High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd may experience frustration and misunderstandings in their relationships. Symptoms can heighten at times of hormonal change, such as the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies in order to cover their symptoms and impairments can delay referral.
This patient group has distinct challenges that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Insecurity about oneself
Women can feel depressed by the emotional and social issues of ADHD. Even when they are successful, it is easy to feel like an failure due to things they can't change. This can create an endless cycle of feeling like they are constantly overwhelmed and never good enough and can take a toll on their self-esteem and mental health.
Girls who don't have treatment for ADHD are at higher risk of having low self-esteem for a long time and teen pregnancy, anxiety, depression, and abuse of substances. As adults, they're at increased risk of single-parenting children with ADHD and financial difficulties, as well as underemployment. They're also more likely to be struggling with eating disorders, and their bad habits can be passed on to their children.
It's essential that women receive a diagnosis because it will help them understand the challenges they face and manage their symptoms. Many women report that they feel much more confident after receiving their diagnosis, allowing them to not be a victim of the small things they cannot control. It helps them to see their difficulties as strengths and help them focus their focus on what is important most (Waite 2010).
As women mature and approach menopause, their hormone levels change and ADHD symptoms may get worse. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat patients with ADHD due to the fact that their symptoms can be incorrectly identified and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of month" or "an anxiety disorder".
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 the woman's daily routine that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. It is possible that she can't refuse people, which causes her to be overwhelmed and resentful towards people who are around her. She might find it difficult to manage the work and home lives of her children, leading to missed appointments and lost files. She could be more easily triggered when she is rejected which makes her more likely to snap at people she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a condition that makes you feel extremely when you're being rejected, whether real or perceived. You could be triggered by a disagreement with your partner or a negative review from a colleague at work. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become over-stimulated and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result can harm your relationships and self-esteem. There are also anxiety, depression, and mood fluctuations as a result of sensitive to rejection.
Rejection sensitivity, although typically associated with ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This affects how your brain handles emotions and how you respond to them. The symptoms can also be found in other mental health disorders, including borderline personality disorder (BPD).
People with RSD may view events through a filter that makes them appear more dark or dimmer than they really are. This can cause them to interpret things as being related to rejection even if they aren't. RSD can also cause you to have a hard managing your emotions which is why it's crucial to develop healthy strategies for coping to deal with this.
You can learn more about the sensitivity to rejection by reading these articles:
While there is no cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can use coping techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy to change your negative thinking patterns. You can also establish an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to lower your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD and allow you to live a more positive and satisfying life. Avoid toxic relationships, as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you're in a abusive relationship, seek out counseling to discover how to get out. This will help lower the risk of experiencing rejection-related feelings, such as depression and anxiety. By focusing on relationships that are healthy and relationships, you can boost your self-esteem. This will make you feel more confident in your capabilities and provide a realistic perspective on life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy relationship. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at a higher risk of developing these sexual issues than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also cause feelings of guilt and embarrassment and can affect their relationships and well-being.
One study conducted a survey of adults with ADHD and discovered that they were more likely to have a passion for sexual exploration than those without the disorder. This was true for both males and females. This is probably due to the higher levels of impulsivity that can cause them to be more likely be influenced by sexual ideas and desires. The study revealed that females who suffer from adhd are more likely to indulge in sexual fantasies and actions. This included submissive roles play, bondage and sexual contact with strangers. It was also more common for them to go out to party and sex clubs.
signs and symptoms of adhd in women and women with adhd were more likely to be in a relationship than those who didn't have the disorder. This is due to their weak control of impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition. adhd in adult women symptoms could be due to their greater levels of anxiety, and feeling misunderstood or misjudged by their loved ones. The survey asked participants to describe their experiences with extra-partner affairs and sexual relations without contraception. Table 6 outlines the results of this section.
The study also utilized the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which surveyed participants to discuss their sexual issues. The questionnaire comprises 19 items that are grouped into three subscales. Each item is evaluated on a five-point scale between 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, the more symptomatology is evident. The HBI-19 was used in order to compare sexual behaviors between people who suffer from ADHD and those who do not.
These findings are significant, since the psychosexual outcomes of adults with ADHD were not studied as often. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions like unwanted pregnancy and STIs, relationship dissatisfaction, adult onset infidelity, and risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clear communication and misunderstandings caused by symptoms such as forgetfulness and inattention can cause anger, frustration and conflict within relationships. A supportive network of family and friends members who are able to understand each other can be helpful for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is important to remember, too, that people who suffer from ADHD have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their thoughts or their impulsive behavior that could result in them missing out on the main purpose of a conversation. People with ADHD may also have issues multitasking, which can lead them to mute conversations or perform other tasks while another person is talking.
These battles can create an unending cycle where the person who is not ADHD becomes overwhelmed with stress and resentment and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood. They may then become more introverted and the situation can get worse from there.
Women with high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by their everyday demands. They may be feeling guilt or self-esteem issues because of their impulsive, disorganized behavior. It is also possible that they feel like they cannot manage their bills and chores. They might also have mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sex desire.
It is crucial that people with ADHD find a treatment and seek assistance. It is crucial that those closest to them, especially spouses, learn more about ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they can come up with an action plan to meet their goals. The non-ADHD spouse could take on more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD will be focused on organising and completing the chores at home.
In addition, both parties should work to communicate more efficiently and clearly, and establish a routine that includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times and time for rest and relaxation. It is essential to find ways to simplify things for both partners, such dividing household tasks or outsourcing certain tasks that are difficult for a person with ADHD.