10 Life Lessons We 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. The symptoms may be more severe during times of hormonal changes, like the premenstrual or menstrual cycles.
Many women and girls are forced to resort to compensatory strategies, hiding their impairments and add symptoms in adult women, which can delay time to referral.
This patient group faces particular challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Insecurity about oneself
Women can be depressed by the social and emotional challenges of ADHD. Even if they're successful, it's easy to feel like they're failing because of the things they aren't able to change. This can lead to an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and inadequate. This can have a negative impact on their mental well-being.
Girls who suffer from adhd in young women who are not treated are at a greater chance of developing chronic low self-esteem and teen pregnancy. They also have a higher risk of depression, anxiety and abuse of substances. As adults, they're at an higher risk of having a single parent for a child with ADHD and financial problems, as well as underemployment. They're also more likely to suffer with eating disorders, and their bad habits can be passed on to their children.
It is crucial for girls to get an accurate diagnosis because it will provide them with a better understanding of their struggles and help them manage their symptoms more effectively. Many women report that they feel much more at ease after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to stop beating themselves up over the little things they are unable to manage. It helps them to see their difficulties as strengths and refocus their attention deficit disorder in women on what matters most (Waite, 2010).
As women age and enter menopausal age, their hormone levels could change and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. It isn't easy to diagnose and treat women with ADHD because their symptoms may be mistakenly diagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating effects on women's self-esteem and her relationships with friends and family. Symptoms may interfere with women's daily routines, leaving her irritable and exhausted. She might feel that she is unable to refuse to be around people, leading her to overburden herself and feel resentful towards the people closest to her. She may find it difficult to manage the work and home lives of her children, leading to missed appointments and lost files. Additionally, she could be more easily triggered by rejection which means she is more likely to react defensively and even lash out at the people she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity makes you feel extremely hurt when you are rejected. This could be real or perceived. You could be triggered by a disagreement with your partner or a negative review from a colleague at work. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are triggered and result in thoughts or feelings, and beliefs that can affect your self-esteem and relationships. The sensitivity to rejection can also result in anxiety, depression and mood shifts.
Although it's often linked to ADHD The issue of rejection sensitiveness is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation that affects the way your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. The symptoms can also be found in other mental health conditions, including borderline personality disorder (BPD).
RSD patients might perceive events through a filter, making them appear brighter or darker than they really are. This can cause people to interpret things as being related to rejection even if they aren't. RSD can also cause you to have a harder time regulating your emotions and that's why it's important to have coping strategies that are healthy to deal with this.
Check out the following articles to learn more about the sensitivity to rejection.
Although there is no cure for RSD it is possible to manage the symptoms with the help of a mental healthcare professional. You can utilize strategies to cope, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps you change your negative thought patterns. You can also establish an alliance of support and practice mindfulness to reduce the chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD and allow you to live a happier and more fulfilling life. It is also crucial to stay clear of toxic relationships since they can cause your symptoms to worsen. If you are in an abusive relationship, you should seek counseling to learn how to safely leave. This can reduce your risk of rejection related feelings like depression and anxiety. You can also improve your self-esteem by building healthy relationships. This will help you feel more confident about your abilities, and will give you an unbiased view of the world around you.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make the maintenance of a healthy relationship a challenge. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Women with high functioning adhd may be at greater risk of developing sexual problems. These behaviors can also result in feelings of guilt and shame which can have a negative effect on the quality of their relationships and overall wellbeing.
In one study, adults with ADHD were found to be more likely than those with ADHD to have adventurous sexual interest. Both males and women were affected. This is probably due to the greater impulsivity levels that could make them more likely to 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 behaviours. This included submissive role-play and bondage as well as sexual contact with strangers. They also went to sex parties and clubs more often.
Both women and men with adhd were more likely to be in a relationship than those who did not suffer from the disorder. This was due their poor control of their impulses and alcohol withdrawal. This was likely also because of their higher rates of anxiety and feeling misunderstood by partners. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with sexual affairs and sexual intercourse without contraception. Table 6 outlines the results for this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire of participants about their problematic sexual behavior. The questionnaire comprises 19 items that are grouped into three subscales. Each item is scored using five-point scale, starting between 1 (never to 5 (very often)). The higher the score, the more symptomatology is evident. The HBI-19 was used in order to evaluate sexual behaviors between adults with ADHD and those without.
These findings are significant because the psychosexual outcomes of people with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions, such as STI's and unplanned pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction adult and adolescent onset infidelity and risky sexual behavior.
4. Relationships
Many people who have high functioning ADHD have issues in their romantic relationships. A lack of communication, and misunderstandings due to issues like inattention and forgetfulness can lead to anger, resentment and even conflict in the relationship. A supportive network of family and friends members who can understand is beneficial for maintaining healthy relationships.
It is also important to keep in mind that those with mild adhd in women are often unable to listen. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior that can cause them to miss out on the central point of a discussion. People with ADHD are more likely to be struggling with multitasking, too which could cause them to lose track of conversations or do other things while others talk.
These struggles can result in an unbalanced relationship where the non-ADHD partner is overwhelmed with stress and resentment, and the ADHD partner is misunderstood and defensive. They may then become more withdrawn and the issue can escalate from there.
Women who have high functioning adhd assessment for women often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their daily life. They may experience feelings of shame and low self-esteem because of their impulsive and disorganized behavior, or feel like they're not able to handle their household chores and bills. They can also suffer from mood swings and rejection sensitivity and low sex drive.
It is important that those with ADHD find a treatment and seek assistance. It is also important for those close to them, especially spouses, to learn more about the condition and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. They can then develop a plan to meet their goals. The non-ADHD spouse could assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD will be focused on organising and completing the housework.
Both partners must work to improve their communication and establish a routine that includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. It is important to discover ways to make things easier for both partners, such dividing household tasks or outsourcing certain tasks which are challenging for people with ADHD.