4 Ways ADHD Impacts a Relationship
It can be hard to admit but your ADHD impacts your relationship with your significant other or spouse. You hate that it does so you use all your willpower to try and keep it all together. Eventually, your ADHD sneaks back in, and it results in an argument or hurt feelings. You beat yourself up and try again. The cycle repeats itself. It’s hard to feel like you can’t trust yourself and feel misunderstood. You love and care about your partner, and you aren’t intentionally trying to be difficult but your brain works differently.
It can be hard to understand how your ADHD may be impacting your relationship. You only know how your brain works not how your partner’s brain works. I get that it’s hard not only to have ADHD but to be able to be in a relationship as well.
How does ADHD impact a relationship?
Each individual couple will experience things differently and have their own unique struggles when it comes to ADHD. These are just a few examples of common issues that couples face when one partner has ADHD.
1. Difficulty maintaining attention
An area of struggle with ADHD in relationships is the difficulty of the person with ADHD to be able to maintain attention. If the conversation goes on too long, they start to zone out. They stop listening and get distracted by their phone or other things. It’s hard for people with ADHD to stay present and interested in a conversation. This can make their partner feel ignored and unimportant. You might find your significant other will stop opening up to you or talking to you about things because they don’t think you really care based on your inattention. It can be hard to answer questions or think clearly when your spouse asks, which might lead to conflict. It can also be difficult to open up when your thoughts feel scrambled.
2. Forgetfulness and lack of organization
People with ADHD tend to be more forgetful of daily tasks, commitments, or information. You might procrastinate or drop the ball on doing something your spouse asks you all together. You might forget the details that are important to your spouse and forget important dates. This likely makes your partner feel like they are not important or you don’t value them enough to remember. They believe that if you cared enough then you wouldn’t constantly be forgetting things about them. They might feel frustrated about having to repeat themselves or come home to see you started several different tasks around the house but didn’t finish any of them.
3. Rejection sensitivity to partner
Rejection sensitivity is something that people with ADHD frequently experience. Rejection sensitivity is when you are sensitive to what people think or say about you. You can become sensitive when you feel rejected or criticized by someone. When your significant other give you feedback or points out something that puts you in a negative light you might feel much more hurt. People with rejection sensitivity and ADHD might feel greater hurt and disappointment when their spouse declines sensual intimacy.
4. Struggling to regulate emotions
It’s common for people with ADHD to have a difficult time regulating their emotions. When they are overwhelmed and overstimulated, they lash out in frustration. You might notice yourself being more irritable and having trouble trying to manage it. You might become short with your kids or with your spouse because it’s hard to cope with the feelings you have. Frustration and anger are difficult for people with ADHD to try and manage. This can have a significant impact on your relationship. Your spouse will feel hurt or frustrated with how you treat them and your kids. This is an area where couples can struggle the most.
Working with an ADHD therapist can help
If you find yourself being forgetful, having a hard time concentrating, and being able to manage your emotions, ADHD treatment can be helpful. When you notice it impacting your relationship with your spouse and your kids, it can be hard to feel good about yourself. There are probably things you do as a result of your ADHD that you don’t realize is ADHD. Going to therapy can help you be able to manage this more effectively. You can learn to cope with your feelings and how to have a better relationship with your spouse.
Begin working with an ADHD therapist in Utah
You don’t have to keep feeling like something is wrong with you. Your relationships don’t have to keep feeling like they're failing. Working with an ADHD therapist can help! This Utah Counseling Center has an ADHD therapist specializing in ADHD treatment. To begin counseling follow the steps below:
Begin working with a therapist for ADHD
Start ADHD treatment
Online ADHD Treatment in Utah
Online therapy can be helpful to those with ADHD that need help improving their focus and learning to develop the skills to manage daily tasks. Online ADHD treatment takes away one barrier of having to try and commute to an appointment. This is why I provide online therapy in Utah. Online counseling is just as effective as in-person therapy but much more convenient.
I work with clients all over the state including Salt Lake City, St. George, Cedar City, Provo, Logan, Heber City, and more.
Other mental health services provided by Marcus Hunt Therapy
ADHD treatment isn’t the only counseling service provided at this Utah Counseling Practice. Other mental health services provided by Marcus Hunt Therapy include therapy for men, marriage counseling, LDS marriage counseling, EMDR therapy, depression therapy, and premarital counseling. Schedule a phone consultation to see how I can help.
About the Author
Marcus Hunt is a marriage and family therapist at Marcus Hunt Therapy in Utah. Marcus has a master's degree in marriage and family therapy. He also has a bachelor of science in behavioral sciences from Utah Valley University. Marcus was diagnosed with ADHD in his last semester of graduate school to become a marriage and family therapist. He understands through his professional experience and through personal experience how ADHD can have an impact on a marriage and other relationships. Marcus wants to help men with ADHD help give them the knowledge and skills how to improve the areas of their lives that they struggle with. Outside of therapy, Marcus enjoys spending time with his wife and two dogs exploring Utah.