High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd experience frustration and miscommunication in their relationships. The symptoms can be more severe in times of hormonal changes, like premenstrual and pregnancy cycles.
Many women and girls use compensatory strategies to masking their symptoms and impairments which may delay the time until referral.
This group of patients faces specific problems that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Lack of Self-Esteem
Women can feel depressed by the emotional and social issues of ADHD. Even if they're successful, it's easy to feel like they're an failure due to things they cannot change. This can result in an unending cycle where they feel constantly overwhelmed and never quite good enough which can affect their mental health and self-esteem.
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're more likely to be single-parents to a child with ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or unemployment. They're also more likely to struggle with eating disorders, and their unhealthy patterns could be passed on to their children.
It is crucial for girls to receive an assessment, as it will give them a better understanding of their struggles and help them manage their symptoms more effectively. 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 as strengths and refocus their focus on what is important most (Waite 2010).
As women age and approach menopausal age, their hormone levels could change 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 month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating impacts on a woman's self-esteem, and her relationships with friends and family. The symptoms can disrupt daily routines, making her exhausted and irritable. It is possible that she can't refuse people, which causes her to become overburdened and resentful of those around her. She might have difficulty organizing her home and work life, which can lead to missed appointments and lost documents. She can also be more susceptible to being triggered by rejection, which means she is more likely to react defensively and snap at those she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel extremely hurt when you are rejected. This can be real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner, or an insult from a co-worker at work can trigger you. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are triggered and result in thoughts or feelings, and beliefs that can harm your relationships and self esteem. Sensitivity to rejection can result in anxiety, depression and mood fluctuations.
Rejection sensitivity, while typically associated with ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This affects the way your brain processes emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health conditions such as borderline personality disorder may also be a cause for these symptoms.
RSD patients might perceive events through a filter, making them appear darker or brighter than they are. adhd symptoms in women can cause them to interpret and perceive 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 crucial to develop healthy coping mechanisms to deal with RSD.
Read the articles below to learn 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 utilize coping techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy to change your negative thinking patterns. You can also build an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to lower your chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you overcome your RSD so that you can live a more fulfilled and happy life. It is also important to avoid toxic relationships as they can cause symptoms to become worse. If you are in an abusive relationship, you should seek counseling to learn how to safely quit. This will help reduce your risk of feelings of rejection, like anxiety and depression. By focusing on healthy relationships, you can improve your self-esteem. This will make you feel more confident about your abilities and give an honest view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions or risky sexual behavior. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at greater risk of experiencing these sexual problems than non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also lead to feelings of guilt and shame and can have a negative impact on the quality of their relationships as well as their overall health.
One study surveyed adults suffering from ADHD and found that they were more likely to be interested in sexual activities than those who did not suffer from the disorder. This was the case for both males and females. This was likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity, which can make them more likely to act upon their sexual desires and ideas. Specifically, the study found that women with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and actions. This included submissive roles play, bondage and sex with strangers. It was also more typical for them to attend sex clubs and parties.
Both men and women with adhd were more likely be in a relationship than those who did not suffer from the disorder. This was due to poor impulse control, alcohol disinhibition and sensation-seeking. This could also be because of their higher rates of insecurity and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey asked participants about their experiences with extra-partner affairs and sexual relations that were not contraceptive. Table 6 provides the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which surveyed participants to describe their problematic sexual behavior. This questionnaire is composed of 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using five-point scale, starting from 1 (never to 5) (very frequently)). The higher the score, more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was used to evaluate the sexual behaviors 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, such as STIs and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction and adult onset infidelity, and risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have issues in their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clarity in communication, and misunderstandings caused by symptoms such as inattention and forgetfulness can result in anger, resentment, and conflict in the relationship. A supportive group of family and friends members who are able to understand each other can be beneficial for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is important to remember that people with ADHD have a difficult time listening. They can be interrupted easily by impulsive behavior or their own thoughts, which could cause them to miss the point of a conversation. People with ADHD are more likely to struggle with multitasking, too, which can cause them to lose track of conversations or perform other activities while others talk.
These struggles can result in a cycle where the non-ADHD partner is overwhelmed with anger and stress, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood, and defensive. The problem can escalate in the meantime as they become more withdrawn.
Women with high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by their daily demands. They may feel low self-esteem and shame because of their impulsive and disorganized behavior, or feel like they can't keep up with their bills and chores. They may also feel mood swings, rejection sensitivity and low sexual desire.
It is crucial that people with ADHD find a treatment and seek assistance. It is important that those closest to them, including spouses, understand ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they will develop a plan to achieve their goals. The non-ADHD partner can assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD will be focused on organising and finishing the chores at home.
Both partners must strive to improve their communication and create a routine that includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times, and time to relax and rest. It's important to find ways to make things easier for both of you, like dividing household tasks or outsourcing some of those that are difficult for a person with ADHD.