High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with adhd that are high functioning are dissatisfied and often misunderstood by their relationships. The symptoms may increase during times of hormonal change, like the pre-menstrual period and pregnancy.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies in order to cover their symptoms and impairments could delay referral.
This group of patients has particular challenges that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Insecurities about self-esteem
The emotional and social challenges associated with ADHD can make women feel down. Even when they're successful, it's easy to feel like a failure because of things they can't change. This can lead to an unending cycle where they feel overwhelmed and never quite good enough and can be detrimental to their self-esteem and mental health.
Girls who suffer from ADHD who aren't treated are at greater chance of developing chronic low self-esteem as well as teen pregnancy. They also have a higher risk of depression, anxiety and addiction to drugs. As adults, they are at a higher risk of becoming single-parents to a child with ADHD and also facing financial difficulties or unemployment. They're also more likely than others to be afflicted by eating disorders and to pass their bad habits onto their children.
It is crucial for girls to get a diagnosis, because it will give them a better understanding of their issues and allow them to manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women report feeling confident after receiving the diagnosis. They can stop getting angry about things they aren't able to control. It can also help them reframe their struggles and refocus on what's important (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopausal, their hormone levels change and ADHD symptoms may get worse. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat women with ADHD as their symptoms could be misdiagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating impacts on women's self-esteem and her relationships with family and friends. Symptoms can interfere with daily routines, making her feeling exhausted and angry. It is possible that she can't refuse people, causing her to be overwhelmed and resentful towards people around her. She may find it difficult to manage her work and home life, which leads to missing appointments and documents getting lost. She can also be more easily triggered by rejection, which means she is more likely to be defensive and even lash out at the people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel extremely hurt when you are rejected. It could be real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner, or a negative comment from a coworker at work could trigger you. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are overstimulated which can trigger thoughts and feelings that can harm your relationships and self esteem. Rejection sensitivity can also cause anxiety, depression and mood swings.
Rejection sensitivity, while often associated with ADHD is actually an indication of emotional dysregulation. This affects the way your brain handles emotions and how you respond to them. The symptoms can also be seen in other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).
RSD patients may perceive events through a filter, which makes them appear brighter or darker than they actually are. This can cause them to interpret and interpret events as rejection-related, even when they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a harder time regulating your emotions which is why it's crucial to have healthy coping strategies to manage this.
You can find out more about rejection sensitivity by reading these articles:
While there is no cure for RSD however, you can manage your symptoms with the help of a mental health professional. You can employ coping strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy to change your negative thinking patterns. You can also build an alliance of support and practice mindfulness to lower your chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you overcome your RSD to live a more satisfying and happy life. It is also essential to avoid relationships that are toxic as they can cause symptoms to become worse. If you are in a abusive relationship, you should seek counseling to learn how to safely get out. This can lower the chance of rejection related feelings, such anxiety and depression. You can also boost your self-esteem by creating healthy relationships. This will help you feel more confident about your abilities and give a realistic perspective on life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship challenging. This can result in sexual dysfunctions or risky sexual behaviors. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at a higher risk of developing these sexual issues than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also lead to feelings of shame and guilt, which can have a negative impact on the quality of their relationships and overall wellbeing.
In one study, those with ADHD were found to be more likely than those without ADHD to exhibit a sexual interest. adhd in women treatment and women were affected. This is likely due to the increased levels of impulsivity which could make them more likely to to act on sexual thoughts and desires. Particularly, the study revealed that women with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic sex fantasies and behaviors. This included submissive roles, bondage and sex 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 in a relationship than those who did not suffer from the disorder. This is due to their weak impulse control and alcohol disinhibition. This is probably due to their greater levels of anxiety, and feeling misunderstood or criticized by their partners. The survey also asked participants to share their experiences with extra-partner sexual affairs and sexual intercourse without the use of contraception. Table 6 summarizes the results of this section.
Lastly, the study used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire of participants about their sexual problems. The questionnaire consists of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is evaluated using a five-point scale, ranging that ranges from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, the more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was developed in order to compare sexual behaviors between people with ADHD and those who do not.
These results are important since the psychosexual outcomes of adults with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been linked with sexual dysfunctions like STIs and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction, adult-onset infidelity, as well as risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their romantic relationships. Lack of clear communication and miscommunication caused by symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention can cause anger, frustration and conflict in a relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be helped by a supportive network of family and friends who understand.
It is also important to keep in mind that people suffering from ADHD often have difficulty listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior which could result in them missing out on the main purpose of a conversation. People with ADHD are more likely to have difficulty in multitasking, which can cause them to become disengaged of conversations or engage in other things while someone else talks.
These struggles can lead to a vicious cycle in which the person who is not ADHD becomes overwhelmed with stress and resentment and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood. They may then become more introverted, 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 guilt and low self-esteem as a result of their chaotic and impulsive behavior, or feel as if they can't keep up with their chores and bills. They might also be suffering from mood swings and sensitivity to rejection as well as low sexual drive.
For these reasons, it is essential for those suffering from ADHD to find an effective treatment plan and seek assistance. It is essential that those closest to them, including spouses, learn more about ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. They can then create an action plan to reach their goals. For example the partner who is not ADHD could be more involved in the financial responsibility, while the person with ADHD may be more focused on organizing and completing housework.
In addition, both partners should work to communicate more efficiently and clearly and establish a routine that includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. It is important to find ways to simplify things for both spouses, such as dividing household tasks or outsourcing some of those that are difficult for a person with ADHD.