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High Functioning ADHD in Women Women who have high functioning adhd are prone to frustration and miscommunication in their relationships. Symptoms may be more severe in periods of hormonal changes, like the premenstrual or pregnancy periods. 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 specific issues that need to be taken into consideration when treating them. 1. Self-esteem issues The emotional and social issues that accompany ADHD can make women feel low. Even when they're successful, it is easy to feel like they're an failure due to things they cannot change. This can create a vicious cycle where they are constantly overwhelmed and never satisfied, which can take a toll on their self-esteem and mental health. Girls who aren't treated for ADHD are at higher risk of chronic low self-esteem and teen pregnancy, anxiety, depression, and abuse of substances. As adults, they are at greater risk of being single-parents to a child with ADHD and facing financial hardship or unemployment. They're also more likely to be struggling with eating disorders, and their unhealthy patterns could be passed on to their children. It's crucial that women get a diagnosis as it will help them recognize their struggles and help them manage their symptoms. Many women report feeling confident after receiving a diagnosis. They are no longer getting angry about things they cannot manage. It can also help them reframe their struggles as strengths and focus their attention on the things that matter most (Waite 2010,). As women age and move towards menopause, their hormone levels change and ADHD symptoms can get worse. This can make it harder for them to be identified and treated because they're often misdiagnosed as an anxiety or mood disorder, and the symptoms are dismissed as “hormonal” or “that time of the month.” Being diagnosed with untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on a woman's self-esteem, and her relationships with friends and family. The symptoms can affect a woman's daily routine which can make her angry and exhausted. high functioning adhd in women is possible that she cannot say no to people, leading her to overburden herself and become angry with those close to her. She may find it difficult to manage her work and home life, which leads to missed appointments and lost documents. She may also be more easily triggered by rejection therefore she's more likely to react defensively and snap at those she likes. 2. Rejection Sensitivity Rejection sensitivity makes you feel extremely when you are rejected, either real or perceived. You might be triggered by an argument with your partner or a negative comment from a coworker at work. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms become overwhelmed and the thoughts emotions, feelings, and beliefs that result can harm your relationships and self-esteem. Sensitivity to rejection can lead to depression, anxiety and mood swings. While it's often associated with ADHD Rejection sensitivity is actually a symptom of emotional dysregulation, which affects the way your brain handles emotions and the way you react to them. Other mental health issues like borderline personality disorder could also show these symptoms. RSD patients may perceive events through a filter, making them appear brighter or darker than they actually are. This can cause them to perceive and interpret things as if they are related to rejection, even if they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a harder managing your emotions, which is why it is important to have healthy coping strategies to manage this. Check out the following articles to learn more about the sensitivity to rejection. While there is no cure for RSD it is possible to manage symptoms with the help of a mental health professional. You can utilize coping techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also build a support network and practice mindfulness to lower the chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This can aid you in overcoming your RSD to live a more satisfying and happy life. It is also crucial to avoid toxic relationships as they can cause symptoms to become worse. If you're in an abusive relationship, seek out counseling to discover the best way to leave. This will help reduce your risk of rejection-related feelings, such as anxiety and depression. You can also improve your self-esteem by focusing on building healthy relationships. This will allow you to feel more confident in your abilities and provide you with an objective view of the world around you. 3. Sexuality ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Women who have high functioning adhd might be more at risk of having sexual issues. These behaviors can cause feelings of shame and guilt which may negatively impact their relationships and wellbeing. One study surveyed adults with ADHD and found that they were more likely to have adventurous sexual interests than those who did not suffer from the disorder. This was the case for both males and females. This is likely due to the increased levels of impulsivity which could make them more likely to be influenced by sexual ideas and desires. In particular, the study showed that women with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic sex fantasies and actions. This included bondage, submissive roles, and sex with strangers. They also went to sex parties and clubs more often. Both males and females with adhd had a greater rate of infidelity than those without the disorder. This is due to their poor impulse control, alcohol disinhibition and sensation-seeking. This could be due to their higher levels of insecurity, and feeling misunderstood or misjudged by their loved ones. The survey asked participants to describe their experiences with extra-partner relationships and sexual relations without contraception. Table 6 provides the results for this section. The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which asked participants about their problematic sexual behaviors. The questionnaire comprises 19 items, and is divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using five-point scale, starting between 1 (never to 5 (very frequently)). The more high the score, the more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was utilized to assess sexual behavior between people with ADHD and those without. These results are important because the psychosexual outcomes for adults with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions, such as STI's and unplanned pregnancies, relationship problems, adolescent and adult onset infidelity and risky sexual behaviors. 4. Relationships Many people with high functioning ADHD have issues in their relationships with loved ones. A lack of communication, and misunderstandings due to issues like forgetfulness and inattention can result in frustration, 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 remember that those with ADHD frequently have trouble listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior which could result in them missing out on the primary point of a discussion. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which can cause them to tune out conversations or to do something else while another person is talking. These struggles can result in a vicious cycle in which the non-ADHD partner is overwhelmed with anger and stress, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood, and defensive. They can then become more introverted and the issue can escalate from there. Women with high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of daily life. They might experience feelings of low self-esteem and shame because of their impulsive and disorganized behavior, or feel like they can't keep up with their chores and bills. They might also be suffering from mood swings and sensitivity to rejection and low sex drive. Because of this, it is vital for those who suffer from ADHD to find an effective treatment plan and seek out help. adhd in women treatment is essential that those closest to them, particularly spouses, are aware of ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can collaborate to set the right expectations and boundaries and then formulate a plan of how they will achieve their objectives. The non-ADHD spouse could assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and completing chores at home. Both partners must work to improve their communication and create an established routine that includes regular schedules for sleeping, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. It's important to discover ways to make things easier for both partners, such splitting household chores or outsourcing some of those which are challenging for people with ADHD.