High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with adhd that are high functioning are frustrated and misunderstood in their relationships. Symptoms may be more severe during times of hormonal changes like premenstrual and menstrual cycles.
Many women and girls are forced to resort to compensatory strategies, hiding their impairments and symptoms that can delay time to referral.
This group of patients faces specific challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Insecurities about self-esteem
Women can be depressed by the social and emotional challenges of ADHD. Even when they're doing well and have a good time, it's easy for them to feel like a failure for things they aren't able to control. This can lead to a vicious cycle where they feel constantly overwhelmed and never quite good enough and can be detrimental to their self-esteem and mental health.
Girls who aren't treated for ADHD are more at risk of developing chronic low self-esteem, anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression and substance abuse. As adults, they are at greater risk of being single-parents of a child with ADHD and also facing financial difficulties or underemployment. They're also more likely than other people to suffer from eating disorders and to pass on their bad habits to their children.
It's important for girls to receive an accurate diagnosis because it will give them an understanding of their issues and allow them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women report that they feel much more empowered after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to stop beating themselves up over the little things they are unable to manage. It can also help them reframe their struggles and refocus on what's important (Waite 2010).
As women age and approach menopausal, their hormone levels can change and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. This can make it difficult for them to be identified and treated, as they're often misdiagnosed as having anxiety or mood disorder, and their symptoms are viewed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating effects on self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt daily routines, making her frustrated and exhausted. It is possible that she cannot say no to anyone which causes her to burden herself and feel resentful towards people close to her. It could be difficult to organize the work and home lives of her children and this can lead to missing appointments and lost files. She can also be more susceptible to being 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 being rejected, either real or perceived. A disagreement with a partner, or a negative comment from a colleague at work could trigger you. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are triggered, resulting in thoughts or feelings, and beliefs that could harm your relationships and self esteem. You can also experience depression, anxiety and mood fluctuations as a result of sensitive to rejection.
Rejection sensitivity, although typically associated with ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This affects the way your brain handles emotions and how you respond to them. Other mental health issues such as borderline personality disorder can also be a cause for these symptoms.
People suffering from RSD might see events through an eye that makes them appear more dark or dimmer than they really are. This causes them to perceive and interpret things as being related to rejection, even though they are not. RSD can also cause you to have a hard time regulating your emotions which is why it is important to have coping strategies that are healthy to deal with this.
You can learn more about the sensitivity to rejection by reading these articles:
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to manage the symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can employ strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which helps you modify your negative thought patterns. You can also practice mindfulness and create a network of support to reduce your risk of negative reactions to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and help you lead a more pleasant and satisfying life. Avoid relationships that are toxic, as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you are in a abusive relationship, seek out counseling to learn how you can safely leave. This can reduce your risk of rejection related feelings, such anxiety and depression. You can also increase your self-esteem by building healthy relationships. This will help you feel more confident about your abilities, and will give you an unbiased view of the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship difficult. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Women with high functioning adhd might be more at risk of developing sexual problems. These behaviors can cause feelings of shame and guilt and can negatively impact their relationships and overall well-being.
In one study, adults with ADHD were found to be more likely than those with ADHD to exhibit a sexual interest. This was true for both males and females. This is probably due to the higher levels of impulsivity that can cause them to be more likely act on their sexual ideas and desires. Specifically, the study found that females with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic sex fantasies and actions. This included submissive role play bondage, sexual relations with strangers. They also went to sex events and nightclubs more often.
Females and males with adhd had a greater rate of infidelity than people without the disorder. This was due to their inability to control their impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition, as well as their desire for sensation. It could also be due to their higher rates of insecurity and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with extra-partner sexual relationships and sexual encounters without contraception. Table 6 shows the results of this section.
The study also utilized the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which surveyed participants about their problematic sexual behavior. This questionnaire is composed of 19 items, and is divided into three subscales. Each item is scored on five-point scale, starting from 1 (never to 5 (very often)). The higher the score, the more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was utilized to evaluate sexual behaviors between adults with ADHD and those without.
These results are important because the psychosexual experiences of adults with ADHD are not well-studied. They have been connected to sexual dysfunctions like STI's, unwanted pregnancies, relationship problems, infidelity that begins at the onset of adulthood and adolescence and risky sexual behaviours.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD struggle with their romantic relationships. Lack of clear communication and misunderstandings triggered by symptoms such as forgetfulness and inattention can lead to frustration, anger and conflict in the relationship. A strong group of family and friends members who are able to understand each other can be helpful for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is crucial to keep in mind that people who suffer from ADHD have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior, which can cause them to miss out on the primary purpose of a conversation. adhd in older women with ADHD are more likely to struggle with multitasking as well and can cause them to tune out of conversations or do other activities while others talk.
These battles can create a vicious cycle in which the partner who is not ADHD is overwhelmed with anger and stress, while the ADHD partner feels that they are not understood. They then tend to become more withdrawn, and the problem escalates from there.
Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their daily life. They may be feeling low self-esteem or shame due to their impulsive and chaotic behavior. It is also possible that they feel that they are unable to keep up with their chores and bills. They might also experience mood swings, rejection sensitivity and low sex desire.
It is important that those with ADHD find a treatment and seek help. It is also crucial for their family members, especially spouses, to understand the condition and how it affects their loved one. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they can create an action plan to achieve their goals. For instance the partner who is not ADHD could be more involved in the financial responsibilities, whereas the person with ADHD may be more focused on completing chores and organizing the house.
Additionally, both partners should be able to communicate efficiently and clearly and establish a regular routine that includes regular sleeping schedules, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It is also crucial to find ways to make things simpler for both parties, such as sharing household chores or outsourcing certain tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD like hiring cleaning services or utilizing apps to manage expenses.