High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with adhd that are high functioning are frustrated and misunderstood in their relationships. The symptoms may increase during periods of hormonal changes, such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy.
Many girls and women resort to compensatory strategies, concealing their impairments and symptoms, which can delay time until referral.
This group of patients has particular challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Self-Esteem is not a strong point.
The social and emotional challenges that accompany ADHD can cause women to feel low. Even when they're successful, it's easy to feel like they're failing because of the things they can't change. This can create an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative effect on their mental well-being.
Girls with ADHD who are not treated are at greater risk for chronic low self-esteem and teen pregnancy. They also have a higher chance of depression, anxiety and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're at an increased risk of single-parenting children with ADHD, financial crises and underemployment. They're also more likely to suffer with eating disorders, and their bad patterns can pass down to their children.
It's crucial for girls to receive an accurate diagnosis because it will provide them with an understanding of their issues and help them manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women report that they feel more empowered after receiving their diagnosis, allowing them to stop beating themselves up over the small things they cannot control. It can also help them reframe their difficulties as strengths and refocus their attention on what matters most (Waite 2010).
As women mature and approach menopause the hormone levels of their bodies change, and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. This can make it difficult for them to be identified and treated because they're often misdiagnosed as anxiety or mood disorder, and their symptoms are dismissed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."
Being diagnosed with untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on women's self-esteem and her relationships with family and friends. The symptoms can affect women's daily routines which can make her angry and exhausted. She might feel like she cannot turn down people, causing her to be overwhelmed and resentful towards those around her. It can be difficult to manage her work and home life, which can lead to missed appointments and lost documents. She could also be more easily affected by rejection and is more likely to lash out at people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel very hurt when rejected. This could be real or perceived. You might be triggered by an argument with your partner or a negative feedback from a colleague at work. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are triggered and result in thoughts or feelings, and beliefs that can harm your relationships and self esteem. The sensitivity to rejection can also result in anxiety, depression and mood shifts.
Although it's often linked to ADHD Rejection sensitiveness is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation, which affects the way your brain manages emotions and how you respond to them. The symptoms can also be observed in other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).
People suffering from RSD might see events through an eye that makes them appear darker or dimmer than they actually are. This can cause them to interpret and perceive things as being related to rejection even though they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a harder managing your emotions which is why it's important to have coping strategies that are healthy to deal with this.
You can learn more about the sensitivity to rejection by reading the following articles:
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to manage the symptoms with the help of a mental healthcare professional. You can utilize strategies to cope, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps you change your negative thought patterns. You can also establish an alliance of support and practice mindfulness to lower your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you overcome your RSD to live a more fulfilled and happier life. Avoid relationships that are toxic, since they can worsen your symptoms. If you're in a abusive relationship, get counseling to discover the best method to leave. This will help reduce your risk of rejection-related feelings, such as depression and anxiety. By focusing on healthy relationships that you are in, you will increase your self-esteem. attention deficit in women will help you feel more confident about your abilities and provide a realistic perspective on life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy relationship. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behaviours. Women with adhd that is high functioning may be at greater risk of developing sexual problems. These behaviors can cause feelings of guilt and embarrassment which may affect their relationships and overall well-being.
One study conducted a survey of adults with ADHD and found that they were more likely to be interested in sexual activities than those without the disorder. This was the case for males and females. This could be due to the greater impulsivity levels that can make them more likely act on their sexual ideas and desires. The study found that women with adhd are more likely to engage in paraphilic fantasies and behavior. This included submissive role-play, bondage and sexual contact with strangers. It was also common for them to attend sex clubs and parties.
Both women and men who suffer from adhd were more likely to be infidelity than those who did not suffer from the disorder. This was due to their lack of control of impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition. This is likely due to their greater levels of anxiety, and feeling misunderstood or criticized by their partners. The survey also asked participants to report their experiences with sexual relationships and sexual encounters without use of contraception. Table 6 outlines the results from this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which surveyed participants to discuss their problematic sexual behaviors. The questionnaire comprises 19 items, and is divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using 5 points, ranging from 1 (never to 5) (very frequently)). The more high the score, the more symptoms are present. The HBI-19 was used in order to evaluate sexual behaviors between adults with ADHD and those who do not.
These findings are significant due to the fact that the psychosexual effects of adults with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions like STIs and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction, adult onset infidelity, and risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have trouble in their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clear communication and miscommunication caused by symptoms such as forgetfulness and inattention can cause anger, frustration, and conflict within the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be made easier by a network of friends and family members who understand.
It is crucial to keep in mind that those with ADHD have trouble listening. They can be interrupted easily by their impulsive behavior, or their own thoughts, which can cause them to miss the main point of an exchange. People with ADHD may also have issues multitasking, which can cause them to mute conversations or do something else while someone else is talking.
These conflicts can result in a vicious cycle where the person who is not ADHD becomes overwhelmed with stress and resentment and the ADHD partner feels that they are not understood. They may then withdraw and the issue can escalate from there.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by their daily demands. They may be feeling guilt or self-esteem issues due to their impulsive and unorganized behavior. They may find themselves struggling to manage their bills and chores. They can also suffer from mood swings and sensitivity to rejection and low sex drive.
Because of this, it is vital for those who suffer from ADHD to establish an effective treatment plan and seek assistance. It is crucial that those closest to them, including spouses, are aware of ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can collaborate to establish clear expectations and boundaries and then formulate an action plan to will achieve their objectives. The non-ADHD spouse could take on more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD will be focused on organising and completing housework.
In addition, both parties should work to communicate more clearly and effectively and establish a routine that incorporates regular sleep patterns, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It is also essential to find ways to make things easier for both parties by sharing household chores or outsourcing some tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD like hiring cleaning services or utilizing apps to manage costs.