Adult-to-Adult: “How has ADHD affected your relationships?”
Getting diagnosed with attention deficit is usually a relief for the person herself, and for those around her. Our readers share the good and the bad about ADHD’s effect on family and friends.
ADDitude asked: “How has ADHD affected your relationships?”
My parents accepted the fact that I needed to do things differently, and they didn’t make a fuss about it. I struggled with teachers and others not understanding my ADHD. My husband’s not understanding my condition has been the hardest. It is especially hard now that we have a son with ADHD. My heart breaks twice when my husband thinks my son and I are making excuses. B.S., Texas
My having ADHD makes it harder for my husband and me to make decisions. The good news is that our sex is great. -An ADDitude Reader
ADD has screwed up my work life. I’m forgetful, I miss deadlines, my office is a mess, I have trouble processing spoken info and following conversations in meetings. Like many ADDers, I’m creative, charming, and have a good sense of humor. So what? It doesn’t help me have a rewarding professional life. Maybe I need to join the circus. -An ADDitude Reader
My ADHD symptoms tore my marriage apart. I wish I’d been diagnosed decades earlier. My ex said he might have been more sympathetic if he’d known the reason for my behavior. John, New Jersey
I had a rough time with my boss and coworkers, not because of my diagnosis but because of the medication I was taking. My prescription went generic, and I thought that was no big deal. It took me nearly a year to figure out that my anxiety and near-paranoia were not the results of things changing at my workplace, but because the new generic medication was leaving me unable to manage my emotions. Things are a lot better since I went back on the name brand. Julia, Ohio
My diagnosis didn’t change our relationship. I changed after receiving treatment. I became more responsible: I didn’t forget to do things, I finished tasks, I didn’t avoid boring jobs, I finished school. This has made life easier for both of us. Melissa, Texas
My relationship with my husband is challenging, but he sits back and lets me fly. I have an excellent relationship with my child, because he has ADHD, as well, so I’m more understanding of his behavior. I have told my friends I have ADD and explained to them that they should call me out when I blurt out the wrong thing. -An ADDitude Reader
