Relationships

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Adults with ADHD and Relationships

Good relationships take a lot of work, whether they are with a spouse, a significant other, a child, or a friend. When one of the people involved has ADHD, there can be additional challenges. Impulsiveness and forgetfulness can be major hindrances to building trusting relationships. And if you are like most people with ADHD, you have received many negative messages about your behavior, and your sense of self-worth may have been adversely affected.

If you are the non-ADHD partner in a relationship, it is challenging to define your expectations and roles in a manner that is supportive but not disabling for your partner who has ADHD. Many people have been down this path and learned valuable lessons on coping with ADHD within a relationship. The articles and information below should help you find answers.

Your CHADD Adult Toolkit Includes These Items to Help You with “Relationships”

Social Skills

ARTICLES

Lifestyle and Related Issues in Adult ADHD (pdf) - Adults with ADHD typically face major lifestyle impairments as the result of hyperactive, impulsive, and inattentive symptoms. Even with cognitive and medical treatment, many struggle on a daily basis due to poor organization, inconsistent follow through, poor financial management, difficulty balancing work and home responsibilities, and quality of relationships.

The Social-Emotional Landscape — Social skills are a perennial issue for families and adults affected by the disorder.

Marriage and Long-Term Relationships

ARTICLES

Dealing with the Impact of ADHD on Marriage (pdf) — While any marriage has its challenging moments, when one or both spouses have ADHD, those times only seem to multiply.

How to Succeed in Marriage with ADHD (pdf) — How can a couple improve their marriage when ADHD is a factor?

Snapshots of an ADHD Marriage (pdf) — Diagnosis and treatment of ADHD can make all the difference in the quality of your marriage

Partners in Life, Partners in ADHD Awareness — Ensuring a spouse is diagnosed and receives effective treatment is a shared responsibility.

AUDIO TRAINING

Succeeding in marriage and other intimate relationships dealing with ADHD –
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Download the handouts

In this institute, the presenters will provide practical advice for succeeding in marriage and other intimate relationships dealing with ADHD. After reviewing the impact of ADHD on relationships, the presenters will discuss six strategies for couples to improve their relationships: optimize ADHD education, maximize medication outcomes, improve communication, learn new skills and habits, cultivate romance, and cool “hot spots.”

Family Relationships

ONLINE TRAINING

Learn everything about ADHD from the preschool to adulthood through our Parent to Parent online/on demand class.  Receive a $25 discount on the regular registeration fee for CHADD online/on-demand Parent to Parent Class.  Use the code SILVER1 when you register for a class to receive your discount.. (Local community classes are not included in this offer.)

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