High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who have high functioning adhd are prone to discontent and confusion in their relationships. Symptoms can heighten at periods of hormonal changes, such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy.
Many women and girls use compensatory strategies to hiding their impairments and symptoms which may delay the time to referral.
This group of patients has particular issues that need to be taken into consideration when treating them.
1. Lack of Self-Esteem
Women can be depressed by the emotional and social challenges of ADHD. Even if they're successful, it is easy to feel like they're an failure due to things they cannot change. This can create an endless feeling of being overwhelmed and unsatisfied. This can have a negative impact on their mental health.
Girls with ADHD who are not treated are at a greater risk for chronic low self-esteem and teenage pregnancy. They also have a higher risk of depression, anxiety and abuse of substances. As adults, they're at an increased risk of single-parenting children with ADHD and financial problems, as well as underemployment. They're also more likely to struggle with eating disorders, and their negative habits can be passed on to their children.
It's essential that women receive a diagnosis because it will help them better understand the challenges they face and manage their symptoms. Many women report that they feel more confident after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to stop blaming themselves for the small things they cannot manage. It can also help reframe their struggles and refocus on what is important (Waite 2010).
As women age and enter menopause their hormone levels may change and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat people suffering from ADHD due to the fact that their symptoms can be misdiagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating effects on self-esteem of women, and her relationships with friends and family. Symptoms can interfere with everyday routines, leaving them exhausted and irritable. It is possible that she cannot refuse to be around people which causes her to burden herself and feel resentful towards the people closest to her. It could be difficult to manage the work and home lives of her children which can lead to unscheduled appointments and files being lost. She could be more prone to being affected by rejection, making her more likely to snap at people she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel very hurt when rejected. This can be real or perceived. You might be triggered by a disagreement with your partner or a negative review from a coworker at work. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become over-stimulated, and the thoughts emotions, feelings, and beliefs that result could harm your self-esteem and relationships. The sensitivity to rejection can also result in anxiety, depression and mood fluctuations.
Although it's often linked to ADHD Rejection sensitivity is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation, which affects the way your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health conditions like borderline personality disorder may also show these symptoms.
People suffering from RSD may view events through a filter that makes them appear darker or dimmer than they actually are. This could cause them to interpret and perceive things as being related to rejection, even if they aren't. RSD can make you unable to control your emotions. This is why it is essential to develop healthy coping strategies to manage RSD.
Learn more about rejection sensitivity by reading the following articles:
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 employ coping strategies such as cognitive behavioral therapy to change your negative thinking patterns. You can also build a support network and practice mindfulness to lower your chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD, so you can lead a more pleasant and satisfying life. Avoid toxic relationships, since they can worsen your symptoms. If you are in an abusive relationship, seek out counseling to find out how you can leave. This will reduce the risk of rejection related feelings like depression and anxiety. By focusing on healthy relationships, you can improve your self-esteem. This will allow you to feel more confident about your abilities and provide you with a more realistic perspective on the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions or risky sexual behaviors. Women with adhd that is high functioning are at a higher risk for sexual problems. These behaviors can also cause feelings of guilt and embarrassment which may negatively impact their relationships and wellbeing.
In one study, adults with ADHD were found to be more likely than those without ADHD to have adventurous sexual fascination. Both genders were affected. This could be due to their higher levels of impulsivity, 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 indulge in sexual fantasies and actions. This included bondage, submissive roles, and sex with strangers. They also attended sex parties and nightclubs more often.
adhd in young women and men with adhd were more likely to be infidelity than those who didn't have the disorder. This is due to their inability to control their impulses, alcohol disinhibition and sensation-seeking. It could also be because of their higher levels of insecurity and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey also asked participants to share their experiences with extra-partner sexual relationships and sexual encounters without use of contraception. Table 6 presents the results from this section.
The study also utilized the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which surveyed participants to discuss their problematic sexual behaviors. The questionnaire consists of 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using a five-point scale, ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score the more symptomatology it has. The HBI-19 was utilized to evaluate sexual behaviors between adults with ADHD and those who do not.
These findings are significant because the psychosexual outcomes of people with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions like STIs and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction, adult-onset infidelity, as well as dangerous sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD have issues in their romantic relationships. A lack of clear communication and misunderstandings caused by symptoms such as forgetfulness and inattention can lead to anger, resentment and even conflict within the relationship. A strong network of friends and family members who are able to understand each other can be helpful for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is also important to remember that people with ADHD are often unable to listen. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behaviors which can result in them missing out on the primary reason for a discussion. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which can lead them to mute conversations or do something else while someone else is talking.
These struggles can result in a cycle where the non-ADHD person becomes overwhelmed with stress and resentment, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood and defensive. They may then become more withdrawn and the issue can escalate from there.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their lives. They may experience feelings of guilt and low self-esteem as a result of their impulsive and disorganized behavior, or feel that they can't keep up with their bills and chores. They might also be suffering from mood swings and rejection sensitivity as well as low sexual drive.
Because of this, it is crucial for people who suffer from ADHD to establish an effective treatment plan and seek assistance. It is important that those closest to them, especially spouses, understand ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can collaborate to set clear boundaries and expectations and then formulate a plan for how they can achieve those goals. The non-ADHD partner can assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD will be focused on organising and completing the chores at home.
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 important to find ways to make things easier for both partners, such splitting household chores or outsourcing certain tasks that are difficult for someone with ADHD.