High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with adhd that are high functioning are dissatisfied and often misunderstood by their relationships. The symptoms may increase during times of hormonal change, like the pre-menstrual period and pregnancy.
Many girls and women are forced to resort to compensatory strategies, hiding their impairments and symptoms, which can delay time until referral.
This patient group faces particular challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Lack of self-esteem
The social and emotional challenges that accompany ADHD can leave women feeling down. Even when they're doing well and have a good time, it's easy for them to feel like a failure for things they can't control. This can create an endless cycle of feeling like they feel constantly overwhelmed and never satisfied and can affect their mental health and self-esteem.
Girls with ADHD who are not treated are at greater risk for chronic low self-esteem and teen pregnancy. They also have a greater chance of anxiety, depression, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're at greater risk of being single-parents to 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 onto their children.
It is essential that girls receive a diagnosis since it will help them recognize their struggles and manage their symptoms. Many women report that they feel much more empowered after receiving their diagnosis, allowing them to not be a victim of the little things they can't manage. It can also help them reframe their problems and refocus them on what's important (Waite 2010).
As women age and enter menopause their hormone levels may change, and adhd diagnosis in adult women symptoms could worsen. This can make it difficult for them to be identified and treated since they are often misdiagnosed as having anxiety or mood disorder, and their 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. The symptoms can disrupt women's daily routines which can make her angry and exhausted. She might feel like she can't refuse people, leading her to feel overwhelmed and angry with people who are around her. It can be difficult organizing her home and work life, which leads to missed appointments and lost documents. She may also be more easily affected by rejection and is more likely to lash out at people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a condition that causes you to feel a strong sense of when you're being rejected, either real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or a negative comment from a co-worker at work can trigger your symptoms. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become over-stimulated and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result could harm your relationships and self-esteem. You can also experience depression, anxiety, and mood fluctuations as a result of rejection sensitivity.
Rejection sensitivity, while often associated with ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This affects the way your brain processes emotions and how you respond to them. Other mental health issues like borderline personality disorder could also show these symptoms.
People suffering from RSD may view events through a filter that makes them appear darker or less than they actually are. This causes them to interpret things as if they are related to rejection, even if they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a hard to control your emotions and that's why it's important to have healthy coping strategies to deal with this.
You can find out more about rejection sensitivity by reading the articles below:
While there is no cure for RSD however, you can manage your symptoms with the help of an expert in mental health. You can utilize coping strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help you modify your negative thought patterns. You can also establish a support network and practice mindfulness to reduce your chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This can aid you in overcoming your RSD to live a more fulfilling and happy life. Avoid relationships that are toxic, because they can cause more symptoms. If you're in an abusive relationship, seek counsel to find out the best method to leave. This can lower the chance of experiencing feelings of rejection such as depression and anxiety. By focusing on relationships that are healthy that you are in, you will increase your self-esteem. This will help you feel more confident about your abilities and give an objective view of life.
3. Sexuality
Adhd In Men And Women symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behaviors. Women with high functioning undiagnosed adhd in adult women are at a higher risk of developing sexual problems. These behaviors can cause feelings of shame and guilt which 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 without ADHD to have adventurous sexual curiosity. This was the case for males and females. This could be due to the higher levels of impulsivity that can make them more likely to act on sexual thoughts and desires. The study found that females with adhd are more likely to engage in paraphilic fantasies and behaviors. This included submissive role play, bondage and sexual relations with strangers. It was also more typical for them to go out to party and sex clubs.
Females and males with adhd had a higher rate of infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This is due to their weak control of their impulses and alcohol withdrawal. This was likely also due to their higher rates of anxiety and feeling misunderstood by partners. The survey also asked participants to share their experiences with sexual relations and sexual interactions without contraception. Table 6 provides the results from this section.
The study also utilized the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which asked participants about their problematic sexual behavior. The questionnaire comprises 19 items, and is divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using a 5-point scale, from 1 (never to 5) (very frequently)). The higher the score, more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was used to evaluate the sexual behaviours of adults who have and those without ADHD.
These findings are significant, because the psychosexual outcomes for adults with ADHD were rarely studied. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions like unwanted pregnancy and STIs relationships, dissatisfaction with relationships and adult onset infidelity, and dangerous sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their romantic relationships. A lack of clear communication and misunderstandings due to symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention can result in anger, resentment, and a conflict in the relationship. A strong group of family and friends members who understand can be helpful for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is crucial to keep in mind that people with ADHD have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their thoughts or their impulsive behavior that can cause them to miss out on the central purpose of a conversation. People with ADHD are more likely to be struggling with multitasking as well and can cause them to lose track of conversations or perform other things while someone else is talking.
These battles can create a cycle where 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 isolated.
Women who have high-functioning undiagnosed adhd in women are often exhausted and overwhelmed by the demands of their lives. They may feel guilt and low self-esteem as a result of their unpredictable and unorganized behavior, or feel that they can't keep up with their bills and chores. They can also suffer from mood swings and rejection sensitivity, as well as low sexual drive.
This is why it is vital for those who suffer from ADHD to find an effective treatment plan and seek assistance. It is crucial that those closest to them, particularly spouses, learn more about adhd inattentive type women and how it affects the person they love. They can collaborate to establish clear expectations and boundaries, then come up with a plan for how they will achieve their objectives. The non-ADHD spouse could take on more financial responsibilities while the person with ADHD will be focused on organising and completing the housework.
Both partners should be working to improve communication and establish a routine that includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times, and time to relax and rest. It's also important to find ways to make things easier for both parties for example, sharing household chores or outsourcing certain tasks that are challenging for a person with ADHD, such as hiring a cleaning service or using apps to control costs.