High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd may experience frustration and misunderstandings in their relationships. Symptoms can heighten at periods of hormonal changes, such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies to mask their symptoms and impairments could delay referral.
This patient group faces specific issues that need to be taken into consideration 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 they're failing because of the things they cannot change. This can lead to an endless feeling of being overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative impact on their mental health.
adhd in women signs who suffer from ADHD who are not treated are at a greater chance of developing chronic low self-esteem and teenage pregnancy. They also have a higher chance of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. 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 struggle with eating disorders, and their negative patterns could be passed on to their children.
It is essential that women receive a diagnosis since it will allow them to better comprehend the challenges they face and manage their symptoms. Many women say that they feel more at ease after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to stop beating themselves up over the little things they can't manage. It can also help to reframe their struggles and refocus on what's important (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopause their hormone levels may change, and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat women with ADHD as their symptoms could be incorrectly identified and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating effects on a woman’s self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can affect a woman's daily routine that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. It is possible that she cannot say no to anyone which causes her to burden herself and become angry with those close to her. She might have difficulty to manage her work and home life, which can lead to missing appointments and documents getting lost. She could be more easily triggered when she is rejected which makes her more likely to lash out at people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel extremely hurt when you are rejected. It could be real or perceived. A disagreement with a partner, or an insult from a coworker at work can trigger you. The brain's natural defence mechanisms are overstimulated, resulting in thoughts and feelings that can harm your self-esteem and relationships. The sensitivity to rejection can also result in anxiety, depression and mood fluctuations.
While it's often associated with 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 also show these symptoms.
People suffering from RSD might see events through a filter that makes them appear more dark or dimmer than they really are. This can cause them to perceive and interpret things as being related to rejection, even though they are not. RSD can also cause you to have a hard managing your emotions which is why it is important to develop healthy strategies for coping to deal with this.
Read the articles below to learn more about the sensitivity to rejection.
While there is no cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the help of a mental healthcare professional. You can employ coping strategies like cognitive behavior therapy to change your negative thinking patterns. You can also engage in mindfulness and build a network of support to lessen the chance of having negative reactions to rejection. This can help you overcome your RSD so that you can live a more fulfilled and happier life. It is also essential to avoid toxic relationships as they can cause symptoms to become worse. If you're in a abusive relationship, seek out counseling to learn how to get out. This will help lessen the risk of having rejection-related feelings, such as depression and anxiety. By focusing on healthy relationships 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 romantic relationship. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky behavior. Women with adhd that is high functioning may be at greater risk of developing sexual problems. These behaviors can result in feelings of guilt and shame, which can have a negative effect on their relationships and overall wellbeing.
One study conducted a survey of adults suffering from ADHD and discovered that they were more likely to have a passion for sexual exploration than those who did not suffer from the disorder. Both genders were affected. This could be due to their higher levels of impulsivity which makes them more likely to act on sexual desires and ideas. Particularly, the study revealed that females with adhd were more likely to indulge in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and behaviors. This included bondage, submissive roles, and sex with strangers. It was also more common for them to go to sexual clubs and parties.
Both females and males suffering from adhd had a higher rate of infidelity than people without the disorder. This was due their poor control of their impulses and alcohol withdrawal. It could also be because of their higher rates of insecurity and feeling misunderstood by partners. The survey asked participants about their experiences with extra-partner affairs 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 to discuss their problematic sexual behavior. The questionnaire consists of 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is rated on a five-point scale that ranges from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The more high the score, the more symptoms are present. The HBI-19 was developed in order to assess sexual behavior between adults with ADHD and those without.
These results are important since the psychosexual outcomes of adults with ADHD were rarely studied. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions, such as STI's and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction adolescent and adult onset infidelity and risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have issues in their romantic relationships. Insufficient communication and misunderstandings caused by signs such as forgetfulness and inattention could result in anger, frustration, and conflict within a relationship. A strong 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 with ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are often interrupted by their impulsive behavior, or their own thoughts, which could cause them to miss the point of the conversation. People with ADHD are more likely to have difficulty with multitasking, too which could cause them to tune out of conversations or perform other activities while someone else talks.
These struggles can lead to a vicious cycle in which the person who isn't ADHD becomes overwhelmed with anxiety and anger, and the ADHD partner feels that they are not understood. The issue could escalate from there as they become more isolated.
Women with high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by their daily demands. They may experience feelings of guilt and low self-esteem as a result of their impulsive and disorganized behavior, or feel that they can't keep up with their bills and chores. They might also have mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and a lack of sexual desire.
This is why it is vital for those suffering from ADHD to establish a treatment plan and seek assistance. It is crucial that those closest to them, especially spouses, are aware of ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can work together to establish clear boundaries and expectations and then devise a plan of how they will meet those objectives. The non-ADHD partner can take on more financial responsibilities while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and completing housework.
In addition, both partners must work together to communicate more clearly and effectively and establish a regular routine that includes regular sleeping schedules, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It is essential to find ways to simplify things for both of you, like splitting household chores or outsourcing certain tasks that are difficult for someone with ADHD.