High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who have high functioning adhd are prone to frustration and misunderstandings in their relationships. The symptoms may increase during times of hormonal change such as the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies, concealing their impairments and symptoms that can delay time until referral.
This patient group has distinct problems that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Insecurity about oneself
The social and emotional challenges that come with ADHD can cause women to feel down. Even if they're successful, it is easy to feel like a failure because of things they aren't able to change. This can lead to an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and inadequate. This can have a negative effect on their mental well-being.
Girls with untreated ADHD are more at risk of having low self-esteem for a long time, anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're more likely to be single-parents to a child with ADHD and facing financial hardship or unemployment. They are also more likely than others to be afflicted by eating disorders and pass their bad habits on to their children.
It's crucial that girls get a diagnosis as it will help them better recognize their struggles and manage their symptoms. Many women report that they feel more confident after receiving their diagnosis, allowing them to stop beating themselves up over the little things they can't manage. It helps them to see their struggles as strengths and refocus their focus on what is important most (Waite 2010,).
As women age and approach menopause their hormone levels may change, and ADHD symptoms could worsen. It is often difficult to identify and treat women with ADHD because their symptoms may be mistakenly diagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating impacts on a woman's self-esteem, and her relationships with family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt daily routines, leaving her frustrated and exhausted. It is possible that she isn't able to refuse people, causing her to be overwhelmed and resentful of those who are around her. She may find it difficult to organize the work and home lives of her children and this can lead to missing appointments and lost files. She can also be more easily triggered by rejection, so she may be more likely to be defensive and snap at those she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a condition that causes you to feel a strong sense of when you're rejected, whether real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or an unkind comment from a co-worker at work can trigger you. The brain's natural defence mechanisms are overstimulated, resulting in thoughts and feelings that could harm your relationships and self esteem. You may also experience depression, anxiety, and mood changes due to sensitive to rejection.
Although it's often linked to ADHD Rejection sensitiveness is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation that affects how your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. The symptoms can also be observed in other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).
People with RSD might see events through an eye that makes them appear darker or less than they actually are. This can cause them to interpret things as rejection related, even though they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a hard time regulating your emotions and that's why it's important to develop healthy strategies for coping to handle this.
You can find out more about the sensitivity to rejection by reading these articles:
Although there isn't a cure for RSD it is possible to manage the symptoms with the help of a mental healthcare professional. You can utilize strategies to cope, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps change your negative thought patterns. You can also create an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to lower the chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and allow you to live a more positive and satisfying life. Avoid relationships that are toxic, because they can cause more symptoms. If you're in an abusive relationship, get counseling to learn the best method to leave. This can reduce your risk of feelings of rejection, like anxiety and depression. You can also improve your self-esteem by focusing on developing healthy relationships. 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 behaviours. Women with adhd that is high functioning are at a higher risk for sexual problems. These behaviors can result in feelings of guilt and shame and can have a negative effect on the quality of their relationships and overall wellbeing.
One study surveyed adults with ADHD and discovered that they were more likely to have adventurous sexual interests than those who did not suffer from the disorder. click the up coming post was the case for males and females. This could be due to their more impulsive levels, which can make them more likely to act upon their sexual desires and thoughts. Specifically, the study found that females with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic sex fantasies and actions. This included submissive role-play and bondage as well as sexual contact with strangers. They also attended sex parties and more clubs.
Both females and males suffering from adhd had a higher risk of infidelity than people without the disorder. This was due their poor control of their impulses and alcohol withdrawal. It could also be due to their higher levels of insecurity 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 presents the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which asked participants to describe their problematic sexual behavior. The questionnaire consists of 19 items, and is divided into three subscales. navigate here is scored using a 5-point scale, between 1 (never to 5 (very frequently)). The higher the score, more symptomatology is evident. The HBI-19 was used in order to evaluate sexual behaviors between people who suffer from ADHD and those who do not.
These results are important because the psychosexual outcomes of adults with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions, such as 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 difficulties in their romantic relationships. A lack of clear communication and misunderstandings due to symptoms like inattention and forgetfulness can result in frustration, resentment, and a conflict in the relationship. A supportive network of family and friends members who understand can be helpful for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is important to remember, too, that people with ADHD have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behaviors that could result in them missing out on the central purpose of a conversation. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which can lead them to tune out conversations or perform other tasks while another person 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 in the meantime as they become more withdrawn.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by the demands of their lives. They may be feeling guilt or self-esteem issues because of their impulsive, unorganized behavior. They may find themselves struggling to keep up with their obligations and bills. They might also experience mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sex desire.
Because of this, it is essential for those with ADHD to develop an effective treatment plan and seek assistance. It is crucial that those closest to them, including spouses, learn more about ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. They can then come up with an action plan to achieve their goals. For example, the non-ADHD partner might assume more financial responsibilities, whereas the person with ADHD may be more focused on completing chores and organizing the house.
In addition, both partners must work together to communicate more clearly and effectively and establish a regular routine that includes regular sleep schedules, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. It is also essential to discover ways to make life easier for both of you, such as dividing household chores, or outsourcing some of the tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD for example, hiring cleaning services or using apps to manage expenses.