High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd are dissatisfied and often misunderstood by their relationships. The symptoms can be more severe during times of hormonal changes like the premenstrual or pregnancy periods.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies to mask their impairments and symptoms can delay referral.
This group of patients has a unique set of problems which must be considered when treating them.
1. Self-esteem issues
The social and emotional challenges that come with ADHD can make women feel down. Even when they're successful and have a good time, it's easy for them to feel like a failure due to things they can't control. This can result in an endless cycle of feeling like they feel constantly overwhelmed and never satisfied which can take a toll on their mental health and self-esteem.
Girls with ADHD who aren't treated are at a greater chance of developing chronic low self-esteem as well as teen pregnancy. They also have a greater chance of depression, anxiety and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're at greater risk of being parents on their own to a child suffering from ADHD and also facing financial difficulties or underemployment. They're 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 assessment, as it will give them a better understanding of their challenges and help them manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women report feeling more confident after receiving the diagnosis. They can now stop berating themselves over things they can't manage. It can also help them reframe their challenges as strengths and refocus their attention on what matters most (Waite 2010,).
As women age and enter menopausal, their hormone levels can change and ADHD symptoms may worsen. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat people suffering from ADHD due to the fact that their symptoms can be mistakenly diagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating effects on self-esteem of women, and her relationships with friends and family. The symptoms can disrupt daily routines, making her feeling exhausted and angry. It is possible that she can't refuse people, causing her to be overwhelmed and resentful towards those who are around her. It can be difficult organizing her work and home life, which leads to missing appointments and documents getting lost. Additionally, she could be more easily triggered by rejection therefore she's more likely to be defensive and even lash out at the people she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel intensely when you're rejected, either real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner, or a negative comment from a coworker at work can trigger you. The brain's natural defence mechanisms are overstimulated, resulting in thoughts, feelings and beliefs that can harm your self-esteem and relationships. click to investigate to rejection can also cause anxiety, depression and mood swings.
Although it's often linked to ADHD, rejection sensitivity is actually a symptom of emotional dysregulation that affects the way your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health conditions like borderline personality disorder could also show these symptoms.
People with RSD may view events through an eye that makes them appear darker or less than they actually are. This can cause them to interpret and perceive things as being related to rejection even though they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a harder managing your emotions which is why it is important to have coping strategies that are healthy to deal with this.
Learn more about rejection sensitivity by reading these articles:
While there is no cure for RSD, it's possible to manage your symptoms with the help of an expert in mental health. You can utilize coping strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps you modify your negative thought patterns. You can also build an alliance of support and practice mindfulness to reduce your chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD, so you can live a more positive and fulfilling life. It is also important to avoid relationships that are toxic as they can cause your symptoms to worsen. If you are in an abusive relationship, seek out counseling to learn how you can safely leave. This can help you reduce your risk of rejection-related feelings, such as anxiety and depression. By focusing on relationships that are healthy, you can improve your self-esteem. This will allow you to feel more confident about your abilities, and will give you an objective view of the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy relationship. This can result in sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at a greater risk of experiencing these sexual problems than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also cause feelings of guilt and embarrassment which may negatively impact their relationships and overall well-being.
In one study, adults with ADHD were found to be more likely than people without ADHD to exhibit a sexual interest. Both males and women were affected. This is likely due to the higher levels of impulsivity that could make them more likely to to act on sexual thoughts and desires. 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 sex with strangers. It was also common for them to go to party and sex clubs.
Both women and men with adhd were more likely be in a relationship than those who did not have the disorder. This was due to their lack of impulse control and alcohol disinhibition. This was likely also a result of their higher rates of anxiety and feeling misunderstood by partners. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with sexual affairs and sexual intercourse without contraception. Table 6 presents the results from this section.
Lastly, the study used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire of participants about their problematic sexual behavior. This questionnaire is composed of 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is rated using a five-point scale, ranging between 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, more symptoms are present. The HBI-19 was utilized to assess sexual behavior between people with ADHD and those who do not.
These results are important due to the fact that the psychosexual effects of people with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been linked with sexual dysfunctions like STIs and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction and adult onset infidelity, and risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their romantic relationships. A lack of clear communication and misunderstandings due to symptoms like inattention and forgetfulness can lead to anger, resentment and even conflict in the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be helped by a supportive network of friends and family members who understand.
It is important to remember, too, that people who suffer from ADHD have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behaviors that can result in them missing out on the central reason for a discussion. People with ADHD are more likely to be struggling with multitasking as well, which can cause them to tune out of conversations or perform other activities while others talk.
These battles can create an unending cycle where the person who is not ADHD is overwhelmed by stress and resentment and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood. The problem can escalate in the meantime as they become more distant.
Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their everyday life. They may experience feelings of guilt and low self-esteem as a result of their unpredictable and unorganized behavior, or feel as if they can't keep up with their household chores and bills. They may also experience mood swings, rejection sensitivity and low sex desire.
It is essential that those with ADHD find a treatment and seek out help. It is also important for their family members particularly spouses to be aware of the disorder and how it affects their loved one. They can work together to establish clear boundaries and expectations, then come up with a plan of how they will meet those goals. For instance the non-ADHD spouse could take on more of the financial responsibility, while the person with ADHD might be focused on the task of organizing and finishing housework.
Both partners should strive to improve communication and establish an established routine that includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times and time for relaxation and rest. It is also crucial to discover ways to make life simpler for both parties for example, sharing household chores or outsourcing certain tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD for example, hiring cleaning services or using apps to control costs.