High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with adhd that are high functioning are dissatisfied and often misunderstood by their relationships. Symptoms can heighten at times of hormonal change like the pre-menstrual period and pregnancy.
Many girls and women are forced to resort to compensatory strategies, masking their symptoms and impairments that can delay time until referral.
This group of patients has specific issues that need to be taken into consideration when treating them.
1. Insecurity about oneself
Women can be depressed due to the emotional and social challenges of ADHD. Even when they are successful, it's easy to feel like failing because of the things they aren't able to change. This can lead to an endless cycle of feeling like they are constantly overwhelmed and never quite good enough and can be detrimental to their mental health and self-esteem.
Girls who aren't treated for ADHD are more at risk of chronic low self-esteem as well as anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression, and abuse of substances. As adults, they are more likely to be single-parents of a child with ADHD and also facing financial difficulties or unemployment. add in adult women to struggle with eating disorders, and their unhealthy patterns can pass down to their children.
It's important for girls to receive an assessment, as it will give them a better understanding of their struggles and enable them to manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women report feeling empowered after receiving a diagnosis. They are no longer being a victim of things they can't control. It can also help them reframe their challenges as strengths and focus their attention on what matters most (Waite 2010,).
As women age and move towards menopausal their hormone levels alter, and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. It isn't easy to diagnose and treat patients with ADHD due to the fact that their symptoms can be incorrectly identified and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating effects on self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. Symptoms can interfere with daily routines, leaving her feeling exhausted and angry. She may feel she can't say no to people, leading her to overburden herself and feel resentful towards the people closest to her. She may find it difficult to manage her work and home life which can lead to missing appointments and lost files. Additionally, she could be more easily triggered by rejection, so she may be more likely to be defensive and snap at those she is in love with.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel deeply hurt when rejected. It could be real or perceived. A disagreement with a partner, or an unkind comment from a co-worker at work could trigger you. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become over-stimulated, and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result can hurt your relationships and self-esteem. There are also anxiety, depression, and mood swings as a result of the sensitivity to rejection.
Although it's often attributed to ADHD, rejection sensitivity is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation that affects how your brain manages emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health issues like borderline personality disorder may also show these symptoms.
RSD patients can see events through a filter, which makes them appear darker or brighter than they are. This causes them to perceive and interpret things as being related to rejection, even though they're not. RSD can cause you to be incapable of controlling your emotions. This is why it is crucial to develop healthy coping mechanisms to deal with RSD.
Learn more about the issue of rejection sensitivity by reading the articles below:
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 techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy to change your negative thinking patterns. You can also establish a support network and practice mindfulness to reduce the chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD, so you can lead a more pleasant and fulfilling life. Avoid toxic relationships as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you're in a abusive relationship, seek counsel to find out the best way to leave. This will help lower the risk of experiencing feelings of rejection, such as depression and anxiety. You can also improve your self-esteem by focusing on developing healthy relationships. This will make you feel more confident about your capabilities and provide an objective view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship challenging. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behaviors. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at a higher risk of developing these sexual issues than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also cause feelings of shame and guilt and can have a negative effect on their relationships and overall wellbeing.
One study conducted a survey of adults suffering from ADHD and found that they were more likely to be interested in sexual activities than those without the disorder. This was the case for both males and females. This was likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity which makes them more likely to act upon their sexual desires and thoughts. Specifically, the study found that women with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and actions. This included submissive role-play, bondage and sexual relations with strangers. They also attended sex parties and clubs more often.
Both men and women with adhd were more likely to be in a relationship than those who did not suffer from the disorder. This was due to their poor impulse control, alcohol disinhibition and sensation-seeking. This is probably due to their greater levels of anxiety and being misunderstood, or criticized by their partners. The survey asked participants about their experiences with extra-partner relationships and sexual relations without contraception. Table 6 outlines the results for this section.
The study also utilized the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which surveyed participants to discuss their problematic sexual behaviors. The questionnaire is comprised of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is evaluated on a 5-point scale ranging between 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, the more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was used to assess the sexual behaviours of people with and without ADHD.
These results are important because the psychosexual outcomes for adults with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions like unwanted pregnancy and STIs, relationship dissatisfaction and adult-onset infidelity, as well as risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD have issues with their romantic relationships. Lack of clear communication and misunderstandings triggered by symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention could result in anger, frustration and conflict within 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 crucial to keep in mind, too, that people with ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are often interrupted by their impulsive behavior or own thoughts, which could cause them to lose the purpose of a conversation. People with ADHD are more likely to struggle in multitasking and can cause them to lose track of conversations or engage in other activities while others talk.
These struggles can lead to a vicious cycle in which the person who isn't ADHD is overwhelmed with stress and resentment and the ADHD person feels untrusted. The problem can escalate from there as they become more distant.
Women with high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by their everyday demands. They may experience feelings of guilt and low self-esteem as a result of their unpredictable and unorganized behavior, or feel like they're unable to keep up with their household chores and bills. They might also feel mood swings, rejection sensitivity and a lack of sexual desire.
It is crucial that people who suffer from ADHD seek treatment and seek help. It is essential that those who are closest to them, especially spouses, learn more about ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can collaborate to establish clear expectations and boundaries and then formulate an action plan to will meet those goals. For instance, the non-ADHD partner might assume more financial responsibility, while the person with ADHD may be more focused on the task of organizing and finishing housework.
Both partners should strive to improve their communication and create a routine, which includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times, and time for relaxation and rest. It's also important to find ways to make things simpler for both parties for example, sharing household chores or outsourcing some of the tasks that are difficult for a person with ADHD like hiring cleaning services or using apps to manage expenses.