women and adhd in Women
Women who suffer from high functioning adhd can be frustrated and misunderstood in their relationships. The symptoms can become more severe during periods of hormonal changes, like the pre-menstrual period and pregnancy.
Many women and girls resort to compensatory strategies in order to cover their symptoms and impairments could delay the time for referral.
This group of patients has specific problems that must be taken into account when treating them.
1. Lack of Self-Esteem
The social and emotional challenges associated with ADHD can cause women to feel low. Even when they are successful, it's easy to feel like they're an failure due to things they aren't able to change. This can result in a vicious cycle where they feel overwhelmed and never quite good enough, which can take a toll on their self-esteem and mental health.
Girls who suffer from ADHD who are not treated are at a higher risk for chronic low self-esteem as well as teen pregnancy. They also have a higher chance of depression, anxiety, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're at greater risk of being the sole parent to a child with ADHD and financial difficulties, as well as underemployment. They're also more likely to suffer with eating disorders, and their unhealthy patterns can pass down to their children.
It's crucial for girls to receive a diagnosis, because it will give them a better understanding of their struggles and allow them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women say that they feel much more empowered after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to stop beating themselves up over the little things they are unable to control. It can also help them reframe their struggles as strengths and help them focus their attention on what matters most (Waite 2010,).
As women age and approach menopausal age, their hormone levels could change and ADHD symptoms could worsen. This can make it harder for them to be identified and treated, as they're often misdiagnosed as having anxiety or mood disorder, and their symptoms are viewed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."
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 everyday routines, leaving them frustrated and exhausted. She might feel like she isn't able to refuse people, leading her to feel overwhelmed and resentful towards people who are around her. It can be difficult to manage her work and home life, which can lead to missed appointments and lost documents. She may be more prone to being angered when she is not liked, making her more likely to lash out at people she likes.
2. Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is a condition that makes you feel extremely when you are rejected, whether real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner, or an unkind comment from a colleague at work can trigger you. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms are overwhelmed and the thoughts emotions, feelings, and beliefs that result can hurt your self-esteem and relationships. There are also depression, anxiety and mood swings as a result of the sensitivity to rejection.
Rejection sensitivity, while typically associated with ADHD is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation. This impacts how your brain handles emotions and how you respond to them. Other mental health issues like borderline personality disorder could also be a cause for these symptoms.
People with RSD may see events through an eye that makes them appear more dark or dimmer than they actually are. This could cause people to interpret things as being related to rejection, even if they aren't. RSD can make you unable to control your emotions. This is why it is essential to develop healthy coping mechanisms to deal with RSD.
Learn more about rejection sensitivity by reading these articles:
Although there isn't a cure for RSD however, you can manage your symptoms with the help of a mental health professional. You can utilize coping techniques like cognitive behavior therapy to change your negative thinking patterns. You can also create a support network and practice mindfulness to lower your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you overcome your RSD so that you can live a more fulfilling and happy life. It is also essential to avoid toxic relationships as they can cause symptoms to become worse. If you're in a abusive relationship, seek counsel to find out the best way to leave. This can lower the chance of feeling depressed and anxious such as depression and anxiety. By focusing on healthy relationships that you are in, you will increase your self-esteem. This will make you feel more confident about your abilities and give a realistic perspective on life.
3. Sexuality
ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship challenging. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Women with adhd that is high functioning are at a higher risk of developing sexual problems. adhd in older women can also result in feelings of shame and guilt, which can have a negative impact on their relationships and overall wellbeing.
In one study, people with ADHD were found to be more likely than people without ADHD to have adventurous sexual curiosity. Both genders were affected. This was likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity which makes them more likely to act on sexual desires and ideas. Particularly, the study revealed that women with adhd were more likely to indulge in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and behaviors. This included submissive role play and bondage as well as sex with strangers. It was also common for them to attend party and sex clubs.
Both females and males suffering from adhd had a greater rate of infidelity than those without the disorder. This was due their poor control of impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition. This was likely also due to their higher rates of anxiety and feeling misunderstood by their partners. The survey also asked participants to report their experiences with extra-partner sexual relationships and sexual encounters without use of contraception. Table 6 summarizes the results of this section.
The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19), which asked participants to describe their problematic sexual behaviors. The questionnaire comprises 19 items that are grouped into three subscales. Each item is scored using five-point scale, starting from 1 (never to 5 (very frequently)). The more high the score, the more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was used to compare the sexual behavior of adults with and without ADHD.
These results are important because the psychosexual experiences of adults with ADHD have not been studied extensively. They have been linked with sexual dysfunctions, such as unwanted pregnancy and STIs, relationship dissatisfaction and adult onset infidelity, and risky sexual behaviors.
4. Relationships
Many people with high functioning ADHD struggle with their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clear communication and miscommunication caused by symptoms such as forgetfulness and inattention could result in anger, frustration and conflict in the relationship. Maintaining healthy relationships can be assisted by a supportive network of family and friends who understand.
It is also important to note that people with ADHD are often unable to listen. They are easily interrupted by their impulsive behavior, or their own thoughts, which can cause them to miss the main point of the conversation. People with ADHD are more likely to be struggling with multitasking as well and can cause them to become disengaged of conversations or perform other things while others talk.
These conflicts can result in an unending cycle where the person who is not ADHD becomes overwhelmed with stress and resentment and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood. They then tend to become more withdrawn and the situation can get worse from there.
Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by their everyday demands. They may experience low self-esteem or shame because of their impulsive, disorganized behavior. They may feel like they cannot keep up with their chores and bills. They might also be suffering from mood swings and sensitivity to rejection, as well as low sex drive.
It is important that those with ADHD seek treatment and seek help. It is also essential for their family members, especially spouses, to learn more about the disorder and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can set clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they will come up with an action plan to achieve their goals. The non-ADHD spouse could assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD would focus on organizing and finishing the housework.
Both partners should also strive to improve their communication and establish an established routine that includes regular schedules for sleeping, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. It is also crucial to discover ways to make life easier for both of you for example, sharing household chores or outsourcing some tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD like hiring a cleaning service or utilizing apps to manage costs.