High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who have high functioning adhd are prone to frustration and miscommunication in their relationships. Symptoms can heighten at periods of hormonal changes, like the pre-menstrual period and pregnancy.
Many women and girls are forced to resort to compensatory strategies, masking their symptoms and impairments, which can delay time to referral.
This patient group has particular issues that must be considered when treating them.
1. Lack of self-esteem
The social and emotional challenges that accompany ADHD can make women feel low. Even when they are successful, it's easy to feel like failing because of the things they cannot change. This can create an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative impact on their mental well-being.
Girls who don't have treatment for ADHD are more at risk of developing chronic low self-esteem as well as anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression and substance abuse. As adults, they are more likely to be single-parents of a child with ADHD and also facing financial difficulties or unemployment. They're also more likely to struggle with eating disorders, and their negative habits can be passed on to their children.
It is essential that girls receive a diagnosis because it will help them better comprehend their struggles and help them manage their symptoms. Many women report that they feel more empowered after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to not be a victim of the small things they cannot manage. It can also help reframe their struggles and refocus on the things that matter (Waite 2010).
As women age and enter menopause their hormone levels may change and ADHD symptoms could worsen. This makes it more difficult for them to be diagnosed and treated because 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 a woman’s self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt a woman's daily routine, leaving her irritable and exhausted. She may feel she can't refuse to be around people which causes her to burden herself and become resentful of the people closest to her. She may find it difficult organizing her home and work life, which can lead to delayed appointments and lost documents. She could be more prone to being triggered when she is rejected which makes her more likely to snap at people she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a condition that causes you to feel intensely when you are rejected, either real or perceived. A disagreement with a partner, or an unkind comment from a colleague at work can trigger you. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are triggered which can trigger thoughts or feelings, and beliefs that could harm your relationships and self esteem. You may also experience anxiety, depression, and mood changes due to rejection sensitivity.
Rejection sensitivity, which is often associated with ADHD is actually an indication of emotional dysregulation. This affects how your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. The symptoms can also be observed in other mental health conditions such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).
RSD patients may perceive events through a filter, making them appear brighter or darker than they really are. This can cause people to interpret things as being related to rejection, even though they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a difficult to control your emotions which is why it is important to have coping strategies that are healthy to handle this.
Check out the following articles to find out more about rejection sensitivity.
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the assistance of a mental healthcare professional. You can employ strategies to cope, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help you change your negative thinking patterns. You can also create an alliance of support and practice mindfulness to lessen the chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This will aid you in overcoming your RSD to live a more satisfying and happy life. It is also crucial to avoid relationships that are toxic as they can cause symptoms to become worse. If you are in an abusive relationship, seek counseling to learn how to safely quit. This can lower the chance of rejection related feelings like depression and anxiety. By focusing on relationships that are healthy and relationships, you can boost your self-esteem. This will allow you to feel more confident about your abilities and give you an objective 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 behaviours. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at higher risk of having sexual problems than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also trigger feelings of shame and guilt which may negatively impact their relationships and wellbeing.
One study surveyed adults suffering from ADHD and found that they were more likely to have adventurous sexual interests than those who did not suffer from the disorder. This was true for both males and females. This could be due to the greater impulsivity levels that can cause them to be more likely act on their sexual ideas and desires. Particularly, the study revealed that women with adhd were more likely to indulge in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and behaviors. This included bondage, submissive roles and sexing with strangers. They also attended sex parties and clubs more often.
Both males and females with adhd had a greater rate of infidelity than those without the disorder. This was due to lack of impulse control and alcohol withdrawal, as well as the desire to feel. This is likely due to their greater levels of anxiety and a feeling of being misunderstood or misjudged by their loved ones. The survey also asked participants to share their experiences with extra-partner sexual relations and sexual interactions without the use of contraception. Table 6 presents the results of this section.
signs of add in adult women used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which asked participants to discuss their problematic sexual behaviors. The questionnaire consists of 19 items, and is divided into three subscales. Each item is evaluated on a five-point scale between 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 with ADHD and those who do not.
These findings are significant because the psychosexual outcomes of people with ADHD are not well-studied. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions, such as STI's and unplanned pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction infidelity that begins at the onset of adulthood and adolescence and risky sexual behaviours.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD have issues in their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clarity in communication and misunderstandings caused by signs such as forgetfulness and inattention could result in anger, frustration, and conflict within the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be made easier by a supportive network of friends and family members who understand.
It is crucial to keep in mind that people with ADHD have trouble listening. They can be interrupted easily by their impulsive behavior or own thoughts, which may cause them to miss the main point of a conversation. People with ADHD are more likely to be struggling with multitasking as well which could cause them to become disengaged of conversations or engage in other activities while someone else talks.
These battles can create an unending cycle where the partner who is not ADHD is overwhelmed by anxiety and anger, and the ADHD person feels untrusted. The issue could escalate in the meantime as they become more isolated.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by their daily demands. They may feel shame and low self-esteem because of their unpredictable and unorganized behavior, or feel that they can't keep up with their chores and bills. They might also be suffering from mood swings and sensitivity to rejection and low sexual drive.
It is important that those with ADHD find a treatment and seek help. It is also important for their family members particularly spouses to learn more about the disorder and how it affects their loved one. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they will create an action plan to achieve their goals. For instance, the non-ADHD partner might assume more financial responsibilities, whereas the person with ADHD might be focused on the task of organizing and finishing housework.
Additionally, both partners should be able to communicate efficiently and clearly and establish a routine that incorporates regular sleep patterns, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. It's also important to find ways to make things easier for both parties for example, splitting household chores, or outsourcing certain tasks that are challenging for a person with ADHD like hiring cleaning services or using apps to manage expenses.