Here's A Few Facts Regarding High Functioning ADHD In Women High Functioning ADHD in Women

Women who suffer from high functioning adhd can be dissatisfied and often misunderstood by their relationships. Symptoms may be more severe in times of hormonal changes, like the premenstrual or pregnancy cycles.

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

This group of patients faces specific challenges that must be considered when treating them.

1. Self-esteem issues

Women can feel depressed by the emotional and social challenges of ADHD. Even if they're successful, it is easy to feel like they're failing because of the things they can't change. This can create an unending cycle of feeling overwhelmed and unsatisfied. This can have a negative effect on their mental health.

Girls who aren't treated for ADHD are at higher risk of chronic low self-esteem, anxiety, teen pregnancy, depression, and addiction to drugs. As adults, they are at a higher risk of becoming single-parents to a child with ADHD and experiencing financial crisis or unemployment. They're also more likely to struggle with eating disorders, and their negative patterns can pass down to their children.

It's crucial that women get a diagnosis as it will help them better comprehend their struggles and manage their symptoms. Many women report that they feel more empowered after receiving their diagnosis, which allows them to stop blaming themselves for the small things they cannot control. It can also help reframe their problems and refocus them on what is important (Waite 2010).

As women age and move towards menopausal age, their hormone levels change and ADHD symptoms can get worse. This can make it difficult for them to be diagnosed and treated, as they're often misdiagnosed as having anxiety or mood disorder, and the symptoms are dismissed as "hormonal" or "that time of the month."

Having untreated adult ADHD can have devastating consequences on a woman's self-esteem, and her relationships with family and friends. Symptoms may interfere with women's daily routines, leaving her irritable and exhausted. She might feel that she is unable to refuse to be around people which causes her to burden herself and become resentful of the people closest to her. It could be difficult to manage her work and home life, leading to missing appointments and lost files. She could be more prone to being angered when she is not liked and is more likely to lash out at people she loves.

2. Rejection Sensitivity

Rejection sensitivity is a condition that causes you to feel intensely when you're rejected, whether it is real or perceived. You could be triggered by an argument with your partner or a negative comment from a coworker at work. The brain's natural defense mechanisms are overstimulated, resulting in thoughts or feelings, and beliefs that could harm your self-esteem and relationships. Rejection sensitivity can also lead to depression, anxiety 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 the way you react to them. The symptoms can also be found in other mental health conditions, including borderline personality disorder (BPD).

People suffering from RSD might see events through filters that make them appear darker or dimmer than they actually are. This causes them to interpret things as being related to rejection, even though they're not. RSD can cause you to be unable to control your emotions. This is why it is essential to develop healthy coping strategies to manage RSD.

Read the articles below to learn more about the sensitivity to rejection.

Although there is adhd in adult women for RSD it is possible to manage the symptoms with the help of a mental healthcare professional. You can utilize coping techniques like cognitive behavior therapy to alter your negative thinking patterns. You can also create an emotional support network and practice mindfulness to lower your risk of reacting negatively to rejection. This can help you overcome your RSD to live a more fulfilling and happy life. It is also crucial 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 will reduce the risk of feeling depressed and anxious like depression and anxiety. By focusing on healthy relationships and relationships, you can boost your self-esteem. This will help you feel more confident about your abilities and give you a more realistic perspective on the world around you.

3. Sexuality

ADHD symptoms can make maintaining a healthy relationship challenging. This often leads to sexual dysfunctions and risky behaviours. Research suggests that women with high functioning adhd are at greater risk of experiencing these sexual problems than non-ADHD counterparts. These behaviors can result in feelings of shame and guilt which can have a negative impact on their relationships as well as their overall health.

In one study, people with ADHD were found to be more likely than those with ADHD to exhibit a sexual interest. This was true for both males and females. This is probably due to the greater impulsivity levels that can cause them to be more likely to act on sexual thoughts and desires. The study found that females who have adhd are more likely to engage in sexual fantasies and actions. This included submissive roles, bondage and sex with strangers. It was also more common for them to attend sex clubs and parties.

Both women and men who suffer from adhd were more likely to be in a relationship than those who did not have the disorder. This is due to their weak impulse control and alcohol disinhibition. This could also be because of their higher rates of insecurity and being misunderstood or mistreated 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.

The study also utilized the Hypersexuality-Symptom Inventory-19 (HBI-19), which asked participants about their sexual issues. The questionnaire comprises 19 items, and is divided into three subscales. Each item is scored on a 5-point scale, between 1 (never to 5 (very frequently)). The more high the score, the more symptoms are present. The HBI-19 was used in order to assess sexual behavior between people who suffer from ADHD and those who do not.

These results are important because the psychosexual outcomes of people with ADHD have been scarcely studied. They have been associated with sexual dysfunctions, such as STI's and unwanted pregnancy, relationship dissatisfaction infidelity that begins at the onset of adulthood and adolescence and risky sexual behaviors.

4. Relationships

Many people who have high functioning ADHD struggle with their romantic relationships. Lack of clarity in communication and misunderstandings due to symptoms like forgetfulness and inattention can cause anger, resentment and a conflict in the relationship. A supportive 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 that those with ADHD have a difficult time listening. They are often interrupted by impulsive behavior or their own thoughts, which can cause them to lose the purpose of a conversation. People with ADHD might also have difficulty multitasking, which can cause them to shut out conversations or to do something else while someone else is talking.

These battles can create a vicious cycle where the person who is not ADHD is overwhelmed with stress and resentment and the ADHD person feels untrusted. They may then become more withdrawn, and the problem escalates from there.


Women with high-functioning ADHD are often exhausted and overwhelmed by their everyday demands. They might experience feelings of shame and low self-esteem because of their unpredictable and unorganized behavior, or feel as if they can't keep up with their chores and bills. They may also experience mood swings and sensitivity to rejection and low sexual drive.

It is crucial that people with ADHD find a treatment 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 the person they love. Together, they can establish clear expectations and establish boundaries. Then, they can come up with an action plan to reach their goals. The non-ADHD partner can assume more financial responsibility while the person with ADHD is focused on organizing and completing housework.

Both partners should work to improve communication and establish an established routine that includes regular sleeping patterns, meal times, and time to relax and rest. It is also essential to find ways to make things simpler for both parties by dividing household chores, or outsourcing some of the tasks that are difficult for the person with ADHD for example, hiring cleaning services or using apps to control costs.