High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd can be frustrated and misunderstood in their relationships. The symptoms can be more severe during periods of hormonal changes, such as the premenstrual and pregnancy cycles.
Many women and girls are forced to resort to compensatory strategies, hiding their impairments and symptoms, which can delay time to referral.
This group of patients has distinct problems that need to be considered when treating them.
1. Self-esteem issues
Women can feel depressed by the emotional and social challenges of ADHD. Even when they're doing well, it's easy to feel like a failure due to things they aren't able to control. This can create an endless feeling of being overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative effect on their mental health.
Girls with ADHD who are not treated are at a higher risk of having low self-esteem and teen pregnancy. They also have a higher chance of depression, anxiety, and abuse of substances. As adults, they're at an increased risk of single-parenting children with ADHD and financial problems, as well as underemployment. They're also more likely to suffer with eating disorders, and their negative patterns can pass down to their children.
It is crucial for girls to receive a diagnosis, because it will provide them with a better understanding of their challenges and help them manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women report feeling more confident after receiving the diagnosis. They can stop berating themselves over things they aren't able to control. It can also help to reframe their struggles and refocus on what's 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 due to the fact that their symptoms can be incorrectly identified and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have a devastating impact on women's self-esteem as well as relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt daily routines, making her exhausted and irritable. It is possible that she isn't able to refuse people, which causes her to be overwhelmed and resentful of those around her. She may find it difficult to manage her home and work life, leading to missing appointments and lost files. Additionally, she could be more susceptible to being triggered by rejection, which means she is more likely to be defensive and even lash out at the people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
The sensitivity to rejection causes you to feel deeply hurt when rejected. This can be real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or an insult from a colleague at work can trigger you. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms are over-stimulated, and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result can harm your relationships and self-esteem. There are also anxiety, depression and mood fluctuations as a result of sensitive to rejection.
Rejection sensitivity, although often linked to ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This impacts how your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health conditions like borderline personality disorder may also show these symptoms.
RSD patients might perceive events through a filter, which makes them appear brighter or darker than they actually are. This can cause people to interpret things as being related to rejection even though they're not. RSD can cause you to be unable to control your emotions. This is why it is important to develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage RSD.
Read the articles below to find out more about the sensitivity to rejection.
While there is no cure for RSD however, you can manage your symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can employ strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which helps you modify your negative thought patterns. You can also practice mindfulness and build a community of support to lessen your chance of experiencing negative reactions to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD, so you can live a more positive and satisfying life. It is also crucial to avoid relationships that are toxic as they can cause symptoms to become worse. If you are in a abusive relationship, seek out counseling to find out how you can get out. This will reduce the risk of experiencing feelings of rejection, such anxiety and depression. By focusing on healthy relationships, you can improve your self-esteem. This will help you feel more confident about your abilities and give a realistic perspective on life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make the maintenance of a healthy relationship a challenge. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Women with adhd that is high functioning are at a higher risk for sexual problems. These behaviors can also result in feelings of guilt and shame and can have a negative effect on their relationships and overall wellbeing.
One study looked at adults suffering from ADHD and found that they were more likely to have adventurous sexual interests than those who did not suffer from the disorder. Both males and women were affected. This is likely due to their more impulsive levels, which could make them more likely to act on sexual desires and thoughts. In particular, the study showed that women with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic sex fantasies and behaviours. This included submissive roles play and bondage as well as sexual contact with strangers. adhd in older women went to sex events and nightclubs more often.
Both males and females with adhd had a higher rate of infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This was due to their lack of control of their impulses and alcohol withdrawal. This could also be a result of their higher rates of anxiety 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 utilized the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which asked participants to describe their sexual issues. The questionnaire consists of 19 items, and is divided into three subscales. Each item is rated on a five-point scale that ranges from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, the more symptomatology it has. The HBI-19 was utilized to compare sexual behaviors between adults with ADHD and those who do not.
These findings are significant due to the fact that the psychosexual effects of adults with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions like unwanted pregnancy and STIs relationships, dissatisfaction with relationships and adult onset infidelity, and dangerous sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD have issues with their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clarity in communication, and miscommunication caused by symptoms such as inattention and forgetfulness can result in frustration, resentment, and a conflict within the relationship. A strong network of friends and family members who can understand is beneficial for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is also important to keep in mind that people suffering from ADHD are often unable to listen. They can be interrupted easily by their impulsive behavior, or their own thoughts, which may cause them to miss the main point of the conversation. People with ADHD are more likely to struggle with multitasking, too which could cause them to become disengaged of conversations or do other activities while someone else talks.
These battles can create an unbalanced relationship where the non-ADHD partner is overwhelmed with stress and resentment, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood and defensive. The problem can escalate from there as they become more withdrawn.
Women with high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their lives. They may experience shame or low self-esteem due to their impulsive, unorganized behavior. They may feel that they are unable to keep up with their obligations and bills. They might also feel mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and a lack of sexual desire.
This is why it is crucial for people with ADHD to establish a treatment plan and seek assistance. It is important that those who are closest to them, particularly spouses, learn more about ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they can develop a plan to reach their goals. For example the partner who is not ADHD could take on more of the financial responsibilities, whereas the person with ADHD might focus on organizing and completing housework.
In addition, both parties should work to communicate more efficiently and clearly and establish a routine that incorporates regular sleep schedules, meal times, and time for rest and relaxation. It's important to find ways to make things easier for both of you, like dividing household tasks or outsourcing some of those that are difficult for a person with ADHD.