High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who have high functioning adhd are prone to frustration and miscommunication in their relationships. The symptoms may be more severe in times of hormonal changes, like premenstrual and pregnancy cycles.
Many women and girls use compensatory strategies to hiding their impairments and symptoms, which can delay time to referral.
This group of patients faces a unique set of challenges which must be considered when treating them.
1. Insecurities about self-esteem
The social and emotional challenges associated with ADHD can make women feel low. Even when they are successful, it is easy to feel like they're failing because of the things they can't change. This can lead to an endless cycle of feeling like they feel constantly overwhelmed and never good enough, which can be detrimental to their mental health and self-esteem.
Girls who don't have treatment for ADHD are more at risk of chronic low self-esteem and anxiety, teen pregnancy depression, and abuse of substances. As adults, they're at greater risk of being single-parents of a child with ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or unemployment. They're also more likely than others to suffer from eating disorders and to pass their bad habits on to their children.
It is essential that girls receive a diagnosis since it will allow them to better comprehend the challenges they face and manage their symptoms. Many women report that they feel much more confident after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to not be a victim of the little things they can't manage. It can also help to reframe their issues and help them focus on what's important (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopause their hormone levels may change, and ADHD symptoms could worsen. 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 a woman's self-esteem, and her relationships with friends and family. Symptoms can interfere with daily routines, making her frustrated and exhausted. It is possible that she can't refuse people, causing her to feel overwhelmed and angry with people who are around her. It can be difficult organizing her home and work life, resulting in missing appointments and documents getting lost. She may be more easily angered when she is not liked, making her more likely to lash out at people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel very hurt when rejected. This can be real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner, or a negative comment from a colleague at work can trigger you. The brain's natural defence mechanisms are overstimulated which can trigger thoughts, feelings and beliefs that can affect your relationships and self esteem. The sensitivity to rejection can also result in anxiety, depression and mood swings.
Although it's often attributed to ADHD Rejection sensitivity is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation that affects how your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. The symptoms can also be seen in other mental health conditions such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).
People suffering from 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 and interpret events as being related to rejection, even though they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a harder to control your emotions which is why it is important to have healthy coping strategies to deal with this.
Read the articles below to find out more about the sensitivity to rejection.
Although there isn't a cure for RSD, it's possible to manage your symptoms with the help of a mental health professional. You can utilize coping strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help you change your negative thought patterns. You can also build an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to lower your chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and help you live a more positive and fulfilling life. Avoid toxic relationships, as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you're in an abusive relationship, seek counseling to learn how to get out. This can help you lessen the risk of having feelings of rejection, such as anxiety and depression. By focusing on healthy relationships, you can improve your self-esteem. This will allow you to feel more confident about your abilities and give you a more realistic perspective on the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy relationship. This can cause sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Women with adhd that is high functioning may be at greater risk of having sexual issues. These behaviors can also lead to feelings of shame and guilt, which can have a negative impact on the quality of their relationships as well as their overall health.
In one study, people with ADHD were found to be more likely than those without ADHD to have adventurous sexual interest. This was true for both males and females. This could be due to the increased levels of impulsivity which could make them more likely to to act on sexual thoughts and desires. 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 more common for them to attend sexual clubs and parties.
Both males and females with adhd had a higher rate of infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This was due to lack of impulse control, alcohol disinhibition and sensation-seeking. inattentive add in women is probably due to their greater levels of anxiety and a feeling of being 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 provides the results for this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19), which asked participants to describe their problematic sexual behaviors. The questionnaire comprises 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using a five-point scale, ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The more high the score, the more symptoms are present. The HBI-19 was utilized to assess sexual behavior between people who suffer from ADHD and those without.
These findings are significant, since the psychosexual outcomes of adults with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been linked with sexual dysfunctions like unwanted pregnancy and STIs, relationship dissatisfaction and adult-onset infidelity as well as risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have difficulties in their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clarity in communication and misunderstandings caused by symptoms such as forgetfulness and inattention could lead to frustration, anger, and conflict within a relationship. A supportive network of friends and family members who are able to understand each other can be beneficial for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is also important to remember that those with ADHD often have difficulty listening. They are often interrupted by their impulsive behavior, or their own thoughts, which can cause them to lose the purpose of an exchange. People with ADHD are more likely to be struggling in multitasking, which can cause them to lose track of conversations or engage in other activities while someone else talks.
These conflicts can result in an unending cycle where the partner who is not ADHD is overwhelmed with anger and stress, while the ADHD partner feels misunderstood. The problem can escalate in the meantime as they become more distant.
Women with high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by their daily demands. They might experience feelings of low self-esteem and shame because of their chaotic and impulsive behavior, or feel like they're not able to handle their chores and bills. They may also have mood swings, rejection sensitivity and a lack of sexual desire.
Because of this, it is vital for those who suffer from ADHD to find an effective treatment plan and seek out help. It is crucial that those closest to them, especially spouses, understand ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can work together to establish clear boundaries and expectations and then devise a plan for how they will meet those goals. The non-ADHD partner could assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD will be focused on organising and completing the housework.
In addition, both partners should work to communicate more efficiently and clearly, and establish a routine that includes regular sleeping schedules, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It is also essential to find ways to make things easier for both parties for example, sharing household chores or outsourcing some of the tasks that are difficult for a person with ADHD like hiring an expert cleaning service or utilizing apps to manage expenses.