reduction Jump to: Classic Symptoms Troublesome Symptoms for Relationships Tips for Improving Communication The distractibility, disorganization, and impulsivity characteristic of adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can negatively impact multiple areas of life, but the symptoms associated with ADHD can be particularly troubling for relationships. When one or both partners struggle with ADHD, intimate relationships can be damaged by misunderstandings, frustration, and resentment. The good news is that learning about how your ADHD affects the relationship can help you find strategies and tools to improve communication with your partner and develop a healthier, happier relationship as a result. Article continues below Concerned about ADHD? Take our 2-minute Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder quiz to see if you may benefit from further diagnosis and treatment. Take ADHD Quiz Understanding the Symptoms of Adult ADHD The defining feature of ADHD is a persistent pattern or inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interfere with functioning (in more than one area) for a period of at least six months. For adults, hyperactivity often manifests as restlessness or wearing others down. Failure to pay close attention to details Difficulty remembering information Difficulty following directions Difficulty concentrating or remaining on task Struggles to organize tasks Difficulty completing work on time Chronic lateness and forgetfulness Social intrusiveness frequent interruptions or making important decisions without consulting others Hyper-focus: Intense focus on things of interest (i.e. shopping online, video games) or tasks that are rewarding/stimulating Reckless behavior Poor planning Easily stressed out Explosive temper Difficulty sitting still Excessive talking Easily bored Symptoms of Adult ADHD that Interfere with Relationships The biggest challenge to making the necessary changes to improve your relationship is to understand the symptoms that have the greatest impact on your partner. Once you know how your symptoms influence your behavior with your partner, you can learn how to manage them. Adult ADHD can be tricky because symptoms vary from person-to-person. These specific symptoms can impact how you relate to your partner: Inattention: Adults with ADHD can lose focus during conversations, which leaves the partner feeling devalued. Inattention can also lead to mindlessly agreeing to things that you later forget. This can be frustrating and lead to resentment. Forgetfulness: Even when adults with ADHD are paying attention, they might still forget what was discussed. This can cause others to see the person as unreliable or incapable. Impulsivity: This symptom of adult ADHD can lead to frequent interruptions during conversations or blurting out thoughts without considering the feelings of others. This can result in hurt feelings. Disorganization: Difficulty organizing and/or completing tasks can lead to household chaos. This can cause resentment and frustration for the partner, who might feel like he or she does more of the work at home. Explosive temper: Many adults with ADHD have difficulty regulating their emotions. This can result in angry outbursts that leave partners feeling hurt or fearful. While the adult with ADHD in the relationship is at risk of feeling micromanaged and overwhelmed with criticism, the non-ADHD partner might feel disconnected, lonely, or underappreciated. It s important to place the focus on how the ADHD symptoms impact the relationship, instead of blaming one another for a breakdown in the bond. Work on Communication Skills Communication often breaks down when one partner has ADHD. More often than not, the behaviors on the surface (i.e. she s always late for dinner) mask a deeper issue (he feels underappreciated because she never shows up on time.) Couples also tend to fall into a parent-child dynamic, where the non-ADHD partner feels responsible for everything and the ADHD partner feels like a child. This chronic pattern of micromanaging and underachievement can result in feelings of shame and insecurity for the ADHD partner. It also increases the risk of depression. When couples work to improve communication skills, they can restore balance to the relationship. Try these strategies to communicate effectively with your partner: Use I feel statements to focus on feelings and avoid blame Communicate face-to-face as often as possible nonverbal cues are important Repeat and rephrase to avoid allowing your mind to wander, repeat what your partner says and rephrase for clarification Ask questions Text yourself important takeaways from the conversation (especially if your partner asks you to assist with certain tasks) Talk about how your symptoms impair your ability to remember things or follow through on tasks. Sharing your struggles helps your partner understand how ADHD impacts your behavior Hold eye contact when listening For long conversations, consider a fidget toy like a squeeze ball to keep your mind engaged Focus on teamwork. To create balance in a relationship, two partners have to work together. Having ADHD doesn t mean that you can t find balance; it means that you have to rely on open and honest communication and feedback to find ways to help one another. Divide tasks based on strengths. If ADHD interferes with your ability to pay bills on time or manage money, ask your partner to handle that task. When couples divide tasks based on their strengths, they get through their to-do lists without either partner feeling overburdened or resentful. Evaluate the workload. Have a weekly meeting at a predetermined time to discuss the workload and rebalance the tasks if one of you is feeling overwhelmed. A weekly check-in gives you the chance to consider how you re doing with your household tasks and whether or not you need a change. Weekly check-ins are also a great opportunity to slow down and connect and plan time together to strengthen your bond. When one partner has ADHD, relationships can quickly become overwhelmed by the focus to attend to tasks together to reduce frustration, but it s just as important to spend time together enjoying each other s company. Delegate tasks. You and your partner don t have to manage every aspect of the household independently (particularly if failure to complete tasks is a common problem impacting your relationship.) If you have children, assign age appropriate chores to help keep the house organized. Automatic bill pay can be very helpful for adults with ADHD. If you can afford it, you might also consider a monthly cleaning service. Rely on routines. Routines, schedules, and visual planners (think wall-size whiteboard calendar) help adults with ADHD know what to expect, stay on task, and complete important tasks. When couples coping with ADHD use organizational systems to take some of the guesswork out of the daily grind, they can focus more on connection than completing tasks and chores. Article Sources American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, American Psychiatric Publishing, Washington, D.C., 2013: Pages 59-65. Weir, K, Pay Attention to Me: Undiagnosed ADHD affects millions of adults and their romantic relationships , Monitor on Psychology, Volume, 43, Number 3, March (2012.) Last Updated: Jul 10, 2017 every body
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