High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with adhd that are high functioning are unhappy and are often misunderstood in their relationships. Symptoms may be more severe in periods of hormonal changes, such as the premenstrual and menstrual cycles.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies in order to cover their impairments and symptoms can delay the time for referral.
This group of patients faces a unique set challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Insecurities about self-esteem
Women can feel depressed by the emotional and social issues of ADHD. 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 aren't able to control. This can create a vicious cycle where they feel constantly overwhelmed and never good enough and can take a toll on their self-esteem and mental health.
Girls who aren't treated for ADHD are at higher risk of having low self-esteem for a long time as well as anxiety, teen pregnancy depression, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're at an increased risk of single-parenting a child with ADHD, financial crises and underemployment. They're also more likely to struggle with eating disorders, and their unhealthy patterns could be passed on to their children.
It's important for girls to receive a diagnosis, because it will give them a better understanding of their issues and allow them to manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women report that they feel much more confident 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 issues and help them focus on the things that matter (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopause, their hormone levels change and ADHD symptoms can get worse. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat women with ADHD because their symptoms may be mistakenly diagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Being diagnosed with untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on self-esteem of women, and her relationships with friends and family. The symptoms can affect daily routines, leaving her frustrated and exhausted. It is possible that she cannot turn down people, causing her to become overburdened and resentful of people around her. She might find it difficult to organize her home and work life which can lead to missed appointments and lost files. She may also be more susceptible to being triggered by rejection, so she may be more likely to be defensive and even lash out at the people she is in love with.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel deeply hurt when rejected. It could be real or perceived. A disagreement with a partner, or an insult from a coworker at work could trigger you. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become over-stimulated, and the thoughts and feelings that result can hurt your relationships and self-esteem. There are also anxiety, depression and mood swings as a result of sensitive to rejection.
Rejection sensitivity, while often associated with ADHD is actually an indication of emotional dysregulation. This affects how your brain handles emotions and how you respond to them. Other mental health issues such as borderline personality disorder may also be a cause for these symptoms.
People suffering from RSD might see events through an eye that makes them appear darker or dimmer than they actually are. This can lead people to interpret things as rejection related, even if they aren't. RSD can make you in a state of being unable to control your emotions. This is why it is important to develop healthy coping strategies to manage RSD.
Check out the following articles to learn more about the sensitivity to rejection.
Although there isn't a cure for RSD however, you can manage your symptoms with the help of an expert in mental health. You can utilize strategies to cope, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help you change your negative thought patterns. You can also practice mindfulness and create a network of support to lessen your risk of negative reactions to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD, so you can live a more positive and satisfying life. It is also crucial to stay clear of toxic relationships since they can make your symptoms worse. If you're in an abusive relationship, seek counseling to discover how to get out. This will reduce the risk of rejection related feelings, such anxiety and depression. You can also improve your self-esteem by focusing on developing healthy relationships. This will make you feel more confident in your abilities and give a realistic perspective on life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship difficult. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky behavior. Women with high functioning adhd may be at greater risk for sexual problems. These behaviors can also lead to feelings of shame and guilt and can have a negative effect on the quality of their relationships and overall well-being.
In one study, adults with ADHD were found to be more likely than those without ADHD to have adventurous sexual interest. signs of add in adult women were affected. This is likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity, which can make them more likely to act on their sexual desires and ideas. The study revealed that females who have adhd are more likely to engage paraphilic fantasies and behaviors. This included submissive role play and bondage as well as sex with strangers. They also attended sex parties and clubs more often.
Females and males with adhd had a higher rate of infidelity than those without the disorder. This is due to their poor impulse control, alcohol disinhibition and sensation-seeking. This could be due to their greater levels of anxiety and a feeling of being misunderstood or criticized by their partners. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with sexual relationships and sexual encounters without contraception. Table 6 shows the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19), which asked participants to describe their problematic sexual behaviors. This questionnaire consists of 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using a five-point scale, ranging between 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score the more symptomatology it has. The HBI-19 was used to compare the sexual behavior of adults who have and those without ADHD.
treatment for adhd in women are important because the psychosexual outcomes for adults with ADHD were rarely studied. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions, such as STI's and unwanted pregnancies, 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 miscommunication caused by symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention can lead to frustration, anger and conflict in the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be helped by a network of family and friends who can understand.
It is crucial to keep in mind that people who suffer from ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are easily interrupted by their impulsive behavior, or their own thoughts, which could cause them to miss the point of a conversation. People with ADHD may also have issues multitasking, which could cause them to shut out conversations or to do something else while other people are talking.
These battles can create an unending cycle where the person who isn't ADHD is overwhelmed by anger and stress, while the ADHD partner feels misunderstood. 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 daily life. They may experience feelings of guilt and low self-esteem as a result of their chaotic and impulsive behavior, or feel that they're not able to handle their household chores and bills. They might also be suffering from mood swings and rejection sensitivity and low sex drive.
This is why it is crucial for people with ADHD to find a treatment plan and seek help. It is also essential for those close to them, especially spouses, to learn more about the disorder and how it affects their loved ones. They can work together to set the right expectations and boundaries and then devise an action plan to will meet those goals. For instance, the non-ADHD partner might assume more financial responsibilities, whereas the person with ADHD might be focused on the task of organizing and finishing housework.
Both partners should also be working to improve communication and establish a routine that includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It is important to find ways to make things easier for both partners, such sharing household chores or outsource certain tasks that are difficult for a person with ADHD.