High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who have high functioning adhd are prone to frustration and misunderstandings in their relationships. Symptoms may be more severe in times of hormonal changes, like premenstrual and pregnancy periods.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies to hide their symptoms and impairments can delay referral.
This group of patients has a unique set of issues that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Insecurities about self-esteem
The emotional and social issues associated with ADHD can cause women to feel low. Even when they are successful, it's easy to feel like failing because of the things they aren't able to change. This can result in a vicious cycle where they are constantly overwhelmed and never good enough, which can affect their mental health and self-esteem.
Girls with ADHD who are not treated are at a higher risk for chronic low self-esteem and teen pregnancy. They also have a greater chance of depression, anxiety and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're more likely to be parents on their own to a child suffering from ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or underemployment. They are also more likely than others to be afflicted by eating disorders and pass their bad habits on to their children.
It is crucial for girls to receive a diagnosis, because it will give them a better understanding of their issues and help them manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women say that they feel much more confident after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to stop blaming themselves for the small things they cannot manage. It can also help them reframe their difficulties as strengths and help them focus their attention on what matters most (Waite 2010).
As women age and enter menopause the hormone levels of their bodies change and ADHD symptoms may get worse. It isn't easy to diagnose and treat people suffering from ADHD as their symptoms could be incorrectly identified and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating impacts on a woman's self-esteem, and her relationships with her family and friends. Symptoms may interfere with the woman's daily routine that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. It is possible that she isn't able to refuse people, which causes her to become overburdened and angry with people around her. She might find it difficult to organize her home and work life and this can lead to unscheduled appointments and files being lost. She could be more easily triggered when she is rejected which makes her more likely to lash out at people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel deeply hurt when rejected. This could be real or perceived. You might be triggered by a disagreement with your partner or a negative feedback from a colleague at work. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are overstimulated, resulting in thoughts and feelings that can harm your relationships and self esteem. You may also experience depression, anxiety, and mood fluctuations as a result of sensitive to rejection.
Rejection sensitivity, which is often linked to ADHD is actually an indication of emotional dysregulation. This impacts how your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health conditions like borderline personality disorder can also show these symptoms.
People with RSD might see events through filters that make them appear darker or dimmer than they actually are. This can cause them to perceive and interpret things as if they are related to rejection, even if they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a harder time regulating your emotions which is why it is important to have healthy coping strategies to handle this.
Read the articles below to learn more about rejection sensitivity.
Although there isn't a cure for RSD however, you can manage your symptoms with the assistance of an expert in mental health. You can utilize strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which helps you modify your negative thought patterns. You can also establish a support network and practice mindfulness to lessen your chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD, so you can live a more positive and satisfying life. adhd in women signs is also crucial to stay clear of toxic relationships since they can make your symptoms worse. If you are in a abusive relationship, seek out counseling to learn how to safely leave. This will reduce the risk of experiencing feelings of rejection such as depression and anxiety. You can also boost your self-esteem by building healthy relationships. This will help you feel more confident in your abilities and provide you with an objective view of the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behaviours. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at a greater risk of experiencing these sexual problems than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can cause feelings of shame and guilt and can have a negative impact on the quality of their relationships as well as their overall health.
In one study, adults with ADHD were found to be more likely than those without ADHD to have adventurous sexual fascination. This was the case for males and females. This is probably due to the increased levels of impulsivity which can make them more likely be influenced by sexual ideas and desires. Specifically, the study found that females with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic sex fantasies and behaviors. This included bondage, submissive roles and sexing with strangers. It was also more common for them to attend sexual clubs and parties.
Both women and men who suffer from adhd were more likely be infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This was due to their lack of impulse control and alcohol disinhibition. This could also be a result of their higher levels of insecurity and feeling misunderstood by partners. The survey also asked participants to share their experiences with sexual affairs and sexual intercourse without the use of contraception. Table 6 provides the results for this section.
In the final analysis, the study utilized the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire from participants about their problematic sexual behavior. The questionnaire comprises 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is evaluated on a five-point scale from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score the more symptomatology it has. The HBI-19 was utilized to compare sexual behaviors between adults with ADHD and those without.
These results are important, because the psychosexual results for adults with ADHD were rarely studied. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions, such as STI's and unplanned pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction adolescent and adult onset infidelity and risky sexual behaviours.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have difficulties in their romantic relationships. Insufficient communication and misunderstandings caused by symptoms such as forgetfulness and inattention could result in anger, frustration and conflict within the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be helped by a network of family and friends who can understand.
It is also important to remember that people with ADHD frequently have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their thoughts or their impulsive behavior, which can cause them to miss out on the primary reason for a discussion. People with ADHD are more likely to have difficulty with multitasking as well and can cause them to tune out of conversations or perform other activities while others talk.
These struggles can lead to an unending cycle where the person who is not ADHD is overwhelmed by stress and resentment and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood. The issue could escalate from there as they become more isolated.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by their daily demands. They may feel low self-esteem and shame because of their impulsive and disorganized behavior, or feel like they're not able to handle their chores and bills. They may also have mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sexual desire.
It is important that those with ADHD find a treatment and seek assistance. It is also crucial for their family members particularly spouses, to learn more about the condition and how it affects their loved one. They can work together to establish clear boundaries and expectations and then devise a plan of how they can achieve those objectives. The non-ADHD spouse could assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD would focus on organizing and completing housework.
Both partners should work to improve their communication and establish a routine that includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times and time for relaxation and rest. It's also important to find ways to make things easier for both of you by sharing household chores or outsourcing some of the tasks that are difficult for a person with ADHD for example, hiring a cleaning service or using apps to manage costs.