High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd are unhappy and are often misunderstood in their relationships. The symptoms may be more severe in periods of hormonal changes, such as the premenstrual and pregnancy cycles.
Many girls and women are forced to resort to compensatory strategies, concealing their impairments and symptoms that can delay time until referral.
This group of patients has a unique set of problems that must be considered when treating them.
1. Lack of self-esteem
The social and emotional challenges associated with ADHD can cause women to feel low. Even when they're doing well it's easy to feel like a failure due to things they cannot control. This can lead to an endless cycle of feeling like they feel constantly overwhelmed and never quite good enough and can affect their mental health and self-esteem.
Girls with untreated ADHD are at higher risk of chronic low self-esteem as well as teen pregnancy, anxiety, depression, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they are at greater risk of being parents on their own to a child suffering from ADHD and facing financial hardship or unemployment. They're also more likely than others to suffer from eating disorders and to pass on their bad habits to their children.
It is essential that girls receive a diagnosis because it will help them better understand the challenges they face and manage their symptoms. Many women report that they feel more at ease after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to not be a victim of the small things they cannot control. It can also help them reframe their struggles and refocus on what's important (Waite 2010).
As women age and enter menopausal age, their hormone levels could change and ADHD symptoms may worsen. This makes it more difficult to diagnose and treated, as they're often misdiagnosed as having anxiety or mood disorder and the 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 a woman's daily routine, leaving her irritable and exhausted. She may feel 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 organizing her work and home life, which can lead to delayed appointments and lost documents. Additionally, she could be more susceptible to being triggered by rejection, so she may be more likely to react defensively and lash out at people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel deeply hurt when rejected. This can be real or perceived. A disagreement with a partner, or an insult from a colleague at work can trigger your symptoms. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are overstimulated, resulting in thoughts or feelings, and beliefs that could harm your self-esteem and relationships. You may also experience anxiety, depression and mood changes due to 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 how your brain handles emotions and the way you react to them. Other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder could also be a cause for these symptoms.
People suffering from RSD may see events through an eye that makes them appear darker or less than they actually are. This can cause people to interpret things as rejection related, even though they're not. RSD can make you incapable of controlling your emotions. This is why it is crucial to develop healthy coping strategies to deal with RSD.
Learn more about the sensitivity to rejection by reading these articles:
Although there isn't a cure for RSD but it is possible to manage your symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can utilize strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which helps change your negative thought patterns. You can also create an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to lower your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD, so you can live a more positive and satisfying life. It is also crucial to avoid relationships that are toxic as they can make your symptoms worse. If you are in an abusive relationship, seek counseling to learn how you can safely leave. This will reduce the risk of rejection related feelings, such anxiety and depression. By focusing on relationships that are healthy that you are in, you will increase your self-esteem. This will help you feel more confident about your abilities and give a realistic perspective on life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy relationship. This can cause sexual dysfunctions or risky sexual behaviors. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at higher risk of developing these sexual problems than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also result in feelings of guilt and shame and can have a negative impact on the quality of their relationships and overall well-being.
In one study, people with ADHD were found to be more likely than those without ADHD to have adventurous sexual interest. Both males and women were affected. This is likely due to the increased levels of impulsivity which can cause them to be more likely act on their sexual ideas and desires. In particular, the study showed that women with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic sex fantasies and behaviours. This included bondage, submissive roles and sex with strangers. They also attended sex parties and clubs more often.
Both females and males suffering from adhd had a greater rate of infidelity than those without the disorder. This was due to their inability to control their impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition, as well as their desire for sensation. This is likely due to their higher levels of insecurity and being misunderstood, or criticized by their partners. The survey asked participants about their experiences with extra-partner affairs and sexual relationships without contraception. Table 6 presents the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which surveyed participants to describe their problematic sexual behaviors. This questionnaire is composed of 19 items, and is divided into three subscales. Each item is evaluated on a 5-point scale ranging that ranges from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, the more symptomatology is present. add adult women -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 connected to sexual dysfunctions such as STI's and unwanted pregnancies, relationship problems, infidelity that begins at the onset of adulthood and adolescence and risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD struggle with their romantic relationships. Lack of clarity in communication and misunderstandings caused by symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention could result in anger, frustration and conflict in a relationship. A supportive network of friends and family members who can understand is beneficial for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is also important to keep in mind that those with ADHD often have difficulty listening. They are often interrupted by their impulsive behavior, or their own thoughts, which can cause them to miss the point of a conversation. People with ADHD are more likely to be struggling with multitasking, too and can cause them to tune out of conversations or engage in other activities while someone else is talking.
These conflicts can result in a vicious cycle where the person who isn't ADHD is overwhelmed with anxiety and anger, and the ADHD person feels untrusted. They then tend to become more introverted, and the problem escalates from there.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by the demands of their lives. They may experience shame or low self-esteem because of their impulsive, chaotic behavior. Or they might find themselves struggling to manage their chores and bills. They might also feel mood swings, rejection sensitivity and a lack of sexual desire.
For these reasons, it is essential for those with ADHD to establish a treatment plan and seek help. It is also crucial for those close to them particularly spouses to understand the disorder and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. They can then develop a plan to meet their goals. The non-ADHD spouse could take on more financial responsibilities while the person with ADHD will be focused on organising and completing the housework.
Additionally, both partners should work to communicate more efficiently and clearly and establish a regular routine that includes regular sleep patterns, meal times and time for rest and relaxation. It is also essential to discover ways to make life easier for both of you by dividing household chores, or outsourcing some of the tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD like hiring a cleaning service or using apps to control costs.