High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd experience discontent and confusion in their relationships. The symptoms may be more severe during times of hormonal changes, such as the premenstrual and pregnancy periods.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies in order to cover their symptoms and impairments could delay referral.
This patient group faces specific problems that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Lack of self-esteem
The emotional and social issues associated with ADHD can cause women to feel low. Even if they're successful, it's easy to feel like they're failing because of the things they cannot change. This can create a vicious cycle where they are constantly overwhelmed and never good enough and can take a toll on their self-esteem and mental health.
Girls with ADHD who are not treated are at a higher risk for chronic low self-esteem as well as teen pregnancy. They also have a higher chance of depression, anxiety, and abuse of substances. As adults, they are more likely to be parents on their own to a child suffering from ADHD and also facing financial difficulties or unemployment. They're also more likely to suffer with eating disorders, and their bad habits can be passed on to their children.
It's crucial for girls to get a diagnosis, because it will provide them with a better understanding of their issues and allow them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women say that they feel more confident after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to not be a victim of the little things they are unable to control. It can also help to reframe their problems and refocus them on the things that matter (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopausal age, their hormone levels could change and ADHD symptoms could worsen. It isn't easy to diagnose and treat people suffering from ADHD as their symptoms could be mistakenly diagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating impacts on women's self-esteem and her relationships with family and friends. The symptoms can affect a woman's daily routine, leaving her irritable and exhausted. She may feel that she can't refuse people, leading her to become overburdened and angry with those around her. She may find it difficult organizing her work and home life, which can lead to delayed appointments and lost documents. She can also be more susceptible to being triggered by rejection, therefore she's more likely to react defensively and snap at those she is in love with.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel very hurt when rejected. It could be real or perceived. A disagreement with a partner, or an insult from a coworker at work can trigger you. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become overwhelmed 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.
Although women and adhd '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 how you react to them. Other mental health issues like borderline personality disorder could be a sign of these symptoms too.
RSD patients may perceive events through a filter, making them appear brighter or darker than they are. This can lead people to interpret things as being related to rejection even if they aren't. RSD can cause you to be in a state of being unable to control your emotions. This is why it is important to develop healthy coping strategies to manage RSD.
You can find out more about rejection sensitivity by reading the following articles:
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to manage symptoms with the help of a mental health professional. You can use coping techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also engage in mindfulness and build a network of support to lessen your chance of experiencing negative reactions to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD, so you can lead a more pleasant and satisfying life. It is also important to stay clear of toxic relationships since they can make your symptoms worse. If you're in a abusive relationship, seek out counseling to discover the best way to leave. This can lower the chance of rejection related feelings like depression and anxiety. By focusing on relationships that are healthy, you can improve your self-esteem. This will help you feel more confident about your abilities and give a realistic perspective on life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behaviours. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at greater risk of experiencing these sexual problems than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can result in feelings of shame and guilt, which can have a negative impact on their relationships and overall well-being.
One study surveyed adults with 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 is likely due to their more impulsive levels, which could make them more likely to act upon their sexual desires and ideas. Particularly, the study revealed that females with adhd were more likely to indulge in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and behaviours. This included bondage, submissive roles, and sex with strangers. It was also common for them to go out to sexual clubs and parties.
Both males and females with adhd had a higher risk of infidelity than those without the disorder. This was due their poor control of their impulses and alcohol withdrawal. This is probably due to their higher levels of insecurity, and feeling misunderstood or misjudged by their partners. The survey also asked participants to share their experiences with extra-partner sexual affairs and sexual intercourse without the use of contraception. Table 6 summarizes the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which surveyed participants to describe their sexual issues. The questionnaire consists of 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored on a 5-point scale, between 1 (never to 5) (very often)). The higher the score the more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was developed in order to evaluate sexual behaviors between adults with ADHD and those who do not.
These results are important because the psychosexual experiences of people with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions, such as STI's and unwanted pregnancies, relationship problems, adult and adolescent onset infidelity and risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have issues with their romantic relationships. Lack of clear communication and miscommunication caused by symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention could cause 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 those who suffer from ADHD have a difficult time listening. They can be interrupted easily by impulsive behavior or their own thoughts, which could cause them to lose the purpose of an exchange. People with ADHD are more likely to be struggling with multitasking, too, which can cause them to tune out of conversations or engage in other activities while someone else talks.
These battles can create a vicious cycle in which the partner who is not ADHD is overwhelmed with anxiety and anger, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood. They then tend to become more introverted and the issue can escalate from there.
Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of daily life. They might experience feelings of low self-esteem and shame because of their chaotic and impulsive behavior, or feel as if they're unable to keep up with their household chores and bills. They may also feel mood swings, rejection sensitivity and low sex desire.
This is why it is vital for those with ADHD to establish a treatment plan and seek help. It is also crucial for those close to them particularly spouses to understand the condition and how it affects their loved ones. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they can develop a plan to achieve their goals. For example the non-ADHD spouse could assume more financial responsibilities, while the person with ADHD may be more focused on the task of organizing and finishing housework.
In addition, both parties must work together to communicate more effectively and clearly, and establish a routine that includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times and time for relaxation and rest. It's also important to discover ways to make life easier for both parties for example, splitting household chores, or outsourcing certain tasks that are challenging for a person with ADHD, such as hiring an expert cleaning service or using apps to manage expenses.