What You Need To Do On This High Functioning ADHD In Women
High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd may experience discontent and confusion in their relationships. Symptoms can heighten at times of hormonal change, such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy.
Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies to hide their impairments and symptoms can delay referral.
This patient group has a unique set of issues that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Insecurities about self-esteem
Women can feel depressed by the emotional and social issues of ADHD. Even when they're successful it's easy to feel like a failure because of things they can't control. This can result in an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and not good enough. This can have a negative impact on their mental health.
Girls who suffer from ADHD who aren't treated are at a higher risk of having low self-esteem and teenage pregnancy. They also have a greater chance of anxiety, depression, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're at higher risk of having a single parent for children with ADHD and financial difficulties, as well as underemployment. They're also more likely to suffer with eating disorders, and their negative patterns could be passed on to their children.
It is essential that girls receive a diagnosis since it will allow them to better recognize their struggles and help them manage their symptoms. Many women report that they feel much more empowered after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to not be a victim of the small things they cannot manage. It can also help them reframe their struggles and refocus on what is important (Waite 2010).
As women age and move towards menopausal age, their hormone levels change, and ADHD symptoms can get worse. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat women with ADHD as their symptoms could be incorrectly identified and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on women's self-esteem and her relationships with friends and family. The symptoms can disrupt the woman's daily routine that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. She might feel like she can't refuse people, causing her to become overburdened and resentful towards those around her. It can be difficult organizing her home and work life, resulting in delayed appointments and lost documents. She could be more easily affected by rejection, making her more likely to snap at those she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel extremely hurt when you are rejected. This can be real or perceived. You might be triggered by a disagreement with your partner or a negative review from a colleague at work. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are overstimulated which can trigger thoughts and feelings that could harm your relationships and self esteem. There are also anxiety, depression and mood changes due to sensitive to rejection.
Rejection sensitivity, although often associated with ADHD is actually an indication of emotional dysregulation. This impacts how your brain processes emotions and how you respond to them. The symptoms can also be found in other mental health conditions like borderline personality disorder (BPD).
People with RSD may view events through filters that make them appear darker or dimmer than they actually are. This can cause them to perceive and interpret things as if they are related to rejection, even if they are not. RSD can cause you to be incapable of controlling your emotions. This is why it is crucial to develop healthy coping strategies to manage RSD.
Read the articles below to learn more about rejection sensitivity.
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can use strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which helps change your negative thinking patterns. You can also develop mindfulness and build a network of support to reduce your chance of experiencing negative reactions to rejection. This will aid you in overcoming your RSD so that you can live a more fulfilled and happy life. Avoid relationships that are toxic, as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you are in an abusive relationship, seek out counseling to learn how to safely leave. This will reduce the risk of rejection related feelings such as 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 a realistic perspective on life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This can result in sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behaviors. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at higher risk of having sexual issues than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also cause feelings of guilt and embarrassment and can affect their relationships and well-being.
In one study, adults with ADHD were found to be more likely than people without ADHD to exhibit a sexual fascination. This was the case for both males and females. This is likely due to the increased levels of impulsivity which can make them more likely act on their sexual ideas and desires. The study found that women who suffer from adhd are more likely to indulge in sexual fantasies and actions. This included bondage, submissive roles and sexing with strangers. They also attended sex parties and nightclubs more often.
Both males and females with adhd had a higher risk of infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This was due their poor control of impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition. This is likely due to their higher levels of insecurity and a feeling of being misunderstood or misjudged by their partners. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with sexual relationships and sexual encounters without the use of contraception. Table 6 shows the results of this section.
In the final analysis, the study utilized the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire from participants about their sexual problems. The questionnaire comprises 19 items that are grouped into three subscales. Each item is scored using a five-point scale, ranging between 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The more high the score, the more symptoms are present. The HBI-19 was used to assess the sexual behavior of people with and without ADHD.
These results are important because the psychosexual experiences of people with ADHD are not well-studied. They have been connected to sexual dysfunctions such as STI's and unplanned pregnancy, 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. A lack of communication and misunderstandings due to symptoms like inattention and forgetfulness can result in anger, resentment, and even conflict in the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be made easier by a supportive network of family and friends who understand.
It is also important to keep in mind that people suffering from ADHD are often unable to listen. They can be interrupted easily by their impulsive behavior, or their own thoughts, which can cause them to miss the point of the conversation. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which can cause them to shut out conversations or perform other tasks while another person is talking.
These battles can create a vicious cycle in which the non-ADHD person becomes overwhelmed with anger and stress and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood and defensive. They then tend to become more introverted, and the problem escalates 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 chaotic and impulsive behavior, or feel like they can't keep up with their household chores and bills. add adult women might also be suffering from mood swings and rejection sensitivity and low sexual drive.
It is crucial that people with ADHD find a treatment and seek out help. It is also essential for their family members particularly spouses to learn more about the condition and how it affects their loved one. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they will create an action plan to meet their goals. For example the partner who is not ADHD could assume more financial responsibilities, whereas the person with ADHD might be focused on completing chores and organizing the house.
Additionally, both partners should work to communicate more efficiently and clearly and establish a regular routine that includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times and time for relaxation and rest. It is also essential to find ways to make things simpler for both parties by splitting household chores, or outsourcing some tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD like hiring an expert cleaning service or utilizing apps to manage costs.