High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd experience frustration and miscommunication in their relationships. The symptoms can be more severe in times of hormonal changes like the premenstrual or pregnancy cycles.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies to mask their symptoms and impairments could delay the time for referral.
This group of patients faces particular problems that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Self-esteem issues
The emotional and social issues associated with ADHD can cause women to feel low. Even if they're successful, it's easy to feel like they're failing because of the things they cannot change. This can result in an endless cycle of feeling like they feel constantly overwhelmed and never satisfied, which can affect their mental health and self-esteem.
Girls with ADHD who are not treated are at a greater chance of developing chronic low self-esteem and teenage pregnancy. They also have a greater chance of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. As adults, they're at an increased risk of single-parenting a child with ADHD and financial problems, as well as underemployment. They're also more likely to be struggling with eating disorders, and their bad patterns can pass down to their children.
It's important for girls to receive an accurate diagnosis because it will provide them with a better understanding of their challenges and help them manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women report feeling confident after receiving the diagnosis. They can stop getting angry about things they cannot manage. It can also help them reframe their struggles and refocus on what's important (Waite 2010).
As women mature and approach menopause, their hormone levels change, and ADHD symptoms can get worse. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat women with ADHD due to the fact that their symptoms can be mistakenly diagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have a devastating impact on self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt the woman's daily routine that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. She may feel that she isn't able to refuse people, which causes her to be overwhelmed and resentful towards people around her. She may find it difficult to manage her work and home life, which leads to missing appointments and documents getting lost. Additionally, she could be more susceptible to being triggered by rejection, therefore she's more likely to react defensively 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. This can be real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner, or a negative comment from a colleague at work can trigger you. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become overwhelmed and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result could harm your self-esteem and relationships. You can also experience anxiety, depression and mood changes due to sensitive to rejection.
Rejection sensitivity, while often linked to ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This affects the way your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health disorders like borderline personality disorder may 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 could cause them to interpret things as being related to rejection, even if they aren't. RSD can make you incapable of controlling your emotions. This is why it is important to develop healthy coping mechanisms to deal with RSD.
Read the articles below to find out more about rejection sensitivity.
Although there isn't a cure for RSD it is possible to manage symptoms with the help of a mental healthcare professional. You can utilize strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which helps change your negative thought patterns. You can also establish an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to lower the chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD and help you lead a more pleasant and satisfying life. Avoid adhd in women signs since they can worsen your symptoms. If you're in an abusive relationship, seek counseling to discover the best way to leave. This can reduce your risk of feeling depressed and anxious, such anxiety and depression. You can also increase your self-esteem by focusing on developing healthy relationships. This will help you feel more confident about your abilities and provide a realistic perspective on life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make the maintenance of a healthy relationship a challenge. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky behaviours. Women who have high functioning adhd may be at greater risk of developing sexual problems. These behaviors can cause feelings of guilt and embarrassment, which can affect their relationships and well-being.
One study surveyed adults suffering from ADHD and discovered that they were more likely to be interested in sexual activities than those without the disorder. This was the case for both males and females. This is likely due to the higher levels of impulsivity that can cause them to be more likely act on their sexual ideas and desires. The study revealed that females who have adhd are more likely to engage in paraphilic fantasies and behavior. This included bondage, submissive roles, and sex with strangers. It was also more typical for them to attend party and sex clubs.
Females and males with adhd had a greater rate of infidelity than people without the disorder. This was due to inability to control their impulses and alcohol withdrawal, as well as the desire to feel. This is likely due to their higher levels of insecurity and a feeling of being misunderstood or criticized by their partners. The survey also asked participants to report their experiences with sexual affairs and sexual intercourse without use of contraception. Table 6 shows 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. This questionnaire is composed of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using a 5-point scale, from 1 (never to 5) (very frequently)). The higher the score the more symptomatology there is. The HBI-19 was used in order to assess sexual behavior 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 linked with sexual dysfunctions, such as STIs and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction, adult-onset infidelity as well as risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD have issues with their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clarity in communication and misunderstandings triggered by symptoms such as inattention and forgetfulness may lead to frustration, anger, and conflict within a relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be assisted by a supportive network of family and friends who can understand.
It is also important to note that people suffering from ADHD often have difficulty listening. They can be interrupted easily by their impulsive behavior, or their own thoughts, which may cause them to miss the main point of a conversation. People with ADHD may also have issues multitasking, which can lead them to tune out conversations or do something else while another person is talking.
These struggles can lead to a vicious cycle where the person who isn't ADHD becomes overwhelmed with anger and stress, while the ADHD partner feels misunderstood. The issue could escalate in the meantime as they become more isolated.
Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their daily life. They may be feeling guilt or self-esteem issues due to their impulsive, disorganized behavior. They may find themselves struggling to keep up with their chores and bills. They may also have mood swings, rejection sensitivity and low sexual desire.
Because of this, it is crucial for people suffering from ADHD to establish an effective treatment plan and seek out help. It is also essential for their family members particularly spouses, to learn more about the condition and how it affects their loved ones. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they will create an action plan to meet their goals. For instance the partner who is not ADHD could be more involved in the financial responsibilities, whereas the person with ADHD might be focused on completing chores and organizing the house.
Both partners should also be working to improve communication and establish an established routine that includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times and time for relaxation and rest. It is also crucial to find ways to make things easier for both of you, such as splitting household chores, or outsourcing some tasks that are difficult for a person with ADHD for example, hiring a cleaning service or utilizing apps to manage costs.