High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd may experience frustration and misunderstandings in their relationships. The symptoms can be more severe during times of hormonal changes, like premenstrual and pregnancy cycles.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies to hide their symptoms and impairments can delay the time for referral.
This group of patients faces particular problems that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Insecurities about self-esteem
The social and emotional challenges associated with ADHD can cause women to feel low. Even when they're successful, it is easy to feel like failing because of the things they cannot change. This can result in an endless cycle of feeling like they feel overwhelmed and never quite good enough and can be detrimental to their mental health and self-esteem.
Girls who don't have treatment for ADHD are more at risk of having low self-esteem for a long time and anxiety, teen pregnancy depression, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they are at a higher risk of becoming parents on their own to a child suffering from ADHD and facing financial hardship or unemployment. They're also more likely to struggle with eating disorders, and their negative habits can be passed on to their children.
It's important for girls to receive an accurate diagnosis because it will give them an understanding of their struggles and allow them to manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women report that they feel more empowered after receiving their diagnosis, allowing them to stop blaming themselves for the small things they cannot control. It can also help them reframe their issues and help them focus on what is important (Waite 2010).
As women age and approach menopausal, their hormone levels can change and ADHD symptoms may worsen. This can make it harder for them to be diagnosed 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 devastating consequences on a woman's self-esteem, and her relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt the woman's daily routine which can make her angry and exhausted. She may feel she can't say no to people which causes her to burden herself and become resentful of people close to her. She might have difficulty organizing her home and work life, which leads to delayed appointments and lost documents. She can also be more susceptible to being triggered by rejection, so she may be more likely to be defensive and lash out at people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
The sensitivity to rejection causes you to feel very hurt when rejected. This could be real or perceived. It could be caused by a disagreement with your partner or a negative review from a colleague at work. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are triggered which can trigger thoughts and feelings that can harm your self-esteem and relationships. You may also experience depression, anxiety and mood changes due to the sensitivity to rejection.
Rejection sensitivity, although often associated with ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This affects the way your brain processes emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health issues like borderline personality disorder could be a sign of these symptoms too.
RSD patients can see events through a filter, which makes them appear brighter or darker than they really are. This could cause people to interpret things as being related to rejection, even if they aren't. RSD can also cause you to have a difficult managing your emotions which is why it is important to have coping strategies that are healthy to handle this.
Check out add in adult women following articles to learn more about the sensitivity to rejection.
Although there isn't a cure for RSD it is possible to manage the symptoms with the assistance of a mental healthcare professional. You can use coping techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also practice mindfulness and build a network of support to lessen your chance of experiencing negative reactions to rejection. This can aid you in overcoming your RSD so that you can live a more fulfilled and happier life. Avoid toxic relationships, since they can worsen your symptoms. If you are in an abusive relationship, you should seek counseling to find out how you can quit. This will help reduce your risk of rejection-related feelings, such as depression and anxiety. By focusing on healthy relationships and relationships, you can boost your self-esteem. This will allow you to feel more confident about your abilities and give you an unbiased view of the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship difficult. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky behavior. Women with adhd that is high functioning are at a higher risk of having sexual issues. These behaviors can cause feelings of guilt and embarrassment and can affect their relationships and well-being.
One study looked at adults suffering from ADHD and found that they were more likely to have a passion for sexual exploration than those without the disorder. Both genders were affected. This is likely due to the greater impulsivity levels that can cause them to be more likely be influenced by sexual ideas and desires. Specifically, the study found that females with adhd were more likely to indulge in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and behaviours. This included submissive roles, bondage and sexing with strangers. They also went to sex events and more clubs.
Both women and men who suffer from adhd were more likely to be infidelity than those who did not suffer from the disorder. This is due to their weak control of their impulses and alcohol withdrawal. This could also be due to their higher rates of anxiety and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with sexual relations and sexual interactions without use of contraception. Table 6 shows the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire from participants about their sexual problems. This questionnaire is composed of 19 items, and is divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using 5 points, ranging from 1 (never to 5 (very often)). The higher the score, the more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was used to assess the sexual behavior of adults with and without ADHD.
These findings are significant because the psychosexual experiences of adults with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been linked with sexual dysfunctions, such as unwanted pregnancy and STIs, relationship dissatisfaction, adult-onset infidelity as well as risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clarity in communication and misunderstandings due to issues like forgetfulness and inattention can lead to 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 also important to note that those with ADHD often have difficulty listening. They are easily interrupted by impulsive behavior or their own thoughts, which may cause them to lose the purpose of an exchange. People with ADHD may also have trouble multitasking, which can cause them to shut out conversations or perform other tasks while another person is talking.
These struggles can lead to an unending cycle where the partner who is not ADHD is overwhelmed with stress and resentment and the ADHD person feels untrusted. The problem can escalate from there as they become more distant.
Women with high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their everyday life. They may experience shame or low self-esteem due to their impulsive, chaotic behavior. Or they might find themselves struggling to manage their obligations and bills. They might also have mood swings, rejection sensitivity and low sexual desire.
Because of this, it is crucial for people who suffer from ADHD to develop a treatment plan and seek assistance. It is essential that those closest to them, especially spouses, are aware of ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. They can then come up with an action plan to meet their goals. For example the non-ADHD spouse could assume more financial responsibility, while the person with ADHD may be more focused on organizing and completing housework.
Both partners should be working to improve communication and establish a routine, which includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times, and time to relax and rest. It is important to find ways to make things easier for both spouses, such as splitting household chores or outsourcing some of those that are difficult for someone with ADHD.