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High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd are unhappy and are often misunderstood in their relationships. Symptoms may be more severe in times of hormonal changes like the premenstrual or pregnancy cycles.
Many women and girls use compensatory strategies to concealing their impairments and symptoms which may delay the time to referral.
This group of patients has a unique set of problems which must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Insecurities about self-esteem
The social and emotional challenges associated with ADHD can make women feel low. Even if they're successful, it's easy to feel like they're an failure due to things they can't change. This can result in an endless cycle of feeling overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative impact on their mental health.
Girls who suffer from ADHD who are not treated are at a higher risk for chronic low self-esteem and teenage pregnancy. They also have a higher risk of depression, anxiety and substance abuse. As adults, they're at increased risk of single-parenting a child with ADHD and financial problems, as well as underemployment. They are also more likely than other people to be afflicted by eating disorders and to pass their bad habits onto their children.
It is crucial for girls to receive an accurate diagnosis because it will provide them with an understanding of their struggles and enable them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women report feeling more confident after receiving an diagnosis. They can stop berating themselves over things they can't manage. It can also help reframe their issues and help them focus on what's important (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopausal age, their hormone levels could change and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. It isn't easy to diagnose and treat patients with ADHD as their symptoms could be incorrectly identified and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on a woman’s self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. Symptoms can interfere with everyday routines, leaving them frustrated and exhausted. She might feel that she is unable to refuse to be around people, leading her to overburden herself and become angry with the people closest to her. She might find it difficult to manage her home and work life which can lead to missing appointments and lost files. She may also be more susceptible to being triggered by rejection, which means she is more likely to react defensively and lash out at people she is in love with.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel extremely when you are rejected, either real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or an insult from a coworker at work can trigger you. The brain's natural defence mechanisms are overstimulated and result in thoughts, feelings and beliefs that could harm your relationships and self esteem. You may also experience anxiety, depression, and mood swings as a result of the sensitivity to rejection.
Rejection sensitivity, which is often associated with ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This affects how your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. The symptoms can also be seen in other mental health conditions such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).
RSD patients can see events through a filter, which makes them appear darker or brighter than they actually are. This makes them more likely to perceive and interpret things as if they are related to rejection, even if they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a hard time regulating your emotions which is why it's important to have coping strategies that are healthy to manage this.
You can find out more about the issue of rejection sensitivity by reading the articles below:
Although there isn't a cure for RSD however, you can manage your symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. inattentive add in women can use coping techniques like cognitive behavior therapy to change your negative thinking patterns. You can also create an alliance of support and practice mindfulness to reduce your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you overcome your RSD so that you can live a more fulfilled and happier life. Avoid relationships that are toxic, because they can cause more symptoms. If you are in an abusive relationship, you should seek counseling to find out how you can quit. This can lower the chance of experiencing feelings of rejection, such anxiety and depression. By focusing on relationships that are healthy, you can improve your self-esteem. This will help you feel more confident in your abilities and provide an objective view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy relationship. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at higher risk of having sexual problems than non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also lead to feelings of shame and guilt and can have a negative impact on the quality of their relationships and overall well-being.
In one study, people with ADHD were found to be more likely than those with ADHD to have adventurous sexual curiosity. This was the case for both males and females. This could be due to the increased levels of impulsivity which can cause them to be more likely be influenced by sexual ideas and desires. The study found that women with adhd are more likely to engage paraphilic fantasies and behavior. This included submissive role play bondage, sex with strangers. They also attended sex parties and more clubs.
Both males and females with adhd had a greater rate of infidelity than those without the disorder. This was due to their poor impulse control, alcohol disinhibition and sensation-seeking. It could also be a result of their higher rates of anxiety and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey also asked participants to share their experiences with sexual relations and sexual interactions without use of contraception. Table 6 provides the results from this section.
The study also utilized the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which asked participants to describe their sexual issues. The questionnaire comprises 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is rated using a five-point scale, ranging between 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, the more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was used to assess the sexual behaviors of adults with and without ADHD.
These findings are important because the psychosexual experiences of people with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions, such as STIs and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction, adult-onset infidelity, as well as dangerous sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD have issues in their relationships with loved ones. Insufficient communication and misunderstandings caused by symptoms such as inattention and forgetfulness may lead to frustration, anger and conflict within a relationship. A strong network of family and friends members who understand can be beneficial for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is crucial to keep in mind, too, that people who suffer from ADHD have trouble listening. They are easily interrupted by their impulsive behavior or own thoughts, which can cause them to lose the purpose of an exchange. People with ADHD may also have issues multitasking, which can cause them to mute conversations or to do something else while other people are talking.
These conflicts can lead to a vicious cycle in which the non-ADHD partner is overwhelmed with stress and resentment, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood and defensive. The issue can get worse from there, as they become more withdrawn.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by their daily demands. They may experience low self-esteem or shame because of their impulsive, unorganized behavior. Or they might feel like they cannot manage their bills and chores. They might also be suffering from mood swings and sensitivity to rejection, as well as low sexual drive.
For these reasons, it is crucial for people with ADHD to establish a treatment plan and seek help. It is also important for family members, especially spouses, to learn more about the disorder and how it affects their loved ones. They can work together to set the right expectations and boundaries and then devise a plan for how they can achieve those objectives. For example, the non-ADHD partner might take on more of the financial responsibility, while the person with ADHD might focus on completing chores and organizing the house.
In addition, both parties should be able to communicate clearly and effectively and establish a regular routine that includes regular sleep patterns, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. It is important to find ways to simplify things for both partners, such sharing household chores or outsource some of those which are challenging for people with ADHD.