High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with adhd that are high functioning are frustrated and misunderstood in their relationships. The symptoms can be more severe during times of hormonal changes such as the premenstrual and menstrual cycles.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies to mask their symptoms and impairments could delay referral.
This patient group has particular challenges that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Lack of self-esteem
The emotional and social issues associated with ADHD can make women feel down. Even when they're successful, it's easy to feel like a failure for things they cannot control. This can create an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and unsatisfied. This can have a negative impact on their mental well-being.
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 greater chance of depression, anxiety and substance abuse. As adults, they're at an greater risk of being the sole parent to children with ADHD and financial problems, as well as underemployment. They are also more likely than other people to be afflicted by eating disorders and to pass their bad habits onto their children.
It is essential that women receive a diagnosis since it will help them recognize their struggles and help them manage their symptoms. Many women report feeling confident after receiving an diagnosis. They can stop berating themselves over things they cannot control. It can also help them reframe their issues and help them focus on the things that matter (Waite 2010).
As women age and approach menopause their hormone levels may change and ADHD symptoms could worsen. It is often difficult to identify and treat women with ADHD as their symptoms could be mistakenly diagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Being diagnosed with untreated adult ADHD can have devastating impacts on self-esteem of women, and her relationships with family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt the woman's daily routine, leaving her irritable and exhausted. She might feel like she isn't able to refuse people, leading her to become overburdened and resentful of those around her. She might have difficulty organizing her home and work life, which can lead to missed appointments and lost documents. She can also be more easily triggered by rejection, therefore she's more likely to be defensive and even lash out at the people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel deeply hurt when rejected. This could be real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or an insult from a co-worker at work can trigger you. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become over-stimulated, and the thoughts and feelings that result could harm your relationships and self-esteem. You may also experience anxiety, depression and mood changes due to the sensitivity to rejection.
Rejection sensitivity, while often linked to ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This affects the way your brain handles emotions and how 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 view events through an eye that makes them appear darker or less than they actually are. This causes them to perceive and interpret things as if they are related to rejection, even if they are not. RSD can also cause you to have a hard time regulating your emotions which is why it's crucial to have healthy coping strategies to deal with this.
Read the articles below to learn more about the sensitivity to rejection.
Although there isn't a cure for RSD however, you can manage your symptoms with the assistance of an expert in mental health. You can employ strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which helps you change your negative thought patterns. You can also engage in mindfulness and build a community of support to decrease your risk of negative reactions to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and allow you to live a more positive and satisfying life. It is also important to avoid relationships that are toxic as they can cause your symptoms to worsen. If you're in an abusive relationship, seek out counseling to discover the best method to leave. This can reduce your risk of rejection related feelings like depression and anxiety. You can also boost your self-esteem by building healthy relationships. This will help you feel more confident about your abilities and give you an unbiased view of the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This can result in sexual dysfunctions or risky sexual behaviors. Women with high functioning adhd might be more at risk for sexual problems. These behaviors can also cause feelings of guilt and embarrassment and can negatively impact their relationships and overall well-being.
One study looked at adults suffering from ADHD and discovered that they were more likely to have adventurous sexual interests than those without the disorder. This was the case for both males and females. This is probably due to the higher levels of impulsivity that can make them more likely to act on sexual thoughts and desires. The study found that women with adhd are more likely to engage sexual fantasies and actions. This included bondage, submissive roles and sexing with strangers. They also went to sex parties and nightclubs more often.
Females and males with adhd had a higher rate of infidelity than those without the disorder. This was due to their lack of control of their impulses and alcohol withdrawal. It could also be a result of their higher rates of insecurity and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey also asked participants to report their experiences with extra-partner sexual affairs and sexual intercourse 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 problems. This questionnaire consists of 19 items that are grouped into three subscales. Each item is scored on a 5-point scale, from 1 (never to 5 (very frequently)). The more high the score, the more symptomatology is evident. The HBI-19 was used to compare the sexual behavior of adults with and without ADHD.
These results are important, because the psychosexual outcomes for adults with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions like STIs and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction, adult-onset infidelity as well as dangerous sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have issues in their romantic relationships. browse around here and misunderstandings caused by symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention can lead to frustration, anger and conflict in the relationship. A strong group of family and friends members who are able to understand each other can be helpful for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is important to remember that those who suffer from ADHD have trouble listening. They can be interrupted easily by their impulsive behavior, or their own thoughts, which can cause them to miss the main point of an exchange. People with ADHD are more likely to be struggling in multitasking, which can cause them to tune out of conversations or do other activities while someone else is talking.
These battles can create a vicious cycle in which the person who isn't ADHD is overwhelmed with anger and stress, while the ADHD person feels untrusted. They then tend to become more introverted and the situation can get worse from there.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their lives. They might experience feelings of low self-esteem and shame because of their chaotic and impulsive behavior, or feel as if they can't keep up with their household chores and bills. They might also experience mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sex desire.
It is important that those with ADHD seek treatment and seek help. It is important that those who are closest to them, including spouses, understand ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can work together to set the right expectations and boundaries, then come up with a plan for how they can achieve those goals. For example the non-ADHD spouse could be more involved in the financial responsibilities, while the person with ADHD might focus on organizing and completing housework.
Both partners should also strive to improve their communication and establish a routine, which includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times, and time for relaxation and rest. It is essential to find ways to simplify things for both partners, such dividing household tasks or outsourcing certain tasks which are challenging for people with ADHD.