High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd experience frustration and misunderstandings in their relationships. Symptoms can heighten at times of hormonal change such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies to hide their symptoms and impairments can delay referral.
This patient group faces specific challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Insecurities about self-esteem
The emotional and social challenges that accompany ADHD can cause women to feel down. Even when they're doing well, it's easy to feel like a failure because of things they can't control. This can lead to a vicious cycle where they feel constantly overwhelmed and never good enough which can take a toll on their mental health and self-esteem.
Girls who aren't treated for ADHD are at higher risk of developing chronic low self-esteem as well as anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're at an greater risk of being the sole parent to children with ADHD, financial crises and underemployment. They're also more likely than other people to suffer from eating disorders and pass their bad habits onto their children.
It's essential that girls receive a diagnosis because it will allow them to better understand the challenges they face and manage their symptoms. Many women say that they feel more at ease after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to stop blaming themselves for the little things they are unable to manage. It can also help to reframe their problems and refocus them on what is important (Waite 2010).
As women age and approach menopausal age, their hormone levels could change, and ADHD symptoms may worsen. This makes it more difficult for them to be diagnosed and treated since they are often misdiagnosed as having anxiety or mood disorder, and their symptoms are viewed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."
Untreated adult ADHD can have a devastating impact on a woman’s self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can affect everyday routines, leaving them feeling exhausted and angry. It is possible that she cannot say no to anyone, leading her to overburden herself and feel resentful towards the people closest to her. It could be difficult to organize her work and home life, leading to unscheduled appointments and files being lost. She can also be more easily triggered by rejection therefore she's more likely to be defensive and lash out at people she is in love with.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a condition that causes you to feel intensely when you're rejected, whether real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or an insult from a co-worker at work can trigger your symptoms. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms are over-stimulated, and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result can harm your relationships and self-esteem. You can also experience depression, anxiety, and mood fluctuations as a result of rejection sensitivity.
Rejection sensitivity, while often associated with ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This impacts how your brain handles emotions and how you respond to them. The symptoms can also be seen in other mental health conditions, including borderline personality disorder (BPD).
RSD patients may perceive events through a filter, which makes them appear brighter or darker than they 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 crucial to develop healthy coping strategies to manage RSD.
You can find out more about the issue of rejection sensitivity by reading these articles:
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to manage the symptoms with the assistance of a mental healthcare professional. You can use strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which helps you change your negative thought patterns. You can also build a support network and practice mindfulness to reduce your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and help you live a more positive and satisfying life. Avoid relationships that are toxic, because they can cause more symptoms. If you're in a abusive relationship, seek counseling to learn the best method to leave. This will help reduce your risk of feelings of rejection, like anxiety and depression. By focusing on relationships that are healthy that you are in, you will increase your self-esteem. This will allow you to feel more confident in your abilities and provide you with a more realistic perspective on the world around you.
3. add symptoms in adult women can make maintaining a healthy relationship challenging. This can result in sexual dysfunctions or risky behavior. Women with adhd that is high functioning may be at greater risk of having sexual issues. These behaviors can also cause feelings of guilt and shame and can have a negative effect on the quality of their relationships as well as their overall health.
One study looked at adults with ADHD and found that they were more likely to have a passion for sexual exploration than those who did not suffer from the disorder. Both genders were affected. This is likely due to the increased levels of impulsivity which can make them more likely be influenced by sexual ideas and desires. Particularly, the study revealed that females with adhd were more likely to indulge in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and behaviours. This included submissive role-play bondage, sexual relations with strangers. They also attended sex parties and clubs more often.
Females and males with adhd had a greater rate of infidelity than those without the disorder. This was due to their poor impulse control, alcohol disinhibition and sensation-seeking. It could also be because 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 summarizes the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which surveyed participants to discuss their problematic sexual behaviors. This questionnaire consists 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, more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was developed in order to evaluate sexual behaviors between people who suffer from ADHD and those who do not.
These findings are significant because the psychosexual outcomes of people with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions, such as unwanted pregnancy and STIs, relationship dissatisfaction, adult-onset infidelity, as well as dangerous sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their romantic relationships. Lack of clear communication and misunderstandings caused by symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention could lead to frustration, anger and conflict in relationships. A supportive network of family and friends members who can understand is beneficial for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is also important to remember that people with ADHD often have difficulty listening. They are often interrupted by impulsive behavior or their own thoughts, which could cause them to miss the main point of an exchange. People with ADHD are more likely to have difficulty in multitasking, which can cause them to become disengaged of conversations or engage in other activities while someone else is talking.
Keep Reading can result in a vicious cycle in which the person who is not ADHD is overwhelmed by stress and resentment and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood. The issue can get worse from there as they become more isolated.
Women with high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by their daily demands. They may feel low self-esteem or shame due to their impulsive, chaotic behavior. Or they might feel that they are unable to manage their obligations and bills. They may also experience mood swings and rejection sensitivity as well as low sexual drive.
For these reasons, it is essential for those with ADHD to find an effective treatment plan and seek out help. It is also crucial for family members particularly spouses to learn more about the disorder and how it affects their loved one. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they will develop a plan to achieve their goals. The non-ADHD spouse could take on more financial responsibilities while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and completing housework.
In addition, both partners must work together to communicate more effectively and clearly and establish a regular routine that includes regular sleep schedules, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. It is essential to find ways to simplify things for both spouses, such as splitting household chores or outsourcing certain tasks that are difficult for someone with ADHD.