Who Is High Functioning ADHD In Women And Why You Should Care
High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd can be dissatisfied and often misunderstood by their relationships. The symptoms may be more severe during times of hormonal changes such as the premenstrual and menstrual cycles.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies to hide their symptoms and impairments can delay the time for referral.
This group of patients has distinct issues that must be considered when treating them.
1. Lack of self-esteem
Women can feel depressed by the social and emotional challenges of ADHD. Even when they're successful, it's easy to feel like a failure because of things they cannot control. This can result in a vicious cycle where they feel constantly overwhelmed and never good enough, which can be detrimental to their mental health and self-esteem.
Girls with untreated ADHD are at greater risk of developing chronic low self-esteem and anxiety, teen pregnancy depression, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're more likely to be single-parents to a child with ADHD and also facing financial difficulties or underemployment. They're also more likely to struggle with eating disorders, and their bad patterns can pass down to their children.
It's crucial for girls to get an accurate diagnosis because it will provide them with an understanding of their struggles and help them manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women report feeling more confident after receiving an diagnosis. They can now stop berating themselves over things they can't 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 enter menopausal age, their hormone levels change, and ADHD symptoms can get worse. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat women with 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 consequences on women's self-esteem as well as relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt the woman's daily routine that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. She may feel that she can't refuse people, which causes her to become overburdened and resentful towards people who are around her. It could be difficult to organize her home and work life and this can lead to unscheduled appointments and files being lost. She can also be more easily triggered by rejection, so she may be more likely to react defensively and even lash out at the people she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a condition that causes you to feel intensely when you're rejected, whether it is real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or an insult from a coworker at work can trigger you. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms are over-stimulated, and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result could harm your self-esteem and relationships. The sensitivity to rejection can also cause anxiety, depression and mood fluctuations.
Although it's often attributed to ADHD The issue of rejection sensitiveness is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation that affects the way your brain manages emotions and the way you react to them. The symptoms can also be seen in other mental health conditions like borderline personality disorder (BPD).
RSD patients may perceive events through a filter, making them appear brighter or darker than they are. This can lead them to interpret things as being related to rejection even though they're not. RSD can make you unable to control your emotions. This is why it is important to develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage RSD.
adhd symptoms in women can find out more about the sensitivity to rejection by reading these articles:
While there is no cure for RSD however, you can manage your symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can utilize coping techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy to change your negative thinking patterns. You can also build an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to reduce your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and help you live a happier and more fulfilling life. Avoid toxic relationships, as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you are in a abusive relationship, seek out counseling to find out how you can quit. This can help you lower the risk of experiencing rejection-related feelings, such as anxiety and depression. By focusing on relationships that are healthy, you can improve your self-esteem. This will allow you to feel more confident about your abilities, and will give you a more realistic perspective on the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy relationship. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky behavior. Women with adhd that is high functioning may be at greater risk of developing sexual problems. These behaviors can also cause feelings of shame and guilt, which can negatively impact their relationships and wellbeing.
One study conducted a survey of adults suffering from ADHD and found that they were more likely to be interested in sexual activities than those without the disorder. This was true for both males and females. This is likely due to the greater impulsivity levels that can cause them to be more likely to act on sexual thoughts and desires. In particular, the study showed that females with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and actions. This included submissive role play bondage, sex with strangers. They also went to sex parties and nightclubs more often.
Both females and males suffering from adhd had a higher risk of infidelity than those without the disorder. This was due their poor control of impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition. This is probably due to their higher levels of insecurity, and feeling misunderstood or misjudged by their loved ones. The survey asked participants about 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 discuss their problematic sexual behavior. This questionnaire is composed of 19 items that 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 is present. The HBI-19 was used in order to evaluate sexual behaviors between people who suffer from ADHD and those without.
These findings are significant, since the psychosexual outcomes of adults with ADHD were rarely studied. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions, like STI's, unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction adult and adolescent onset infidelity and risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD have trouble in their relationships with loved ones. A lack of clear communication and misunderstandings due to symptoms like inattention and forgetfulness can result in frustration, resentment, and conflict in the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be helped by a network of family and friends who understand.
It is also important to keep in mind that those with ADHD often have difficulty listening. They are often interrupted by impulsive behavior or their own thoughts, which can cause them to miss the point of an exchange. People with ADHD may also have trouble multitasking, which can cause them to mute conversations or do something else while other people are talking.
These struggles can result in a vicious cycle in which the non-ADHD partner becomes overwrought with stress and resentment, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood and defensive. The issue could escalate from there, as they become more distant.
Women with high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by their daily demands. They may feel low self-esteem or shame due to their impulsive, disorganized behavior. It is also possible that they feel that they are unable to keep up with their obligations and bills. They may also have mood swings, rejection sensitivity and low sexual desire.
It is essential that those who suffer from ADHD find a treatment and seek out help. It is also crucial for their family members particularly spouses, to understand the disorder and how it affects their loved ones. They can collaborate to set clear boundaries and expectations and then formulate a plan for how they will achieve their objectives. The non-ADHD partner can take on more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD would focus on organizing and completing the housework.
Additionally, both partners should work to communicate more effectively and clearly and establish a routine that includes regular sleeping schedules, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It's important to find ways to make things easier for both of you, like sharing household chores or outsource certain tasks that are difficult for someone with ADHD.