High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd may experience frustration and misunderstandings 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 in order to cover their impairments and symptoms can delay the time for referral.
This patient group faces particular issues that need to be taken into consideration when treating them.
1. Lack of Self-Esteem
Women can be depressed due to the social and emotional challenges of ADHD. Even when they're successful, it is easy to feel like they're an failure due to things they aren't able to change. This can lead to an endless feeling of being overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative impact on their mental health.
Girls with ADHD who are not treated are at greater risk of having low self-esteem and teen pregnancy. They also have a greater chance of depression, anxiety and substance abuse. As adults, they are more likely to be single-parents to a child with ADHD and facing financial hardship or unemployment. They're also more likely than others to suffer from eating disorders and pass on their bad habits to their children.
It's crucial that girls get a diagnosis as it will allow them to better comprehend the challenges they face and manage their symptoms. Many women report that they feel much more empowered after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to stop beating themselves up over the small things they cannot control. It can also help reframe their issues and help them focus on what is important (Waite 2010).
As women age and approach menopausal, their hormone levels can change, and ADHD symptoms could worsen. It isn't easy to diagnose and treat patients with ADHD because their symptoms may 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 a woman’s self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt the woman's daily routine that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. It is possible that she cannot refuse to be around people which causes her to burden herself and become resentful of those close to her. She might have difficulty organizing her home and work life, which leads to missing appointments and documents getting lost. She could also be more easily angered when she is not liked and is more likely to lash out at people she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
The sensitivity to rejection causes you to feel very hurt when rejected. It could be real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner, or an insult from a co-worker at work can trigger you. adhd symptoms women become over-stimulated and the thoughts and feelings that result can harm your self-esteem and relationships. The sensitivity to rejection can also cause anxiety, depression and mood shifts.
Although it's often linked to ADHD Rejection sensitiveness is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation that affects how your brain manages emotions and how you respond to them. Other mental health issues like borderline personality disorder may also be a cause for these symptoms.
RSD patients might perceive events through a filter, making them appear brighter or darker than they are. This could cause them to interpret and perceive things as being related to rejection, even though they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a harder to control your emotions which is why it is important to develop healthy strategies for coping to handle this.
Learn more about rejection sensitivity by reading the articles below:
While there is no cure for RSD it is possible to manage the symptoms with the help of a mental health professional. You can use strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which helps modify your negative thought patterns. You can also build 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 lead a more pleasant and fulfilling life. Avoid toxic relationships, since they can worsen your symptoms. If you are in a abusive relationship, you should seek counseling to learn how you can safely leave. This can lessen the risk of having feelings of rejection, such as anxiety and depression. By focusing on relationships that are healthy that you are in, you will increase your self-esteem. This will make you feel more confident in your abilities and give an objective view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behaviors. Women who have high functioning adhd are at a higher risk of developing sexual problems. These behaviors can result in feelings of shame and guilt and can have a negative impact on their relationships and overall wellbeing.
One study surveyed adults suffering from ADHD and found that they were more likely to be interested in sexual activities than those who did not suffer from the disorder. This was the case for both males and females. This is probably due to the increased levels of impulsivity which can make them more likely act on their sexual ideas and desires. The study found that women with adhd are more likely to engage paraphilic fantasies and behaviors. This included submissive roles play bondage, sexual contact with strangers. They also went to sex parties and clubs more often.
Both men and women with adhd were more likely be infidelity than those who didn't have the disorder. This was due to their lack of impulse control and alcohol-related disinhibition, as well as their desire for sensation. add test for women is likely due to their higher levels of insecurity and a feeling of being misunderstood or misjudged by their partners. The survey asked participants to describe their experiences with extra-partner affairs and sexual relationships without contraception. Table 6 outlines the results of this section.
In the final analysis, the study utilized the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire from participants about their sexual problems. The questionnaire comprises 19 items, and is divided into three subscales. Each item is rated using a five-point scale, ranging between 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, the more symptomatology there is. The HBI-19 was used to compare the sexual behavior of people with and without ADHD.
These findings are significant because the psychosexual outcomes of people with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions like STIs and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction, adult-onset infidelity as well as risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have issues with their romantic relationships. A lack of clear communication, and miscommunication due to issues like forgetfulness and inattention can lead to frustration, resentment, and conflict in the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be helped by a supportive network of friends and family members who understand.
It is crucial to keep in mind, too, that people with ADHD have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior that can cause them to miss out on the main purpose of a conversation. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which can lead them to shut out conversations or perform other tasks while someone else is talking.
These battles can create a vicious cycle where the partner who is not ADHD is overwhelmed by anxiety and anger, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood. The issue could escalate from there, as they become more distant.
Women with high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by their everyday demands. They may feel guilt and low self-esteem as a result of their chaotic and impulsive behavior, or feel that they're not able to handle their household chores and bills. They may also feel mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sex desire.
It is essential that those with ADHD seek treatment 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. They can collaborate to set the right expectations and boundaries and then formulate an action plan to will achieve their objectives. For example the non-ADHD spouse could assume more financial responsibility, while the person with ADHD might be focused on completing chores and organizing the house.
Both partners must work to improve their communication and establish an established routine that includes regular schedules for sleeping, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It's important to discover ways to make things easier for both spouses, such as splitting household chores or outsourcing some of those that are difficult for someone with ADHD.