High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with adhd that are high functioning are frustrated and misunderstood in their relationships. The symptoms can become more severe during times of hormonal change, like the pre-menstrual period and pregnancy.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies, hiding their impairments and symptoms that can delay time to referral.
This patient group faces a unique set problems that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Self-esteem issues
The emotional and social challenges associated with ADHD can cause women to feel low. Even if they're successful, it is easy to feel like they're failing because of the things they cannot change. This can lead to an endless feeling of being overwhelmed and unsatisfied. This can have a negative effect on their mental health.
Girls who aren't treated for ADHD are at greater risk of having low self-esteem for a long time and anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression and substance abuse. As adults, they're at greater risk of being the sole parent to children with ADHD and financial problems, as well as underemployment. They're also more likely than others to be afflicted by eating disorders and to pass on their bad habits to their children.
It's crucial that women get a diagnosis as it will allow them to better comprehend the challenges they face and manage their symptoms. Many women report feeling confident after receiving an diagnosis. They are no longer getting angry about things they cannot control. It can also help them reframe their challenges as strengths and refocus their focus on what is important most (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopausal their hormone levels alter and ADHD symptoms may get worse. It isn't easy to diagnose and treat people suffering from ADHD due to the fact that their symptoms can be incorrectly identified and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on women's self-esteem as well as relationships with her family and friends. Symptoms may interfere with the woman's daily routine that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. She might feel that she is unable to refuse to be around people, leading her to overburden herself and become resentful of people close to her. It can be difficult organizing her home and work life, which leads to missed appointments and lost documents. She may also be more easily triggered when she is rejected and is more likely to snap at people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel extremely hurt when you are rejected. iampsychiatry could be real or perceived. You might be triggered by an argument with your partner or a negative feedback from a coworker at work. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become over-stimulated, and the thoughts and feelings that result can harm your self-esteem and relationships. The sensitivity to rejection can also lead to depression, anxiety and mood fluctuations.
Although it's often attributed to ADHD, rejection sensitivity is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation, which affects the way your brain handles emotions and the way you react to them. Other mental health conditions like borderline personality disorder may be a sign of these symptoms too.
People suffering from RSD might see events through filters that make them appear more dark or dimmer than they actually are. This makes them more likely to interpret things as if they are related to rejection, even if they are not. RSD can also cause you to have a difficult to control your emotions, which is why it's crucial to develop healthy strategies for coping to deal with this.
You can find out more about the issue of rejection sensitivity by reading the following articles:
While there is no cure for RSD, it's possible to manage your symptoms with the assistance of an expert in mental health. You can utilize strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which helps you change your negative thinking patterns. You can also develop mindfulness and create a network of support to lessen the chance of having negative reactions to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and help you live a more positive and satisfying life. Avoid toxic relationships, since they can worsen your symptoms. If you are in a abusive relationship, you should seek counseling to find out how you can get out. This will reduce the risk of experiencing feelings of rejection such as depression and anxiety. You can also improve your self-esteem by building healthy relationships. This will help you feel more confident in your abilities and give you a more realistic perspective on the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky behaviours. Women with adhd that is high functioning are at a higher risk of having sexual issues. These behaviors can cause feelings of guilt and shame and can have a negative impact on the quality of their relationships as well as their overall health.
In one study, those with ADHD were found to be more likely than those without ADHD to have adventurous sexual curiosity. Both males and women were affected. This could be due to their more impulsive levels, which could make them more likely to act on their sexual desires and thoughts. Particularly, the study revealed that women with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic sex fantasies and behaviours. This included submissive roles, bondage and sex with strangers. They also went to sex parties and nightclubs more often.
Both women and men with adhd were more likely be infidelity than those who didn't have the disorder. This was due their poor impulse control and alcohol disinhibition. This could be due to their higher levels of insecurity, and feeling misunderstood or misjudged by their partners. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with extra-partner sexual relationships and sexual encounters without use of contraception. Table 6 provides the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to ask participants about their sexual problems. The questionnaire comprises 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using a five-point scale, ranging that ranges from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, the more symptomatology there is. 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 have not been studied extensively. They have been associated with 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 with high functioning ADHD have issues with their relationships with loved ones. A lack of clear communication, and miscommunication caused by symptoms such as inattention and forgetfulness can cause frustration, resentment, and even conflict in the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be assisted by a network of family and friends who can understand.
It is also important to keep in mind that those with ADHD frequently have trouble listening. They are often interrupted by their impulsive behavior or own thoughts, which may cause them to miss the point of an exchange. People with ADHD may also have trouble multitasking, which can cause them to tune out conversations or do something else while another person is talking.
These conflicts can result in an unending cycle where the person who is not 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 with high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by their daily demands. They may feel guilt and low self-esteem as a result of their impulsive and disorganized behavior, or feel like they can't keep up with their household chores and bills. They might also experience mood swings, rejection sensitivity and a lack of sexual desire.
Because of this, it is vital for those suffering from ADHD to develop a treatment plan and seek help. It is essential that those who are closest to them, particularly spouses, understand ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can collaborate to establish clear boundaries and expectations, then come up with a plan of how they will achieve their objectives. The non-ADHD partner could take on more financial responsibilities while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and completing the housework.
Both partners must work to improve their communication and establish a routine, which includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times, and time for relaxation and rest. It's important to find ways to make things easier for both of you, like dividing household tasks or outsourcing some of those that are difficult for a person with ADHD.