High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who have high functioning adhd are prone to frustration and miscommunication in their relationships. Symptoms may be more severe during times of hormonal changes, like premenstrual and pregnancy cycles.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies to mask their symptoms and impairments could delay referral.
This patient group faces particular challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Lack of self-esteem
Women can feel depressed by the social and emotional challenges of ADHD. Even when they're successful, it's easy to feel like a failure because of things they can't control. This can lead to a vicious cycle where they feel constantly overwhelmed and never good enough which can affect their mental health and self-esteem.
Girls who aren't treated for ADHD are at higher risk of developing chronic low self-esteem, anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're at increased risk of single-parenting children with ADHD and financial difficulties, as well as underemployment. They are also more likely than other people to be afflicted by eating disorders and pass on their bad habits to their children.
It's crucial for girls to receive a diagnosis, because it will give them an understanding of their struggles and enable them to manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women report feeling empowered after receiving the diagnosis. They are no longer getting angry about things they can't control. It can also help them see their challenges as strengths and refocus their attention on the things that matter most (Waite, 2010).
As women mature and approach menopause the hormone levels of their bodies change and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. This makes it more difficult for them to be identified and treated because they're often misdiagnosed as an anxiety or mood disorder and their symptoms are viewed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. Symptoms can interfere with everyday routines, leaving them feeling exhausted and angry. It is possible that she cannot say no to people and end up overburdened herself and become resentful of the people closest to 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 angered when she is not liked, making her more likely to snap at those she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel deeply hurt when rejected. It could be real or perceived. A disagreement with a partner, or a negative comment from a coworker at work can trigger your symptoms. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms are overwhelmed and the thoughts emotions, feelings, and beliefs that result can hurt your relationships and self-esteem. Sensitivity to rejection can lead to depression, anxiety and mood shifts.
Although it's often linked to ADHD The issue of rejection sensitivity is actually a symptom of emotional dysregulation that affects the way your brain manages emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health conditions like borderline personality disorder could also be a cause for these symptoms.
RSD patients may perceive events through a filter, making them appear darker or brighter than they really are. This can lead them to interpret and perceive things as rejection related, even though they're not. RSD can make you incapable of controlling your emotions. This is why it is essential to develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage RSD.
Read the articles below to learn more about rejection sensitivity.
Although there isn't a cure for RSD but it is possible to manage your symptoms with the assistance of an expert in mental health. You can utilize coping techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also create an alliance of support and practice mindfulness to lower your chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD, so you can lead a more pleasant and satisfying life. Avoid relationships that are toxic, since they can worsen your symptoms. If you're in an abusive relationship, get counseling to learn the best method to leave. This can lower the chance of rejection related feelings such as depression and anxiety. You can also boost your self-esteem by building healthy relationships. This will make you feel more confident in your abilities and give an honest view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship challenging. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky behavior. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at a higher risk of having sexual issues than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also trigger feelings of shame and guilt, which can affect their relationships and overall well-being.
In one study, people with ADHD were found to be more likely than people without ADHD to have adventurous sexual curiosity. Both genders were affected. This was likely due to their more impulsive levels, which can make them more likely to act on their sexual desires and ideas. In particular, the study showed that women with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic sex fantasies and behaviors. This included submissive role-play bondage, sexual contact with strangers. They also went to sex parties and nightclubs more often.
signs of add in adult women and females with adhd had a greater rate of infidelity than people without the disorder. This was due to their lack of 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 affairs and sexual relationships without contraception. Table 6 provides the results of this section.
Lastly, the study 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 scored using a 5-point scale, 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 results are important because the psychosexual results for adults with ADHD were not studied as often. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions, like STI's, unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction adult and adolescent onset infidelity and risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have trouble in their romantic relationships. Lack of clarity in communication, and misunderstandings due to issues like forgetfulness and inattention can cause frustration, resentment, and even conflict within the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be helped by a supportive network of family and friends who understand.
It is important to remember that those with ADHD have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their thoughts or their impulsive behavior which could cause them to lose focus on the central reason for a discussion. People with ADHD may also have issues multitasking, which can lead them to shut out conversations or perform other tasks while other people are talking.
These battles can create an unbalanced relationship where the non-ADHD partner is overwhelmed with stress and resentment, and the ADHD partner is misunderstood and defensive. They then tend to become more introverted and the situation can get worse from there.
Women with high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their daily life. They may experience feelings of shame and low self-esteem because of their impulsive and disorganized behavior, or feel like they can't keep up with their household chores and bills. They may also experience mood swings and sensitivity to rejection as well as low sexual drive.
For these reasons, it is crucial for people suffering from ADHD to develop an effective treatment plan and seek help. It is essential that the people closest to them, particularly spouses, are aware of 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 reach their goals. The non-ADHD spouse could take on more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD would focus on organizing and completing the chores at home.
In addition, both partners should work to communicate more effectively and clearly, and establish a routine that includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times and time for relaxation and rest. It's also important to find ways to make things easier for both of you by sharing household chores or outsourcing some tasks that are difficult for a person with ADHD for example, hiring cleaning services or using apps to control costs.