Five Lessons You Can Learn From High Functioning ADHD In Women
High Functioning ADHD in Women Women with adhd that are high functioning are frustrated and misunderstood in their relationships. Symptoms can heighten at times of hormonal change such as the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies to hide their symptoms and impairments can delay referral. This group of patients has distinct challenges that must be considered when treating them. 1. Self-esteem issues The emotional and social challenges that come with ADHD can make women feel low. Even when they're successful it's easy to feel like a failure due to things they cannot control. This can result in a vicious cycle where they feel overwhelmed and never satisfied, which can be detrimental to their mental health and self-esteem. Girls who aren't treated for ADHD are more at risk of having low self-esteem for a long time and anxiety, teen pregnancy depression and substance abuse. As adults, they're more likely to be parents on their own to a child suffering from ADHD and facing financial hardship or unemployment. They're also more likely to struggle with eating disorders, and their bad patterns could be passed on 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 effectively. Many women say that they feel more at ease after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to stop blaming themselves for the little things they are unable to manage. It can also help to reframe their struggles and refocus on the things that matter (Waite 2010). As women age and move towards menopause their hormone levels may change, and ADHD symptoms may worsen. It is often difficult to identify and treat women with ADHD because their symptoms may be incorrectly identified and dismissed as “hormonal”, “that time of month” or “an anxiety disorder”. Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating effects on self-esteem of women, and her relationships with family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt daily routines, leaving her exhausted and irritable. She may feel that she isn't able to refuse people, which causes her to feel overwhelmed and angry with people who are around her. She may find it difficult to organize her home and work life, leading to missed appointments and lost files. Additionally, she could be more easily triggered by rejection so she may be more likely to be defensive and even lash out at the people she is in love with. 2. Rejection Sensitivity Rejection sensitivity is a condition that causes you to feel intensely when you are rejected, either real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or an unkind comment from a co-worker at work can trigger your symptoms. The brain's natural defence mechanisms are overstimulated which can trigger thoughts or feelings, and beliefs that could harm your self-esteem and relationships. There are also anxiety, depression, and mood swings as a result of the sensitivity to rejection. signs of add in adult women , although often associated with ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This affects the way your brain processes emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder may be a sign of these symptoms too. People with RSD may view events through a filter that makes them appear darker or dimmer than they actually are. This makes them more likely to interpret things as being related to rejection, even though they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a harder time regulating your emotions which is why it's important to develop healthy strategies for coping to handle this. You can find out more about rejection sensitivity by reading the articles below: While there is no cure for RSD however, you can manage your symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can use strategies to cope, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps change your negative thinking patterns. You can also develop mindfulness and build a community of support to reduce your chance of experiencing negative reactions to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and help you live a more positive and satisfying life. It is also essential to avoid toxic relationships as they can cause symptoms to become worse. If you're in an abusive relationship, get counseling to discover the best way to leave. This can lower the chance of experiencing feelings of rejection, such anxiety and depression. You can also boost your self-esteem by focusing on building healthy relationships. This will help you feel more confident in your abilities and provide a realistic perspective on life. 3. Sexuality ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship difficult. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions or risky behaviors. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at a greater risk of experiencing these sexual issues than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also cause feelings of guilt and embarrassment, which can affect their relationships and overall well-being. One study looked at adults suffering from ADHD and found that they were more likely to have a passion for sexual exploration than those without the disorder. This was the case for males and females. This was likely due to their more impulsive levels, which could make them more likely to act upon 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 and sexual relations with strangers. It was also common for them to go out to sexual clubs and parties. Both women and men with adhd were more likely to be in a relationship than those who did not have the disorder. This is due to their poor impulse control, alcohol disinhibition and sensation-seeking. This could be due to their greater levels of anxiety, and feeling misunderstood or criticized by their partners. The survey also asked participants to report their experiences with extra-partner sexual relations and sexual interactions without the use of contraception. Table 6 outlines the results from this section. Lastly, the study used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire from participants about their sexual problems. The questionnaire comprises 19 items, and is divided into three subscales. Each item is rated using a five-point scale, ranging that ranges from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, more symptoms are present. The HBI-19 was used to compare the sexual behavior of people with and without ADHD. These results are important, because the psychosexual results for adults with ADHD were rarely studied. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions like STIs and unwanted pregnancy relationships, dissatisfaction with relationships and adult onset infidelity, and risky sexual behavior. 4. Relationships Many people with high functioning ADHD have difficulties in their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clarity in communication and miscommunication caused by symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention could cause anger, frustration and conflict in a relationship. A strong network of friends and family members who can understand is beneficial in maintaining healthy relationships. It is crucial to keep in mind that people who suffer from ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behaviors that could cause them to lose focus on the main purpose of a conversation. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which could cause them to tune out conversations or to do something else while other people are talking. These conflicts can lead to an unbalanced relationship where the non-ADHD partner becomes overwrought with anger and stress and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood, and defensive. They may then become more introverted and the issue can escalate from there. Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of daily life. 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 chores and bills. They may also experience mood swings, rejection sensitivity and low sexual desire. It is crucial that people with ADHD seek treatment and seek out help. It is also essential for their family members particularly spouses, to understand the disorder and how it affects the person they love. They can work together to set the right expectations and boundaries and then devise an action plan to will meet those objectives. For instance, the non-ADHD partner might take on more of the financial responsibilities, while the person with ADHD may be more focused on the task of organizing and finishing housework. In addition, both partners should work to communicate more effectively and clearly and establish a regular routine that includes regular sleep patterns, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It's also important to discover ways to make life easier for both parties for example, splitting household chores, or outsourcing some of the tasks that are challenging for a person with ADHD for example, hiring cleaning services or using apps to control expenses.