High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd are dissatisfied and often misunderstood by their relationships. The symptoms may be more severe during times of hormonal changes, like premenstrual and pregnancy cycles.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies to mask their impairments and symptoms can delay referral.
This patient group faces specific challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Self-Esteem is not a strong point.
Women can feel depressed by the social and emotional challenges of ADHD. Even when they're successful and have a good time, it's easy for them to feel like a failure due to things they cannot control. This can create an endless feeling of being overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative effect on their mental health.
Girls with untreated ADHD are at greater risk of chronic low self-esteem, anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression, and abuse of substances. As adults, they are more likely to be single-parents of a child with ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or unemployment. They're also more likely to be struggling with eating disorders, and their bad patterns can pass down to their children.
It is crucial for girls to receive a diagnosis, because it will give them a better understanding of their challenges and allow them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women report feeling empowered after receiving a diagnosis. They are no longer getting angry about things they aren't able to manage. It can also help them see their challenges as strengths and help them focus their attention on the things that matter most (Waite, 2010).
As women mature and approach menopausal their hormone levels alter and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. This can make it harder for them to be identified and treated because 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 effects on women's self-esteem and her relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can affect women's daily routines that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. She might feel like she can't refuse people, leading her to become overburdened and resentful of those who are around her. It could be difficult to manage her home and work life which can lead to missing appointments and lost files. She may be more easily angered when she is not liked and is more likely to lash out at people she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
The sensitivity to rejection causes you to feel very hurt when rejected. This could be real or perceived. add in women test with your partner, or an unkind comment from a coworker at work can trigger your symptoms. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms become over-stimulated and the thoughts and feelings that result can hurt your self-esteem and relationships. You can also experience depression, anxiety, and mood fluctuations as a result of rejection sensitivity.
While it's often associated with ADHD, rejection sensitivity is actually a symptom of emotional dysregulation, which affects the way your brain handles emotions and the way you react to them. The symptoms can also be observed in other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).
People suffering from RSD might see events through filters that make them appear more dark or dimmer than they really are. This can cause them to interpret and perceive things as being related to rejection, even though they're not. RSD can make you in a state of being unable to control your emotions. This is why it is essential to develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage RSD.
You can find out more about rejection sensitivity by reading the articles below:
Although there isn't a cure for RSD but it is possible to manage your symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can utilize coping strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps you change your negative thought patterns. You can also engage in mindfulness and build a community of support to lessen your chance of experiencing negative reactions to rejection. This will aid you in overcoming your RSD to live a more fulfilled and happy life. Avoid relationships that are toxic, as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you're in a abusive relationship, seek out counsel to find out the best way to leave. This will reduce the risk of rejection related feelings, such anxiety and depression. By focusing on healthy relationships, you can improve your self-esteem. This will make you feel more confident in your abilities and give an honest view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship difficult. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at higher risk of developing these sexual problems than non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also lead to feelings of shame and guilt, which can have a negative impact on the quality of their relationships and overall well-being.
In one study, those with ADHD were found to be more likely than those without ADHD to exhibit a sexual curiosity. This was the case for both males and females. This was likely due to their more impulsive levels, which could make them more likely to act on their sexual desires and ideas. The study found that females who have adhd are more likely to indulge in paraphilic fantasies and behaviors. This included submissive role play bondage, sex with strangers. They also went to sex events and nightclubs more often.
Females and males with adhd had a higher risk of infidelity than people without the disorder. This was due their poor impulse control and alcohol disinhibition. This could also be due to their higher levels of insecurity and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with sexual affairs and sexual intercourse without contraception. Table 6 provides the results for this section.
The study also utilized the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which surveyed participants about their sexual issues. The questionnaire comprises 19 items that are grouped into three subscales. Each item is scored using a 5-point scale, from 1 (never to 5 (very frequently)). The higher the score, the more symptomatology is evident. The HBI-19 was used in order to compare sexual behaviors between adults with ADHD and those without.
These findings are significant, because the psychosexual outcomes for adults with ADHD were rarely 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 who have high functioning ADHD struggle with their romantic relationships. Lack of clear communication and misunderstandings triggered by symptoms such as inattention and forgetfulness may result in anger, frustration, and conflict within relationships. A strong network of family and friends members who are able to understand each other can be helpful for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is crucial to keep in mind that people with ADHD have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior which can cause them to lose focus on the central purpose of a conversation. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which can cause them to tune out conversations or do something else while someone else is talking.
These struggles can result in a vicious cycle in which the non-ADHD person becomes overwhelmed with anger and stress, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood and defensive. The issue could escalate from there, as they become more withdrawn.
Women with high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by the demands of their lives. They may feel guilt or self-esteem issues because of their impulsive, chaotic behavior. It is also possible that they feel that they are unable to manage their chores and bills. They might also be suffering from mood swings and sensitivity to rejection and low sexual drive.
Because of this, it is essential for those who suffer from ADHD to establish an effective treatment plan and seek help. It is essential that those closest to them, including spouses, learn more about ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. They can then create an action plan to achieve their goals. The non-ADHD partner could take on more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD will be focused on organising and completing chores at home.
In addition, both parties should work to communicate more effectively and clearly and establish a regular routine that includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times and time to relax and rest. It's also important to discover ways to make life easier for both parties, such as splitting household chores, or outsourcing some tasks that are challenging for a person with ADHD for example, hiring a cleaning service or using apps to manage costs.