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 like premenstrual and pregnancy periods.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies to mask their symptoms and impairments could delay referral.
This patient group has particular challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Lack of Self-Esteem
The social and emotional challenges that come with ADHD can leave women feeling low. Even when they're successful, it's easy to feel like a failure because of things they cannot control. This can lead to an endless cycle of feeling like they feel constantly overwhelmed and never good enough which can take a toll on their self-esteem and mental health.
Girls who suffer from ADHD who are not treated are at greater risk for chronic low self-esteem and teenage pregnancy. They also have a higher risk of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. As adults, they're at increased risk of single-parenting children with ADHD and financial difficulties, as well as underemployment. They're also more likely to struggle with eating disorders, and their unhealthy patterns can pass down to their children.
It's important for girls to get an accurate diagnosis because it will provide them with a better understanding of their struggles and help them manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women say that they feel much more at ease after receiving their diagnosis, allowing them to stop blaming themselves for the little things they can't manage. It can also help reframe their issues and help them focus on the things that matter (Waite 2010).
As women age and enter menopause their hormone levels may change, and ADHD symptoms could worsen. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat people suffering from ADHD as their symptoms could be misdiagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on a woman's self-esteem, and her relationships with friends and family. Symptoms can interfere with daily routines, leaving her exhausted and irritable. She might feel like she cannot turn down people, causing her to feel overwhelmed and resentful towards people who are around her. She may find it difficult to manage her work and home life which can lead to missing appointments and lost files. She can also be more easily triggered by rejection therefore she's more likely to react defensively and even lash out at the people she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
The sensitivity to rejection causes you to feel very hurt when rejected. This could be real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner, or an unkind comment from a colleague at work can trigger your symptoms. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are triggered and result in thoughts or feelings, and beliefs that could harm your relationships and self esteem. There are also anxiety, depression and mood swings as a result of sensitive to rejection.
Although it's often linked to ADHD The issue of rejection sensitiveness is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation, which affects the way your brain handles emotions and the way you react to them. adhd symptoms in women adults can also be found in other mental health disorders, including borderline personality disorder (BPD).
People with RSD may view events through an eye that makes them appear darker or dimmer than they actually are. This can cause them to perceive and interpret things as if they are related to rejection, even if they're not. RSD can make you incapable of controlling your emotions. This is why it is essential to develop healthy coping strategies to deal with RSD.
You can find out more about the issue of rejection sensitivity by reading the articles below:
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the help of a mental healthcare professional. You can utilize strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which helps you change your negative thinking patterns. You can also create an alliance of support and practice mindfulness to lessen the chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD and allow you to live a happier and more satisfying life. It is also essential to avoid toxic relationships as they can cause symptoms to become worse. If you are in a abusive relationship, you should seek counseling to find out how you can leave. This will help reduce your risk of feelings of rejection, like depression and anxiety. You can also improve your self-esteem by creating healthy relationships. This will allow you to feel more confident in your abilities and provide you with an unbiased view of the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy relationship. This can cause sexual dysfunctions or risky behaviors. Women with adhd that is high functioning are at a higher risk for sexual problems. These behaviors can lead to feelings of guilt and shame and can have a negative effect on the quality of their relationships as well as their overall health.
In one study, those with ADHD were found to be more likely than those without ADHD to have adventurous sexual interest. This was the case for both males and females. This could be due to the increased levels of impulsivity which 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 behaviors. This included submissive roles, bondage and sexing with strangers. They also went to sex events and nightclubs more often.
Both women and men who suffer from adhd were more likely be infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This was due to their poor impulse control and alcohol-related disinhibition, as well as their desire for sensation. This is likely due to their greater levels of anxiety and being misunderstood, or criticized by their partners. The survey asked respondents about their experiences with extra-partner relationships and sexual relations without contraception. Table 6 shows the results of this section.
adhd women uk utilized the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which asked participants about their sexual issues. The questionnaire comprises 19 items that are grouped into three subscales. Each item is scored on a five-point scale from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, the more symptomatology it has. The HBI-19 was utilized to assess sexual behavior between people with ADHD and those who do not.
These findings are significant, because the psychosexual outcomes for adults with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions, such as unwanted pregnancy and STIs, relationship dissatisfaction and adult-onset infidelity as well as risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD have trouble in their romantic relationships. Insufficient communication and miscommunication caused by symptoms such as inattention and forgetfulness may result in anger, frustration, and conflict within a relationship. Maintaining adhd in young women can be helped by a supportive network of friends and family members who understand.
It is important to remember that those with ADHD have a difficult time listening. They can be interrupted easily by their impulsive behavior or own thoughts, which may cause them to miss the point of an exchange. People with ADHD are more likely to have difficulty with multitasking, too which could cause them to tune out of conversations or engage in other things while someone else is talking.
These battles can create a vicious cycle in which the non-ADHD partner becomes overwrought with anger and stress, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood, and defensive. The problem can escalate in the meantime as they become more distant.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by the demands of their lives. They may be feeling guilt or self-esteem issues due to their impulsive, disorganized behavior. Or they might feel that they are unable to keep up with their chores and bills. They may also experience mood swings, rejection sensitivity and a lack of sexual desire.
For these reasons, it is vital for those who suffer from ADHD to develop a treatment plan and seek help. It is also important for their family members, especially spouses, to understand the disorder and how it affects the person they love. They can collaborate to set clear boundaries and expectations and then devise a plan for how they can achieve those goals. For example, the non-ADHD partner might be more involved in the financial responsibilities, whereas the person with ADHD may be more focused on the task of organizing and finishing housework.
In addition, both partners should work to communicate more efficiently and clearly, and establish a routine that includes regular sleep patterns, meal times and time for rest and relaxation. It is also crucial to discover ways to make life easier for both of you by dividing household chores, or outsourcing some of the tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD, such as hiring a cleaning service or utilizing apps to manage costs.