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High Functioning ADHD in Women Women who suffer from high functioning adhd may experience frustration and misunderstandings in their relationships. The symptoms can become more severe during periods of hormonal changes, such as menstrual cycles and pregnancy. Many girls and women resort to compensatory strategies, masking their symptoms and impairments which may delay the time to referral. This group of patients faces particular challenges that must be taken into account when treating them. 1. Insecurities about self-esteem The emotional and social issues that accompany ADHD can leave women feeling low. Even when they're successful and have a good time, it's easy for them to feel like a failure because of things they cannot control. This can lead to an endless feeling of being overwhelmed and inadequate. This can have a negative impact on their mental well-being. Girls with untreated ADHD are more at risk of chronic low self-esteem, anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they're at increased risk of single-parenting children with ADHD, financial crises and underemployment. They're also more likely than others to be afflicted by eating disorders and pass on their bad habits to their children. It is essential that women receive a diagnosis since it will help them better understand their struggles and help them manage their symptoms. Many women report feeling more confident after receiving the diagnosis. They are no longer berating themselves over things they aren't able to control. 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 can make it harder to diagnose 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.” Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating impacts on a woman's self-esteem, and her relationships with friends and family. The symptoms can affect daily routines, leaving her feeling exhausted and angry. She might feel that she is unable to say no to people, leading her to overburden herself and become resentful of the people closest to her. She might have difficulty organizing her work and home life, which can lead to delayed appointments and lost documents. She could be more easily angered when she is not liked and is more likely to snap at people she loves. 2. Rejection Sensitivity Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel intensely when you're being rejected, whether real or perceived. You might be triggered by an argument with your partner or a negative review from a colleague at work. Your brain's defense mechanisms naturally become over-stimulated and the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that result can hurt your relationships and self-esteem. The sensitivity to rejection can also result in 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 how you respond to them. The symptoms can also be seen in other mental health disorders like borderline personality disorder (BPD). People with RSD may view events through an eye that makes them appear more dark or dimmer than they actually are. This can cause them to interpret things as being related to rejection, even if they aren't. RSD can also cause you to have a difficult managing your emotions which is why it is important to have healthy coping strategies to manage this. Learn more about rejection sensitivity by reading the articles below: While there is no cure for RSD but it is possible to manage your symptoms with the assistance of an expert in mental health. You can use coping strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help you modify your negative thought patterns. You can also engage in mindfulness and build a network of support to lessen the chance of having negative reactions to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD and help you lead a more pleasant and satisfying life. It is also essential to avoid toxic relationships as they can cause symptoms to become worse. If you're in an abusive relationship, get counseling to learn the best way to leave. This can help you reduce your risk of feelings of rejection, such as depression and anxiety. You can also increase your self-esteem by creating healthy relationships. This will allow you to feel more confident about your abilities and provide you with a more realistic perspective on the world around you. 3. Sexuality ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship difficult. This can result in sexual dysfunctions and risky sexual behavior. Research suggests that women suffering from high functioning adhd are at a higher risk of having sexual problems than non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can also cause feelings of shame and guilt which may affect their relationships and overall well-being. In one study, those with ADHD were found to be more likely than people without ADHD to be sexually adventurous. curiosity. This was the case for males and females. This is likely due to their higher levels of impulsivity, which makes them more likely to act upon their sexual desires and ideas. In particular, the study showed that females with adhd were more likely to engage in paraphilic sex fantasies and behaviors. This included submissive role play, bondage and sexual contact with strangers. They also attended sex parties and more clubs. Both males and females with adhd had a higher risk of infidelity than those who did not have the disorder. This is due to their poor impulse control and alcohol-related disinhibition, as well as their desire for sensation. This could be due to their higher levels of insecurity, and feeling misunderstood or criticized 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 for this section. The study also used the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which asked participants to discuss their problematic sexual behavior. The questionnaire is comprised of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using a five-point scale, ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). The higher the score the more symptomatology there is. Home -19 was used in order to compare sexual behaviors between adults with ADHD and those who do not. These results are important due to the fact that the psychosexual effects of people with ADHD have not been studied extensively. 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 in their relationships with loved ones. Lack of clarity in communication, and misunderstandings due to symptoms like inattention and forgetfulness can result in anger, resentment and even conflict within the relationship. A strong group of family and friends members who understand can be beneficial for maintaining healthy relationships. It is also important to keep in mind that people suffering from ADHD often have difficulty listening. They are easily interrupted by their impulsive behavior or own thoughts, which could cause them to miss the point of an exchange. People with ADHD may also have issues multitasking, which could cause them to mute conversations or to do something else while another person is talking. These battles can create a cycle where the non-ADHD partner becomes overwrought with anger and stress and the ADHD partner feels misunderstood, and defensive. They can then withdraw and the situation can get worse from there. Women with high functioning ADHD often feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of their everyday life. They may experience feelings of shame and low self-esteem because of their chaotic and impulsive behavior, or feel like they can't keep up with their bills and chores. They can also suffer from mood swings and rejection sensitivity and low sexual drive. Because of this, it is crucial for people with ADHD to establish a treatment plan and seek help. It is crucial that those who are closest to them, particularly 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 could take on more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD would focus on organizing and completing chores at home. Both partners should work to improve communication and establish a routine, which includes regular eating patterns, sleeping times, and time to relax and rest. It is essential to discover ways to make things easier for both spouses, such as sharing household chores or outsource some of those which are challenging for people with ADHD.