High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who have high functioning adhd are prone to frustration and miscommunication in their relationships. The symptoms may increase during times of hormonal change, like the pre-menstrual period and pregnancy.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies to mask their symptoms and impairments could delay the time for referral.
This group of patients faces a unique set of problems that need to be taken into account when treating them.
1. Lack of self-esteem
Women can be depressed due to the social and emotional challenges of ADHD. Even when they're successful it's easy to feel like a failure for things they can't control. This can lead to an endless cycle of feeling overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative impact on their mental well-being.
Girls with untreated ADHD are at greater risk of having low self-esteem for a long time and anxiety, teen pregnancy depression, and abuse of substances. As adults, they're at higher risk of having a single parent for children with ADHD and financial difficulties, as well as underemployment. They're also more likely to suffer with eating disorders, and their unhealthy patterns could be passed on to their children.
It is essential that girls receive a diagnosis since it will allow them to better understand the challenges they face and manage their symptoms. Many women report feeling confident after receiving the diagnosis. They are no longer berating themselves over things they can't control. It can also help them see their challenges as strengths and refocus their focus on what is important most (Waite 2010,).
As women age and move towards menopause their hormone levels alter, and ADHD symptoms may get worse. It isn't easy to diagnose and treat women with ADHD as their symptoms could be incorrectly identified and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on women's self-esteem as well as relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can affect daily routines, making her frustrated and exhausted. It is possible that she cannot turn down people, which causes her to feel overwhelmed and resentful of those who are around her. It can be difficult organizing her home and work life, which can lead to missed appointments and lost documents. Additionally, she could be more susceptible to being triggered by rejection, which means she is more likely to react defensively and lash out at people she is in love with.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel a strong sense of when you're rejected, whether it is real or perceived. It could be caused by a disagreement with your partner or a negative comment from a coworker at work. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms become over-stimulated and the thoughts and feelings that result could harm your relationships and self-esteem. Sensitivity to rejection can result in anxiety, depression and mood shifts.
Although it's often attributed to ADHD The issue of rejection sensitiveness is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation that affects how your brain manages emotions and the way you react to them. Other mental health conditions like borderline personality disorder may also show these symptoms.
RSD patients can see events through a filter, which makes them appear darker or brighter than they actually are. This could cause them to interpret things as being related to rejection even though they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a hard to control your emotions, which is why it is important to have healthy coping strategies to handle this.
Learn more about the sensitivity to rejection by reading these articles:
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the assistance of a mental healthcare professional. You can utilize coping techniques like cognitive behavior therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also practice mindfulness and build a community of support to lessen the chance of having negative reactions to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and help you live a happier and more fulfilled life. Avoid toxic relationships because they can cause more symptoms. If you're in an abusive relationship, seek out counseling to discover how to get out. This can lower the risk of experiencing 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 in your abilities and give you an unbiased view of the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make the maintenance of a healthy relationship a challenge. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behaviors. 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 cause feelings of guilt and embarrassment which may negatively impact their relationships and wellbeing.
One study conducted a survey of adults suffering from ADHD and found that they were more likely to be interested in sexual activities than those who did not suffer from the disorder. Both males and women were affected. This could be due to their higher levels of impulsivity, which can make them more likely to act on sexual desires and thoughts. The study found that women who suffer from adhd are more likely to engage paraphilic fantasies and behaviors. This included submissive roles, bondage and sexing with strangers. They also attended sex parties and nightclubs more often.
Both women and men who suffer from adhd were more likely be infidelity than those who did not suffer from the disorder. This was due their poor control of impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition. It could also be because of their higher rates of insecurity and feeling misunderstood by their partners. The survey asked participants about their experiences with extra-partner relationships and sexual relations without contraception. Table 6 summarizes the results of this section.
The study also utilized the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which surveyed participants about their sexual issues. The questionnaire consists of 19 items, and is divided into three subscales. Each item is evaluated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, the more symptomatology there is. The HBI-19 was used to compare the sexual behavior of adults who have and those without ADHD.
These findings are significant because the psychosexual experiences of adults with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions, like STI's, unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction adult and adolescent onset infidelity and risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have difficulties in their romantic relationships. Insufficient communication and miscommunication caused by symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention can cause anger, frustration, and conflict within a relationship. A strong network of family and friends members who are able to understand each other can be beneficial for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is important to remember that people who suffer from ADHD have trouble listening. adhd symptoms in adult women are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior which can result in them missing out on the primary reason for a discussion. People with ADHD may also have trouble multitasking, which could cause them to mute conversations or do something else while other people are talking.
These conflicts can lead to a vicious cycle in which the non-ADHD person becomes overwhelmed with stress and resentment, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood and defensive. They then tend to withdraw, and the problem escalates from there.
Women with high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their daily life. They may feel guilt and low self-esteem as a result of their chaotic and impulsive behavior, or feel that they're not able to handle their chores and bills. They may also experience mood swings and sensitivity to rejection and low sexual drive.
This is why it is vital for those who suffer from ADHD to find a treatment plan and seek out help. It is important that those closest to them, particularly spouses, are aware of ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. They can then come up with an action plan to achieve their goals. For instance the non-ADHD spouse could assume more financial responsibilities, while the person with ADHD may be more focused on completing chores and organizing the house.
Both partners should be working to improve their communication and establish an established routine that includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times, and time to relax and rest. It is important to find ways to simplify things for both of you, like dividing household tasks or outsourcing some of those that are difficult for a person with ADHD.