High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd are dissatisfied and often misunderstood by their relationships. Symptoms may be more severe in times of hormonal changes, like the premenstrual or pregnancy periods.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies to mask their symptoms and impairments can delay the time for referral.
This group of patients faces a unique set problems that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Insecurities about self-esteem
The emotional and social challenges that come with ADHD can leave women feeling down. Even when they're successful and have a good time, it's easy for them to feel like a failure due to things they cannot control. This can result in an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and unsatisfied. This can have a negative effect on their mental health.
Girls with untreated ADHD are at higher risk of having low self-esteem for a long time and teen pregnancy, anxiety, depression, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're at higher risk of having a single parent for a child with ADHD, financial crises and underemployment. They're also more likely than others to be afflicted by eating disorders and pass their bad habits onto their children.
It's crucial for girls to get an accurate diagnosis because it will give them an understanding of their challenges and allow them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women report feeling confident after receiving the diagnosis. They can stop getting angry about things they can't control. It can also help reframe their issues and help them focus on what's important (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopause the hormone levels of their bodies change, and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. It isn't easy to diagnose and treat people suffering from ADHD as their symptoms could be incorrectly identified and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. Symptoms can interfere with daily routines, leaving her frustrated and exhausted. She may feel she can't say no to people and end up overburdened herself and feel resentful towards the people closest to her. It could be difficult to manage her work and home life, leading to missed appointments and lost files. Additionally, she could be more easily triggered by rejection therefore she's more likely to be defensive and even lash out at the people she is in love with.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel extremely when you're being rejected, whether it is real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or a negative comment from a co-worker at work can trigger you. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms become overwhelmed and the thoughts and feelings that result can harm your relationships and self-esteem. You may also experience anxiety, depression, and mood fluctuations as a result of sensitive to rejection.
Rejection sensitivity, while often linked to ADHD is actually an indication of emotional dysregulation. This affects the way your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder may also be a cause for these symptoms.
RSD patients may perceive events through a filter, making them appear darker or brighter than they are. This can cause people to interpret things as being related to rejection even if they aren't. RSD can make you incapable of controlling your emotions. navigate here is why it is essential to develop healthy coping strategies to deal with RSD.
Check out the following articles to learn more about the sensitivity to rejection.
Although there isn't a cure for RSD it is possible to manage the symptoms with the help of a mental healthcare professional. You can employ coping strategies such as cognitive behavioral therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also develop mindfulness and build a network of support to decrease the chance of having negative reactions to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD, so you can lead a more pleasant and fulfilled life. Avoid toxic relationships, since they can worsen your symptoms. If you're in an abusive relationship, seek counsel to find out the best method to leave. This can lessen the risk of having feelings of rejection, such as anxiety and depression. You can also increase your self-esteem by developing healthy relationships. This will make you feel more confident about your abilities and provide an honest view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship difficult. This can result in sexual dysfunctions or risky behaviors. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at a higher risk of having sexual issues than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can cause feelings of guilt and embarrassment and can negatively impact their relationships and overall well-being.
One study conducted a survey of adults with ADHD and discovered that they were more likely to have adventurous sexual interests than those without the disorder. This was true for both males and females. This could be due to the greater impulsivity levels that can cause them to be more likely to act on sexual thoughts and desires. The study found that women who have adhd are more likely to engage in sexual fantasies and actions. This included submissive roles, bondage and sexing with strangers. They also attended sex parties and clubs more often.
Females and males with adhd had a greater rate of infidelity than people without the disorder. This was due to their lack of control of impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition. It could also be because of their higher rates of insecurity and feeling misunderstood by their partners. The survey also asked participants to report their experiences with sexual affairs and sexual intercourse without the use of contraception. Table 6 presents the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire of participants about their sexual problems. This questionnaire is composed of 19 items, which 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 is present. The HBI-19 was utilized to assess sexual behavior between people with ADHD and those without.
These results are important due to the fact that the psychosexual effects of adults with ADHD are not well-studied. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions such as STIs and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction and adult-onset infidelity as well as risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have trouble in their romantic relationships. Lack of clarity in communication and misunderstandings due to symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention can lead to anger, resentment, and conflict in the relationship. A supportive group of family and friends members who understand can be beneficial for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is important to remember that people who suffer from ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior that could cause them to lose focus on the central point of a discussion. People with ADHD may also have trouble multitasking, which can lead them to mute conversations or perform other tasks while someone else is talking.
These battles can create an unending cycle where the person who is not ADHD is overwhelmed by anxiety and anger, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood. The problem can escalate from there, as they become more distant.
Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their daily life. They may experience guilt or self-esteem issues due to their impulsive and disorganized behavior. It is also possible that they feel like they cannot keep up with their bills and chores. They might also experience mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sexual desire.
Because of this, it is crucial for people who suffer from ADHD to find a treatment plan and seek assistance. It is important that those who are closest to them, including spouses, learn more about ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can work together to set the right expectations and boundaries and then devise a plan for how they can achieve those goals. For example the non-ADHD spouse could be more involved in the financial responsibilities, whereas the person with ADHD might focus on organizing and completing housework.
Both partners must strive to improve communication and establish a routine that includes regular schedules for sleeping, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It is also crucial to find ways to make things easier for both parties by dividing household chores, or outsourcing certain tasks that are challenging for a person with ADHD for example, hiring a cleaning service or using apps to manage expenses.