Many teenage girls and young women with ADHD come of age feeling different or misunderstood. To fit in, gain acceptance, or feel loved, some engage in sexual activity, mistaking it for intimacy or a gateway to true relationships.Research suggests that women with ADHD are more likely than their neurotypical peers to engage in sexual exploration at a younger age and to have multiple sexual partners.
Their behavior is often an attempt to find validation or soothe the emotional chaos that ADHD can create. For some, it’s a way to fill the void created by low self-esteem or a lack of meaningful connections.Here’s what that looks like for the women with ADHD who have trouble setting boundaries, misjudge risk, and suffer poor self-esteem: In seeking connection, they find themselves in risky encounters without considering the potential consequences.
They tolerate disrespect or unsafe situations to avoid rejection.Many teen girls and women with ADHD are unprepared to handle the consequences of risky behavior, whether it’s dealing with a sexually transmitted disease or an unintended pregnancy.Understanding how ADHD affects decision-making, through education and self-awareness, can empower women to take a step back before acting.
That can mean practicing how to assert your needs and say “no” under pressure to build confidence in relationships, and using checklists to plan safe dates, manage contraception, and schedule health check-ups.[Read: How ADHD Impacts Sex and Marriage]From a young age, females with ADHD endure criticism for being impulsive, disorganized, and/or emotionally labile.