High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd are frustrated and misunderstood in their relationships. adhd in adults women can be more severe during periods of hormonal changes, such as the premenstrual and menstrual cycles.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies in order to cover their symptoms and impairments could delay the time for referral.
This group of patients faces specific challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Lack of self-esteem
The emotional and social challenges associated with ADHD can cause women to feel down. Even when they're successful, it's easy to feel like they're an failure due to things they can't change. This can result in an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative impact on their mental well-being.
Girls who suffer from ADHD who are not treated are at a higher risk for chronic low self-esteem and teenage pregnancy. They also have a higher chance of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. As adults, they're at greater risk of being parents on their own to a child suffering from ADHD and facing financial hardship or unemployment. 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 get an accurate diagnosis because it will give them a better understanding of their challenges and allow them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women report that they feel much more confident after receiving their diagnosis, allowing them to stop blaming themselves for the little things they can't manage. It can also help them reframe their problems and refocus them on what's important (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopausal age, their hormone levels could change and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. This makes it more difficult for them to be diagnosed and treated because they're often misdiagnosed as having anxiety or mood disorder, and the symptoms are dismissed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating impacts on self-esteem of women, and her relationships with family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt a woman's daily routine that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. She might feel that she is unable to refuse to be around people which causes her to burden herself and become angry with people close to her. She might find it difficult to organize the work and home lives of her children which can lead to missed appointments and lost files. She can also be more susceptible to being triggered by rejection, which means she is more likely to react defensively and snap at those she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel extremely when you are rejected, whether real or perceived. You could be triggered by an argument with your partner or a negative comment from a coworker at work. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are overstimulated and result in thoughts and feelings that can harm your relationships and self esteem. You may also experience depression, anxiety, and mood changes due to the sensitivity to rejection.
Rejection sensitivity, which is typically associated with ADHD is actually an indication of emotional dysregulation. This affects the way your brain processes emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder may also show these symptoms.
RSD patients may perceive events through a filter, which makes them appear brighter or darker than they are. This can cause them to interpret and interpret events as if they are related to rejection, even if they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a difficult to control your emotions and that's why it's 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 but it is possible to manage your symptoms with the assistance of an expert in mental health. You can use coping techniques like cognitive behavior therapy to change your negative thinking patterns. You can also develop mindfulness and create a network of support to lessen the chance of having negative reactions to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and allow you to lead a more pleasant and fulfilled life. Avoid toxic relationships because they can cause more symptoms. If you're in an abusive relationship, seek out counseling to learn the best method to leave. This will help lessen the risk of having feelings of rejection, like depression and anxiety. You can also improve your self-esteem by focusing on creating healthy relationships. This will make you feel more confident about your abilities and provide an honest view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions or risky sexual behaviors. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at a greater risk of experiencing these sexual problems than non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also result in feelings of guilt and shame which can have a negative impact on the quality of their relationships and overall well-being.
One study surveyed adults with ADHD and discovered that they were more likely to have adventurous sexual interests than those without the disorder. Both males and women were affected. This is likely due to their more impulsive levels, which can make them more likely to act upon 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 roles play bondage, sexual relations with strangers. It was also more typical for them to attend sexual clubs and parties.
Both men and women with adhd were more likely be in a relationship than those who didn't have the disorder. This was due to their lack of control of their impulses and alcohol withdrawal. This was likely also because of their higher rates of insecurity and feeling misunderstood by partners. The survey asked respondents about their experiences with extra-partner relationships and sexual relationships without contraception. Table 6 provides the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which surveyed participants to discuss their problematic sexual behavior. The questionnaire consists of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored on a 5-point scale, from 1 (never to 5 (very frequently)). The higher the score, the more symptomatology it has. The HBI-19 was used to assess the sexual behaviors of people with and without ADHD.
These results are important because the psychosexual outcomes for adults with ADHD were not studied as often. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions such as unwanted pregnancy and STIs, relationship dissatisfaction and adult onset infidelity, and risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD have trouble in their romantic relationships. Lack of clarity in communication and misunderstandings triggered by signs such as forgetfulness and inattention can result in anger, frustration and conflict in relationships. Maintaining healthy relationships can be made easier by a supportive network of family and friends who understand.
It is important to remember, too, that people who suffer from ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior which could result in them missing out on the central reason for a discussion. People with ADHD are more likely to be struggling with multitasking as well which could cause them to tune out of conversations or engage in other things while someone else is talking.
These battles can create a vicious cycle in which the partner who is not ADHD is overwhelmed with anger and stress, while the ADHD partner feels that they are not understood. The problem can escalate in the meantime as they become more distant.
Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of daily life. They might experience feelings of shame and low self-esteem because of their unpredictable and unorganized behavior, or feel that they're not able to handle their household chores and bills. They might also have mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sex desire.
This is why it is essential for those with ADHD to find a treatment plan and seek assistance. It is also important for their family members, especially spouses, to learn more about the condition and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they can develop a plan to meet their goals. For instance the non-ADHD spouse could be more involved in the financial responsibilities, while the person with ADHD might focus on the task of organizing and finishing housework.
Both partners must strive to improve communication and establish an established routine that includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times and time for relaxation and rest. It's also important to discover ways to make life easier for both of you for example, dividing household chores, or outsourcing some tasks that are difficult for a person with ADHD like hiring cleaning services or using apps to manage expenses.