High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd experience frustration and misunderstandings in their relationships. The symptoms may increase during times of hormonal change, such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies to hide their symptoms and impairments could delay referral.
This group of patients faces particular issues which must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Self-Esteem is not a strong point.
The emotional and social issues that come with ADHD can make women feel down. Even when they're doing well and have a good time, it's easy for them to feel like a failure because of things they cannot control. This can create a vicious cycle where they are constantly overwhelmed and never good enough, which can affect their mental health and self-esteem.
Girls who suffer from ADHD who aren't treated are at a higher risk for chronic low self-esteem as well as teen pregnancy. They also have a higher risk of depression, anxiety, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they are more likely to be single-parents of a child with ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or underemployment. They're also more likely than others to suffer from eating disorders and to pass their bad habits on to their children.
It's crucial for girls to get an accurate diagnosis because it will give them a better understanding of their challenges and enable them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women report that they feel more empowered after receiving their diagnosis, allowing them to stop blaming themselves for the small things they cannot control. It can also help to reframe their issues and help them focus on what's important (Waite 2010).
As women age and enter menopausal, their hormone levels can change, and ADHD symptoms may worsen. It is often difficult to identify and treat women with ADHD because their symptoms may be mistakenly diagnosed 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 friends and family. Symptoms can interfere with everyday routines, leaving them exhausted and irritable. She might feel like she isn't able to refuse people, causing her to feel overwhelmed and resentful of people who are around her. She might find it difficult to manage her work and home life and this can lead to unscheduled appointments and files being lost. She could also be more easily angered when she is not liked, making her more likely to lash out at people she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a condition that causes you to feel a strong sense of when you're being rejected, either real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner, or an unkind comment from a coworker at work can trigger your symptoms. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are triggered, resulting in thoughts, feelings and beliefs that can harm your relationships and self esteem. You may also experience depression, anxiety and mood fluctuations as a result of rejection sensitivity.
Rejection sensitivity, while often linked to ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This affects the way your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. The symptoms can also be found in other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).
RSD patients can see events through a filter, making them appear brighter or darker 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 difficult time regulating your emotions which is why it's important to have healthy coping strategies to handle this.
Read the articles below to find out more about rejection sensitivity.
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can utilize coping techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also develop mindfulness and build a network of support to lessen your risk of negative reactions to rejection. This will help you overcome your RSD so that you can live a more satisfying and happier life. It is also important to avoid relationships that are toxic as they can cause your symptoms to worsen. If you're in an abusive relationship, get counsel to find out the best method to leave. This will help lessen the risk of having feelings of rejection, like anxiety and depression. By focusing on healthy relationships that you are in, you will increase your self-esteem. This will help you feel more confident about your abilities and provide an objective view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make the maintenance of a healthy relationship a challenge. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behaviors. adhd traits in women who have high functioning adhd may be at greater risk of having sexual issues. These behaviors can also result in feelings of shame and guilt which can have a negative impact on the quality of their relationships and overall wellbeing.
In one study, adults with ADHD were found to be more likely than those with ADHD to have adventurous sexual fascination. This was true for both males and females. This is likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity, which could make them more likely to act on sexual desires and thoughts. Particularly, the study revealed that women with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic sex fantasies and behaviours. This included bondage, submissive roles and sexing with strangers. It was also common for them to attend party and sex clubs.
Both men and women with adhd were more likely be infidelity than those who didn't have the disorder. This was due to their poor impulse control and alcohol-related disinhibition, as well as their desire for sensation. This is probably due to their higher levels of insecurity and a feeling of being misunderstood or misjudged by their loved ones. The survey also asked participants to report their experiences with sexual relationships and sexual encounters without use of contraception. Table 6 provides the results from this section.
Lastly, the study used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire from participants about their sexual issues. The questionnaire consists of 19 items, and is 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 used in order to compare sexual behaviors between people with ADHD and those who do not.
These findings are significant because the psychosexual experiences of adults with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions, such as unwanted pregnancy and STIs relationships, dissatisfaction with relationships and adult-onset infidelity as well as risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD struggle with their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clarity in communication and miscommunication caused by symptoms like inattention and forgetfulness may result in anger, frustration, and conflict within the relationship. A supportive network of family and friends members who understand can be beneficial in maintaining healthy relationships.
It is important to remember that people with ADHD have a difficult time listening. They can be interrupted easily by their impulsive behavior, or their own thoughts, which may cause them to lose the purpose of a conversation. People with ADHD are more likely to struggle with multitasking as well and can cause them to tune out of conversations or engage in other things while others talk.
These struggles can result in a vicious cycle in which the non-ADHD person becomes overwhelmed with stress and resentment, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood, and defensive. They can then become more introverted and the situation can get worse from there.
Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of daily life. They may experience guilt or self-esteem issues due to their impulsive and disorganized behavior. Or they might find themselves struggling to manage their bills and chores. They may also feel mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sexual desire.
This is why it is crucial for people with ADHD to establish an effective treatment plan and seek help. It is also crucial for their family members particularly spouses to understand the disorder and how it affects their loved ones. They can work together to set clear expectations and boundaries and then devise a plan for how they can achieve those goals. The non-ADHD partner can take on more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD will be focused on organising and completing chores at home.
Both partners should also be working to improve their communication and create a routine that includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times, and time to relax and rest. It is also crucial to discover ways to make life simpler for both parties for example, splitting household chores, or outsourcing certain tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD, such as hiring a cleaning service or using apps to manage expenses.