frenchdonald35

High Functioning ADHD in Women Women with high functioning adhd are frustrated and misunderstood in their relationships. The symptoms may be more severe in times of hormonal changes, such as the premenstrual and pregnancy cycles. Many girls and women use compensatory strategies to hiding their impairments and symptoms which may delay the time until referral. This patient group has distinct problems which must be considered when treating them. 1. Insecurities about self-esteem Women can be depressed due to the social and emotional challenges of ADHD. Even when they're doing well it's easy to feel like a failure due to things they aren't able to control. This can result in an unending cycle where they feel overwhelmed and never good enough which can be detrimental to their self-esteem and mental health. Girls who don't have treatment for ADHD are at greater risk of having low self-esteem for a long time, anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression, and abuse of substances. As adults, they're at an increased risk of single-parenting a child with ADHD, financial crises and underemployment. They're also more likely to struggle with eating disorders, and their bad habits can be passed on to their children. It's important for girls to get an assessment, as it will provide them with a better understanding of their struggles and help them manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women report feeling empowered after receiving a diagnosis. They can now stop getting angry about things they cannot manage. It can also help reframe their issues and help them focus on what is important (Waite 2010). As women age and enter menopausal age the hormone levels of their bodies change and ADHD symptoms may get worse. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat people suffering from ADHD because their symptoms may be incorrectly identified and dismissed as “hormonal”, “that time of the month” or “an anxiety disorder”. Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on a woman’s self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt everyday routines, leaving them exhausted and irritable. She might feel that she is unable to say no to people and end up overburdened herself and feel resentful towards people close to her. It could be difficult to organize the work and home lives of her children which can lead to missed appointments and lost files. She may also be more easily triggered when she is rejected which makes her more likely to snap at people she loves. 2. Rejection Sensitivity Rejection sensitivity makes you feel deeply hurt when rejected. It could be real or perceived. You could be triggered by an argument with your partner or a negative review from a colleague at work. The brain's natural defence mechanisms are overstimulated and result in thoughts, feelings and beliefs that could harm your relationships and self esteem. Rejection sensitivity can also lead to depression, anxiety and mood shifts. Rejection sensitivity, while often associated with ADHD is actually an indication of emotional dysregulation. This impacts how your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. attention deficit disorder in women can also be observed in other mental health conditions such as borderline personality disorder (BPD). RSD patients may perceive events through a filter, which makes them appear darker or brighter than they actually are. This can cause them to interpret things as being related to rejection, even though they're not. RSD can make you in a state of being unable to control your emotions. This is why it is important to develop healthy coping strategies to deal with RSD. You can find out more about rejection sensitivity by reading the articles below: Although there isn't a cure for RSD however, you can manage your symptoms with the assistance of an expert in mental health. You can utilize coping techniques like cognitive behavior therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also establish an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to reduce the chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover 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 an abusive relationship, seek out counseling to find out how you can leave. This can lessen the risk of having feelings of rejection, like depression and anxiety. You can also increase your self-esteem by building healthy relationships. This will make you feel more confident about your abilities and give an honest view of life. 3. Sexuality ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This can result in sexual dysfunctions or risky sexual behaviors. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at higher risk of developing these sexual issues than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can result in feelings of shame and guilt, which can have a negative impact on the quality of their relationships and overall wellbeing. In one study, people with ADHD were found to be more likely than those without ADHD to have adventurous sexual curiosity. This was true for both males and females. This was likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity which could make them more likely to act on their sexual desires and thoughts. The study found that females who have adhd are more likely to engage paraphilic fantasies and behavior. This included bondage, submissive roles, and sex with strangers. It was also common for them to attend sexual clubs and parties. Both males and females with adhd had a higher risk of infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This is due to their weak control of impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition. This was likely also because of their higher levels of insecurity and being misunderstood or mistreated by their partners. The survey asked respondents about their experiences with extra-partner affairs and sexual relations that were not contraceptive. Table 6 shows the results of this section. The study also utilized the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which asked participants to describe their problematic sexual behavior. The questionnaire consists 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 more high the score, the more symptoms are present. The HBI-19 was developed in order to assess sexual behavior between adults with ADHD and those who do not. These findings are significant, because the psychosexual results for adults with ADHD were not studied as often. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions, such as STI's and unplanned pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction adolescent and adult onset infidelity and risky sexual behaviours. 4. Relationships Many people with high functioning ADHD have issues with their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clarity in communication, and misunderstandings caused by symptoms such as forgetfulness and inattention can cause anger, resentment, and a conflict within the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be made easier by a supportive network of family and friends who understand. It is also important to remember that people with ADHD are often unable to listen. They are often interrupted by impulsive behavior or their own thoughts, which may cause them to miss the main point of the conversation. People with ADHD may also have trouble multitasking, which could cause them to tune out conversations or to do something else while other people are talking. These battles can create an unbalanced relationship where the non-ADHD partner is overwhelmed with anger and stress and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood, and defensive. The issue can get worse from there, as they become more distant. Women with high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their everyday life. They might experience feelings of guilt and low self-esteem as a result of their chaotic and impulsive behavior, or feel that they're not able to handle their household chores and bills. They might also have mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and a lack of sexual desire. It is crucial that people who suffer from ADHD seek treatment and seek help. It is also essential for those close to them particularly spouses, to learn more about the condition and how it affects the person they love. They can collaborate to set clear boundaries and expectations, then come up with a plan of how they will meet those goals. For instance, the non-ADHD partner might take on more of the financial responsibilities, while the person with ADHD might focus on completing chores and organizing the house. Both partners should strive to improve their communication and establish a routine, which includes regular schedules for sleeping, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. It is essential to discover ways to make things easier for both partners, such dividing household tasks or outsourcing some of those which are challenging for people with ADHD.