478- An Adult’s Guide to Fostering Friendships with ADHD
Nov 8, 2023
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Caroline Maguire, neurodivergent adult expert, discusses challenges faced by adults with ADHD in forming and maintaining friendships, including people-pleasing behaviors and fostering authenticity. She emphasizes the role of shared interests in building trust, managing ADHD challenges effectively, and navigating toxic friendships and the fear of rejection. Maguire provides insights into identifying red flags in potential friendships and offers strategies for fostering and staying connected with friends.
Neurodivergent adults with ADHD may struggle with friendships due to symptoms like social anxiety and distractibility.
Recognizing personal strengths and unique qualities can enhance confidence and improve connection in friendships.
Building friendships based on shared interests and participating in activities can foster a sense of connection and trust in ADHD adults.
Deep dives
Challenges of forming and maintaining friendships with ADHD
ADHD symptoms like social anxiety, RSD, and distractibility can make friendships uniquely challenging for neurodivergent adults, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation. This webinar explores these challenges and offers strategies for developing strong relationships and a greater sense of belonging.
Navigating past experiences and building a positive mindset for friendships
Past experiences and negative self-talk can affect our friendship skills and how we perceive relationships. It is important to acknowledge these experiences and work on developing a growth-oriented mindset. Recognizing our own strengths and unique qualities in friendship can help boost our confidence and improve our ability to connect with others.
Shared interests and building trust in friendships
Interest and shared experiences play a crucial role in fostering closer connections and higher levels of bonding in relationships. Building friendships based on mutual interests can help ADHD adults feel more connected. Proximity and participation in activities also contribute to the formation of relationships and provide opportunities for developing trust and closeness.
Managing social anxiety and oversharing tendencies
Social anxiety and oversharing can be significant challenges in forming and maintaining friendships. Strategies such as practicing self-regulation, setting boundaries, and learning to ask questions can help manage these tendencies. It is essential to be aware of emotional states, engage in active listening, and gradually build trust with others.
Addressing out-of-sight, out-of-mind patterns and embracing routine
Maintaining connections with friends and family who live farther away can be challenging due to the out-of-sight, out-of-mind dynamic. To combat this, establishing routines and creating reminders can help maintain regular check-ins. Overcoming social anxiety and people-pleasing tendencies can also contribute to maintaining consistent contact and deepening relationships.
Caroline Maguire, M.Ed., discusses why neurodivergent adults often have a history of relationship struggles, why it's common to adopt people-pleasing behaviors (and why this ultimately backfires), and how to be more authentic in your friendships.
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