High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd can be unhappy and are often misunderstood in their relationships. The symptoms may increase during times of hormonal change such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies to mask their symptoms and impairments could delay referral.
This group of patients faces specific problems that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Self-Esteem is not a strong point.
Women can feel depressed by the emotional and social issues of ADHD. Even when they're doing well, it's easy to feel like a failure because of things they cannot control. This can result in an endless feeling of being overwhelmed and inadequate. This can have a negative impact on their mental health.
Girls who don't have treatment for ADHD are more at risk of chronic low self-esteem and teen pregnancy, anxiety, depression, and abuse of substances. As adults, they are more likely to be single-parents to a child with ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or unemployment. They are also more likely than others to suffer from eating disorders and pass their bad habits onto their children.
It's important for girls to get a diagnosis, because it will give them an understanding of their issues and help them manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women report feeling confident after receiving an diagnosis. They can now stop getting angry about things they aren't able to control. It can also help them see their struggles as strengths and help them focus their focus on what is important most (Waite 2010,).
As women age and enter menopausal their hormone levels alter, and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. This can make it harder for them to be diagnosed and treated, as 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 a devastating impact on a woman’s self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can affect daily routines, leaving her exhausted and irritable. It is possible that she isn't able to refuse people, which causes her to feel overwhelmed and resentful of those around her. It can be difficult organizing her home and work life, which leads to delayed appointments and lost documents. She may 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 makes you feel extremely hurt when you are rejected. This could be real or perceived. You could be triggered by a disagreement 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 affect your relationships and self esteem. Rejection sensitivity can also lead to depression, anxiety and mood fluctuations.
Although it's often attributed to ADHD Rejection sensitivity is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation that affects how your brain handles emotions and the way you react to them. The symptoms can also be found in other mental health disorders like borderline personality disorder (BPD).
People suffering from RSD may see events through an eye that makes them appear more dark or dimmer than they actually are. This could cause them to interpret and perceive things as rejection related, even if they aren't. RSD can also cause you to have a difficult to control your emotions which is why it is important to develop healthy strategies for coping to manage this.
You can find out more about rejection sensitivity by reading these articles:
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can employ coping strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy to change your negative thinking patterns. You can also create 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, so you can live a more positive and fulfilling life. It is also crucial to avoid relationships that are toxic as they can make your symptoms worse. If you're in a abusive relationship, seek out counseling to discover the best way to leave. This can lower the chance of feeling depressed and anxious such as depression and anxiety. By focusing on relationships that are healthy that you are in, you will increase your self-esteem. This will make you feel more confident about your capabilities and provide an honest view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make the maintenance of a healthy relationship a challenge. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behaviors. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at a higher risk of developing these sexual problems than non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can cause feelings of guilt and embarrassment, which can affect their relationships and wellbeing.
One study looked at adults suffering from ADHD and discovered that they were more likely to have a passion for sexual exploration than those without the disorder. Both males and women were affected. This could be due to the greater impulsivity levels that can make them more likely to act on sexual thoughts and desires. Specifically, the study found that women with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and behaviours. This included submissive role-play, bondage and sexual relations with strangers. They also went to sex parties and more clubs.
Both women and men with adhd were more likely be in a relationship than those who didn't have the disorder. This is due to their poor impulse control, alcohol disinhibition and sensation-seeking. This was likely also due to their higher rates of anxiety and feeling misunderstood by their partners. The survey also asked participants to share their experiences with extra-partner sexual relations and sexual interactions without use of contraception. Table 6 summarizes the results of this section.
Lastly, the study used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to ask participants about their sexual problems. The questionnaire consists of 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using five-point scale, starting from 1 (never to 5 (very often)). The higher the score, the more symptoms are present. The HBI-19 was developed in order to assess sexual behavior between adults with ADHD and those without.
These results are important, since the psychosexual outcomes of adults with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions such as unwanted pregnancy and STIs, relationship dissatisfaction, adult onset infidelity, and risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD have trouble in their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clear communication and miscommunication caused by symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention could result in anger, frustration and conflict in the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be made easier by a network of friends and family members who understand.
It is important to remember that people with ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are easily distracted by their thoughts or their impulsive behavior, which can result in them missing out on the main reason for a discussion. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which can cause them to mute conversations or to do something else while someone else is talking.
These conflicts can lead to a vicious cycle in which the non-ADHD person becomes overwhelmed with stress and resentment, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood and defensive. The problem can escalate from there as they become more isolated.
Women with high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by their everyday demands. add adult women may experience low self-esteem or shame due to their impulsive, unorganized behavior. They may feel like they cannot keep up with their bills and chores. They may also have mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sex desire.
For these reasons, it is vital for those who suffer from ADHD to establish a treatment plan and seek assistance. It is also crucial for family members, especially spouses, to understand the condition and how it affects their loved ones. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they will create an action plan to meet their goals. The non-ADHD spouse could take on more financial responsibilities while the person with ADHD will be focused on organising and finishing the housework.
Both partners should strive to improve their communication and establish a routine, which includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It's important to find ways to make things easier for both partners, such splitting household chores or outsourcing some of those that are difficult for a person with ADHD.