High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with adhd that are high functioning are dissatisfied and often misunderstood by their relationships. The symptoms may be more severe in times of hormonal changes, such as the premenstrual and pregnancy periods.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies to hide their symptoms and impairments can delay referral.
This group of patients faces specific problems that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Insecurities about self-esteem
Women can be depressed by the social and emotional challenges of ADHD. Even when they're doing well and have a good time, it's easy for them to feel like a failure due to things they cannot control. This can result in an endless cycle of feeling like they feel overwhelmed and never good enough which can take a toll on their self-esteem and mental health.
Girls who suffer from ADHD who are not treated are at a higher risk of having low self-esteem as well as teen pregnancy. They also have a greater chance of depression, anxiety, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they are at a higher risk of becoming single-parents to a child with ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or unemployment. They're also more likely to struggle with eating disorders, and their bad patterns can pass down to their children.
It's crucial that girls receive a diagnosis since it will help them recognize the challenges they face and manage their symptoms. Many women say that they feel much more empowered after receiving their diagnosis, allowing them to not be a victim of the little things they can't manage. It helps them to see their challenges as strengths and help them focus their attention on what matters most (Waite 2010,).
As women age and approach menopausal, their hormone levels can change and ADHD symptoms could worsen. This can make it harder to diagnose and treated because 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 devastating consequences on women's self-esteem as well as relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can affect women's daily routines that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. She might feel that she is unable to say no to anyone which causes her to burden herself and become resentful of people close to her. She might find it difficult to manage the work and home lives of her children which can lead to missed appointments and lost files. She may be more prone to being angered when she is not liked and is more likely to snap at those she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel very hurt when rejected. This could be real or perceived. A disagreement with a partner, or an unkind comment from a co-worker at work could trigger you. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms are over-stimulated and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result could harm your self-esteem and relationships. Rejection sensitivity can also result in anxiety, depression and mood fluctuations.
While it's often associated with ADHD Rejection sensitivity is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation, which affects the way your brain handles emotions and how you respond to them. The symptoms can also be seen in other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).
People with RSD may see events through a filter that makes them appear darker or dimmer than they really are. This can cause them to perceive and interpret things as if they are related to rejection, even if they are not. RSD can also cause you to have a hard managing your emotions and that's why it's crucial to develop healthy strategies for coping to handle this.
You can learn more about the sensitivity to rejection by reading these articles:
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the help of a mental healthcare professional. You can use coping techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy to change your negative thinking patterns. You can also build a support network and practice mindfulness to lessen 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 fulfilled life. It is also important to avoid relationships that are toxic as they can make your symptoms worse. If you are in an abusive relationship, you should seek counseling to find out how you can quit. This will help lessen the risk of having feelings of rejection, such as depression and anxiety. By focusing on healthy relationships and relationships, you can boost your self-esteem. This will help you feel more confident about your abilities, and will give you a more realistic perspective on the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy relationship. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Women with adhd that is high functioning may be at greater risk of having sexual issues. These behaviors can also lead to feelings of guilt and shame which can have a negative impact on their relationships and overall well-being.
In one study, people with ADHD were found to be more likely than those without ADHD to be sexually adventurous. fascination. This was true for both males and females. This could be due to the greater impulsivity levels that could make them more likely to to act on sexual thoughts and desires. The study revealed that females who suffer from adhd are more likely to indulge in sexual fantasies and actions. This included bondage, submissive roles, and sex with strangers. They also went to sex events and more clubs.
Both women and men with adhd were more likely to be infidelity than those who did not suffer from the disorder. navigate here was due to their inability to control their impulses and alcohol withdrawal, as well as the desire to feel. This could be due to their higher levels of insecurity and a feeling of being misunderstood or criticized 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 provides the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19), which asked participants to discuss their problematic sexual behaviors. The questionnaire is comprised of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using five-point scale, starting from 1 (never to 5 (very often)). The higher the score, the more symptomatology it has. The HBI-19 was used to compare the sexual behaviours of adults who have and those without ADHD.
These findings are important because the psychosexual outcomes of people with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions such as STIs and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction and adult-onset infidelity, as well as risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD have issues in their relationships with loved ones. Highly recommended Site of clarity in communication, and miscommunication due to issues like inattention and forgetfulness can cause anger, resentment and conflict in the relationship. A strong network of family and friends members who can understand is beneficial in maintaining healthy relationships.
It is also important to remember that people with ADHD frequently have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their thoughts or their impulsive behavior which can result in them missing out on the central point of a discussion. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which could cause them to shut out conversations or perform other tasks while other people are talking.
These struggles can lead to an unending cycle where the person who isn't ADHD is overwhelmed by anxiety and anger, and the ADHD partner feels that they are not understood. The problem can escalate from there as they become more distant.
Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their daily life. They may experience low self-esteem or shame due to their impulsive and chaotic behavior. It is also possible that they feel like they cannot manage their chores and bills. They might also have mood swings, rejection sensitivity and low sex desire.
It is important that those who suffer from ADHD find a treatment and seek out help. It is crucial that those who are closest to them, including spouses, learn more about ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can work together to establish clear boundaries and expectations and then devise an action plan to will meet those objectives. For example the non-ADHD spouse could assume more financial responsibility, while the person with ADHD may be more focused on completing chores and organizing the house.
Both partners should strive to improve communication and establish an established routine that includes regular schedules for sleeping, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It is also essential to discover ways to make life easier for both of you, such as dividing household chores, or outsourcing some tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD like hiring an expert cleaning service or using apps to control costs.