10 Life Lessons That 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 can be more severe in times of hormonal changes like the premenstrual or menstrual cycles. Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies to mask their impairments and symptoms can delay the time for referral. This group of patients faces a unique set of problems that need to be taken into account when treating them. 1. Insecurities about self-esteem Women can feel depressed by the emotional and social issues of ADHD. Even when they're doing well, it's easy to feel like a failure for things they cannot control. This can create an endless feeling of being overwhelmed and unsatisfied. This can have a negative effect on their mental health. Girls who aren't treated for ADHD are more at risk of having low self-esteem for a long time and teen pregnancy, anxiety, depression, and abuse of substances. As adults, they're at an higher risk of having a single parent for children with ADHD and financial problems, as well as underemployment. They are also more likely than other people to suffer from eating disorders and to pass on their bad habits to their children. It is essential that women receive a diagnosis since it will help them better comprehend their struggles and help them manage their symptoms. Many women report that they feel more at ease after receiving their diagnosis, allowing them to stop beating themselves up over the small things they cannot manage. It can also help them reframe their issues and help them focus on the things that matter (Waite 2010). As women age and approach menopausal, their hormone levels can change and ADHD symptoms could worsen. This makes it more difficult for them to be diagnosed and treated, as they're often misdiagnosed as an anxiety or mood disorder, and their symptoms are dismissed as “hormonal” or “that time of the month.” Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on self-esteem of women, and her relationships with her family and friends. Symptoms may interfere with a woman's daily routine that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. She may feel she can't refuse to be around people which causes her to burden herself and feel resentful towards the people closest to her. She may find it difficult to organize her home and work life, leading to missing appointments and lost files. She can also be more easily triggered by rejection so she may be more likely to be defensive and snap at those she is in love with. 2. Rejection Sensitivity Rejection sensitivity is a condition that makes you feel extremely when you are rejected, whether it is real or perceived. A disagreement with a partner, or a negative comment from a co-worker at work could trigger you. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become overwhelmed and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result can hurt your relationships and self-esteem. Rejection sensitivity can also cause anxiety, depression and mood swings. While it's often associated with ADHD Rejection sensitiveness 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 conditions like borderline personality disorder may be a sign of these symptoms too. adhd in women uk with RSD may view events through a filter that makes them appear darker or dimmer than they actually are. This can cause people to interpret things as rejection related, even though they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a hard to control your emotions and that's why it's crucial to have coping strategies that are healthy to deal with this. Read the articles below to learn more about rejection sensitivity. Although there isn't a cure for RSD but it is possible to manage your symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can utilize coping strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps modify your negative thought patterns. You can also develop mindfulness and build a network of support to decrease your chance of experiencing negative reactions to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD and help you live a happier and more satisfying life. Avoid toxic relationships, as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you're in a abusive relationship, seek counseling to discover the best method to leave. This can lower the risk of experiencing feelings of rejection, such as 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 it difficult to maintain a healthy relationship. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behaviors. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at greater risk of experiencing these sexual issues than their non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can cause feelings of shame and guilt which can have a negative effect on the quality of their relationships and overall wellbeing. In one study, those with ADHD were found to be more likely than those with ADHD to have adventurous sexual interest. This was the case for both males and females. This is probably due to the increased levels of impulsivity which can make them more likely to act on sexual thoughts and desires. The study revealed that females who have adhd are more likely to indulge in paraphilic fantasies and behaviors. This included bondage, submissive roles, and sex with strangers. It was also common for them to go to sex clubs and parties. Females and males with adhd had a higher risk of infidelity than people without the disorder. This was due to their lack of control of their impulses and alcohol withdrawal. This could be due to their higher levels of insecurity and being misunderstood, or misjudged by their partners. The survey asked participants to describe their experiences with extra-partner affairs and sexual relations that were not contraceptive. Table 6 provides the results of this section. The study also utilized the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19), which asked participants to describe their sexual issues. The questionnaire consists of 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored on a 5-point scale, from 1 (never to 5) (very frequently)). The higher the score, the more symptomatology there is. adhd in young women -19 was used to assess the sexual behaviours of adults who have and those without ADHD. These findings are important due to the fact that the psychosexual effects of people with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been connected to sexual dysfunctions such as STI's and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction infidelity that begins at the onset of adulthood and adolescence and risky sexual behaviors. 4. Relationships Many people with high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clarity in communication, and miscommunication caused by symptoms such as inattention and forgetfulness can cause frustration, resentment, and conflict in the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be made easier by a network of family and friends who understand. It is also important to note that people with ADHD often have difficulty listening. They are often interrupted by their impulsive behavior, or their own thoughts, which may cause them to miss the main point of a conversation. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which can cause them to shut out conversations or do something else while someone else is talking. These battles can create an unending cycle where the person who isn't ADHD is overwhelmed with anger and stress, while the ADHD partner feels that they are not understood. They then tend to become more introverted, and the problem escalates from there. Women with high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their everyday life. They might experience feelings of shame and low self-esteem because of their unpredictable and unorganized behavior, or feel that they're unable to keep up with their household chores and bills. They may also experience mood swings and rejection sensitivity as well as low sexual drive. It is essential that those who suffer from ADHD seek treatment and seek help. It is crucial that the people closest to them, including spouses, understand ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they can develop a plan to reach their goals. The non-ADHD partner can assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD will be focused on organising and finishing the chores at home. Additionally, both partners should be able to communicate clearly and effectively and establish a routine that includes regular sleep patterns, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. It is important to discover ways to make things easier for both spouses, such as sharing household chores or outsource some of those that are difficult for a person with ADHD.