ADHD Question of the Week: How Does ADHD Affect Your Relationships?

Hmmm...well I do not have ADHD myself but my son has autism and great attention problems as well as hyperactivity.

How do those qualities help our relationship?  Well it makes it more exciting that is for sure! 

I am never bored as my son keeps me on my toes...quite literally.  And I get good work outs too doing our day to day routines as he is running from place to place.  My son energizes our relationship that is for sure.

I can't wait to hear what others have to say.

Great question!

I have strongly suspected that my husband as ADHD.  We have been married for 13 years.  I teach school and have had a lot of experience with witnessing ADHD behavior in my classroom.  It is hard to enjoy any kind of conversation with him.  He will assume that he knows what I am about to say.  He will cut me off.  He hasn't sit still to watch a movie in years.  He is very argumentative.  He is in my business all the time.  It doesn't matter whether I am cooking meals or doing the laundry, he always finds something to be irritated about.

I am almost 40 and my second divorce was final March 14th.  I was diagnosed in my mid 30's and I often wonder how my life would have turned out if I had been DX earlier.  My teen years were filled with addiction and permiscuity; I went from A's to almost dropping out.  My second marriage definately failed because of the condition.  I was medicated but it just wasn't enough - Stratterra wasn't enough.  My ex and I still talk about it and he is glad i am taking new steps for a better me.  My condition didn't really slap me in the face until a couple of weeks ago. I met a guy and we were just hanging out.  At the end of the day, he started tearing my personality down: "you talk too much, too loud; you interupt, you finish my thoughts".  This was someone who didn;t even really know me.  I was hurt but at the same time I took those comments and ran - right to my shrink!  I have hated my personality for years but never have taken ALL of the steps to help myself.  The guy apologized later and we don't hang out but I did thank him for making me more aware.  My friends love me for who I am and accept me so they put up with all my irritating traits.  It took a stranger to really make a difference.