High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd are dissatisfied and often misunderstood by their relationships. The symptoms may increase during periods of hormonal changes, such as the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies in order to cover their symptoms and impairments can delay the time for referral.
This group of patients has a unique set of problems which must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Insecurity about oneself
Women can be depressed due to the social and emotional challenges of ADHD. Even when they're successful, it is easy to feel like failing because of the things they cannot change. This can create an endless feeling of being overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative impact on their mental well-being.
Girls with ADHD who aren't treated are at greater chance of developing chronic low self-esteem as well as teen pregnancy. They also have a higher risk of depression, anxiety, and abuse of substances. As adults, they're at an greater risk of being the sole parent to a child with ADHD and financial problems, as well as underemployment. They're also more likely to struggle with eating disorders, and their unhealthy 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 enable them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women report feeling empowered after receiving a diagnosis. They are no longer being a victim of things they cannot manage. It helps them to see their challenges as strengths and help them focus their attention on what matters most (Waite 2010,).
As women age and move towards menopause their hormone levels alter, and ADHD symptoms can get worse. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat women with ADHD because their symptoms may be misdiagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have a devastating impact on a woman’s self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt a woman's daily routine which can make her angry and exhausted. She may feel that she can't refuse people, leading her to feel overwhelmed and angry with people around her. She may find it difficult to manage her work and home life, which can lead to delayed appointments and lost documents. Additionally, she could be more easily triggered by rejection, so she may be more likely to be defensive and snap at those she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel extremely when you're rejected, whether it is real or perceived. You could be triggered by a disagreement with your partner or a negative comment from a coworker at work. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become over-stimulated and the thoughts and feelings that result could harm your self-esteem and relationships. You can also experience anxiety, depression, and mood swings as a result of the sensitivity to rejection.
Although it's often attributed to ADHD, rejection sensitivity is actually a symptom of emotional dysregulation, which affects the way your brain manages emotions and how you respond to them. Other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder can be a sign of these symptoms too.
RSD patients might perceive events through a filter, making them appear brighter or darker than they are. This can lead people to interpret things as being related to rejection even if they aren't. RSD can also cause you to have a harder managing your emotions which is why it's important to develop healthy strategies for coping to handle this.
Check out the following articles to find out more about rejection sensitivity.
While there is no cure for RSD however, you can manage your symptoms with the help of a mental health professional. You can utilize strategies to cope, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help you change your negative thought patterns. You can also engage in mindfulness and build a community of support to decrease your risk of negative reactions to rejection. This will aid you in overcoming your RSD to live a more satisfying and happier life. Avoid toxic relationships because they can cause more symptoms. If you're in a abusive relationship, get counseling to learn how to get out. This will reduce the risk of rejection related feelings such as depression and anxiety. You can also improve your self-esteem by developing healthy relationships. This will allow you to feel more confident about your abilities, and will give you an unbiased view of the world around you.
3. add symptoms in women can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This can result in sexual dysfunctions or risky sexual behavior. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at higher risk of having sexual issues than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also cause feelings of guilt and embarrassment which may negatively impact their relationships and wellbeing.
One study looked at adults suffering from ADHD and discovered that they were more likely to have a passion for sexual exploration than those without the disorder. This was the case for males and females. This is likely due to the increased levels of impulsivity which can cause them to be more likely to act on sexual thoughts and desires. add symptoms in women revealed that females who have adhd are more likely to engage in paraphilic fantasies and behaviors. This included bondage, submissive roles and sex with strangers. It was also common for them to go to sexual clubs and parties.
Both women and men who suffer from adhd were more likely be in a relationship than those who did not suffer from the disorder. This was due to their lack of impulse control and alcohol disinhibition. It could also be due to their higher levels of insecurity and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey asked participants about their experiences with extra-partner relationships and sexual relationships without contraception. Table 6 outlines the results of this section.
Lastly, the study used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to ask participants about their sexual issues. The questionnaire is comprised of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored on five-point scale, starting from 1 (never to 5 (very often)). The higher the score, the more symptomatology is evident. The HBI-19 was used to assess the sexual behaviors of adults who have and those without ADHD.
These results are important because the psychosexual outcomes for adults with ADHD were rarely studied. They have been linked with sexual dysfunctions like STIs and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction, adult-onset infidelity as well as dangerous sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have issues with their relationships with loved ones. A lack of clear communication, and miscommunication due to symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention can cause anger, resentment, and conflict within the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be assisted by a supportive network of family and friends who understand.
It is crucial to keep in mind, too, that people with ADHD have a difficult time listening. They can be interrupted easily by impulsive behavior or their own thoughts, which can cause them to lose the purpose of the conversation. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which can lead them to shut out conversations or perform other tasks while other people are talking.
These struggles can lead to an unending cycle where the partner who is not ADHD is overwhelmed with stress and resentment and the ADHD person feels untrusted. They can then withdraw and the issue can escalate from there.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by their daily demands. They may feel guilt and low self-esteem as a result of their unpredictable and unorganized behavior, or feel that they can't keep up with their bills and chores. They may also experience mood swings and sensitivity to rejection and low sexual drive.
For these reasons, it is crucial for people suffering from ADHD to establish a treatment plan and seek help. It is also important for their family members particularly spouses, to learn more about the condition and how it affects their loved one. They can work together to set the right expectations and boundaries, then come up with a plan for how they will achieve their goals. The non-ADHD partner could assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and completing the housework.
Both partners should work to improve communication and establish a routine, which includes regular schedules for sleeping, meal times and time for relaxation and rest. It is also essential to find ways to make things easier for both parties for example, sharing household chores or outsourcing certain tasks that are difficult for a person with ADHD, such as hiring an expert cleaning service or using apps to manage costs.