High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd experience frustration and misunderstandings in their relationships. The symptoms can be more severe in times of hormonal changes, like premenstrual and pregnancy periods.
Many women and girls use compensatory strategies to hiding their impairments and symptoms, which can delay time to referral.
This group of patients has particular challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Insecurities about self-esteem
Women can be depressed due to the emotional and social challenges of ADHD. Even when they're successful, it's easy to feel like a failure for things they aren't able to control. This can result in an unending cycle where they feel overwhelmed and never good enough and can be detrimental to their mental health and self-esteem.
Girls who suffer from ADHD who aren't treated are at a higher risk for chronic low self-esteem and teen pregnancy. They also have a greater chance of depression, anxiety and abuse of substances. As adults, they're at a higher risk of becoming single-parents of a child with ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or underemployment. They're also more likely than other people to suffer from eating disorders and pass their bad habits onto their children.
It's crucial that women receive a diagnosis because it will allow them to better comprehend their struggles and help them manage their symptoms. Many women say that they feel more confident after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to stop beating themselves up over the little things they can't control. It can also help them reframe their struggles and refocus on the things that matter (Waite 2010).
As women mature and approach menopausal the hormone levels of their bodies change, and ADHD symptoms may get worse. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat people suffering from ADHD because their symptoms may be incorrectly identified and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating impacts on women's self-esteem and her relationships with family and friends. Symptoms may interfere with women's daily routines, leaving her irritable and exhausted. It is possible that she can't refuse people, which causes her to be overwhelmed and angry with people around her. She may find it difficult to manage her home and work life and this can lead to unscheduled appointments and files being lost. She could be more easily angered when she is not liked which makes her more likely to lash out at people she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a condition that causes you to feel intensely when you're being rejected, whether real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or a negative comment from a colleague at work can trigger your symptoms. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are overstimulated which can trigger thoughts, feelings and beliefs that can harm your relationships and self esteem. You can also experience depression, anxiety and mood fluctuations as a result of the sensitivity to rejection.
Rejection sensitivity, while typically associated with ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This affects how your brain processes emotions and how you respond to them. The symptoms can also be seen in other mental health disorders like borderline personality disorder (BPD).
RSD patients may perceive events through a filter, which makes them appear darker or brighter than they really are. This causes them to perceive and interpret things as rejection-related, even when they are not. RSD can also cause you to have a harder time regulating your emotions, which is why it's important to have coping strategies that are healthy to deal with this.
Learn more about rejection sensitivity by reading the following articles:
While there is no cure for RSD, it's possible to manage your symptoms with the assistance of an expert in mental health. You can employ coping strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also build an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to reduce your chance of reacting negatively to rejection. adhd in women adults can help you find ways to overcome your RSD and help you live a more positive and fulfilled life. Avoid toxic relationships as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you are in a abusive relationship, you should seek counseling to learn how to safely quit. This can lower the chance of experiencing feelings of rejection like depression and anxiety. By focusing on healthy relationships and relationships, you can boost your self-esteem. This will make you feel more confident in your capabilities and provide an objective 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. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at a higher risk of having sexual issues than their 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 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 interest. Both genders were affected. This could be due to their higher levels of impulsivity which can make them more likely to act on their sexual desires and thoughts. The study found that women who suffer from adhd are more likely to engage in paraphilic fantasies and behaviors. This included bondage, submissive roles and sexing with strangers. They also went to sex parties and clubs more often.
Both women and men who suffer from adhd were more likely to be infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This was due to their lack of control of their impulses and alcohol withdrawal. This could also be because of their higher rates of anxiety and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey also asked participants to share their experiences with sexual relations and sexual interactions without use of contraception. Table 6 shows the results of this section.
In the final analysis, the study utilized the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to ask participants about their sexual issues. The questionnaire consists of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored on five-point scale, starting between 1 (never to 5 (very frequently)). The more high the score, the more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was developed in order to assess sexual behavior between people with ADHD and those who do not.
These findings are important because the psychosexual outcomes of people with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been connected to sexual dysfunctions like STI's, unwanted pregnancies, relationship problems, adolescent and adult onset infidelity and risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have issues with their relationships with loved ones. A lack of clear communication, and miscommunication due to issues like inattention and forgetfulness can cause frustration, resentment, and conflict in the relationship. A supportive group of family and friends members who understand can be beneficial in maintaining healthy relationships.
It is also important to note that those with ADHD frequently have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior, which could cause them to lose focus on the central purpose of a conversation. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which can cause them to mute conversations or do something else while another person is talking.
These conflicts can result in an unending cycle where the partner who is not ADHD is overwhelmed by stress and resentment and the ADHD person feels untrusted. They can then become more withdrawn, and the problem escalates from there.
Women with high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their daily life. They may feel low self-esteem and shame because of their chaotic and impulsive behavior, or feel that they can't keep up with their chores and bills. They may also feel mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sex desire.
For these reasons, it is essential for those suffering from ADHD to find a treatment plan and seek help. It is important that the people closest to them, including spouses, are aware of ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can collaborate to establish the right expectations and boundaries and then formulate a plan for how they will achieve their objectives. For instance, the non-ADHD partner might be more involved in the financial responsibilities, whereas the person with ADHD might be focused on the task of organizing and finishing housework.
Both partners must strive to improve their communication and establish a routine, which includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times, and time for relaxation and rest. It is essential to find ways to simplify things for both of you, like sharing household chores or outsource certain tasks which are challenging for people with ADHD.