High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd experience discontent and confusion in their relationships. The symptoms can become more severe during periods of hormonal changes, such as the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies to mask their symptoms and impairments can delay the time for referral.
This patient group has a unique set of challenges which must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Lack of self-esteem
Women can feel depressed by the emotional and social issues of ADHD. Even when they are successful, it's easy to feel like failing because of the things they aren't able to change. This can create a vicious cycle where they feel constantly overwhelmed and never satisfied and can be detrimental to their mental health and self-esteem.
Girls who suffer from ADHD who are not treated are at a higher risk for chronic low self-esteem as well as teen pregnancy. They also have a greater chance of anxiety, depression, and abuse of substances. As adults, they are at greater risk of being parents on their own to a child suffering from ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or unemployment. They're also more likely to be struggling with eating disorders, and their unhealthy patterns can pass down to their children.
It's crucial for girls to receive an assessment, as it will provide them with an understanding of their issues and allow them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women report feeling empowered after receiving the diagnosis. They can stop being a victim of things they cannot manage. It can also help reframe their problems and refocus them on the things that matter (Waite 2010).
As women age and approach menopausal age, their hormone levels could change, and ADHD symptoms could worsen. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat people suffering from ADHD as their symptoms could be incorrectly identified and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on self-esteem of women, and her relationships with friends and family. The symptoms can affect daily routines, making her feeling exhausted and angry. It is possible that she cannot turn down people, causing her to become overburdened and angry with people around her. She may find it difficult organizing her home and work life, resulting in missing appointments and documents getting lost. She could be more prone to being angered when she is not liked and is more likely to snap at people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel deeply hurt when rejected. This could be real or perceived. A disagreement with a partner, or an unkind comment from a coworker at work could trigger you. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are triggered, resulting in thoughts and feelings that can affect your self-esteem and relationships. Rejection sensitivity can also lead to depression, anxiety and mood shifts.
Rejection sensitivity, which is typically associated with ADHD is actually an indication of emotional dysregulation. This impacts how your brain processes emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health conditions such as borderline personality disorder could also show these symptoms.
RSD patients can see events through a filter, making them appear darker or brighter than they really are. This can lead them to interpret things as rejection related, even though they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a hard managing your emotions and that's why it is important to develop healthy strategies for coping to manage this.
Check out the following articles to find out more about rejection sensitivity.
While there is adhd in adult women symptoms for RSD however, you can manage your symptoms with the help of an expert in mental health. You can use strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which helps change your negative thought patterns. You can also create a support network and practice mindfulness to lower your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD, so you can live a more positive and satisfying life. It is also essential to stay clear of toxic relationships since they can cause symptoms to become worse. If you're in a abusive relationship, get counseling to discover the best way to leave. This will reduce the risk of rejection related feelings such as depression and anxiety. By focusing on relationships that are healthy and relationships, you can boost your self-esteem. This will make you feel more confident in your abilities and give a realistic perspective on life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship difficult. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky behavior. Women who have high functioning adhd might be more at risk of having sexual issues. These behaviors can lead to feelings of guilt and shame and can have a negative impact on their relationships and overall wellbeing.
One study conducted a survey of adults with ADHD and discovered that they were more likely to be interested in sexual activities than those who did not suffer from the disorder. Both males and women were affected. This is likely due to the higher levels of impulsivity that could make them more likely to be influenced by sexual ideas and desires. Particularly, the study revealed that females with adhd were more likely to indulge in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and behaviours. This included bondage, submissive roles and sex with strangers. It was also more common for them to go to party and sex clubs.
Both men and women with adhd were more likely be infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This was due to their lack of impulse control and alcohol-related disinhibition, as well as their desire for sensation. This could also be due to their higher rates of insecurity and feeling misunderstood by their partners. The survey also asked participants to share their experiences with sexual relations and sexual interactions without the use of contraception. Table 6 outlines the results from this section.
In the final analysis, the study utilized the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire from participants about their sexual issues. The questionnaire comprises 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using five-point scale, starting between 1 (never to 5 (very frequently)). The more high the score, the more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was used to evaluate the sexual behaviors of adults who have and those without ADHD.
These results are important, since the psychosexual outcomes of adults with ADHD were not studied as often. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions, such as STI's and unplanned pregnancies, relationship dissatisfaction, adolescent and adult onset infidelity and risky sexual behaviours.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their romantic relationships. Lack of clarity in communication and misunderstandings caused by symptoms such as forgetfulness and inattention can result in frustration, resentment, and a conflict in the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be helped by a supportive network of family and friends who understand.
It is also important to remember that people suffering from ADHD frequently have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior which could result in them missing out on the primary point of a discussion. People with ADHD may also have issues multitasking, which can cause them to tune out conversations or to do something else while another person is talking.
These struggles can lead to a vicious cycle in which the partner who is not ADHD is overwhelmed with anxiety and anger, and the ADHD person feels untrusted. They then tend to become more withdrawn, and the problem escalates from there.
Women with high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by their everyday demands. They may be feeling guilt or self-esteem issues due to their impulsive and unorganized behavior. They may feel that they are unable to keep up with their bills and chores. They might also be suffering from mood swings and rejection sensitivity as well as low sex drive.
It is important that those who suffer from ADHD seek treatment and seek assistance. It is also important for those close to them, especially spouses, to understand the condition and how it affects their loved ones. They can work together to set the right expectations and boundaries, then come up with a plan for how they can achieve those objectives. The non-ADHD partner can assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD would focus on organizing and finishing the housework.
In addition, both partners should work to communicate more effectively and clearly and establish a routine that includes regular sleeping schedules, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It is also essential to discover ways to make life easier for both parties for example, sharing household chores or outsourcing some tasks that are challenging for a person with ADHD like hiring cleaning services or using apps to manage costs.