High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd can be frustrated and misunderstood in their relationships. The symptoms may increase during times of hormonal change such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies in order to cover their symptoms and impairments can delay the time for referral.
This patient group faces particular challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Lack of Self-Esteem
The emotional and social challenges that come with ADHD can leave women feeling low. Even when they're doing well it's easy to feel like a failure for things they cannot control. This can lead to an endless cycle of feeling overwhelmed and unsatisfied. This can have a negative effect on their mental well-being.
Girls who aren't treated for ADHD are at greater risk of having low self-esteem for a long time, anxiety, teen pregnancy depression, and abuse of substances. 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 others to be afflicted by eating disorders and to pass their bad habits on to their children.
It's essential that girls receive a diagnosis because it will help them understand the challenges they face and manage their symptoms. Many women report feeling confident after receiving an diagnosis. They can now stop being a victim of things they can't manage. It can also help them see their struggles as strengths and help them focus their attention on the things that matter most (Waite, 2010).
As women age and move towards menopausal, their hormone levels change, and ADHD symptoms may get worse. This can make it difficult to diagnose and treated, as they're often misdiagnosed as anxiety or mood disorder, and their symptoms are dismissed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."
Untreated adult ADHD can have a devastating impact on self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt daily routines, making her exhausted and irritable. She may feel that she isn't able to refuse people, leading her to feel overwhelmed and resentful towards people who are around her. It could be difficult to manage the work and home lives of her children and this can lead to missed appointments and lost files. She may be more prone to being triggered when she is rejected which makes her more likely to snap at people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
The sensitivity to rejection causes you to feel very hurt when rejected. It could be real or perceived. You might be triggered by a disagreement with your partner or a negative feedback from a colleague at work. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become overwhelmed and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result could harm your relationships and self-esteem. Sensitivity to rejection can result in anxiety, depression and mood swings.
women and adhd , although often associated with ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This affects the way your brain processes emotions and how you respond to them. The symptoms can also be observed in other mental health disorders like borderline personality disorder (BPD).
People with RSD may see events through filters that make them appear darker or dimmer than they really are. This can lead people to interpret things as rejection related, even though they're not. RSD can cause you to be incapable of controlling your emotions. This is why it is crucial to develop healthy coping mechanisms to deal with RSD.
Check out the following articles to find out more about rejection sensitivity.
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to manage symptoms with the help of a mental healthcare professional. You can utilize strategies to cope, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps you change your negative thought patterns. You can also engage in mindfulness and build a network of support to lessen your chance of experiencing negative reactions to rejection. This will help you overcome your RSD to live a more fulfilling and happier life. It is also crucial to avoid relationships that are toxic as they can make your symptoms worse. If you are in a abusive relationship, seek counseling to find out how you can leave. This can reduce your risk of experiencing feelings of rejection such as depression and anxiety. By focusing on healthy relationships that you are in, you will increase your self-esteem. This will help you feel more confident about your abilities and give an objective view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship challenging. undiagnosed adhd in women can cause sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behaviors. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at a greater risk of experiencing these sexual problems than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also trigger 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 a passion for sexual exploration than those who did not suffer from the disorder. This was the case for both males and females. This was likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity which can make them more likely to act on their sexual desires and ideas. The study found that females who have adhd are more likely to engage in paraphilic fantasies and behaviors. This included bondage, submissive roles and sexing with strangers. They also attended sex parties and more clubs.
Both females and males suffering from adhd had a greater rate of infidelity than people without the disorder. This was due to their lack of impulse control and alcohol withdrawal, as well as the desire to feel. This was likely also a result of their higher rates of anxiety and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey asked participants about their experiences with extra-partner relationships and sexual relations without contraception. Table 6 shows the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to ask participants about their sexual issues. This questionnaire is composed of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using 5 points, ranging between 1 (never to 5 (very frequently)). The higher the score, the more symptoms are present. The HBI-19 was utilized to compare sexual behaviors between people who suffer from ADHD and those without.
These findings are significant due to the fact that the psychosexual effects of people with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions, such as STIs and unwanted pregnancy relationships, dissatisfaction with relationships and adult onset infidelity, and risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD struggle with their romantic relationships. Lack of clarity in communication and misunderstandings triggered by signs such as forgetfulness and inattention could result in anger, frustration and conflict in a relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be helped by a network of family and friends who can understand.
It is crucial to keep in mind, too, that people who suffer from ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are easily distracted by their thoughts or their impulsive behavior that could cause them to lose focus on the main point of a discussion. People with ADHD are more likely to be struggling with multitasking, too, which can cause them to lose track of conversations or do other activities while others talk.
These struggles can lead to a vicious cycle where the partner who is not ADHD is overwhelmed by anxiety and anger, and the ADHD person feels untrusted. They then tend to become more withdrawn, and the problem escalates from there.
Women with high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their lives. They may experience guilt or self-esteem issues due to their impulsive, unorganized behavior. They may find themselves struggling to manage their obligations and bills. They may also experience mood swings and rejection sensitivity, as well as low sex drive.
It is crucial that people with ADHD find a treatment and seek out help. It is also important for those close to them, especially spouses, to be aware of the disorder and how it affects their loved ones. They can collaborate to establish the right expectations and boundaries and then formulate an action plan to will meet those objectives. The non-ADHD spouse could assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and finishing the housework.
Both partners should work to improve their communication and create an established routine that includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. It is important to discover ways to make things easier for both spouses, such as sharing household chores or outsource some of those which are challenging for people with ADHD.