High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd are unhappy and are often misunderstood in their relationships. The symptoms can be more severe in periods of hormonal changes, like the premenstrual or pregnancy periods.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies to hide their symptoms and impairments could delay the time for referral.
This group of patients faces a unique set challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Self-esteem issues
Women can feel depressed by the emotional and social challenges of ADHD. Even when they're doing well it's easy to feel like a failure for things they aren't able to control. This can lead to an unending cycle where they are constantly overwhelmed and never quite good enough which can affect their mental health and self-esteem.
Girls with ADHD who are not treated are at a higher risk for chronic low self-esteem as well as teen pregnancy. They also have a higher risk of depression, anxiety, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're 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 to struggle with eating disorders, and their unhealthy patterns could 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 issues and enable them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women report feeling confident after receiving an diagnosis. They can stop getting angry about things they cannot control. It can also help them reframe their struggles as strengths and help them focus their attention on the things that matter most (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopausal the hormone levels of their bodies change, and ADHD symptoms may get worse. It is often difficult to identify and treat people suffering from ADHD as their symptoms could be mistakenly diagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating impacts on women's self-esteem and her relationships with friends and family. The symptoms can disrupt daily routines, leaving her exhausted and irritable. She might feel like she can't refuse people, leading her to become overburdened and angry with those who are around her. She might have difficulty to manage her work and home life, resulting in delayed appointments and lost documents. Additionally, she could be more easily triggered by rejection therefore she's more likely to react defensively and even lash out at the people she is in love with.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel deeply hurt when rejected. This could be real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner, or an unkind comment from a colleague at work can trigger you. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become over-stimulated and the thoughts emotions, feelings, and beliefs that result could harm your self-esteem and relationships. The sensitivity to rejection can also result in anxiety, depression and mood fluctuations.
While it's often associated with ADHD The issue of rejection sensitiveness is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation, which affects the way your brain manages emotions and the way you react to them. The symptoms can also be observed in other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).
People suffering from RSD may see events through filters that make them appear more dark or dimmer than they actually 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 harder to control your emotions and that's why it is important to have healthy coping strategies to deal with this.
Check out the following articles to find out more about the sensitivity to rejection.
While there is no cure for RSD but it is possible to manage your symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can use coping techniques like cognitive behavior therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also practice mindfulness and create a network of support to reduce your chance of experiencing negative reactions to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD, so you can live a more positive and fulfilled life. Avoid toxic relationships as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you are in a abusive relationship, seek counseling to learn how you can safely leave. This can reduce your risk of rejection related feelings like depression and anxiety. By focusing on relationships that are healthy, you can improve your self-esteem. This will help you feel more confident about your abilities and provide a realistic perspective on life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This can result in sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behaviors. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at a higher risk of developing these sexual problems than non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can cause feelings of shame and guilt, which can negatively impact their relationships and well-being.
In one study, those with ADHD were found to be more likely than people without ADHD to have adventurous sexual fascination. Both males and women were affected. This was likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity which could make them more likely to act on their sexual desires and thoughts. In particular, the study showed that women with adhd were more likely to indulge in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and actions. This included submissive roles, bondage and sex with strangers. It was also more typical for them to go out to sexual clubs and parties.
Females and males with adhd had a higher rate of infidelity than people without the disorder. This is due to their weak impulse control and alcohol disinhibition. This could also be a result of their higher rates of anxiety and feeling misunderstood by partners. The survey asked participants about their experiences with extra-partner affairs and sexual relations without contraception. Table 6 provides the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire of participants about their sexual issues. This questionnaire consists of 19 items that are grouped into three subscales. Each item is scored using 5 points, ranging between 1 (never to 5 (very often)). The higher the score, the more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was used to compare the sexual behaviors of people with and without ADHD.
These results are important, because the psychosexual results for adults with ADHD were rarely studied. They have been connected to sexual dysfunctions such as STI's and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction adult and adolescent onset infidelity and risky sexual behaviours.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clear communication and misunderstandings caused by signs such as inattention and forgetfulness may result in anger, frustration, and conflict within relationships. Maintaining healthy relationships can be assisted by a network of family and friends who can understand.
It is crucial to keep in mind that people with ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are easily interrupted by their impulsive behavior, or their own thoughts, which can cause them to miss the point of an exchange. People with ADHD are more likely to struggle in multitasking and can cause them to tune out of conversations or engage in other things while someone else is talking.
These conflicts can lead to an unbalanced relationship where the non-ADHD person becomes overwhelmed with anger and stress, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood and defensive. They can then become more withdrawn, and the problem escalates from there.
Women with high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their daily life. adhd in adults women may feel guilt and low self-esteem as a result of their impulsive and disorganized behavior, or feel that they can't keep up with their chores and bills. They might also feel mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sex desire.
This is why it is essential for those suffering from ADHD to find an effective treatment plan and seek help. It is essential that those closest to them, particularly spouses, understand 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 achieve their goals. The non-ADHD spouse could assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and finishing the housework.
Both partners must strive to improve communication and establish an established routine that includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times and time for relaxation and rest. It is also crucial to find ways to make things simpler for both parties by splitting 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 expenses.