If you are married to someone with ADHD, your relationship may have a lot of challenges. In fact, research has found that relationships are twice as likely to fail when one of the partners has ADHD than those in which the partners don't have it.
Life is chaotic. And still, adults with ADHD are completely capable of happy, fulfilling marriages. All marriages have their ups and downs, but if one or both spouses have ADHD, the relationship is significantly more challenging.
Stressed: The non-ADHD partner may take over the other person's responsibilities to the point that they have too much on their plate and don't have enough help. This can lead to stress, but also feelings of anger, bitterness, and resentment.
Many people with ADHD have experienced feeling 'different' from others because of the way they interpret and react to events. They can be more empathetic to people who have new ideas or interpretations, making them supportive and understanding as a romantic partner.
ADHD Can Affect A Marriage
The urge for novel situations can lead some women into repeated job changes or promiscuity. In a couple where both partners have AD/HD, they may have difficulty deciding who will manage the more mundane aspects of family life.
It's true: Attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) has strained more than a few romantic relationships. Equally true (though less recognized) is the fact that partners with ADHD are among the most loyal, generous, engaged, and genuinely fun people you could meet.
ADHD is not the kiss of death. The condition, alone, can't make or break a romantic relationship. But, if symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) are not properly acknowledged, treated, and accepted, they can — and often do — create or exacerbate marital tensions.
Many people with ADHD have difficulty focusing. A person may quickly lose sight of how frequently he pays attention to his partner and the things that matters to the partner. In turn, this can cause the new partner to feel uncared for or ignored. ADHD impacts a person's ability to focus, or remember commitments.
ADHD symptoms can play a part in how we maintain a relationship with our partner. There might be challenges, but ADHD and love life can mix well so long as we manage the symptoms and traits well. Here are some of the symptoms that may affect your relationship: Being Forgetful 😅
You, Me, and ADHD
Distraction, procrastination, and other ADHD symptoms can stir anger, frustration, and hurt feelings for both the person with ADHD and the partner. But your marriage or relationship can thrive with proper treatment and tactics to ward off misunderstandings.
Don't dismiss your partner's complaints or disregard them because you don't like the way they bring it up or react to you. Separate who your partner is from their symptoms or behaviors. Instead of labeling your partner “irresponsible,” recognize their forgetfulness and lack of follow-through as symptoms of ADHD.
It's not an exaggeration to say that ADHD worsens and prolongs the pain of a breakup, even leading to depression and low self-esteem. Getting over a breakup is way more difficult for us than it is for most neurotypical people.
Yes, adults and teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can remain in one monogamous relationship while dating or married. While ADHD brings an additional set of challenges into a relationship, the challenges do not need to be considered overwhelming.
They worry when their relationship breaks down because of their disorganization and distractibility. But most ADHD partners are fiercely committed to their spouses, their families, and their relationships. They bounce back when things go awry. They take time to learn about their ADHD and treatment options.
Yes, individuals with ADHD can be faithful and have very successful relationships. While the symptoms of ADHD can pose many challenges in daily life, including relationships, they do not determine a person's ability to be faithful.
People with ADHD may find it harder to be intimate with someone due to symptoms such as impulsiveness and being easily distracted. Sex may be less enjoyable for both partners. For the partner with ADHD, they aren't able to fully focus on either the physical or emotional aspects of sex.
“Love bombing” is defined by someone showering their partner with excessive affection, attention, gifts, and flattery in order to gain their trust and dependence.
For patients diagnosed with adult ADHD there tends to be a “honeymoon period”, where they are really happy with treatment. They are excited and like 'wow I feel great' / 'this is so much better'.
The attentional and emotional self-regulation challenges that can exist for partners with ADHD can interfere with experiential intimacy in several ways. First, the partner with ADHD may be distracted within the experience, missing the moment together.
“People with ADHD generally feel their feelings more strongly, tend to wear them on their sleeve, and tend to act on them more. This can make someone a lot of fun when things are going well, but can cause big strains on the relationship when the feelings being expressed are anger or frustration,” says Tuckman.
Women with ADHD, compared to men with ADHD, struggle more with socialization. Women are often overwhelmed with the demands of relationships and tend to have fewer meaningful relationships as a result. They rarely initiate friendships, and have trouble maintaining them. Isolation protects from discomfort and confusion.