How ADHD Can Impact Your Relationship
ADHD is different for everyone.
Your partner may not have a diagnosis but can exhibit clear signs of the condition.
From personal experience, Ive learned that patience and understanding are key qualities to dating someone with ADHD.
Verywell / Alex Dos Diaz
Your partners diagnosis may be as difficult for them as it is for you.
For years, they may have dealt with criticism or blame for behaviors associated with their condition.
Here are some tips for fostering a healthy relationship with someone with ADHD.
There arebooks, organizations, and guidesto understanding ADHD which offer helpful information on the condition.
Knowing that these behaviors are a result of their ADHD can help make it less personal.
Adults with ADHD can be very engaged as they canhyperfocuson areas of interest, Roberts explains.
This can make the start of a relationship a whirlwind.
Roberts recommends scheduling a time to discuss whats working and whats not.
It may help to schedule check-ins, too.
It can help to destigmatize the condition, Roberts says.
He suggests you might do this by presenting the benefits of therapy to your partner.
Ultimately, seeking treatment for ADHD is your partner’s responsibility, not yours.
You cant force them to visit a mental health professional even if you want to.
Can a Relationship Work If One Partner Has ADHD?
Relationships can be complicated, and dating someone with ADHD is no different.
Even if your partner is in treatment and engaged in coping strategies, they may still battle symptoms.
Remember that ADHD is an ongoing condition that requires ongoing support.
As in any relationship, double-check you haveshared goals and values, Roberts says.
Understand how much you complement one another and consider ways to be both flexible.
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