive relationship, seek counseling to learn how to safely get out. This will help reduce your risk of rejection-related feelings, such as depression and anxiety. You can also boost 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 maintaining a healthy relationship challenging. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behaviors. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at greater risk of experiencing these sexual problems than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also cause feelings of shame and guilt and can negatively impact their relationships and wellbeing.
In one study, those with ADHD were found to be more likely than those with ADHD to exhibit a sexual curiosity. This was true for both males and females. This was likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity which can make them more likely to act on their sexual desires and thoughts. In particular, the study showed that women with adhd were more likely to indulge in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and actions. This included bondage, submissive roles and sexing with strangers. They also went to sex parties and nightclubs more often.
Both females and males suffering from adhd had a higher rate of infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This was due their poor control of impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition. It could also be due to their higher rates of anxiety and feeling misunderstood by partners. The survey also asked participants to report their experiences with extra-partner sexual affairs and sexual intercourse without use of contraception. Table 6 summarizes the results of this section.
In the final analysis, the study utilized the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to ask participants about their sexual issues. The questionnaire consists of 19 items, and is divided into three subscales. Each item is scored on a five-point scale between 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The more high the score, the more symptomatology is evident. The HBI-19 was used to evaluate the sexual behaviors of adults with and without ADHD.
These findings are significant because the psychosexual experiences of adults with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions, like STI's, unwanted pregnancies, relationship dissatisfaction, adolescent and adult onset infidelity and risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have trouble in their romantic relationships. A lack of communication, and misunderstandings caused by symptoms such as inattention and forgetfulness can result in frustration, resentment, and a conflict in the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be assisted by a supportive network of family and friends who can understand.
It is crucial to keep in mind, too, that people who suffer from ADHD have trouble listening. They can be interrupted easily by their impulsive behavior, or their own thoughts, which may cause them to miss the main point of a conversation. People with ADHD are more likely to have difficulty with multitasking as well and can cause them to become disengaged of conversations or do other activities while someone else is talking.
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 can then withdraw and the issue can escalate from there.
Women with high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of daily life. They may be feeling guilt or self-esteem issues due to their impulsive, unorganized behavior. They may find themselves struggling to manage their obligations and bills. They might also have mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sex desire.
Because of this, it is essential for those who suffer from ADHD to find a treatment plan and seek out help. It is essential that the people closest to them, particularly spouses, learn more about ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can work together to establish clear boundaries and expectations and then formulate a plan for how they will achieve their objectives. The non-ADHD spouse could take on more financial responsibilities while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and finishing the housework.
Both partners should be working to improve their communication and create a routine, which includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times and time for relaxation and rest. It is also essential to discover ways to make life simpler for both parties by sharing household chores or outsourcing some tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD for example, hiring a cleaning service or using apps to control costs.