Five Things You Don't Know About High Functioning ADHD In Women

High Functioning ADHD in Women Women with adhd that are high functioning are dissatisfied and often misunderstood by their relationships. The symptoms can become more severe during times of hormonal change, such as the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies to mask their impairments and symptoms can delay referral. This patient group has a unique set of issues that need to be considered when treating them. 1. Self-Esteem is not a strong point. Women can feel depressed by the social and emotional challenges of ADHD. Even if they're successful, it is easy to feel like they're an failure due to things they aren't able to change. This can lead to an unending cycle where they feel overwhelmed and never quite good enough and can affect their self-esteem and mental health. Girls who suffer from ADHD who aren't treated are at a greater risk of having low self-esteem and teenage pregnancy. They also have a greater chance of depression, anxiety, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're more likely to be single-parents of a child with ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or unemployment. They're also more likely to suffer with eating disorders, and their negative patterns can pass down to their children. It's important for girls to get a diagnosis, because it will provide them with an understanding of their issues and help them manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women say that they feel more confident after receiving their diagnosis, allowing them to stop beating themselves up over the little things they can't manage. It can also help reframe their problems and refocus them on what's important (Waite 2010). As women age and move towards menopausal age their hormone levels alter and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. This can make it difficult for them to be identified and treated since they are often misdiagnosed as having anxiety or mood disorder and the symptoms are dismissed as “hormonal” or “that time of the month.” Being diagnosed with untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on women's self-esteem and her relationships with family and friends. The symptoms can affect the woman's daily routine which can make her angry and exhausted. It is possible that she isn't able to refuse people, leading her to feel overwhelmed and angry with people around her. She may find it difficult organizing her work and home life, which leads to missing appointments and documents getting lost. She may be more easily affected by rejection and is more likely to snap at those she likes. 2. Rejection Sensitivity Rejection sensitivity is a condition that causes you to feel a strong sense of when you are rejected, whether it is real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or an unkind comment from a colleague at work can trigger you. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms become over-stimulated, and the thoughts and feelings that result can harm your relationships and self-esteem. There are also anxiety, depression, and mood swings as a result of the sensitivity to rejection. Although it's often attributed to ADHD, rejection sensitivity is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation, which affects the way your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder could also be a cause for these symptoms. attention deficit disorder in women may perceive events through a filter, making them appear brighter or darker than they actually are. This can cause people to interpret things as being related to rejection even though they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a hard managing your emotions which is why it's important to develop healthy strategies for coping to deal with this. You can learn more about rejection sensitivity by reading these articles: While there is no cure for RSD, it's possible to manage your symptoms with the assistance of an expert in mental health. You can use strategies for coping, such as cognitive behavior therapy, which helps you change your negative thought patterns. You can also create an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to reduce your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD and allow you to live a more positive and satisfying life. Avoid toxic relationships as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you are in an abusive relationship, seek out counseling to find out how you can get out. This can help you lessen the risk of having feelings of rejection, like depression and anxiety. By focusing on relationships that are healthy and relationships, you can boost your self-esteem. This will help you feel more confident in your abilities and give a realistic perspective on life. 3. Sexuality ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This can cause sexual dysfunctions or risky behaviors. Women with high functioning adhd are at a higher risk of having sexual issues. These behaviors can also cause feelings of guilt and embarrassment, which can affect their relationships and well-being. One study conducted a survey of adults suffering from ADHD and discovered that they were more likely to have a passion for sexual exploration than those without the disorder. Both males and women were affected. This could be due to the increased levels of impulsivity which can make them more likely to act on sexual thoughts and desires. Particularly, the study revealed that females with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic sex fantasies and actions. This included submissive role-play, bondage and sexual contact with strangers. They also went to sex events and clubs more often. Both women and men with adhd were more likely to be in a relationship than those who didn't have the disorder. This is due to their weak impulse control and alcohol disinhibition. adhd in women checklist could also be because of their higher levels of insecurity and feeling misunderstood by their partners. The survey asked respondents about their experiences with extra-partner affairs and sexual relationships without contraception. Table 6 provides the results of this section. Lastly, the study used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to ask participants about their sexual problems. The questionnaire comprises 19 items that 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, the more symptomatology it has. The HBI-19 was used to compare the sexual behavior of people with and without ADHD. These findings are significant due to the fact that the psychosexual effects of people with ADHD are not well-studied. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions, like STI's, unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction adolescent and adult onset infidelity and risky sexual behaviours. 4. Relationships Many people with high functioning ADHD have issues with their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clear communication and misunderstandings caused by symptoms such as forgetfulness and inattention could result in anger, frustration and conflict in relationships. A supportive network of friends and family members who can understand is beneficial in maintaining healthy relationships. It is also important to note that people with ADHD are often unable to listen. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior that could cause them to miss out on the main reason for a discussion. People with ADHD may also have trouble multitasking, which could cause them to mute conversations or do something else while another person is talking. These struggles can lead to a vicious cycle in which the partner who is not ADHD is overwhelmed by anxiety and anger, and the ADHD person feels untrusted. The issue could escalate from there as they become more isolated. Women with high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their daily life. They may feel low self-esteem and shame because of their impulsive and disorganized behavior, or feel as if they can't keep up with their bills and chores. They can also suffer from mood swings and rejection sensitivity, as well as low sexual drive. It is crucial that people who suffer from ADHD find a treatment and seek assistance. It is also crucial for their family members, especially spouses, to learn more about the disorder and how it affects their loved one. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they can develop a plan to meet their goals. The non-ADHD spouse could take on more financial responsibilities while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and completing chores at home. Both partners should work to improve their communication and establish a routine, which includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times, and time to relax and rest. It's also important to discover ways to make life easier for both of you by sharing household chores or outsourcing some tasks that are difficult for a person with ADHD like hiring an expert cleaning service or using apps to control costs.