High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who have high functioning adhd are prone to discontent and confusion in their relationships. Symptoms can heighten at times of hormonal change, such as the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
Many women and girls are forced to resort to compensatory strategies, hiding their impairments and symptoms which may delay the time to referral.
This group of patients has distinct challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Self-Esteem is not a strong point.
The emotional and social challenges that accompany ADHD can leave women feeling down. Even if they're successful, it's easy to feel like they're an failure due to things they can't change. This can result in an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and inadequate. This can have a negative impact on their mental well-being.
Girls who aren't treated for ADHD are at greater risk of chronic low self-esteem and anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression and substance abuse. As adults, they're more likely to be single-parents to a child with ADHD and also facing financial difficulties or unemployment. They're also more likely to be struggling with eating disorders, and their negative habits can be passed on to their children.
It's essential that girls receive a diagnosis since it will help them understand their struggles and help them manage their symptoms. Many women report feeling confident after receiving an diagnosis. They can now stop being a victim of things they can't control. It can also help them see their struggles as strengths and refocus their focus on what is important most (Waite, 2010).
As women age and move towards menopause, their hormone levels change and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. It isn't easy to diagnose and treat people suffering from ADHD due to the fact that their symptoms can be mistakenly diagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating effects on women's self-esteem and her relationships with family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt a woman's daily routine that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. She may feel that she can't refuse people, leading her to become overburdened and resentful of people who are around her. She may find it difficult organizing her work and home life, resulting in delayed appointments and lost documents. She may also be more easily triggered by rejection, which means she is more likely to react defensively and snap at those she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel very hurt when rejected. This could be real or perceived. It could be caused by an argument with your partner or a negative review from a coworker at work. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms become over-stimulated and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result can harm your relationships and self-esteem. You can also experience anxiety, depression and mood fluctuations as a result of rejection sensitivity.
Rejection sensitivity, while typically associated with ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This affects how your brain processes emotions and how you respond to them. Other mental health conditions like borderline personality disorder can also show these symptoms.
RSD patients might perceive events through a filter, which makes them appear brighter or darker than they actually are. This causes them to interpret things as rejection-related, even when they are not. RSD can also cause you to have a harder managing your emotions, which is why it's important to have healthy coping strategies to handle this.
Read the articles below to find out more about rejection sensitivity.
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can use strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which can help you modify your negative thought patterns. You can also practice mindfulness and create a network of support to decrease the chance of having negative reactions to rejection. This can aid you in overcoming your RSD to live a more fulfilling and happy life. Avoid toxic relationships, since they can worsen your symptoms. If you are in a abusive relationship, seek counseling to find out how you can quit. This will reduce the risk of rejection related feelings, such anxiety and depression. 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 you an unbiased view of the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship difficult. This can cause sexual dysfunctions or risky behaviors. Women who have high functioning adhd are at a higher risk of having sexual issues. These behaviors can cause feelings of shame and guilt and can negatively impact their relationships and overall well-being.
In one study, adults with ADHD were found to be more likely than those with ADHD to have adventurous sexual interest. Both genders were affected. This was likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity, which makes them more likely to act on their sexual desires and thoughts. Particularly, undiagnosed adhd in women revealed that females with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic sex fantasies and actions. This included submissive role-play bondage, sex with strangers. It was also more typical for them to go out to sexual clubs and parties.
Both women and men with adhd were more likely to be infidelity than those who did not suffer from the disorder. This is due to their weak control of their impulses and alcohol withdrawal. This was likely also due to their higher levels of insecurity and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey asked participants to describe their experiences with extra-partner relationships and sexual relationships without contraception. Table 6 provides the results for this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to ask participants about their sexual problems. This questionnaire consists of 19 items that are grouped into three subscales. Each item is evaluated on a five-point scale from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, more symptomatology is evident. The HBI-19 was used in order to compare sexual behaviors between people with ADHD and those who do not.
adhd in women treatment are important because the psychosexual outcomes for adults with ADHD were rarely studied. They have been linked with sexual dysfunctions like unwanted pregnancy and STIs, relationship dissatisfaction and adult-onset infidelity as well as risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their relationships with loved ones. Insufficient communication and misunderstandings caused by signs such as forgetfulness and inattention can result in anger, frustration and conflict within the relationship. A strong network of friends and family members who can understand is helpful for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is also important to keep in mind that people suffering from ADHD often have difficulty listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behaviors, which could result in them missing out on the central reason for a discussion. People with ADHD are more likely to be struggling in multitasking, which can cause them to become disengaged of conversations or engage in other things while someone else is talking.
These conflicts can lead to a vicious cycle in which the non-ADHD person becomes overwhelmed with anger and stress and the ADHD partner is misunderstood and defensive. The issue could escalate from there, as they become more withdrawn.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by their everyday demands. They may be feeling shame or low self-esteem due to their impulsive, chaotic behavior. It is also possible that they find themselves struggling to keep up with their obligations and bills. They might also experience mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sex desire.
This is why it is crucial for people with ADHD to find an effective treatment plan and seek assistance. It is also crucial for family members particularly spouses to learn more about the disorder and how it affects their loved one. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they will come up with an action plan to reach their goals. For example the non-ADHD spouse could be more involved in the financial responsibilities, whereas the person with ADHD might be focused on organizing and completing housework.
Both partners should work to improve their communication and establish an established routine that includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times and time for relaxation and rest. It is also crucial to discover ways to make life easier for both of you, such as splitting household chores, or outsourcing certain tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD, such as hiring a cleaning service or using apps to control costs.