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High Functioning ADHD in Women Women with high functioning adhd experience frustration and miscommunication in their relationships. The symptoms may be more severe during times of hormonal changes like premenstrual and menstrual cycles. Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies to hide their impairments and symptoms can delay referral. This group of patients has particular problems which must be considered when treating them. 1. Lack of self-esteem Women can feel depressed by the emotional and social issues of ADHD. Even when they are successful, it is easy to feel like an failure due to things they can't change. This can result in a vicious cycle where they are constantly overwhelmed and never good enough and can take a toll on their mental health and self-esteem. Girls who don't have treatment for ADHD are at higher risk of having low self-esteem for a long time, anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression and substance abuse. As adults, they are at a higher risk of becoming single-parents to a child with ADHD and facing financial hardship or unemployment. They're also more likely to suffer with eating disorders, and their negative habits can be passed on to their children. It is crucial for girls to receive a diagnosis, because it will give them an understanding of their struggles and enable them to manage their symptoms more efficiently. Many women say that they feel more empowered after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to not be a victim of the little things they are unable to manage. It can also help them reframe their problems and refocus them on the things that matter (Waite 2010). As women age and move towards menopause their hormone levels may change and ADHD symptoms could worsen. It is often difficult to identify and treat people suffering from ADHD due to the fact that their symptoms can be incorrectly identified and dismissed as “hormonal”, “that time of month” or “an anxiety disorder”. Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on self-esteem of women, and her relationships with family and friends. The symptoms can disrupt daily routines, leaving her exhausted and irritable. It is possible that she cannot say no to people, leading her to overburden herself and feel resentful towards people close to her. She might have difficulty to manage her work and home life, which can lead to missing appointments and documents getting lost. She may be more easily affected by rejection, making her more likely to lash out at people she loves. 2. Rejection Sensitivity Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel deeply hurt when rejected. This could be real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or a negative comment from a colleague at work can trigger you. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become overwhelmed and the thoughts and feelings that result could harm your relationships and self-esteem. You can also experience depression, anxiety, and mood fluctuations as a result of rejection sensitivity. Although it's often linked to ADHD, rejection sensitivity is actually a symptom of emotional dysregulation that affects the way your brain manages emotions and how you respond to them. The symptoms can also be found in other mental health conditions, including borderline personality disorder (BPD). RSD patients might perceive events through a filter, making them appear darker or brighter than they are. This can lead people to interpret things as being related to rejection even if they aren't. RSD can cause you to be incapable of controlling your emotions. This is why it is important to develop healthy coping strategies to manage RSD. You can find out more about the issue of rejection sensitivity by reading the following articles: While there is no cure for RSD, it's possible to manage your symptoms with the help of a mental health professional. You can use strategies to cope, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps modify your negative thought patterns. You can also build an alliance of support and practice mindfulness to lessen the chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD, so you can lead a more pleasant and fulfilling life. Avoid toxic relationships, as they can exacerbate your symptoms. If you're in an abusive relationship, get counsel to find out the best method to leave. This will reduce the risk of feeling depressed and anxious like depression and anxiety. By focusing on relationships that are healthy that you are in, you will increase your self-esteem. This will make you feel more confident in your capabilities and provide a realistic perspective on life. 3. Sexuality ADHD symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions or risky sexual behaviors. Women with adhd that is high functioning may be at greater risk for sexual problems. These behaviors can result in feelings of shame and guilt which can have a negative effect on their relationships and overall well-being. In one study, people with ADHD were found to be more likely than those without ADHD to exhibit a sexual fascination. This was the case for both males and females. This could be due to their higher levels of impulsivity which can make them more likely to act upon their sexual desires and thoughts. The study found that women who have adhd are more likely to engage paraphilic fantasies and behavior. This included bondage, submissive roles and sexing with strangers. They also went to sex events and nightclubs more often. Both men and women with adhd were more likely be infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. adhd in adult women test was due to inability to control their impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition, as well as their desire for sensation. This is likely due to their higher levels of insecurity and being misunderstood, or misjudged by their partners. The survey also asked participants to share their experiences with extra-partner sexual affairs and sexual intercourse without use of contraception. Table 6 shows the results of this section. The study also used the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire of participants about their sexual issues. adhd in adult women test is comprised of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using 5 points, ranging from 1 (never to 5 (very frequently)). The more high the score, the more symptomatology is present. The HBI-19 was used in order to evaluate sexual behaviors between people who suffer from ADHD and those who do not. These findings are significant due to the fact that the psychosexual effects of adults with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions, such as STI's and unwanted pregnancies, relationship problems, infidelity that begins at the onset of adulthood and adolescence and risky sexual behavior. 4. Relationships Many people who have high functioning ADHD have issues with their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clarity in communication and misunderstandings triggered by symptoms such as forgetfulness and inattention can lead to frustration, anger and conflict in the relationship. A strong network of friends and family members who can understand is beneficial for maintaining healthy relationships. It is important to remember that people who suffer from ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are easily distracted by their own thoughts or impulsive behavior that could result in them missing out on the primary reason for a discussion. 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 someone else is talking. These struggles can result in a vicious cycle in which the non-ADHD partner becomes overwrought with stress and resentment, and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood, and defensive. They then tend to become more introverted and the issue can escalate from there. Women with high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by their everyday demands. They might experience feelings of guilt and low self-esteem as a result of their impulsive and disorganized behavior, or feel as if they can't keep up with their chores and bills. They can also suffer from mood swings and rejection sensitivity, as well as low sex drive. It is important that those who suffer from ADHD find a treatment and seek assistance. It is important that those who are closest to them, including spouses, are aware of ADHD and how it affects the person they love. They can collaborate to set clear expectations and boundaries and then formulate an action plan to can achieve those objectives. For instance the partner who is not ADHD could be more involved in the financial responsibilities, while the person with ADHD might be focused on completing chores and organizing the house. Additionally, both partners should be able to communicate efficiently and clearly and establish a routine that includes regular sleep patterns, meal times and time for relaxation 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 a person with ADHD.