High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd may experience discontent and confusion in their relationships. The symptoms may increase during times of hormonal change like the pre-menstrual period and pregnancy.
Many girls and women use compensatory strategies to concealing their impairments and symptoms, which can delay time until referral.
This group of patients has distinct issues that need to be considered when treating them.
1. undiagnosed adhd in women 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 create an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative impact on their mental health.
Girls with untreated ADHD are at greater risk of having low self-esteem for a long time as well as anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression and substance abuse. 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 than other people to suffer from eating disorders and to pass their bad habits onto their children.
It's important for girls to receive a diagnosis, because it will give them a better understanding of their struggles and allow them to 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 can't manage. It can also help them reframe their problems and refocus them on the things that matter (Waite 2010).
As women mature and approach menopausal age the hormone levels of their bodies change and ADHD symptoms may get worse. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat women with ADHD as their symptoms could be misdiagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on women's self-esteem as well as relationships with her family and friends. Symptoms can interfere with everyday routines, leaving them frustrated and exhausted. She may feel she can't say no to people and end up overburdened herself and become resentful of the people closest to her. It can be difficult organizing her work and home life, which leads to delayed appointments and lost documents. She may be more prone to being affected by rejection, making her more likely to snap at people she loves.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel deeply hurt when rejected. It could be real or perceived. It could be caused by an argument with your partner or a negative feedback from a colleague at work. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms are over-stimulated and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result could harm your self-esteem and relationships. You can also experience depression, anxiety, and mood fluctuations as a result of the sensitivity to rejection.
While it's often associated with ADHD The issue of rejection sensitiveness is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation that affects the way your brain handles emotions and the way you react to them. Other mental health issues like borderline personality disorder can also show these symptoms.
RSD patients may perceive events through a filter, which makes them appear darker or brighter than they really are. This could cause them to interpret and perceive things as being related to rejection, even if they aren't. RSD can also cause you to have a difficult time regulating your emotions, which is why it is important to develop healthy strategies for coping to deal with this.
Read the articles below to learn more about the sensitivity to rejection.
Although there isn't a cure for RSD, it's possible to manage your symptoms with the assistance of an expert in mental health. adhd in older women can utilize coping techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy to change your negative thinking patterns. You can also establish an alliance of support and practice mindfulness to lessen your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and allow you to live a more positive and fulfilled life. It is also important to avoid toxic relationships as they can make your symptoms worse. If you're in a abusive relationship, seek out counsel to find out how to get out. This can reduce your risk of rejection related feelings, such anxiety and depression. You can also boost your self-esteem by focusing on building healthy relationships. This will make you feel more confident in your abilities and give a realistic perspective on life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship challenging. This can result in sexual dysfunctions or risky sexual behaviors. Women who have high functioning adhd may be at greater risk of having sexual issues. These behaviors can also cause feelings of shame and guilt, which can affect their relationships and wellbeing.
One study looked at 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 their higher levels of impulsivity which could make them more likely to act on their sexual desires and thoughts. The study found that women who suffer from adhd are more likely to engage in sexual fantasies and actions. This included submissive roles play bondage, sex with strangers. It was also more common for them to go to party and sex clubs.
Both women and men with adhd were more likely be infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This is due to their weak impulse control and alcohol disinhibition. It could also be due to their higher rates of anxiety and feeling misunderstood by their partners. adhd in older women asked participants to share their experiences with sexual relationships and sexual encounters without use of contraception. Table 6 shows the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19), which asked participants about their sexual issues. The questionnaire consists of 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is evaluated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, more symptomatology is evident. The HBI-19 was used to evaluate the sexual behaviors of people with and without ADHD.
These findings are important because the psychosexual outcomes of people with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been connected to sexual dysfunctions like STI's, unwanted pregnancies, relationship dissatisfaction, adolescent and adult onset infidelity and risky sexual behaviours.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clear communication and misunderstandings triggered by symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention can lead to frustration, anger and conflict within the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be made easier by a network of family and friends who can understand.
It is also important to remember that those with ADHD are often unable to listen. They can be interrupted easily by their impulsive behavior or own thoughts, which may cause them to miss the main point of a conversation. People with ADHD may also have issues multitasking, which could cause them to shut out conversations or to do something else while someone else is talking.
These struggles can result in a cycle where the non-ADHD partner becomes overwrought with anger and stress, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood and defensive. They can then withdraw and the situation can get worse from there.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by their everyday demands. They may experience feelings of low self-esteem and shame because of their impulsive and disorganized behavior, or feel like they're not able to handle their bills and chores. They may also experience mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sex desire.
For these reasons, it is essential for those who suffer from ADHD to find a treatment plan and seek help. It is also crucial for those close to them particularly spouses, to understand the condition and how it affects their loved ones. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they can come up with an action plan to meet their goals. The non-ADHD partner could take on more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD would focus on organizing and completing chores at home.
In addition, both partners must work together to communicate more efficiently and clearly, and establish a routine that incorporates regular sleep patterns, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. It's important to find ways to simplify things for both partners, such dividing household tasks or outsourcing some of those which are challenging for people with ADHD.