High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd may experience discontent and confusion in their relationships. Symptoms can heighten at periods of hormonal changes, such as the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies in order to cover their impairments and symptoms can delay referral.
This group of patients faces distinct issues that need to be taken into account when treating them.
1. Self-Esteem is not a strong point.
Women can be depressed by the emotional and social issues of ADHD. Even when they're successful, it's easy to feel like an failure due to things they aren't able to change. This can lead to an endless feeling of being overwhelmed and unsatisfied. This can have a negative impact on their mental well-being.
Girls with ADHD who aren't treated are at a higher risk of having low self-esteem and teen pregnancy. They also have a greater chance of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. As adults, they're at higher risk of having a single parent for a child with ADHD, financial crises and underemployment. They're also more likely than others to be afflicted by eating disorders and to pass their bad habits on to their children.
It is 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 efficiently. Many women report feeling empowered after receiving an diagnosis. They can stop getting angry about things they can't control. It helps them to see their difficulties as strengths and help them focus their attention on the things that matter most (Waite, 2010).
As women age and move towards menopausal age, their hormone levels could change, and ADHD symptoms may worsen. This can make it harder for them to be identified and treated, as they're often misdiagnosed as an anxiety or mood disorder, and their symptoms are dismissed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."
Untreated adult ADHD can have a devastating impact on a woman’s self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. Symptoms may interfere with women's daily routines that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. She might feel that she is unable to say no to anyone and end up overburdened herself and feel resentful towards those close to her. She might find it difficult to manage her work and home life and this can lead to missed appointments and lost files. She may also be more easily triggered when she is rejected, making her more likely to snap at people she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel extremely hurt when you are rejected. This could be real or perceived. A disagreement with a partner, or an insult from a coworker at work could trigger you. The brain's natural defence mechanisms are overstimulated which can trigger thoughts, feelings and beliefs that can affect your self-esteem and relationships. You can also experience anxiety, depression and mood changes due to rejection sensitivity.
Although it's often linked to ADHD, rejection sensitivity is actually a symptom of emotional dysregulation that affects how your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. The symptoms can also be seen in other mental health disorders, including borderline personality disorder (BPD).
RSD patients might perceive events through a filter, making them appear brighter or darker than they really are. This can cause them to perceive and interpret things as rejection-related, even when they are not. RSD can make you in a state of being unable to control your emotions. This is why it is crucial to develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage RSD.
Read add in women test to learn more about rejection sensitivity.
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the help of a mental healthcare professional. You can employ coping strategies such as cognitive behavioral therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also build an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to reduce your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and help you live a more positive and satisfying life. It is also essential to avoid relationships that are toxic as they can make your symptoms worse. If you're in a abusive relationship, get counseling to learn the best method to leave. This can help you reduce your risk of feelings of rejection, such as depression and anxiety. You can also increase your self-esteem by developing healthy relationships. This will help you feel more confident about your abilities and give you an objective view of the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy relationship. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions or risky behaviors. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at greater risk of experiencing these sexual issues than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also lead to feelings of shame and guilt, which can have a negative effect on their relationships as well as their overall health.
In one study, adults with ADHD were found to be more likely than those with ADHD to be sexually adventurous. fascination. This was the case for males and females. This was likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity, which could make them more likely to act upon their sexual desires and thoughts. In particular, the study showed that women with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic sex fantasies and behaviors. This included submissive roles play and bondage as well as sexual contact with strangers. It was also more typical for them to go to party and sex clubs.
Both males and females with adhd had a greater rate of infidelity than people without the disorder. This was due to their lack of control of impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition. This was likely also because of their higher rates of anxiety and feeling misunderstood by partners. The survey asked respondents about their experiences with extra-partner relationships and sexual relations without contraception. Table 6 outlines the results for this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19), which asked participants to describe their problematic sexual behavior. The questionnaire comprises 19 items, and is divided into three subscales. Each item is scored on a five-point scale that ranges from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The more high the score, the more symptoms are present. The HBI-19 was used to assess the sexual behavior of adults with and without ADHD.
These results are important, since the psychosexual outcomes of adults with ADHD were not studied as often. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions, such as STI's and unwanted pregnancies, relationship problems, adult and adolescent onset infidelity and risky sexual behaviours.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clarity in communication and miscommunication caused by signs such as inattention and forgetfulness may cause anger, frustration, and conflict within the relationship. A strong group of family and friends members who are able to understand each other can be beneficial for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is also important to remember that those with ADHD frequently have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior which can result in them missing out on the central reason for a discussion. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which can cause them to mute conversations or do something else 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 feels misunderstood, and defensive. The issue can get worse from there as they become more isolated.
Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their daily life. They may be feeling low self-esteem or shame due to their impulsive and disorganized behavior. adhd traits in women may feel like they cannot manage their chores and bills. They might also experience mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sex desire.
It is essential that those with ADHD seek treatment and seek out help. It is essential that the people closest to them, especially spouses, understand 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 meet their goals. The non-ADHD spouse could take on more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD will be focused on organising and completing the chores at home.
Both partners must strive to improve their communication and establish a routine that includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times, and time to relax and rest. It is also crucial to discover ways to make life easier for both parties for example, splitting household chores, or outsourcing some tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD like hiring a cleaning service or utilizing apps to manage costs.