High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with adhd that are high functioning are 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 hide their symptoms and impairments can delay referral.
adult add women of patients faces distinct problems which must be considered when treating them.
1. Self-esteem issues
Women can be depressed due to the emotional and social challenges of ADHD. Even when they're successful, it's easy to feel like they're a failure because of things they can't change. This can result in an endless cycle of feeling like they feel overwhelmed and never satisfied, which can be detrimental to their self-esteem and mental health.
Girls who suffer from ADHD who aren't treated are at a greater risk for chronic low self-esteem and teen pregnancy. They also have a higher risk of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. As adults, they are at a higher risk of becoming parents on their own to a child suffering from ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or unemployment. They're also more likely to be struggling with eating disorders, and their unhealthy patterns can pass down to their children.
It's essential that girls receive a diagnosis since it will help them better comprehend their struggles and help them manage their symptoms. Many women say that they feel more at ease after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to not be a victim of the little things they are unable to control. It can also help reframe their problems and refocus them on what is important (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopausal, their hormone levels can change and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. 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 the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Having great site can have devastating effects on self-esteem of women, and her relationships with friends and family. Symptoms may interfere with the woman's daily routine that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. She might feel that she is unable to say no to anyone which causes her to burden herself and become angry with people close to her. It can be difficult organizing her work and home life, which leads to missed appointments and lost documents. She could be more easily triggered when she is rejected, making her more likely to snap at people she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
The sensitivity to rejection causes you to feel deeply hurt when rejected. This could be real or perceived. A disagreement with a partner, or an unkind comment from a co-worker at work could trigger you. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become overwhelmed and the thoughts and feelings that result can hurt 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 affects how 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).
People with RSD may see events through a filter that makes them appear darker or less than they actually are. This could cause them to interpret things as being related to rejection, even though they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a difficult time regulating your emotions, which is why it's important to have healthy coping strategies to manage this.
Learn more about rejection sensitivity by reading the articles below:
While there is no cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the assistance of a mental healthcare professional. You can use strategies to cope, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps you change your negative thought patterns. You can also create an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to lessen your chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and help you live a more positive and fulfilling life. Avoid toxic relationships, as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you are in a abusive relationship, seek out counseling to learn how you can safely leave. This can help you lower the risk of experiencing feelings of rejection, like anxiety and depression. You can also improve your self-esteem by focusing on building healthy relationships. This will make you feel more confident about your capabilities and provide an objective view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy relationship. This can cause sexual dysfunctions or risky sexual behavior. Women who have high functioning adhd might be more at risk of having sexual issues. These behaviors can also result in feelings of shame and guilt and 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 with ADHD to exhibit a sexual interest. This was the case for males and females. This was likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity, which can make them more likely to act upon their sexual desires and ideas. In particular, the study showed that women with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and behaviours. This included submissive role play, bondage and sex with strangers. They also went to sex events and clubs more often.
Both males and females with adhd had a higher rate of infidelity than people without the disorder. This was due to their poor impulse control, alcohol disinhibition and sensation-seeking. It could also be because of their higher rates of insecurity and feeling misunderstood by their partners. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with extra-partner sexual relationships and sexual encounters without the use of contraception. Table 6 shows the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire of participants about their sexual issues. This questionnaire consists of 19 items that are grouped into three subscales. Each item is evaluated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was used to evaluate the sexual behaviors of adults who have and those without ADHD.
These findings are significant, because the psychosexual outcomes for adults with ADHD were rarely studied. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions, such as unwanted pregnancy and STIs, relationship dissatisfaction and adult-onset infidelity, as well as risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD have issues in their relationships with loved ones. Insufficient communication and misunderstandings caused by symptoms such as inattention and forgetfulness may cause anger, frustration and conflict in relationships. Maintaining healthy relationships can be made easier by a supportive network of family and friends who can understand.
It is important to remember that people who suffer from ADHD have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their thoughts or their impulsive behavior, which can cause them to miss out on the main purpose of a conversation. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which could cause them to shut out conversations or do something else while another person is talking.
These conflicts can result in an unending cycle where the person who is not ADHD is overwhelmed with stress and resentment and the ADHD person feels untrusted. They can then become more withdrawn and the issue can escalate from there.
Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their daily life. They may feel shame and low self-esteem because of their impulsive and disorganized behavior, or feel like they can't keep up with their chores and bills. They may also experience mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sexual desire.
For these reasons, it is crucial for people with ADHD to establish a treatment plan and seek help. It is crucial that those who are closest to them, particularly spouses, are aware of ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they will come up with an action plan to achieve their goals. The non-ADHD partner can assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and completing the chores at home.
In addition, both parties should work to communicate more clearly and effectively and establish a regular routine that includes regular sleep patterns, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It is also crucial to find ways to make things simpler for both parties, such as splitting household chores, or outsourcing certain tasks that are difficult for a person with ADHD like hiring an expert cleaning service or using apps to control expenses.