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High Functioning ADHD in Women Women with high functioning adhd are dissatisfied and often misunderstood by their relationships. Symptoms may be more severe during periods of hormonal changes, like the premenstrual or menstrual cycles. Many girls and women resorting to compensatory strategies in order to cover their symptoms and impairments can delay the time for referral. This group of patients faces particular issues that need to be taken into consideration when treating them. 1. Insecurities about self-esteem Women can be depressed by the emotional and social challenges of ADHD. Even if they're successful, it's easy to feel like a failure because of things they cannot change. This can lead to a vicious cycle where they feel constantly overwhelmed and never 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 chance of developing chronic low self-esteem and teenage pregnancy. They also have a greater chance of depression, anxiety, and abuse of substances. 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 are also more likely than others to be afflicted by eating disorders and to pass on their bad habits to their children. It's essential that women receive a diagnosis since it will allow them to better understand their struggles and help them manage their symptoms. Many women say that they feel more at ease after receiving their diagnosis, allowing them to not be a victim of the little things they can't control. It can also help to reframe their issues and help them focus on what is important (Waite 2010). As women age and enter menopausal age, their hormone levels could change, and ADHD symptoms could worsen. This can make it difficult for them to be diagnosed and treated because they're often misdiagnosed as having anxiety or mood disorder, and their symptoms are dismissed as “hormonal” or “that time of the month.” Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating impacts on a woman's self-esteem, and her relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can affect daily routines, making her exhausted and irritable. It is possible that she cannot say no to anyone, leading her to overburden herself and become resentful of people close to her. She may find it difficult to manage the work and home lives of her children, leading to missed appointments and lost files. She could be more easily affected by rejection, making her more likely to snap at those she likes. 2. Rejection Sensitivity The sensitivity to rejection causes you to feel deeply hurt when rejected. It could be real or perceived. It could be caused by an argument with your partner or a negative review from a colleague at work. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are triggered which can trigger thoughts, feelings and beliefs that can affect your self-esteem and relationships. Sensitivity to rejection can result in anxiety, depression and mood fluctuations. Although it's often attributed to ADHD, rejection sensitiveness is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation, which affects the way your brain manages emotions and how you react to them. The symptoms can also be seen in other mental health disorders such as borderline personality disorder (BPD). RSD patients might perceive events through a filter, which makes them appear darker or brighter than they really are. This causes them to perceive and interpret things as being related to rejection, even though they're not. RSD can also cause you to have a difficult to control your emotions which is why it's important to have healthy coping strategies to handle this. Check out the following articles to find out more about the sensitivity to rejection. Although there isn't a cure for RSD it is possible to treat symptoms with the help of a mental health professional. You can utilize coping strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps you modify your negative thought patterns. You can also build an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to reduce your chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you find ways to overcome your RSD, so you can lead a more pleasant and satisfying life. Avoid toxic relationships, because they can cause more symptoms. If you are in an abusive relationship, seek counseling to learn how to safely leave. This can lower the chance of rejection related feelings such as depression and anxiety. You can also improve your self-esteem by focusing on developing healthy relationships. This will help you feel more confident in your capabilities and provide an honest view of life. 3. Sexuality ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship challenging. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Women who have high functioning adhd might be more at risk for sexual problems. These behaviors can lead to feelings of shame and guilt and can have a negative effect on the quality of their relationships and overall wellbeing. adhd in women checklist looked at adults with ADHD and found that they were more likely to have adventurous sexual interests than those without the disorder. This was the case for both males and females. This was likely due to their more impulsive levels, which makes them more likely to act upon their sexual desires and ideas. Particularly, the study revealed that females with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic masturbation fantasies and behaviors. This included bondage, submissive roles and sexing with strangers. It was also more typical for them to go to party and sex clubs. Females and males with adhd had a higher rate of infidelity than those without the disorder. This was due to their lack of control of impulses and alcohol-related disinhibition. This is likely due to their greater levels of anxiety and a feeling of being misunderstood or criticized by their partners. The survey asked participants about their experiences with extra-partner affairs and sexual relations without contraception. Table 6 shows the results of this section. In the final analysis, the study utilized the Hypersexuality Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) to inquire from participants about their sexual issues. The questionnaire is comprised of 19 items, which are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored on 5 points, ranging between 1 (never to 5) (very often)). The higher the score the more symptomatology it has. The HBI-19 was used to compare the sexual behaviors of adults who have and those without ADHD. These findings are important because the psychosexual outcomes of adults with ADHD are not well-studied. They have been connected to sexual dysfunctions like STI's, unwanted pregnancies, relationship problems, adult and adolescent onset infidelity and risky sexual behaviors. 4. Relationships Many people who have high functioning ADHD have trouble in their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clarity in communication and misunderstandings caused by symptoms such as forgetfulness and inattention can result in anger, resentment, and conflict within the relationship. A strong group of family and friends members who are able to understand each other can be beneficial for maintaining healthy relationships. It is crucial to keep in mind, too, that people who suffer from ADHD have a difficult time listening. They can be interrupted easily by their impulsive behavior or own thoughts, which could cause them to miss the main point of an exchange. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which can lead them to tune out conversations or to do something else while someone else is talking. These battles can create a vicious cycle where the partner who is not ADHD becomes overwhelmed with anxiety and anger, and the ADHD partner feels that they are not understood. The problem can escalate from there as they become more isolated. Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by the demands of their lives. They might experience feelings of guilt and low self-esteem as a result of their chaotic and impulsive behavior, or feel that they're unable to keep up with their chores and bills. They might also be suffering from mood swings and rejection sensitivity and low sex drive. For these reasons, it is vital for those with ADHD to find an effective treatment plan and seek assistance. It is important that those who are closest to them, especially spouses, understand ADHD and how it affects the person they love. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they will come up with an action plan to reach their goals. The non-ADHD partner can take on more financial responsibilities while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and completing the chores at home. In addition, both partners should be able to communicate clearly and effectively, and establish a routine that includes regular sleep patterns, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It is essential to discover ways to make things easier for both of you, like dividing household tasks or outsourcing some of those which are challenging for people with ADHD.