What You Need To Do With This High Functioning ADHD In Women
High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women with high functioning adhd experience discontent and confusion in their relationships. Symptoms can heighten at times of hormonal change, such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy.
Many women and girls use compensatory strategies to masking their symptoms and impairments which may delay the time to referral.
This patient group has distinct problems that must be considered when treating them.
1. Lack of Self-Esteem
Women can be depressed due to the emotional and social issues of ADHD. Even when they're doing well and have a good time, it's easy for them to feel like a failure because of things they cannot control. This can result in an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative effect on their mental health.
Girls who suffer from ADHD who aren't treated are at a greater chance of developing chronic low self-esteem and teen pregnancy. They also have a greater chance of depression, anxiety and abuse of substances. As adults, they're at greater risk of being the sole parent to a child with ADHD and financial difficulties, as well as underemployment. They're also more likely than other people to suffer from eating disorders and to pass on their bad habits to their children.
It's essential that girls receive a diagnosis since it will help them comprehend their struggles and manage their symptoms. Many women report that they feel much more empowered after receiving their diagnosis, allowing them to stop blaming themselves for the little things they can't control. It can also help them reframe their struggles and refocus on what is important (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopausal, their hormone levels can change and ADHD symptoms may worsen. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat people suffering from ADHD because their symptoms may be mistakenly diagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
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 affect daily routines, leaving her feeling exhausted and angry. It is possible that she cannot say no to anyone and end up overburdened herself and feel resentful towards people close to her. add in women test could be difficult to manage the work and home lives of her children which can lead to missed appointments and lost files. Additionally, she could be more easily triggered by rejection, which means she is more likely to be defensive and lash out at people she is in love with.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel deeply hurt when rejected. This could be real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or a negative comment from a co-worker at work could trigger you. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become over-stimulated and the thoughts and feelings that result could harm your relationships and self-esteem. Rejection sensitivity can also result in anxiety, depression and mood shifts.
Although it's often attributed to ADHD, rejection sensitiveness is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation, which affects the way your brain manages emotions and the way you react to them. The symptoms can also be observed in other mental health conditions like borderline personality disorder (BPD).
People suffering from RSD may view events through an eye that makes them appear darker or dimmer than they actually are. This can cause them to interpret things as rejection-related, even when they are not. RSD can also cause you to have a harder to control your emotions, which is why it is important to develop healthy strategies for coping to manage this.
Check out the following articles to find out more about the sensitivity to rejection.
While there is no cure for RSD it is possible to manage the symptoms with the help of a mental healthcare professional. You can use coping techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy to change your negative thinking patterns. You can also engage in mindfulness and build a network of support to lessen the chance of having negative reactions to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD and help you lead a more pleasant and fulfilled life. Avoid relationships that are toxic, as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you're in a abusive relationship, get counseling to learn how to get out. This can help you lessen the risk of having feelings of rejection, like depression and anxiety. By focusing on healthy relationships, you can improve your self-esteem. This will make you feel more confident about your abilities and give an objective 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 behaviors. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at a higher risk of developing these sexual issues than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also lead to feelings of shame and guilt, which can have a negative impact on their relationships and overall wellbeing.
In one study, adults with ADHD were found to be more likely than those without ADHD to exhibit a sexual interest. Both genders were affected. This is likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity which makes them more likely to act on sexual desires and thoughts. The study found that women who suffer from adhd are more likely to engage in paraphilic fantasies and behavior. This included submissive role play and bondage as well as sexual relations with strangers. It was also more typical for them to go to party and sex clubs.
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 their poor control of their impulses and alcohol withdrawal. This is likely due to their higher levels of insecurity, and feeling misunderstood or misjudged by their loved ones. The survey asked participants to describe their experiences with extra-partner relationships and sexual relationships without contraception. Table 6 summarizes the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which surveyed participants about their sexual issues. The questionnaire consists of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored on a 5-point scale, between 1 (never to 5) (very frequently)). The more high the score, the more symptomatology is evident. The HBI-19 was used to assess the sexual behavior of people with and without ADHD.
These results are important since the psychosexual outcomes of adults with ADHD were not studied as often. They have been connected to sexual dysfunctions such as STI's and unwanted pregnancies, relationship dissatisfaction, infidelity that begins at the onset of adulthood and adolescence and risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD have trouble in their relationships with loved ones. Insufficient communication and misunderstandings caused by signs such as inattention and forgetfulness may lead to frustration, anger and conflict within the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be assisted by a supportive network of family and friends who can understand.
It is crucial to keep in mind that people who suffer from ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior, which can result in them missing out on the main point of a discussion. People with ADHD are more likely to have difficulty in multitasking which could cause them to become disengaged of conversations or perform other activities while someone else is talking.
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 issue can get worse from there as they become more isolated.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by their everyday demands. They may be feeling guilt or self-esteem issues because of their impulsive, disorganized behavior. It is also possible that they feel that they are unable to manage their bills and chores. They might also be suffering from mood swings and rejection sensitivity as well as low sexual drive.
For these reasons, it is crucial for people with ADHD to establish a treatment plan and seek out help. It is important that those who are closest to them, especially spouses, are aware of ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they will develop a plan to meet their goals. The non-ADHD spouse could assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD would focus on organizing and completing the housework.
Both partners must strive to improve their communication and establish an established routine that includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. It is also essential to find ways to make things easier for both of you, such as splitting household chores, or outsourcing some of the tasks that are challenging for a person with ADHD for example, hiring cleaning services or using apps to control costs.