High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd may experience discontent and confusion in their relationships. The symptoms can become more severe during times of hormonal change such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy.
Many girls and women are forced to resort to compensatory strategies, concealing their impairments and symptoms that can delay time until referral.
This group of patients faces a unique set issues that need to be taken into consideration when treating them.
1. Lack of self-esteem
Women can be depressed due to the emotional and social issues of ADHD. Even when they're successful and have a good time, it's easy for them to feel like a failure because of things they can't control. This can lead to an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative impact on their mental well-being.
Girls who don't have treatment for ADHD are at higher risk of developing chronic low self-esteem and anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're more likely to be single-parents to a child with ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or unemployment. They are also more likely than other people to suffer from eating disorders and pass on their bad habits to their children.
It's crucial that women receive a diagnosis because it will allow them to better understand the challenges they face and manage their symptoms. Many women say that they feel more at ease after receiving their diagnosis, allowing them to stop beating themselves up over the small things they cannot manage. It can also help reframe their struggles and refocus on what is important (Waite 2010).
As women age and approach menopausal age, their hormone levels could change, and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. This makes it more difficult to diagnose and treated, as they're 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 impacts on self-esteem of women, and her relationships with family and friends. Symptoms may interfere with a woman's daily routine that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. She might feel that she is unable to say no to anyone which causes her to burden herself and feel resentful towards people close to her. It could be difficult to manage her work and home life which can lead to unscheduled appointments and files being lost. She could be more prone to being affected by rejection and is more likely to snap at those she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a condition that causes you to feel intensely when you are rejected, either real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or an unkind comment from a coworker at work could trigger you. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become over-stimulated, and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result can harm your self-esteem and relationships. There are also depression, anxiety and mood swings as a result of rejection sensitivity.
While it's often associated with ADHD The issue of rejection sensitivity is actually a symptom of emotional dysregulation that affects the way your brain manages emotions and how you respond to them. Other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder could also be a cause for these symptoms.
RSD patients might perceive events through a filter, making them appear brighter or darker than they really are. This can lead people to interpret things as rejection related, even though they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a hard to control your emotions, which is why it's crucial to develop healthy strategies for coping to manage this.
You can learn more about the sensitivity to rejection by reading the following articles:
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can employ coping strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also build an alliance of support and practice mindfulness to lower your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD, so you can lead a more pleasant and fulfilling life. Avoid toxic relationships as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you are in an abusive relationship, seek counseling to find out how you can leave. This can lower the risk of experiencing feelings of rejection, like depression and anxiety. You can also boost your self-esteem by building healthy relationships. This will help you feel more confident in your abilities and provide an honest view of life.
3. adhd in women symptoms can make the maintenance of a healthy relationship a challenge. This can cause sexual dysfunctions or risky behavior. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at higher risk of having sexual problems than non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also cause feelings of shame and guilt, which can negatively impact their relationships and wellbeing.
One study conducted a survey of adults with ADHD and found that they were more likely to have adventurous sexual interests than those without the disorder. This was true for both males and females. This is likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity, which can make them more likely to act upon their sexual desires and ideas. Specifically, the study found that women with adhd were more likely to indulge in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and behaviors. This included bondage, submissive roles and sex with strangers. They also attended sex parties and more clubs.
Both women and men with adhd were more likely be in a relationship than those who did not suffer from the disorder. This is due to their inability to control their impulses and alcohol withdrawal, as well as the desire to feel. It could also be because of their higher rates of insecurity and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with extra-partner sexual relations and sexual interactions without use of contraception. Table 6 shows the results of this section.
In the final analysis, the study utilized the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire from participants about their problematic sexual behavior. The questionnaire comprises 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is evaluated on a five-point scale from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score the more symptomatology there is. The HBI-19 was used to assess the sexual behaviors of adults with and without ADHD.
These findings are important because the psychosexual experiences of people with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been linked with sexual dysfunctions such as unwanted pregnancy and STIs, relationship dissatisfaction and adult onset infidelity, and dangerous sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD have trouble in their romantic relationships. Lack of clear communication and misunderstandings triggered by symptoms like inattention and forgetfulness may result in anger, frustration and conflict in a relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be helped by a network of family and friends who can understand.
It is crucial to keep in mind that people who suffer from ADHD have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior which can cause them to miss out on the main purpose of a conversation. People with ADHD are more likely to struggle with multitasking, too and can cause them to become disengaged of conversations or perform other things while someone else is talking.
These struggles can result in a cycle where the non-ADHD partner is overwhelmed with anger and stress and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood, and defensive. The issue can get worse from there, as they become more isolated.
Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their daily life. They may be feeling shame or low self-esteem due to their impulsive, unorganized behavior. It is also possible that they find themselves struggling to manage their obligations and bills. They may also have mood swings, rejection sensitivity and low sexual desire.
It is important that those who suffer from ADHD find a treatment and seek assistance. It is essential that those closest to them, especially spouses, understand ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they can create an action plan to meet their goals. The non-ADHD spouse could assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and completing housework.
In addition, both parties should be able to communicate efficiently and clearly and establish a regular routine that includes regular sleep schedules, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It is essential to find ways to simplify things for both spouses, such as dividing household tasks or outsourcing some of those that are difficult for a person with ADHD.