High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd may experience discontent and confusion in their relationships. Symptoms may be more severe during times of hormonal changes like premenstrual and menstrual cycles.
Many girls and women are forced to resort to compensatory strategies, concealing their impairments and symptoms which may delay the time until referral.
This group of patients has a unique set of problems that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Self-Esteem is not a strong point.
Women can feel depressed by the emotional and social challenges of ADHD. Even if they're successful, it's easy to feel like an failure due to things they can't change. This can result in an endless cycle of feeling overwhelmed and inadequate. This can have a negative effect on their mental well-being.
Girls with ADHD who aren't treated are at a higher risk for chronic low self-esteem and teen pregnancy. They also have a higher risk of depression, anxiety and abuse of substances. As adults, they are at a higher risk of becoming single-parents of a child with ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or unemployment. They are also more likely than other people to be afflicted by eating disorders and pass on their bad habits to their children.
It's essential that women receive a diagnosis because it will help them comprehend their struggles and manage their symptoms. Many women report feeling confident after receiving an diagnosis. They can now stop being a victim of things they cannot manage. It helps them to see their struggles as strengths and refocus their focus on what is important most (Waite, 2010).
As women mature and approach menopausal their hormone levels alter, and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat people suffering from ADHD as their symptoms could be incorrectly identified and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Being diagnosed with untreated adult ADHD can have devastating effects on women's self-esteem and her relationships with friends and family. The symptoms can affect a woman's daily routine that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. It is possible that she cannot refuse to be around people and end up overburdened herself and become angry with people close to her. It can be difficult organizing her work and home life, resulting in delayed appointments and lost documents. She may also be more susceptible to being triggered by rejection, therefore she's more likely to be defensive and snap at those she is in love with.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a condition that makes you feel extremely when you're being rejected, whether real or perceived. You might be triggered by an argument with your partner or a negative comment from a colleague at work. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are overstimulated, resulting in thoughts, feelings and beliefs that can harm your relationships and self esteem. Sensitivity to rejection can result in anxiety, depression and mood shifts.
Rejection sensitivity, which is typically associated with ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This impacts 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).
People with RSD may view events through filters that make them appear more dark or dimmer than they actually are. This can cause them to perceive and interpret things as rejection-related, even when they're not. RSD can make you in a state of being unable to control your emotions. This is why it is crucial to develop healthy coping strategies to deal with RSD.
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Although there isn't a cure for RSD it is possible to manage symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can utilize coping strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help you change your negative thinking patterns. You can also create an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to reduce the chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and allow you to live a more positive and fulfilled life. It is also essential to stay clear of toxic relationships since they can cause symptoms to become worse. If you are in an abusive relationship, seek counseling to learn how to safely get out. This can lower the risk of experiencing feelings of rejection, such as depression and anxiety. By focusing on healthy relationships that you are in, you will increase your self-esteem. This will help you feel more confident in your abilities and provide you with an objective view of the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship difficult. This can cause sexual dysfunctions or risky behavior. Women with high functioning adhd might be more at risk of having sexual issues. These behaviors can cause feelings of shame and guilt and can negatively impact their relationships and well-being.
One study conducted a survey of adults with ADHD and discovered that they were more likely to have adventurous sexual interests than those without the disorder. This was the case for both males and females. This could be due to their higher levels of impulsivity, which could make them more likely to act on their sexual desires and ideas. The study revealed that females who have adhd are more likely to indulge in paraphilic fantasies and behaviors. This included submissive roles play bondage, sexual contact with strangers. They also went to sex events and nightclubs more often.
Both females and males suffering from adhd had a higher risk of infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This was due their poor impulse control and alcohol disinhibition. This could also be due to their higher levels of insecurity and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with sexual affairs and sexual intercourse without contraception. Table 6 outlines the results of this section.
Lastly, the study used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire of participants about their sexual issues. The questionnaire is comprised of 19 items that are grouped into three subscales. Each item is scored using 5 points, ranging between 1 (never to 5 (very often)). The higher the score the more symptomatology it has. The HBI-19 was used to compare the sexual behaviors of adults with and without ADHD.
These findings are significant, because the psychosexual outcomes for adults with ADHD were not studied as often. 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 struggle with their relationships with loved ones. Insufficient communication and miscommunication caused by signs such as inattention and forgetfulness may lead to frustration, anger and conflict in relationships. Maintaining healthy relationships can be helped by a supportive network of family and friends who can understand.
It is important to remember that those with ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are easily distracted by their thoughts or their impulsive behavior, which can cause them to miss out on the primary purpose of a conversation. People with ADHD may also have issues multitasking, which could cause them to tune out conversations or to do something else while other people are talking.
These battles can create a vicious cycle in which the non-ADHD person becomes overwhelmed with anger and stress and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood and defensive. They may then become more withdrawn and the issue can escalate from there.
Women with high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by their everyday demands. They may experience guilt or self-esteem issues due to their impulsive, chaotic behavior. It is also possible that they find themselves struggling to manage their obligations and bills. They may also feel mood swings, rejection sensitivity and a lack of sexual desire.
For high functioning adhd in women , it is essential for those with ADHD to establish an effective treatment plan and seek help. It is also essential for their family members particularly spouses to understand the condition and how it affects their loved one. They can work together to set clear expectations and boundaries and then formulate a plan for how they can achieve those goals. For instance the partner who is not ADHD could assume more financial responsibilities, while the person with ADHD might be focused on completing chores and organizing the house.
In addition, both parties must work together to communicate more efficiently and clearly, and establish a routine that includes regular sleeping schedules, meal times, and time for rest and relaxation. It is also crucial to discover ways to make life simpler for both parties, such as splitting household chores, or outsourcing some of the tasks that are challenging for a person with ADHD, such as hiring cleaning services or utilizing apps to manage costs.