Shella Howse

High Functioning ADHD in Women

Women with high functioning adhd are frustrated and misunderstood in their relationships. The symptoms may increase during periods of hormonal changes, such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy.

Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies, masking their symptoms and impairments that can delay time to referral.

This patient group has distinct challenges that must be taken into account when treating them.

1. Insecurities about self-esteem

Women can be depressed due to the emotional and social issues of ADHD. Even when they're doing well it's easy to feel like a failure because of things they cannot control. This can result in a vicious cycle where they feel overwhelmed and never satisfied, which can be detrimental to their self-esteem and mental health.

Girls with ADHD who aren't treated are at greater chance of developing chronic low self-esteem as well as teen pregnancy. They also have a higher chance of depression, anxiety and abuse of substances. As adults, they're at greater risk of being parents on their own to a child suffering from ADHD and facing financial hardship or underemployment. They're also more likely to struggle with eating disorders, and their unhealthy patterns can pass down to their children.

It is essential that girls receive a diagnosis because it will allow them to better recognize their struggles and help them manage their symptoms. Many women report feeling empowered after receiving an diagnosis. They are no longer being a victim of things they cannot control. It can also help reframe their problems and refocus them on what is important (Waite 2010).

As women age and enter menopause, their hormone levels change, and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. This makes it more difficult for them to be identified and treated, as they're often misdiagnosed as having anxiety or mood disorder and the symptoms are dismissed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."

Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on a woman's self-esteem, and her relationships with family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt a woman's daily routine, leaving her irritable and exhausted. It is possible that she can't refuse people, leading her to feel overwhelmed and angry with people around her. She might have difficulty organizing her work and home life, which leads to missing appointments and documents getting lost. Additionally, she could be more susceptible to being triggered by rejection, therefore she's more likely to be defensive and snap at those she is in love with.

2. Rejection Sensitivity

The sensitivity to rejection causes you to feel very hurt when rejected. This can be real or perceived. You could be triggered by a disagreement with your partner or a negative comment from a colleague at work. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become over-stimulated, and the thoughts emotions, feelings, and beliefs that result could harm your relationships and self-esteem. The sensitivity to rejection can also lead to depression, anxiety and mood swings.

Although it's often linked to adhd inattentive type women, rejection sensitivity is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation that affects how your brain handles emotions and how you respond to them. The symptoms can also be observed in other mental health conditions such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).

RSD patients might perceive events through a filter, making them appear brighter or darker than they are. This causes them to interpret and interpret events as if they are related to rejection, even if they are not. RSD can make you unable to control your emotions. This is why it is essential to develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage RSD.

You can find out more about the sensitivity to rejection by reading the articles below:

Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to manage symptoms with the assistance of a mental healthcare professional. You can use coping techniques like cognitive behavior therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also build a support network and practice mindfulness to lessen your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD, so you can live a more positive and satisfying life. Avoid relationships that are toxic, as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you are in an abusive relationship, seek counseling to learn how to safely get out. This will reduce the risk of feeling depressed and anxious such as depression and anxiety. You can also boost your self-esteem by focusing on developing healthy relationships. This will allow you to feel more confident about your abilities and provide you with an unbiased view of the world around you.

3. Sexuality

ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship challenging. This can cause sexual dysfunctions or risky behaviors. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at a higher risk of having sexual problems than non-adhd women uk counterparts. These behaviors can cause feelings of guilt and shame, 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. This was the case for both males and females. This is probably due to the increased levels of impulsivity which could make them more likely to be influenced by sexual ideas and desires. The study found that females with adhd in adult women uk are more likely to engage paraphilic fantasies and behavior. This included submissive roles, bondage and sex with strangers. It was also more typical for them to go out to sexual clubs and parties.

Females and males with adhd had a greater rate of infidelity than people without the disorder. This was due their poor impulse control and alcohol disinhibition. It could also be a result of their higher rates of insecurity and feeling misunderstood by their partners. The survey asked participants about their experiences with extra-partner relationships and sexual relationships without contraception. Table 6 outlines the results for this section.

The study also utilized the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19), which asked participants to describe their sexual issues. The questionnaire comprises 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored on five-point scale, starting from 1 (never to 5 (very often)). The higher the score the more symptomatology it has. The HBI-19 was used to assess the sexual behaviours of adults with and without ADHD.

These findings are significant, because the psychosexual results for adults with ADHD were not studied as often. They have been connected to sexual dysfunctions such as STI's and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction adult and adolescent onset infidelity and risky sexual behaviours.

4. Relationships

Many people who have high functioning ADHD have trouble 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. Maintaining healthy relationships can be helped by a supportive network of family and friends who can understand.

It is crucial to keep in mind that those with ADHD have trouble listening. They are often interrupted by impulsive behavior or their own thoughts, which can cause them to miss the main point signs of adhd in women an exchange. People with ADHD are more likely to have difficulty with multitasking as well and can cause them to lose track of conversations or perform other things while someone else talks.

These battles can create a cycle where the non-ADHD person becomes overwhelmed with anger and stress and the adhd women test partner is misunderstood and defensive. They may then withdraw and the situation can get worse from there.

Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their daily life. They may experience shame or low self-esteem due to their impulsive and unorganized behavior. They may find themselves struggling to keep up with their bills and chores. They might also have mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sex desire.

For these reasons, it is essential for those with ADHD to find a treatment plan and seek out help. It is important that those who are closest to them, especially spouses, are aware of ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can collaborate to set clear boundaries and expectations and then devise a plan for how they will meet those goals. The non-ADHD partner could take on more financial responsibilities while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and completing the chores at home.

Both partners must strive to improve their communication and establish a routine, which includes regular schedules for sleeping, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It is also crucial to find ways to make things easier for both of you by dividing household chores, or outsourcing some of the tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD like hiring a cleaning service or using apps to control expenses.