High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with adhd that are high functioning are unhappy and are often misunderstood in their relationships. Symptoms may be more severe during periods of hormonal changes, such as the premenstrual and menstrual cycles.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies to hide their symptoms and impairments could delay referral.
This group of patients has a unique set issues that need to be taken into consideration when treating them.
1. Insecurity about oneself
Women can be depressed due to the social and emotional challenges of ADHD. Even when they're successful it's easy to feel like a failure due to things they aren't able to control. This can lead to an unending cycle where they are constantly overwhelmed and never good enough which can be detrimental to their self-esteem and mental health.
Girls who suffer from ADHD who are not treated are at a greater chance of developing chronic low self-esteem and teenage pregnancy. They also have a higher risk of depression, anxiety, and abuse of substances. As adults, they are more likely to be parents on their own to a child suffering from ADHD and also facing financial difficulties or unemployment. They are also more likely than others to be afflicted by eating disorders and to pass their bad habits onto their children.
It's crucial for girls to receive an assessment, as it will provide them with a better understanding of their issues and enable them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women say that they feel much more empowered after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to not be a victim of the small things they cannot control. It helps them to see their struggles as strengths and help them focus their focus on what is important most (Waite, 2010).
As women mature and approach menopause, their hormone levels change, and ADHD symptoms can get worse. This can make it harder to diagnose and treated because they're often misdiagnosed as having anxiety or mood disorder and the symptoms are dismissed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on a woman’s self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. Symptoms can interfere with everyday routines, leaving them exhausted and irritable. It is possible that she isn't able to refuse people, which causes her to feel overwhelmed and resentful of people around her. She might find it difficult to organize her home and work life, leading to unscheduled appointments and files being lost. She could be more easily triggered when she is rejected, making her more likely to snap at those she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel intensely when you're rejected, whether it is real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner, or an unkind comment from a colleague at work could trigger you. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are triggered, resulting in thoughts and feelings that can harm your self-esteem and relationships. The sensitivity to rejection can also lead to depression, anxiety and mood shifts.
Rejection sensitivity, although often linked to ADHD is actually an indication of emotional dysregulation. This affects how your brain processes emotions and how you respond to them. The symptoms can also be observed in other mental health conditions like borderline personality disorder (BPD).
People suffering from RSD may view events through an eye that makes them appear darker or less than they really are. This makes them more likely to perceive and interpret things as being related to rejection, even though they are not. RSD can make you in a state of being unable to control your emotions. This is why it is essential to develop healthy coping mechanisms to deal with RSD.
You can find out more about the issue of rejection sensitivity by reading these articles:
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the help of a mental health professional. You can employ coping strategies like cognitive behavior therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also create an alliance of support and practice mindfulness to lessen your chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you overcome your RSD to live a more fulfilled and happier life. It is also crucial to avoid toxic relationships as they can make your symptoms worse. If you're in an abusive relationship, seek counseling to learn the best method to leave. This will help lower the risk of experiencing feelings of rejection, like anxiety and depression. You can also boost your self-esteem by focusing on creating healthy relationships. This will allow you to feel more confident in your abilities and give you a more realistic perspective on the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy relationship. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at a greater risk of experiencing these sexual problems than non-ADHD counterparts. add symptoms in women can also cause feelings of guilt and shame and can have a negative impact on their relationships as well as their overall health.
In one study, people with ADHD were found to be more likely than those without ADHD to be sexually adventurous. interest. Both genders were affected. This is likely due to the increased levels of impulsivity which could make them more likely to to act on sexual thoughts and desires. Specifically, the study found that females with adhd were more likely to indulge in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and actions. This included submissive role play bondage, sexual contact with strangers. They also attended sex parties and nightclubs more often.
Both women and men who suffer from adhd were more likely to be infidelity than those who didn't have the disorder. This was due to inability to control their impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition, as well as their desire for sensation. It could also be a result of their higher rates of anxiety and feeling misunderstood 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 from this section.
Lastly, the study used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire of participants about their problematic sexual behavior. The questionnaire comprises 19 items that are grouped into three subscales. Each item is scored on a 5-point scale, from 1 (never to 5) (very frequently)). The higher the score, the more symptomatology is evident. The HBI-19 was used to evaluate the sexual behaviors of people with and without ADHD.
These results are important because the psychosexual outcomes for adults with ADHD were rarely studied. They have been linked with sexual dysfunctions, such as 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. Lack of clarity in communication, and misunderstandings caused by symptoms such as inattention and forgetfulness can lead to anger, resentment, and conflict within the relationship. A supportive group of family and friends members who are able to understand each other can be helpful for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is crucial to keep in mind that people who suffer from ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior which can cause them to miss out on the central point of a discussion. People with ADHD are more likely to be struggling with multitasking as well and can cause them to tune out of conversations or engage in other activities while someone else talks.
These battles can create a vicious cycle where the person who isn't ADHD is overwhelmed by anger and stress, while the ADHD person feels untrusted. The issue can get worse from there, as they become more withdrawn.
Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of daily life. They may feel shame or low self-esteem due to their impulsive and unorganized behavior. Or they might find themselves struggling to manage their bills and chores. They can also suffer from mood swings and rejection sensitivity and low sex drive.
It is crucial that people with ADHD seek treatment and seek help. It is crucial that the people closest to them, especially spouses, understand ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can collaborate to set clear boundaries and expectations and then formulate a plan for how they can achieve those goals. The non-ADHD spouse could take on more financial responsibilities while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and completing housework.
Both partners should strive to improve their communication and create an established routine that includes regular schedules for sleeping, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It is also essential to find ways to make things easier for both parties by splitting household chores, or outsourcing some tasks that are difficult for a person with ADHD, such as hiring a cleaning service or using apps to control costs.