What it's like married to someone with ADHD?

Partners diagnosed with ADHD share many of the same frustrations as their non-ADHD counterparts. They feel misunderstood and unloved. They get angry when their partners criticize them a lot. They worry when their relationship breaks down because of their disorganization and distractibility.


Is it hard to be married to someone with ADHD?

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.

Can ADHD cause problems in a marriage?

ADHD can be a contributing factor in a wide range of marital problems. If your partner has ADD, you may feel ignored and lonely. Your partner can focus on things that interest them, but not on you. They never seem to follow through on what they agree to do.


What is it like to be married to a woman with ADHD?

A: ADHD symptoms add consistent and predictable patterns to marriages in which one or both partners have ADHD. As long as the ADHD remains untreated or undertreated, these patterns can leave both partners unhappy, lonely, and feeling overwhelmed by their relationship.

Can people with ADHD have happy marriage?

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. Two people, two lives entwined, every day, under one roof…and ADHD.


A spouse’s perspective on ADHD



Are ADHD partners faithful?

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.

What is it like having a husband with ADHD?

Partners diagnosed with ADHD share many of the same frustrations as their non-ADHD counterparts. They feel misunderstood and unloved. They get angry when their partners criticize them a lot. They worry when their relationship breaks down because of their disorganization and distractibility.

How do you survive a married person with ADHD?

If you're having trouble in your relationship with a person who has ADHD, you may find the following tips helpful:
  1. Read up. Learning about ADHD can increase your understanding and compassion for your partner. ...
  2. Make a routine. ...
  3. Set reminders. ...
  4. Minimize messes. ...
  5. Seek clarity.


Do people with ADHD have a higher divorce rate?

Divorce and ADHD. Estimates vary, but some studies suggest that the divorce rate among couples touched by ADHD is as much as twice that of the general population.

How does ADHD affect intimacy?

Trouble paying attention during intimacy.

Lack of focus is one of the most well-known symptoms of ADHD. So you might find your mind wandering when you're having sex, when you're cuddling, or in the middle of foreplay. If you're with a partner, they may think that you're not interested in them.

Do ADHD marriages end in divorce?

Studies show that marriages in which one or both partners have ADHD are more than twice as likely to divorce and had briefer marriages prior to divorce.


Is it hard to love someone with ADHD?

For many people affected by ADHD, key symptoms like inattention, forgetfulness, and disorganization negatively affect their relationships. The partners without ADHD can misinterpret their partners' intentions, resulting in increased frustration and resentment.

How do you live with an ADHD partner?

Have a Partner with ADHD? 10 Ways to Offer Support
  1. Encourage professional help.
  2. Don't parent.
  3. Emphasize strengths.
  4. Be patient.
  5. Prioritize communication.
  6. Address specific problems.
  7. Listen to them.
  8. Let it go.


Do people with ADHD fall in love easier?

Can someone with ADHD fall in love? While all kinds of people can fall in love, the experience of people with ADHD falling in love can be more intense for them. This is because the person with ADHD can hyperfocus on the person they are in love with.


How can I save my marriage with my ADHD partner?

And being married to a person with ADHD is harder.
...
To-Do List for You
  1. Don't take your husband's behaviors personally. ...
  2. Remember that your husband is not defective or flawed. ...
  3. Learn to be patient. ...
  4. Do not enable him. ...
  5. Never tolerate abuse – verbal or physical. ...
  6. Build better communication. ...
  7. Give your husband unconditional love.


Are people with ADHD more susceptible to abuse?

Evidence shows that children with mental health and developmental problems are at risk of physical abuse and neglect. For example, 18.5% of children with autism had been physically abused26 or 14.3% of girls with ADHD are at risk of abuse. These rates are significantly higher in comparison with other groups.

How do people with ADHD treat their partners?

Symptoms of ADHD that can cause relationship problems

If you have ADHD, you may zone out during conversations, which can make your partner feel ignored and devalued. You may also miss important details or mindlessly agree to something you don't remember later, which can be frustrating to your loved one. Forgetfulness.


How do people with ADHD live happily?

How to Live a Happy Life with ADHD
  1. Don't Feed Your “Demon” The ADHD mind, more so than the neurotypical mind, may be hard-wired to ruminate and stew in negative self-talk. ...
  2. Train Your Cerebellum. ...
  3. Seek Connection. ...
  4. Find Your Right Difficult. ...
  5. Create Stellar Environments. ...
  6. Harness the Power of Movement. ...
  7. Respect Medication.


What are men with ADHD like in relationships?

Being in a relationship with a man who has ADHD can lead to misunderstandings, frustrations, and resentments. Having ADHD can pose a lot of challenges especially when this disorder often makes them seem like poor listeners, distracted partners, and forgetful persons.

Do people with ADHD have trouble keeping relationships?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can affect the way a person interacts with others, and this can cause challenges in relationships. Depending on the person and the relationship, familiar ADHD-related difficulties may be present or new ones may arise.


What it's like loving someone with ADHD?

“Marriages in which one or both partners have ADHD often involve years of disappointment and built-up resentment,” says Dr. Orr. “The non-ADHD spouse will say, 'I feel like I have another child rather than a partner. ' And the spouse with ADHD may feel like she's being nagged.”

Why is it so hard to date with ADHD?

If you have ADHD, you might find it hard to date, make friends, or parent. That's partly because good relationships require you to be aware of other people's thoughts and feelings. But ADHD can make it hard for you to pay attention or react the right way.

Can ADHD cause breakups?

This dynamic is worse if the partner with ADHD is undiagnosed and not in treatment. Still, treatment may not even be enough to curb anger and resentment. The longer that problems are left to continue in a relationship, the higher the likelihood of a breakup.


Is ADHD linked to hypersexuality?

Individuals with ADHD reported significantly more hypersexual behaviors than non-ADHD individuals, whereas no differences were found concerning risky sexual behaviors or sexual dysfunctions.

Is hypersexuality a symptom of ADHD?

For both men and women, ADHD symptoms were positively and moderately associated with hypersexuality. Associations between ADHD symptoms and problematic pornography use were different for men and women, however. For men, the link was positive and moderate, but for women, it was “positive, but weak.”