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, such as the premenstrual and pregnancy periods.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies, hiding their impairments and symptoms, which can delay time to referral.
This group of patients faces particular challenges that need to be taken into account when treating them.
1. Insecurity about oneself
Women can feel depressed by the emotional and social challenges of ADHD. Even when adhd in adult women treatment , it's easy to feel like they're an failure due to things they can't change. This can lead to an endless cycle of feeling like they feel constantly overwhelmed and never satisfied and can affect their mental health and self-esteem.
Girls with untreated ADHD are more at risk of chronic low self-esteem, teen pregnancy, anxiety, depression, and abuse of substances. As adults, they're more likely to be single-parents to a child with ADHD and also facing financial difficulties or underemployment. They're also more likely than other people to be afflicted by eating disorders and to pass their bad habits on to their children.
It's important for girls to get an assessment, as it will give them a better understanding of their struggles and enable them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women say that they feel more confident after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to not be a victim of the small things they cannot control. It can also help them see their challenges as strengths and refocus their attention on what matters most (Waite 2010,).
As women age and move towards menopausal age, their hormone levels could change and ADHD symptoms may worsen. This can make it difficult for them to be diagnosed and treated since they are often misdiagnosed as having anxiety or mood disorder, and the symptoms are dismissed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."
Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating impacts on a woman's self-esteem, and her relationships with friends and family. The symptoms can disrupt women's daily routines that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. She might feel like she can't refuse people, which causes her to become overburdened and resentful of people who are around her. It can be difficult organizing her home and work life, resulting in missed appointments and lost documents. She could be more prone to being affected by rejection which makes her more likely to lash out at people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a condition that causes you to feel intensely when you're rejected, whether it is real or perceived. You might be triggered by a disagreement with your partner or a negative comment from a colleague at work. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms become over-stimulated and the thoughts and feelings that result can hurt your self-esteem and relationships. There are also anxiety, depression, and mood changes due to rejection sensitivity.
Although it's often linked to ADHD, rejection sensitiveness is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation that affects how your brain manages emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health conditions such as borderline personality disorder may also be a cause for these symptoms.
People suffering from RSD may view events through filters that make them appear darker or dimmer than they actually are. This could cause them to interpret things as rejection related, even if they aren't. RSD can also cause you to have a difficult time regulating your emotions which is why it is important to have coping strategies that are healthy to manage this.
Check out the following articles to find out more about rejection sensitivity.
While there is no cure for RSD but it is possible to manage your symptoms with the help of a mental health professional. You can employ strategies to cope, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps you change your negative thinking patterns. You can also establish an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to lower the chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and help you live a happier and more fulfilling life. Avoid relationships that are toxic, since they can worsen your symptoms. If you are in a abusive relationship, you should seek counseling to learn how to safely quit. This will help lessen the risk of having rejection-related feelings, such as depression and anxiety. You can also boost your self-esteem by building healthy relationships. This will make you feel more confident about your capabilities and provide an honest view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy relationship. This can result in sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Women with adhd that is high functioning may be at greater risk of having sexual issues. These behaviors can cause feelings of guilt and embarrassment which may affect their relationships and wellbeing.
In one study, those with ADHD were found to be more likely than those without ADHD to have adventurous sexual interest. Both males and 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 found that women with adhd are more likely to indulge in sexual fantasies and actions. This included submissive roles play bondage, sexual contact with strangers. They also went to sex events and nightclubs more often.
adhd in women uk and men with adhd were more likely to be infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This is due to their weak impulse control and alcohol disinhibition. This is probably due to their higher levels of insecurity and a feeling of being misunderstood or criticized by their partners. The survey asked respondents about their experiences with extra-partner relationships and sexual relations without contraception. Table 6 outlines 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 sexual issues. The questionnaire is comprised of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using five-point scale, starting from 1 (never to 5 (very frequently)). The higher the score, the more symptomatology it has. The HBI-19 was utilized to evaluate sexual behaviors between people with ADHD and those without.
These results are important, because the psychosexual results for adults with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions like unwanted pregnancy and STIs relationships, dissatisfaction with relationships and adult onset infidelity, and risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have issues in their relationships with loved ones. A lack of communication, and miscommunication due to issues like forgetfulness and inattention can lead to frustration, resentment, and a conflict in the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be helped by a supportive network of family and friends who can understand.
It is crucial to keep in mind that people with ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are easily distracted by their thoughts or their impulsive behavior, which can cause them to lose focus on the main reason for a discussion. People with ADHD are more likely to be struggling with multitasking, too, which can cause them to lose track of conversations or engage in other things while others talk.
These struggles can lead to an unending cycle where the person who isn't ADHD becomes overwhelmed with anger and stress, while the ADHD partner feels that they are not understood. 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 be feeling low self-esteem or shame because of their impulsive, disorganized behavior. Or they might feel like they cannot manage their obligations and bills. They may also feel mood swings, rejection sensitivity and low sex desire.
This is why it is vital for those who suffer from ADHD to find an effective treatment plan and seek assistance. It is also essential for family members particularly spouses, to understand the disorder and how it affects the person they love. They can work together to establish clear boundaries and expectations and then formulate a plan of how they can achieve those goals. The non-ADHD partner can take on more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and completing housework.
adhd in women uk must be working to improve communication and establish an established routine that includes regular schedules for sleeping, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. It's also important to find ways to make things easier for both of you for example, sharing household chores or outsourcing some tasks that are challenging for a person with ADHD for example, hiring a cleaning service or using apps to control costs.