High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with adhd that are high functioning are dissatisfied and often misunderstood by their relationships. The symptoms can be more severe in periods of hormonal changes, such as the premenstrual and pregnancy periods.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies in order to cover their symptoms and impairments could delay referral.
This group of patients faces distinct problems which must be considered when treating them.
1. Lack of Self-Esteem
Women can be depressed by the emotional and social issues of ADHD. Even if they're successful, it is easy to feel like an failure due to things they cannot change. This can result in an endless cycle of feeling like they feel overwhelmed and never quite good enough which can be detrimental to their self-esteem and mental health.
Girls with untreated ADHD are at higher risk of chronic low self-esteem, teen pregnancy, anxiety, depression, and abuse of substances. As adults, they're at an increased risk of single-parenting a child with ADHD and financial problems, as well as underemployment. They are also more likely than other people to suffer from eating disorders and to pass their bad habits onto their children.
It's crucial that girls receive a diagnosis because it will allow them to better comprehend their struggles and manage their symptoms. Many women say that they feel more at ease after receiving their diagnosis, allowing them to stop beating themselves up over the little things they are unable to manage. It can also help them reframe their issues and help them focus on the things that matter (Waite 2010).
As women age and enter menopausal age, their hormone levels could change, and ADHD symptoms could worsen. It isn't easy 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".
Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on self-esteem of women, and her relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can affect everyday routines, leaving them feeling exhausted and angry. She might feel like she isn't able to refuse people, causing her to become overburdened and resentful towards those who are around her. She may find it difficult organizing her home and work life, resulting in delayed appointments and lost documents. She can also be more susceptible to being triggered by rejection, therefore she's more likely to react defensively and lash out 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. It could be caused by an argument with your partner or a negative comment from a colleague at work. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are overstimulated and result in thoughts, feelings and beliefs that could harm your self-esteem and relationships. Sensitivity to rejection can cause anxiety, depression and mood shifts.
Rejection sensitivity, although often linked to ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This impacts how your brain processes emotions and how you react to them. The symptoms can also be seen in other mental health conditions such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).
RSD patients may perceive events through a filter, which makes them appear brighter or darker than they actually are. This can lead them to interpret 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.
You can learn more about the issue of rejection sensitivity by reading the following articles:
Although there isn't a cure for RSD, it's possible to manage your symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can use strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which helps change your negative thought patterns. undiagnosed adhd in women can also establish an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to lower your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD, so you can lead a more pleasant and satisfying life. It is also crucial to avoid toxic relationships as they can cause your symptoms to worsen. If you're in a abusive relationship, get counseling to learn the best way to leave. This will help lessen the risk of having rejection-related feelings, such as depression and anxiety. You can also boost your self-esteem by focusing on creating healthy relationships. This will allow you to feel more confident about your abilities and give you an objective view of the world around you.
3. undiagnosed adhd in women can make maintaining a healthy relationship difficult. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Women with high functioning adhd might be more at risk of having sexual issues. These behaviors can cause feelings of guilt and shame which can have a negative impact on their relationships and overall wellbeing.
One study surveyed adults suffering from ADHD and found that they were more likely to have a passion for sexual exploration than those who did not suffer from the disorder. Both genders were affected. This could be due to the greater impulsivity levels that can cause them to be more likely be influenced by sexual ideas and desires. The study found that women who suffer from adhd are more likely to engage in paraphilic fantasies and behaviors. This included submissive role-play bondage, sexual relations with strangers. They also attended sex parties and nightclubs more often.
Both males and females with adhd had a greater rate of infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This is due to their weak control of impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition. It could also be due to their higher rates of anxiety and feeling misunderstood by partners. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with extra-partner sexual relationships and sexual encounters without the use of 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 that are divided into three subscales. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, the more symptomatology it has. The HBI-19 was used in order to assess sexual behavior between people who suffer from ADHD and those without.
These results are important, because the psychosexual results for adults with ADHD were not studied as often. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions such as unwanted pregnancy and STIs, relationship dissatisfaction and adult onset infidelity, and risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have difficulties in their relationships with loved ones. A lack of communication, and misunderstandings due to issues like forgetfulness and inattention can lead to frustration, resentment, and conflict in the relationship. A strong network of family and friends members who understand can be beneficial in maintaining healthy relationships.
It is important to remember, too, that people who suffer from ADHD have trouble 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 may also have issues multitasking, which can lead them to shut out conversations or do something else while another person is talking.
These conflicts can lead to a cycle where the non-ADHD person becomes overwhelmed with stress and resentment, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood, and defensive. The problem can escalate from there as they become more withdrawn.
Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their everyday life. They may experience low self-esteem or shame due to their impulsive, disorganized behavior. Or they might feel that they are unable to manage their obligations and bills. They might also be suffering from mood swings and rejection sensitivity, as well as low sex drive.
It is essential that those with ADHD seek treatment and seek out help. It is essential that those closest to them, particularly spouses, learn more about ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can collaborate to establish clear boundaries and expectations and then devise a plan for how they can achieve those goals. For example the partner who is not ADHD could take on more of the 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 effectively and clearly and establish a regular routine that incorporates regular sleep patterns, meal times and time for relaxation and rest. It is also crucial to find ways to make things easier for both of you by dividing household chores, or outsourcing certain tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD like hiring an expert cleaning service or using apps to manage expenses.