Ten Myths About High Functioning ADHD In Women That Aren't Always True
High Functioning ADHD in Women Women who suffer from high functioning adhd may experience frustration and miscommunication in their relationships. Symptoms can heighten at times of hormonal change such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy. Many girls and women resort to compensatory strategies, concealing their impairments and symptoms, which can delay time until referral. This patient group has particular issues which must be taken into account when treating them. 1. Insecurity about oneself The emotional and social challenges associated with ADHD can make women feel down. 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 endless cycle of feeling like they feel constantly overwhelmed and never satisfied which can be detrimental to their self-esteem and mental health. Girls who suffer from ADHD who are not treated are at a greater risk of having low self-esteem as well as teen pregnancy. They also have a higher risk of depression, anxiety and abuse of substances. As adults, they are at greater risk of being parents on their own to a child suffering from ADHD and facing financial hardship or underemployment. They are also more likely than other people to be afflicted by eating disorders and to pass on their bad habits to their children. It is essential that girls receive a diagnosis since it will help them better comprehend their struggles and help them manage their symptoms. Many women report feeling more confident after receiving a diagnosis. They can now stop getting angry about things they aren't able to manage. It can also help reframe their struggles and refocus on what's important (Waite 2010). As women age and enter menopausal age the hormone levels of their bodies change, and ADHD symptoms can get worse. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat women with ADHD as their symptoms could be mistakenly diagnosed and dismissed as “hormonal”, “that time of month” or “an anxiety disorder”. Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating impacts on a woman's self-esteem, and her relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can affect a woman's daily routine that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. She may feel she can't say no to anyone which causes her to burden herself and feel resentful towards those close to her. It can be difficult organizing her home and work life, which can lead to missed appointments and lost documents. She can also be more easily triggered by rejection so she may be more likely to be defensive and even lash out at the people she loves. 2. Rejection Sensitivity Rejection sensitivity is a condition that causes you to feel a strong sense of when you're being rejected, whether real or perceived. You might be triggered by a disagreement with your partner or a negative review from a colleague at work. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms are overwhelmed and the thoughts emotions, feelings, and beliefs that result can hurt your relationships and self-esteem. There are also depression, anxiety, and mood fluctuations as a result of sensitive to rejection. Although it's often attributed to ADHD The issue of rejection sensitivity is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation that affects how your brain manages emotions and how you react to them. The symptoms can also be observed in other mental health disorders, including borderline personality disorder (BPD). RSD patients can see events through a filter, making them appear darker or brighter than they are. This could cause people to interpret things as rejection related, even though they're not. RSD can make you incapable of controlling your emotions. This is why it is important to develop healthy coping strategies to manage RSD. Learn more about rejection sensitivity by reading the articles below: While there is no cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can utilize strategies to cope, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps modify your negative thought patterns. You can also build a support network and practice mindfulness to lower your chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you overcome your RSD so that you can live a more satisfying and happier life. Avoid relationships that are toxic, since they can worsen your symptoms. If you are in an abusive relationship, you should seek counseling to learn how to safely leave. adhd in women adult can reduce your risk of experiencing feelings of rejection such as depression and anxiety. You can also increase your self-esteem by creating healthy relationships. This will help you feel more confident in your abilities and provide an honest view of life. 3. Sexuality ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship challenging. This can cause sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behaviors. Women with high functioning adhd may be at greater risk of having sexual issues. These behaviors can also trigger feelings of shame and guilt, which can affect their relationships and well-being. One study surveyed adults suffering from ADHD and discovered that they were more likely to have adventurous sexual interests than those who did not suffer from the disorder. Both males and women were affected. This could be due to their higher levels of impulsivity which can make them more likely to act on their sexual desires and ideas. The study found that females with adhd are more likely to engage paraphilic fantasies and behavior. This included bondage, submissive roles, and sex with strangers. It was also more typical for them to go to party and sex clubs. Both men and women with adhd were more likely to be infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This is due to their weak control of impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition. This is likely due to their greater levels of anxiety, and feeling misunderstood or misjudged by their partners. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with extra-partner sexual affairs and sexual intercourse without the use of contraception. Table 6 provides the results from this section. The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which asked participants about their problematic sexual behaviors. adhd in women adult comprises 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using a 5-point scale, from 1 (never to 5 (very often)). The more high the score, the more symptomatology is evident. The HBI-19 was used to compare the sexual behaviours of adults with and without ADHD. These findings are significant because the psychosexual experiences of adults with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been linked with sexual dysfunctions such as STIs and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction, adult-onset infidelity, as well as dangerous sexual behavior. 4. Relationships Many people who have high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their romantic relationships. Lack of clarity in communication and misunderstandings caused by signs such as forgetfulness and inattention could result in anger, frustration and conflict in the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be helped by a network of friends and family members who understand. It is also important to remember that people with ADHD often have difficulty listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behaviors which could result in them missing out on the primary reason for a discussion. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which could cause them to shut out conversations or do something else while another person is talking. These conflicts can result in a vicious cycle in which the person who isn't ADHD is overwhelmed with stress and resentment and the ADHD partner feels that they are not understood. They then tend to withdraw and the issue can escalate from there. Women who have high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their daily life. They may feel guilt or self-esteem issues because of their impulsive, unorganized behavior. Or they might feel that they are unable to manage their chores and bills. They may also experience mood swings and rejection sensitivity as well as low sex drive. This is why it is essential for those suffering from ADHD to establish an effective treatment plan and seek assistance. It is crucial that those who are closest to them, particularly spouses, are aware of ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can collaborate to establish clear boundaries and expectations and then devise an action plan to will meet those goals. For example the non-ADHD spouse could take on more of the financial responsibilities, while the person with ADHD might be focused on the task of organizing and finishing housework. Both partners should work to improve their communication and establish a routine that includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times, and time to relax and rest. It's also important to find ways to make things simpler for both parties for example, sharing household chores or outsourcing certain tasks that are challenging for a person with ADHD for example, hiring a cleaning service or using apps to control expenses.