Could High Functioning ADHD In Women Be The Key To Achieving 2024?
High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who have high functioning adhd are prone to frustration and miscommunication in their relationships. The symptoms may increase during times of hormonal change, such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy.
Many women and girls use compensatory strategies to masking their symptoms and impairments that can delay time to referral.
This patient group faces particular issues that need to be taken into consideration when treating them.
1. Insecurity about oneself
The emotional and social challenges that come with ADHD can leave women feeling down. Even when they're successful, it's easy to feel like a failure because of things they can't control. This can lead to an endless feeling of being overwhelmed and inadequate. This can have a negative effect on their mental well-being.
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 addiction to drugs. As adults, they're at greater risk of being single-parents of a child with ADHD and facing financial hardship or underemployment. They are also more likely than other people to be afflicted by eating disorders and pass their bad habits on to their children.
It's crucial that women get a diagnosis as it will allow them to better recognize their struggles and help them manage their symptoms. Many women report feeling confident after receiving the diagnosis. They can now stop berating themselves over things they aren't able to control. It can also help them see their challenges as strengths and refocus their attention on the things that matter most (Waite 2010).
As women age and approach menopausal, their hormone levels can change and ADHD symptoms could worsen. This can make it difficult for them to be identified and treated, as 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 a devastating impact on women's self-esteem as well as relationships with her family and friends. Symptoms can interfere with everyday routines, leaving them exhausted and irritable. She may feel she can't say no to anyone and end up overburdened herself and become angry with the people closest to her. She might have difficulty to manage her work and home life, which can lead to delayed appointments and lost documents. She could be more prone to being triggered when she is rejected, making her more likely to lash out at people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a condition that causes you to feel intensely when you're being rejected, either real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or a negative comment from a coworker at work can trigger your symptoms. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms are over-stimulated, and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result can harm your relationships and self-esteem. Sensitivity to rejection can cause anxiety, depression and mood swings.
Although it's often linked to ADHD, rejection sensitiveness is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation, which affects the way your brain manages emotions and how you react to them. The symptoms can also be seen in other mental health conditions such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).
People suffering from RSD may see events through an eye that makes them appear more dark or dimmer than they actually are. This can lead people to interpret things as rejection related, even if they aren't. RSD can also cause you to have a hard time regulating your emotions which is why it's crucial to develop healthy strategies for coping to handle this.
Check out the following articles to find out more about rejection sensitivity.
Although there isn't a cure for RSD, it's possible to manage your symptoms with the help of a mental health professional. You can use coping strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help you change your negative thought patterns. You can also create an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to lessen your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD and help you lead a more pleasant and fulfilled life. Avoid toxic relationships because they can cause more symptoms. If you are in an abusive relationship, seek counseling to learn how you can safely get out. This can lessen the risk of having feelings of rejection, such as anxiety and depression. By focusing on relationships that are healthy, you can improve your self-esteem. she said will help you feel more confident in your abilities and provide you with a more realistic perspective on the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship challenging. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Women with adhd that is high functioning are at a higher risk of developing sexual problems. These behaviors can cause feelings of shame and guilt and can have a negative effect on the quality of their relationships as well as their overall health.
One study conducted a survey of adults suffering from ADHD and found that they were more likely to have a passion for sexual exploration than those who did not suffer from the disorder. This was true for both males and females. This is likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity, which could make them more likely to act on sexual desires and thoughts. Specifically, the study found that women with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and behaviors. This included submissive roles, bondage and sex with strangers. It was also more common for them to attend sex clubs and parties.
Both women and men who suffer from adhd were more likely to be in a relationship than those who did not have the disorder. This is due to their weak control of impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition. This is probably due to their higher levels of insecurity and a feeling of being misunderstood or misjudged by their loved ones. The survey also asked participants to report their experiences with sexual relations and sexual interactions without contraception. Table 6 summarizes the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which asked participants to describe their sexual issues. The questionnaire is comprised of 19 items that are grouped into three subscales. Each item is scored on five-point scale, starting between 1 (never to 5 (very often)). The higher the score, more symptomatology is evident. The HBI-19 was used to compare the sexual behavior of people with and without ADHD.
These results are important because the psychosexual outcomes for adults with ADHD were rarely studied. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions like unwanted pregnancy and STIs, relationship dissatisfaction, adult-onset infidelity, as well as risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their relationships with loved ones. Insufficient communication and misunderstandings caused by symptoms such as forgetfulness and inattention could lead to frustration, anger, and conflict within relationships. Maintaining healthy relationships can be helped by a supportive network of family and friends who understand.
It is crucial to keep in mind, too, that people who suffer from ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are easily distracted by their thoughts or their impulsive behavior which could result in them missing out on the central point of a discussion. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which can lead them to tune out conversations or perform other tasks while other people are talking.
These conflicts can lead to a cycle where the non-ADHD partner becomes overwrought with stress and resentment, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood, and defensive. The issue could escalate in the meantime as they become more withdrawn.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their lives. They might experience feelings of low self-esteem and shame because of their chaotic and impulsive behavior, or feel as if they're not able to handle their chores and bills. They may also experience mood swings and rejection sensitivity and low sexual drive.
Because of this, it is crucial for people with ADHD to find a treatment plan and seek assistance. It is essential that those 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 will come up with an action plan to reach their goals. The non-ADHD partner can assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD would focus on organizing and completing the housework.
Both partners should also work to improve communication and establish a routine that includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times, and time for relaxation and rest. It is also essential to discover ways to make life simpler for both parties by sharing household chores or outsourcing some tasks that are challenging for a person with ADHD for example, hiring cleaning services or using apps to control expenses.