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High Functioning ADHD in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd can be unhappy and are often misunderstood in their relationships. The symptoms can be more severe during times of hormonal changes such as the premenstrual and pregnancy cycles.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies to mask their impairments and symptoms can delay referral.
This group of patients has specific challenges that must be considered when treating them.
1. Self-Esteem is not a strong point.
The social and emotional challenges that come with ADHD can leave women feeling low. Even when they're successful it's easy to feel like a failure because of things they aren't able to control. This can lead to an unending cycle where they feel overwhelmed and never satisfied, which can be detrimental to their self-esteem and mental health.
Girls who suffer from ADHD who aren't treated are at a greater chance of developing chronic low self-esteem as well as teen pregnancy. They also have a higher chance of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. As adults, they are more likely to be single-parents of a child with ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or underemployment. They're also more likely to suffer with eating disorders, and their unhealthy patterns can pass down to their children.
It's essential that girls get a diagnosis as it will allow them to better understand their struggles and manage their symptoms. Many women report feeling more confident after receiving a diagnosis. They are no longer being a victim of things they aren't able to control. It can also help reframe their problems and refocus them on what's important (Waite 2010).
As women age and enter menopausal, their hormone levels can change, and ADHD symptoms can become more severe. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat women with ADHD due to the fact that their symptoms can be misdiagnosed and dismissed as "hormonal", "that time of the month" or "an anxiety disorder".
Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on women's self-esteem as well as relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt women's daily routines, leaving her irritable and exhausted. She might feel like she can't refuse people, which causes her to feel overwhelmed and resentful of people around her. She may find it difficult to manage the work and home lives of her children, leading to unscheduled appointments and files being lost. She may also 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 intensely when you are rejected, either real or perceived. A disagreement with a partner, or a negative comment from a coworker at work can trigger your symptoms. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are triggered, resulting in thoughts or feelings, and beliefs that can affect your self-esteem and relationships. There are also anxiety, depression, and mood fluctuations as a result of rejection sensitivity.
Although it's often attributed to ADHD, rejection sensitivity is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation, which affects the way your brain manages emotions and the way you react to them. Other mental health issues like borderline personality disorder can also be a cause for these symptoms.
People with RSD may view events through an eye that makes them appear darker or less than they actually are. This can lead them to interpret and perceive things as being related to rejection even if they aren't. RSD can cause you to be in a state of being unable to control your emotions. This is why it is essential to develop healthy coping strategies to manage RSD.
Check out the following articles to learn more about rejection sensitivity.
Although there isn't a cure for RSD it is possible to manage symptoms with the assistance of a mental healthcare professional. You can employ coping strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps change your negative thinking patterns. You can also practice mindfulness and build a network of support to lessen the chance of having negative reactions to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD, so you can live a happier and more fulfilled life. Avoid toxic relationships, because they can cause more symptoms. If you are in a abusive relationship, seek counseling to learn how you can safely get out. This will help lessen the risk of having feelings of rejection, like anxiety and depression. By focusing on healthy relationships and relationships, you can boost your self-esteem. This will make you feel more confident about your abilities and provide an objective view of life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship difficult. This can cause sexual dysfunctions or risky sexual behavior. Women with adhd that is high functioning might be more at risk for sexual problems. These behaviors can also cause feelings of guilt and embarrassment which may negatively impact their relationships and wellbeing.
In one study, those with ADHD were found to be more likely than people without ADHD to exhibit a sexual fascination. Both genders were affected. This could be due to the increased levels of impulsivity which can cause them to be more likely to act on sexual thoughts and desires. The study revealed that females who suffer from adhd are more likely to indulge in paraphilic fantasies and behaviors. This included submissive roles, bondage and sexing with strangers. They also went to sex events and nightclubs more often.
Females and males with adhd had a higher rate of infidelity than people without the disorder. This is due to their inability to control their impulses, alcohol disinhibition and sensation-seeking. This could also be a result of their higher rates of insecurity and feeling misunderstood by partners. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with extra-partner sexual relationships and sexual encounters without use of contraception. Table 6 provides the results for this section.
In the final analysis, the study utilized the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire of participants about their problematic sexual behavior. The questionnaire is comprised of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using a five-point scale, ranging between 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score, the more symptomatology is evident. The HBI-19 was used to evaluate the sexual behavior of adults with and without ADHD.
These findings are important due to the fact that the psychosexual effects of adults with ADHD are not well-studied. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions, such as STIs and unwanted pregnancy relationships, dissatisfaction with relationships and adult onset infidelity, and risky sexual behavior.

4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD struggle with their relationships with loved ones. A lack of clear communication and misunderstandings caused by symptoms such as inattention and forgetfulness can cause anger, resentment, and a conflict within the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be assisted by a network of family and friends who understand.
It is also important to keep in mind that those with ADHD are often unable to listen. They can be interrupted easily by their impulsive behavior, or their own thoughts, which can cause them to miss the point of an exchange. People with ADHD may also have issues multitasking, which could cause them to mute conversations or do something else while another person is talking.
These struggles can result in a cycle where the non-ADHD person becomes overwhelmed with anger and stress, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood, and defensive. They can then become more withdrawn and the situation can get worse from there.
Women with high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their everyday life. They may feel low self-esteem or shame due to their impulsive, chaotic behavior. They may feel like they cannot keep up with their bills and chores. They may also experience mood swings and sensitivity to rejection and low sexual drive.
Because of this, it is vital for those suffering from ADHD to develop a treatment plan and seek out help. adhd in adult women test is important that those who are closest to them, especially spouses, are aware of ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. They can then come up with an action plan to reach their goals. For example the partner who is not ADHD could be more involved in the financial responsibility, while the person with ADHD may be more focused on organizing and completing housework.
Additionally, both partners should work to communicate more clearly and effectively and establish a regular routine that includes regular sleep patterns, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. inattentive add in women is also crucial to discover ways to make life simpler for both parties, such as dividing household chores, or outsourcing some tasks that are difficult for a person with ADHD for example, hiring a cleaning service or using apps to manage costs.