Why Is High Functioning ADHD In Women So Famous?
High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd may experience frustration and miscommunication in their relationships. The symptoms may increase during times of hormonal change, like the pre-menstrual period and pregnancy.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies to mask their symptoms and impairments can delay the time for referral.
This patient group faces specific challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Insecurities about self-esteem
Women can be depressed by the emotional and social issues of ADHD. Even when they're successful, it is easy to feel like they're failing because of the things they can't change. This can create an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and unsatisfied. This can have a negative impact on their mental health.
Girls with untreated ADHD are more at risk of developing chronic low self-esteem, teen pregnancy, anxiety, depression, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're at an higher risk of having a single parent for children with ADHD and financial problems, as well as underemployment. They're also more likely to struggle with eating disorders, and their negative patterns could be passed on to their children.
It's important for girls to get a diagnosis, because it will give them a better understanding of their issues and help them manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women report feeling more confident after receiving a diagnosis. They can now stop being a victim of things they aren't able to manage. It can also help reframe their issues and help them focus on the things that matter (Waite 2010).
As women age and enter menopause their hormone levels may change, and ADHD symptoms may worsen. This can make it harder for them to be diagnosed and treated because they're often misdiagnosed as anxiety or mood disorder, and the symptoms are dismissed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating impacts on a woman's self-esteem, and her relationships with family and friends. Symptoms may interfere with women's daily routines which can make her angry and exhausted. She may feel she can't say no to people and end up overburdened herself and feel resentful towards people close to her. She may find it difficult to organize the work and home lives of her children which can lead to missing appointments and lost files. Additionally, she could be more susceptible to being triggered by rejection, therefore she's more likely to react defensively and lash out at people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel intensely when you are rejected, either real or perceived. You might be triggered by a disagreement with your partner or a negative review from a coworker at work. The brain's natural defence mechanisms are overstimulated which can trigger thoughts and feelings that could harm your relationships and self esteem. Sensitivity to rejection can cause anxiety, depression and mood swings.
While it's often associated with ADHD The issue of rejection sensitivity is actually a symptom of emotional dysregulation that 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 such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).
People with RSD may see events through filters that make them appear more dark or dimmer than they actually are. This can cause people to interpret things as being related to rejection, even if they aren't. RSD can also cause you to have a hard to control your emotions, which is why it is important to have healthy coping strategies to manage this.
Read the articles below to learn more about rejection sensitivity.
While there is no cure for RSD, it's possible to manage your symptoms with the help of an expert in mental health. You can use coping techniques like cognitive behavior therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also establish a support network and practice mindfulness to lessen your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and help you live a happier and more fulfilled life. Avoid relationships that are toxic, because they can cause more symptoms. If you're in an abusive relationship, seek counseling to learn how to get out. This will reduce the risk of feeling depressed and anxious like depression and anxiety. By focusing on healthy relationships that you are in, you will increase your self-esteem. This will help you feel more confident about your capabilities and provide an objective view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make the maintenance of a healthy relationship a challenge. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions or risky behavior. Women with high functioning adhd may be at greater risk of developing sexual problems. These behaviors can also cause feelings of shame and guilt which can have a negative effect on their relationships and overall well-being.
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 males and women were affected. This is likely due to the higher levels of impulsivity that could make them more likely to be influenced by sexual ideas and desires. The study found that females with adhd are more likely to engage sexual fantasies and actions. This included submissive roles play and bondage as well as sexual contact with strangers. It was also common for them to attend sexual clubs and parties.
Females and males with adhd had a higher risk of infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This is due to their inability to control their impulses, alcohol disinhibition and sensation-seeking. This could be due to their higher levels of insecurity and a feeling of being misunderstood or misjudged by their loved ones. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with sexual relationships and sexual encounters without use of contraception. Table 6 summarizes the results of this section.
Lastly, the study used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire of participants about their sexual issues. The questionnaire consists of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using a five-point scale, ranging between 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score the more symptomatology there is. The HBI-19 was used to evaluate the sexual behaviours of adults who have and those without ADHD.
These results are important because the psychosexual outcomes of adults with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been connected to sexual dysfunctions such as STI's and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction infidelity that begins at the onset of adulthood and adolescence and risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD have issues in their romantic relationships. A lack of clear communication, and miscommunication due to symptoms like inattention and forgetfulness can result in anger, resentment, and a conflict within the relationship. A supportive group of family and friends members who are able to understand each other can be helpful for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is crucial to keep in mind, too, that people with ADHD have trouble listening. They can be interrupted easily by their impulsive behavior, or their own thoughts, which can cause them to lose the purpose of a conversation. adhd traits in women with ADHD may also have trouble multitasking, which can cause them to mute conversations or do something else while another person is talking.
These battles can create an unending cycle where the person who is not ADHD is overwhelmed by anger and stress, while the ADHD person feels untrusted. They then tend to become more withdrawn and the situation can get worse from there.
Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of daily life. They may feel low self-esteem and shame because of their impulsive and disorganized behavior, or feel that they're not able to handle their household chores and bills. They can also suffer from mood swings and rejection sensitivity, as well as low sex drive.
It is important that those who suffer from ADHD find a treatment and seek help. It is also crucial for family members, especially spouses, to be aware of the condition and how it affects their loved one. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they can create an action plan to meet their goals. For example, the non-ADHD partner might take on more of the financial responsibilities, while the person with ADHD might focus on completing chores and organizing the house.
Both partners should also be working to improve their communication and create a routine, which includes regular schedules for sleeping, meal times and time for relaxation and rest. It is also crucial to discover ways to make life easier for both of you for example, sharing household chores or outsourcing some tasks that are challenging for a person with ADHD, such as hiring an expert cleaning service or using apps to control costs.