10 Life Lessons We Can Take From High Functioning ADHD In Women
High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who have high functioning adhd are prone to frustration and miscommunication in their relationships. The symptoms may be more severe in periods of hormonal changes, such as the premenstrual and menstrual cycles.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies to mask their impairments and symptoms can delay the time for referral.
This group of patients faces specific challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Insecurity about oneself
Women can feel depressed by the emotional and social challenges of ADHD. Even if they're successful, it's easy to feel like they're failing because of the things they can't change. This can create a vicious cycle where they are constantly overwhelmed and never satisfied, 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 and teenage pregnancy. They also have a greater chance of depression, anxiety, and abuse of substances. As adults, they're more likely to be single-parents of a child with ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or unemployment. They're also more likely than others to suffer from eating disorders and pass on their bad habits to their children.
It's essential that women receive a diagnosis since it will help them comprehend their struggles and help them manage their symptoms. Many women report feeling more confident after receiving a diagnosis. They are no longer getting angry about things they cannot manage. It can also help them see their difficulties as strengths and focus their focus on what is important most (Waite 2010).
As women mature and approach menopausal age, their hormone levels change and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. It isn't easy to diagnose and treat people suffering from ADHD because their symptoms may be incorrectly identified and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating effects on women's self-esteem as well as relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt everyday routines, leaving them feeling exhausted and angry. It is possible that she isn't able to refuse people, which causes her to be overwhelmed and resentful towards those around her. She might have difficulty organizing her home and work life, which leads to missed appointments and lost documents. Additionally, she could be more easily triggered by rejection, so she may be more likely to react defensively and snap at those she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel very hurt when rejected. This can be real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or a negative comment from a co-worker at work can trigger you. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms are overwhelmed and the thoughts emotions, feelings, and beliefs that result could harm your relationships and self-esteem. Rejection sensitivity can also lead to depression, anxiety and mood swings.
Although it's often linked to ADHD, rejection sensitiveness is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation that affects how your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health issues such as borderline personality disorder could be a sign of these symptoms too.
People with RSD might see events through filters that make them appear darker or dimmer than they actually are. This causes them to interpret things as rejection-related, even when they're not. RSD can cause you to be in a state of being unable to control your emotions. This is why it is crucial to develop healthy coping strategies to manage RSD.
Learn 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 help of a mental health professional. You can employ strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which helps you change your negative thought patterns. You can also engage in mindfulness and build a community of support to decrease your chance of experiencing negative reactions to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and allow you to lead a more pleasant and satisfying life. It is also crucial to avoid relationships that are toxic as they can make your symptoms worse. If you're in a abusive relationship, seek counseling to discover the best method to leave. undiagnosed adhd in women can help you lessen the risk of having feelings of rejection, such as anxiety and depression. You can also boost your self-esteem by focusing on creating healthy relationships. This will make you feel more confident in your abilities and give an honest view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship difficult. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky behaviors. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at higher risk of having sexual issues than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can cause feelings of shame and guilt which can have a negative effect 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 interest. This was the case for both males and females. This is probably due to the higher levels of impulsivity that can make them more likely to act on sexual thoughts and desires. The study found that females who have 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 clubs more often.
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 impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition. This could also be because of their higher rates of insecurity and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey asked participants to describe their experiences with extra-partner relationships and sexual relationships without contraception. Table 6 summarizes the results of this section.
The study also utilized the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which asked participants to describe their problematic sexual behavior. The questionnaire comprises 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using five-point scale, starting from 1 (never to 5 (very frequently)). The higher the score the more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was used to evaluate the sexual behavior of adults who have and those without ADHD.
These results are important because the psychosexual results for adults with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been linked with sexual dysfunctions like unwanted pregnancy and STIs relationships, dissatisfaction with relationships and adult-onset infidelity, as well as dangerous sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD have issues in their romantic relationships. Lack of clear communication and misunderstandings triggered by signs such as forgetfulness and inattention could result in anger, frustration and conflict in the relationship. A supportive network of family and friends members who are able to understand each other can be beneficial in maintaining healthy relationships.
It is important to remember, too, that people who suffer from ADHD have a difficult time listening. women and adhd are often interrupted by impulsive behavior or their own thoughts, which could 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 someone else is talking.
These conflicts can lead to a cycle where the non-ADHD partner becomes overwrought with anger and stress and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood and defensive. They then tend to become more withdrawn, and the problem escalates from there.
Women with high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their everyday life. They may experience feelings of shame and low self-esteem because of their impulsive and disorganized behavior, or feel like they're not able to handle their household chores and bills. They might also have mood swings, rejection sensitivity and low sex desire.
Because of this, it is crucial for people suffering from ADHD to establish an effective treatment plan and seek out help. It is important that the people closest to them, particularly spouses, are aware of ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they can develop a plan to meet their goals. For example, the non-ADHD partner might take on more of the financial responsibility, while the person with ADHD might be focused on the task of organizing and finishing housework.
Additionally, both partners should work to communicate more clearly and effectively, and establish a routine that includes regular sleeping schedules, meal times, and time for rest and relaxation. It is also essential to find ways to make things simpler for both parties, such as splitting household chores, or outsourcing some of the tasks that are challenging for a person with ADHD for example, hiring cleaning services or using apps to manage expenses.