High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who have high functioning adhd are prone to frustration and miscommunication in their relationships. The symptoms can be more severe in times of hormonal changes, like premenstrual and menstrual cycles.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies to hide their impairments and symptoms can delay the time for referral.
This group of patients faces particular challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Insecurities about self-esteem
The emotional and social challenges that accompany ADHD can make women feel down. Even when they're successful, it's easy to feel like a failure for things they can't control. This can create an unending cycle where they feel overwhelmed and never satisfied which can be detrimental to their self-esteem and mental health.
Girls with untreated ADHD are more at risk of developing chronic low self-esteem as well as anxiety, teen pregnancy depression, and abuse of substances. As adults, they're at greater risk of being single-parents to a child with ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or unemployment. They're also more likely to suffer with eating disorders, and their negative habits can be passed on to their children.
It is crucial for girls to receive an assessment, as it will give them a better understanding of their issues and allow them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women say that they feel more at ease after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to not be a victim of the little things they can't manage. It can also help them reframe their problems and refocus them on the things that matter (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopause their hormone levels alter and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. It is often difficult to identify and treat people suffering from ADHD as their symptoms could be misdiagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. Symptoms may interfere with women's daily routines that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. She might feel like she can't refuse people, causing her to feel overwhelmed and resentful towards people who are around her. It can be difficult to manage her work and home life, which can lead to missed appointments and lost documents. She may also be more easily affected by rejection which makes her more likely to snap at those she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
The sensitivity to rejection causes you to feel deeply hurt when rejected. This could be real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner, or an unkind comment from a colleague at work can trigger you. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms become over-stimulated, and the thoughts emotions, feelings, and beliefs that result can hurt your relationships and self-esteem. You may also experience depression, anxiety and mood swings as a result of sensitive to rejection.
Rejection sensitivity, while typically associated with ADHD is actually an indication of emotional dysregulation. This affects how your brain processes emotions and how you respond to them. Other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder can also show these symptoms.
People suffering from RSD might see events through a filter that makes them appear darker or less than they really are. This can cause them to interpret things as being related to rejection even though they're not. RSD can cause you to be in a state of being unable to control your emotions. This is why it is essential to develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage RSD.
You can learn more about rejection sensitivity by reading these articles:
While there is no cure for RSD it is possible to manage the symptoms with the assistance of a mental healthcare professional. You can utilize strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which can help you change your negative thought patterns. You can also establish an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to lessen your chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you overcome your RSD so that you can live a more fulfilled and happier life. Avoid toxic relationships, since they can worsen your symptoms. If you're in an abusive relationship, seek out counsel to find out how to get out. This can lower the chance of rejection related feelings, such anxiety and depression. You can also improve your self-esteem by focusing on developing healthy relationships. 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 maintaining a healthy relationship challenging. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky behavior. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at higher risk of having sexual problems than non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can lead to feelings of shame and guilt and can have a negative effect on the quality of their relationships as well as their overall health.
One study surveyed adults with ADHD and discovered 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 higher levels of impulsivity, which can make them more likely to act on sexual desires and thoughts. The study found that females with adhd are more likely to engage in sexual fantasies and actions. This included bondage, submissive roles and sexing with strangers. It was also more typical for them to attend party and sex clubs.
Both females and males suffering from adhd had a higher risk of infidelity than people without the disorder. This was due to poor impulse control and alcohol withdrawal, as well as the desire to feel. This could also be because of their higher rates of insecurity and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey also asked participants to report their experiences with extra-partner sexual relations and sexual interactions without use of contraception. Table 6 shows the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire of participants about their problematic sexual behavior. This questionnaire consists of 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using 5 points, ranging between 1 (never to 5 (very often)). The higher the score, the more symptomatology there is. The HBI-19 was used in order to evaluate sexual behaviors between adults with ADHD and those without.
These findings are significant, because the psychosexual results for adults with ADHD were rarely studied. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions such as STIs and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction and adult-onset infidelity, as well as risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their romantic relationships. Insufficient communication and miscommunication caused by signs such as forgetfulness and inattention could result in anger, frustration and conflict in the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be made easier by a network of family and friends who understand.
It is crucial to keep in mind that those who suffer from ADHD have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior that could result in them missing out on the primary purpose of a conversation. People with ADHD may also have issues multitasking, which can cause them to shut out conversations or to do something else while other people are talking.
These battles can create a vicious cycle in which the person who isn't ADHD is overwhelmed by anger and stress, while the ADHD person feels untrusted. The issue could escalate from there, as they become more distant.
Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their everyday life. They may feel guilt or self-esteem issues because of their impulsive, unorganized behavior. They may feel that they are unable to manage their chores and bills. They may also experience mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sex desire.
Because of this, it is crucial for people who suffer from ADHD to develop a treatment plan and seek 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 the right expectations and boundaries, then come up with an action plan to will achieve their objectives. For example, the non-ADHD partner might take on more of the financial responsibilities, while the person with ADHD might focus on organizing and completing housework.
In add women , both parties should work to communicate more clearly and effectively and establish a routine that includes regular sleeping schedules, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It's important to discover ways to make things easier for both of you, like dividing household tasks or outsourcing some of those that are difficult for someone with ADHD.