High Functioning ADHD in Women

Women with high functioning adhd are frustrated and misunderstood in their relationships. The symptoms may increase during times of hormonal change, such as the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

Many girls and women are forced to resort to compensatory strategies, concealing their impairments and symptoms which may delay the time until referral.

This group of patients faces specific problems that must be taken into account when treating them.

1. Self-Esteem is not a strong point.

Women can be depressed due to the emotional and social challenges of ADHD. Even when they're successful it's easy to feel like a failure due to things they can't control. click to investigate can create an endless cycle of feeling like they are constantly overwhelmed and never good enough which can affect their self-esteem and mental health.

Girls who don't have treatment for ADHD are at greater risk of having low self-esteem for a long time and anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression, and abuse of substances. As adults, they're at greater risk of being parents on their own to a child suffering from ADHD and also facing financial difficulties 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 essential that girls receive a diagnosis since it will allow them to better understand their struggles and manage their symptoms. Many women report that they feel much more confident after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to stop blaming themselves for the small things they cannot manage. It can also help them reframe their issues and help them focus on the things that matter (Waite 2010).

As women age and approach menopause their hormone levels may change and ADHD symptoms may worsen. This makes it more difficult for them to be diagnosed and treated, as they're often misdiagnosed as an anxiety or mood disorder, and their symptoms are dismissed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."

Untreated adult ADHD can have devastating effects on a woman’s self-esteem and relationships with her family and friends. The symptoms can affect a woman's daily routine that can leave her feeling angry and exhausted. It is possible that she can't refuse people, leading her to feel overwhelmed and resentful of people around her. She may find it difficult to manage her work and home life, leading to missed appointments and lost files. She may be more prone to being affected by rejection, making her more likely to snap at people she likes.

2. Rejection Sensitivity

Rejection sensitivity causes you to feel very hurt when rejected. This can be real or perceived. A disagreement with your partner or an unkind comment from a coworker at work can trigger you. Your brain's natural defense mechanisms are overwhelmed and the thoughts and feelings that result could harm your self-esteem and relationships. The sensitivity to rejection can also cause anxiety, depression and mood swings.

Although it's often linked to ADHD Rejection sensitivity is actually a sign of emotional dysregulation that affects the way your brain handles emotions and how you react to them. The symptoms can also be found in other mental health conditions like borderline personality disorder (BPD).

RSD patients can see events through a filter, which makes them appear darker or brighter than they are. This can cause them to perceive and interpret things as rejection-related, even when they are not. RSD can make you incapable of controlling your emotions. This is why it is important to develop healthy coping mechanisms to deal with RSD.

You can find out more about the issue of rejection sensitivity by reading the articles below:

Although there isn't a cure for RSD it is possible to manage symptoms with the assistance of a mental health professional. You can employ strategies to cope, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps modify your negative thought patterns. You can also create a support network and practice mindfulness to reduce the chance of reacting negatively to rejection. This will help you discover ways to overcome your RSD, so you can live a happier and more fulfilled life. Avoid toxic relationships, because they can cause more symptoms. If you are in an abusive relationship, seek out counseling to find out how you can leave. This will help reduce your risk of feelings of rejection, like depression and anxiety. By focusing on healthy relationships and relationships, you can boost your self-esteem. 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 the maintenance of a healthy relationship a challenge. This can lead to sexual dysfunctions or risky behavior. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at higher risk of having sexual problems than non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can cause feelings of shame and guilt which may negatively impact their relationships and well-being.

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. Both males and women were affected. This could be due to their higher levels of impulsivity, which makes them more likely to act upon their sexual desires and thoughts. The study found that women with adhd are more likely to engage paraphilic fantasies and behavior. This included submissive role play bondage, sexual contact with strangers. It was also more typical for them to go out to party and sex clubs.

Both women and men with adhd were more likely to be infidelity than those who didn't have the disorder. This was due to their inability to control their impulses, alcohol disinhibition and sensation-seeking. It could also be a result of their higher rates of anxiety and feeling misunderstood by their partners. The survey also asked participants to share their experiences with extra-partner sexual relationships and sexual encounters without contraception. Table 6 provides the results of this section.

The study also utilized the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19) which surveyed participants to describe their problematic sexual behavior. The questionnaire consists of 19 items that are divided into three subscales. Each item is scored using 5 points, ranging between 1 (never to 5) (very often)). The higher the score, the more symptomatology it has. The HBI-19 was developed in order to assess sexual behavior between adults with ADHD and those without.

These findings are significant, because the psychosexual results for adults with ADHD were rarely studied. They have been linked to sexual dysfunctions like unwanted pregnancy and STIs, relationship dissatisfaction and adult-onset infidelity as well as dangerous sexual behavior.

4. Relationships

Many people who have high functioning ADHD experience difficulties in their relationships with loved ones. A lack of clear communication, and misunderstandings due to symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention can cause frustration, resentment, and even conflict within the relationship. A supportive network of friends and family members who are able to understand each other can be helpful for maintaining healthy relationships.

It is crucial to keep in mind that people with ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are often interrupted by their impulsive behavior or own thoughts, which can cause them to miss the main point of the conversation. People with ADHD are more likely to struggle with multitasking as well and can cause them to become disengaged of conversations or engage in other things while someone else is talking.

These struggles can lead to a vicious cycle in which the person who isn't ADHD is overwhelmed with anger and stress, while the ADHD partner feels misunderstood. The issue could escalate from there as they become more isolated.

Women who have high-functioning ADHD are often overwhelmed and exhausted by their everyday demands. They may feel low self-esteem or shame because of their impulsive, chaotic behavior. Or they might feel like they cannot keep up with their obligations and bills. They may also feel mood swings, sensitivity to rejection and low sex desire.


This is why it is crucial for people suffering from ADHD to develop an effective treatment plan and seek out help. It is also crucial for those close to them particularly spouses, to be aware of the condition and how it affects their loved ones. They can work together to set clear boundaries and expectations and then formulate an action plan to can achieve those objectives. The non-ADHD spouse could take on more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and completing the housework.

In addition, both parties should work to communicate more effectively and clearly, and establish a routine that includes regular sleep patterns, meal times, and time for relaxation and rest. It is also essential to find ways to make things easier for both of you, such as sharing household chores or outsourcing some tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD for example, hiring cleaning services or utilizing apps to manage costs.