High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd can be dissatisfied and often misunderstood by their relationships. The symptoms can be more severe during times of hormonal changes such as the premenstrual and menstrual cycles.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies to mask their symptoms and impairments could delay referral.
This patient group has particular issues that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Self-esteem issues
The emotional and social issues that accompany ADHD can leave women feeling low. Even when they're successful, it is easy to feel like they're an failure due to things they aren't able to change. This can create an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative effect on their mental well-being.
Girls who aren't treated for ADHD are at higher risk of having low self-esteem for a long time and anxiety, teen pregnancy depression and substance abuse. As adults, they're at a higher risk of becoming single-parents of a child with ADHD and facing financial hardship or underemployment. They're also more likely to struggle with eating disorders, and their bad habits can be passed on to their children.
It's essential that girls receive a diagnosis since it will help them better recognize their struggles and manage their symptoms. Many women say that they feel more confident after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to not be a victim of the little things they are unable to control. It can also help them see their difficulties as strengths and focus their focus on what is important most (Waite, 2010).
As women age and approach menopause their hormone levels may 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 viewed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."
Being diagnosed with 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, leaving her irritable and exhausted. She may feel that she can't refuse people, leading her to become overburdened and angry with people around her. She may find it difficult to manage her work and home life, which leads to missing appointments and documents getting lost. She may be more prone to being angered when she is not liked which makes her more likely to snap at people she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel extremely hurt when you are rejected. It could be real or perceived. You could be triggered by an argument with your partner or a negative feedback from a coworker at work. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms are over-stimulated and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result can hurt your self-esteem and relationships. You may also experience anxiety, depression, and mood fluctuations as a result of the sensitivity to rejection.
While it's often associated with ADHD The issue of rejection sensitivity is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation that affects the way your brain handles emotions and how you respond to them. Other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder may also show these symptoms.
People with RSD may view events through a filter that makes them appear more dark or dimmer than they actually are. This could cause them to interpret and perceive things as being related to rejection, even if they aren't. RSD can make you unable to control your emotions. This is why it is crucial to develop healthy coping mechanisms to deal with RSD.
Learn more about the issue of rejection sensitivity by reading the articles below:
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to manage the symptoms with the help of a mental health professional. You can use strategies to cope, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps you change your negative thinking patterns. You can also establish a support network and practice mindfulness to lower your chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and allow you to lead a more pleasant and fulfilling life. It is also crucial to avoid toxic relationships as they can cause symptoms to become worse. If you're in a abusive relationship, seek counsel to find out the best method to leave. This can reduce your risk of rejection related feelings, such anxiety and depression. By focusing on relationships that are healthy and relationships, you can boost your self-esteem. This will allow you to feel more confident about your abilities and provide you with an unbiased view of the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This can result in sexual dysfunctions or risky behavior. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at higher risk of developing these sexual problems than non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also trigger feelings of guilt and embarrassment which may negatively impact their relationships and wellbeing.
One study surveyed adults with ADHD and discovered that they were more likely to have a passion for sexual exploration than those without the disorder. Both males and women were affected. This was likely due to their more impulsive levels, which could make them more likely to act on sexual desires and ideas. In particular, the study showed that females with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic sex fantasies and behaviors. This included bondage, submissive roles and sex with strangers. They also went to sex events and nightclubs more often.
Both women and men who suffer from adhd were more likely be in a relationship than those who did not have the disorder. This was due to inability to control their impulses and alcohol withdrawal, as well as the desire to feel. It could also be a result of their higher levels of insecurity and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with extra-partner sexual affairs and sexual intercourse without use of contraception. Table 6 outlines the results from this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire of participants about their sexual issues. The questionnaire comprises 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using 5 points, ranging from 1 (never to 5) (very frequently)). The higher the score, the more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was used to compare the sexual behaviors of adults with and without ADHD.
These findings are significant, because the psychosexual outcomes for adults with ADHD were rarely studied. They have been connected to sexual dysfunctions such as STI's and unplanned pregnancies, relationship problems, adolescent and adult onset infidelity and risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their relationships with loved ones. A lack of clear communication, and miscommunication due to issues like inattention and forgetfulness can result in anger, resentment and conflict within the relationship. A strong network 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, too, that people who suffer from ADHD have trouble listening. They can be interrupted easily by their impulsive behavior or own thoughts, which may cause them to lose the purpose of a conversation. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which can lead them to tune out conversations or do something else while someone else is talking.
These struggles can result in an unbalanced relationship where the non-ADHD partner becomes overwrought with anger and stress and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood, and defensive. They may then withdraw, and the problem escalates from there.
Women with high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by their everyday demands. I Am Psychiatry might experience feelings of guilt and low self-esteem as a result of their impulsive and disorganized behavior, or feel as if they're unable to keep up with their household chores and bills. They might also experience mood swings, rejection sensitivity and low sexual desire.
It is crucial that people with ADHD seek treatment and seek help. It is also important for family members, especially spouses, to understand the condition and how it affects the person they love. They can work together to establish the right expectations and boundaries and then devise a plan of how they will achieve their goals. The non-ADHD partner can take on more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and finishing the chores at home.
Both partners should also strive to improve communication and establish a routine, which includes regular schedules for sleeping, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. It is essential to find ways to simplify things for both of you, like dividing household tasks or outsourcing certain tasks that are difficult for someone with ADHD.