Many romantic relationships touched by ADHD are marked by misunderstandings and emotional outbursts. Effective communication skills, however, can be learned. Melissa Orlov teaches strategies that will resolve conflict with your partner.

Dealing with emotions can feel like a full-time job for a person with ADHD — and it can be incredibly confusing for the neurotypical people in our lives! Especially our partners.   On today’s episode, Lindsay dives into the power that emotions can hold in an ADHD-impacted relationship with ADHD relationship expert Melissa Orlov. Melissa talks about the intensity of anger, shame and self-esteem and how the non-ADHD partner can help support specific emotional needs of their ADHD partner. She also offers a ton of suggestions on how couples can get started on a path to better understanding and communication.    This is part three of Lindsay’s four-part conversation with Melissa. To start at the beginning, go back to episode 65 ADHD & Relationships with Melissa Orlov released on February 6th.   Join the conversation by reaching Lindsay via hello@refocusedpod.com or on social media at @lindsayguentzel now!   Highlights How the ADHD brain works with anger Depths of shame, grief, and ADHD   What is the very present moment focus? Defensiveness and cover-ups mechanisms Mastering the ADHD emotions  Emotional needs of the ADHD partner  Figuring out what is best for the ADHD partner’s emotions About Melissa Orlov   Melissa Orlov is the founder of ADHDmarriage.com. She provides support groups, private couples counseling and consulting, professional training, and more. Recently, she launched couples' seminars via Zoom conducted twice a year. Resources about ADHD and ADHD-impacted relationships are also available on her blog.    Melissa is also an award-winning author, having published books about ADHD-impacted relationships - The ADHD Effect on Marriage (2010) and The Couple’s Guide to Thriving with ADHD (2014).    To connect with Melissa, check out the links below: Website | www.adhdmarriage.com/ LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/melissaorlov Facebook | www.facebook.com/ADHDMarriage/ Twitter | @msorlov   Resources from Melissa Orlov: The Couple's Guide to Thriving with ADHD |  The ADHD Effect on Marriage: Understand and Rebuild Your Relationship in Six Steps |  Social Media Profiles  Instagram: @lindsayguentzel // @adhdonline // @refocusedpod Twitter: @lindsayguentzel //  @adhd_online // @refocusedpod   For more information on ADHD Online and ADHD assessments, medical management, and teletherapy, check out ADHDonline.com. Check out Michelle Seitzer's What I’ve Learned as the Spouse of Someone with ADHD where the writer offers up eight things tips for people navigating the complexities of an ADHD partnership.  Show Credits Lindsay Guentzel, show host and executive producer Phil Rodemann, coordinating producer Sarah Platanitis, consulting and pre-production management Sarah Gelbard, writer and researcher Al Chaplin, social media production   Our incredible artwork was created by Sissy Yee of Berlin Grey.   The theme music for Refocused was created by Louis Inglis, a songwriter, and composer in Perth, Australia who was diagnosed with ADHD in 2020 at the age of 39. To learn more about the work he is doing, check out his online studio here. You can also email him at louisinglis1@gmail.com.   Bear Beat Productions helped with the audio editing and engineering and all of our episodes with Melissa Orlov were shot live in-person at PS Creative Studios in Phoenix.  Welcome to Refocused!  Lindsay Guentzel was almost 35 years old when she was diagnosed with ADHD. It turned out to be the answer she didn't know she was looking for.   The journalist and mental health advocate has teamed up with ADHD Online to explore the often misunderstood world of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Discover tools and mindset shifts to help you start living your best life.   Those old, outdated assumptions about ADHD? Refocused with Lindsay Guentzel is changing that narrative. Those stigmas have held us back for long enough. It's time to refocus our energy and we hope you'll join us.    

Melissa Orlov, an ADHD Marriage Consultant and author, shares her expertise on navigating relationships where one partner has ADHD. She discusses the emotional struggles couples face, including the parent-child dynamic that can form, and offers practical tools for better communication. The conversation highlights the impact of technology addiction on relationships and emphasizes meaningful, mindful interactions over passive activities. Orlov also provides resources and strategies for couples to thrive together despite ADHD challenges.

Melissa Orlov, a relationship expert focusing on ADHD couples, shares her insights on thriving in ADHD relationships. She emphasizes the importance of education around ADHD behaviors to improve understanding and communication. Melissa discusses emotional complexities, advocating for structured communication and warmth to counter feelings of being unloved. She highlights the need for balance and cooperation to avoid parent-child dynamics, while also sharing personal experiences that illustrate the journey of growth within these partnerships.

Expert insights on managing ADHD within relationships, exploring challenges like communication, trust, and intimacy. Discussing common patterns and risks in marriages impacted by ADHD, and the importance of tailored strategies for couples. Highlighting the significance of support resources and awareness for neurodiversity in relationships.