High Functioning ADHD in Women

Women with adhd that are high functioning are unhappy and are often misunderstood in their relationships. The symptoms can become more severe during periods of hormonal changes, like the pre-menstrual period and pregnancy.

Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies to hide their symptoms and impairments can delay the time for referral.

This group of patients faces distinct problems that must be considered when treating them.

1. Insecurity about oneself

Women can feel depressed by the social and emotional challenges of ADHD. Even when they're successful it's easy to feel like a failure for things they aren't able to control. This can lead to an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative effect on their mental health.

Girls who don't have treatment for ADHD are at greater risk of developing chronic low self-esteem as well as anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression and substance abuse. As adults, they are at a higher risk of becoming single-parents of a child with ADHD and also facing financial difficulties or underemployment. They're also more likely than other people to suffer from eating disorders and to pass their bad habits onto their children.

It is crucial for girls to get a diagnosis, because it will give them an understanding of their challenges and allow them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women say that they feel more confident after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to stop blaming themselves for the small things they cannot control. It can also help them see their struggles as strengths and refocus their focus on what is important most (Waite 2010).

As women mature and approach menopausal, their hormone levels change and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. It is often difficult to identify and treat people suffering from ADHD as their symptoms could be incorrectly identified and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".

Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating effects on women's self-esteem as well as relationships with her family and friends. Symptoms can interfere with daily routines, leaving her feeling exhausted and angry. She might feel that she is unable to say no to people which causes her to burden herself and become resentful of those close to her. It can be difficult to manage her work and home life, which leads to missing appointments and documents getting lost. She may be more prone to being triggered when she is rejected which makes her more likely to lash out at people she loves.

2. Rejection Sensitivity

Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel very 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 emotions, feelings, and beliefs that result can hurt your self-esteem and relationships. You may also experience anxiety, depression, and mood swings as a result of rejection sensitivity.

Rejection sensitivity, although often associated with Adhd Adult Women Diagnosis is actually an indication signs of add in adult women emotional dysregulation. This impacts how your brain processes emotions and how you respond to them. The symptoms can also be observed in other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).

People suffering from RSD may see events through an eye that makes them appear darker or dimmer than they really are. This can cause them to interpret things as if they are related to rejection, even if they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a hard to control your emotions which is why it is important to develop healthy strategies for coping to handle this.

Check out the following articles to learn more about rejection sensitivity.

Although there isn't a cure for RSD however, you can manage your symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can employ coping strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also develop mindfulness and build a network of support to lessen the chance of having negative reactions to rejection. This will help you overcome your RSD so that you can live a more fulfilled and happier life. It is also crucial to avoid toxic relationships as they can make your symptoms worse. If you are in an abusive relationship, seek out counseling to find out how you can get out. This can reduce your risk of feeling depressed and anxious, such anxiety and depression. By focusing on relationships that are healthy that you are in, you will increase your self-esteem. This will make you feel more confident about your abilities and give a realistic perspective on 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 greater risk of experiencing these sexual problems than non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can cause feelings of shame and guilt and can negatively impact their relationships and wellbeing.

One study surveyed adults suffering from adhd screening women and discovered that they were more likely to have adventurous sexual interests than those without the disorder. Both genders were affected. 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 females with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic sex fantasies and behaviors. This included submissive roles, bondage, and sex with strangers. It was also common for them to go out to sex clubs and parties.

Females and males with adhd had a higher rate of infidelity than people without the disorder. This was due to lack of impulse control and alcohol-related disinhibition, as well as their desire for sensation. This was likely also because of their higher rates of insecurity and feeling misunderstood by partners. The survey asked participants about their experiences with extra-partner affairs and sexual relations that were not contraceptive. Table 6 outlines the results for this section.

In the final analysis, the study utilized the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to ask participants about their sexual problems. This questionnaire is composed of 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored on a 5-point scale ranging between 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, more add symptoms in adult women are present. The HBI-19 was used to evaluate the sexual behaviors of people with and without ADHD.

These findings are significant, because the psychosexual results for adults with ADHD were rarely studied. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions such as STIs and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction, adult-onset infidelity, as well as risky sexual behavior.

4. Relationships

Many people with high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their romantic relationships. Lack of clear communication and misunderstandings triggered by symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention can result in anger, frustration and conflict within the relationship. A supportive network of friends and family members who can understand is beneficial in maintaining healthy relationships.

It is important to remember 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 the conversation. People with ADHD may also have issues multitasking, which could cause them to tune out conversations or perform other tasks while other people are talking.

These battles can create an unbalanced relationship where the non-ADHD partner becomes overwrought 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 with high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by their daily demands. They might 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 bills and chores. They might also have mood swings, rejection sensitivity and a lack of sexual desire.

It is crucial that people who suffer from ADHD find a treatment and seek out help. It is also essential for those close to them particularly spouses to be aware of the condition and how it affects their loved one. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. They can then create an action plan to reach their goals. The non-ADHD partner could assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and finishing the chores at home.

In addition, both partners should work to communicate more clearly and effectively, and establish a routine that includes regular sleep schedules, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It's important to find ways to simplify things for both partners, such splitting household chores or outsourcing some of those which are challenging for people with ADHD.