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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 in periods of hormonal changes, like the premenstrual or pregnancy periods.

Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies, hiding their impairments and symptoms that can delay time to referral.

This group of patients has particular issues that need to be taken into consideration when treating them.

1. Lack of Self-Esteem

Women can be depressed by the emotional and social challenges of ADHD. Even when they are successful, it is easy to feel like a failure because of things they can't change. This can result in an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and unsatisfied. This can have a negative effect on their mental well-being.

Girls who don't have treatment for ADHD are at higher risk of developing chronic low self-esteem and anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression, and abuse of substances. As adults, they're more likely to be parents on their own to a child suffering from ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or underemployment. They are also more likely than others to be afflicted by eating disorders and pass on their bad habits to their children.

It's crucial for girls to get an accurate diagnosis because it will provide them with an understanding of their struggles and help them manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women report feeling more confident after receiving the diagnosis. They can now stop being a victim of things they can't control. It can also help reframe their struggles and refocus on what is important (Waite 2010).

As women age and enter menopausal age, their hormone levels could change, and ADHD symptoms could worsen. This makes it more difficult to diagnose and treated because they're often misdiagnosed as anxiety or mood disorder and their symptoms are viewed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."

Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on a woman's self-esteem, and her relationships with friends and family. The symptoms can disrupt the woman's daily routine which can make her angry and exhausted. She might feel like she cannot turn down people, which causes her to feel overwhelmed and resentful towards those around her. It could be difficult to manage her home and work life and this 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 likes.

2. Rejection Sensitivity

The sensitivity to rejection causes you to feel deeply hurt when rejected. This could be real or perceived. A disagreement with a partner, or an insult from a co-worker at work could trigger you. The brain's natural defence mechanisms are overstimulated, resulting in thoughts, feelings and beliefs that can affect your relationships and self esteem. There are also depression, anxiety and mood swings as a result of sensitive to rejection.

Rejection sensitivity, although often linked to ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This impacts how your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. Other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder could also show these symptoms.

People suffering from RSD might see events through filters that make them appear more dark or dimmer than they actually are. This can cause them to interpret and perceive things as rejection related, even if they aren't. RSD can also cause you to have a hard time regulating your emotions and that's why it's crucial to have healthy coping strategies to handle this.

Read the articles below to learn more about rejection sensitivity.

Although there isn't a cure for RSD, it's possible to manage your symptoms with the help of an expert in mental health. You can utilize coping strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help you change your negative thought patterns. You can also establish an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to lessen the chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD, so you can live a happier and more fulfilling life. Avoid relationships that are toxic, as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you are in an abusive relationship, seek counseling to learn how you can safely get out. This will reduce the risk of feeling depressed and anxious such as depression and anxiety. By focusing on healthy relationships, you can improve your self-esteem. This will make you feel more confident about your capabilities and provide a realistic perspective on life.

3. More hints can make it difficult to maintain a healthy relationship. This can cause sexual dysfunctions or risky sexual behaviors. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at a higher risk of developing these sexual issues than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can cause feelings of shame and guilt which may negatively impact their relationships and wellbeing.

One study surveyed adults suffering from ADHD and found that they were more likely to have adventurous sexual interests than those who did not suffer from the disorder. Both genders were affected. This is likely due to the increased levels of impulsivity which can cause them to be more likely be influenced by sexual ideas and desires. The study found that women who have adhd are more likely to engage sexual fantasies and actions. This included submissive roles, bondage and sex with strangers. It was also common for them to go out to sexual clubs and parties.

Both females and males suffering from adhd had a higher risk of infidelity than people without the disorder. This was due to their lack of impulse control and alcohol-related disinhibition, as well as their desire for sensation. This is likely due to their higher levels of insecurity and a feeling of being misunderstood or misjudged by their partners. The survey also asked respondents to describe their experiences with extra-partner sexual relationships and sexual encounters without the use of contraception. Table 6 shows the results of this section.

The study also used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire from participants about their sexual issues. The questionnaire consists of 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is rated on a five-point scale between 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score the more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was developed in order to evaluate sexual behaviors between people with ADHD and those without.

These results are important because the psychosexual results for adults with ADHD were not studied as often. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions, such as unwanted pregnancy and STIs, relationship dissatisfaction, adult-onset infidelity, as well as risky sexual behaviors.

4. Relationships





Many people with high functioning ADHD have trouble in their romantic relationships. Lack of clear communication and miscommunication caused by symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention can lead to frustration, anger, and conflict within relationships. A supportive network of family and friends members who can understand is beneficial in maintaining healthy relationships.

It is important to remember that those who suffer from ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are often interrupted by their impulsive behavior or own thoughts, which can cause them to lose the purpose of an exchange. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which could cause them to mute conversations or do something else while someone else is talking.

These battles can create an unbalanced relationship where the non-ADHD person becomes overwhelmed with anger and stress and the ADHD partner is misunderstood and defensive. The issue could escalate from there as they become more distant.

Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by the demands of their lives. They may experience guilt or self-esteem issues due to their impulsive, chaotic behavior. It is also possible that they find themselves struggling to keep up with their chores and bills. They might also experience mood swings, rejection sensitivity and low sexual desire.

This is why it is essential for those who suffer from ADHD to establish a treatment plan and seek out help. It is also essential for family members, especially spouses, to be aware of the disorder and how it affects their loved one. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they will develop a plan to achieve their goals. The non-ADHD partner can take on more financial responsibilities while the person with ADHD will be focused on organising and completing housework.

Both partners should be working to improve their communication and establish an established routine that includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times, and time to relax and rest. It's important to find ways to make things easier for both partners, such splitting household chores or outsourcing some of those that are difficult for someone with ADHD.