ADHD and Its Impact on Social Skills
People with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) face several social challenges that can affect their daily lives and relationships. Here are some of the main social challenges associated with ADHD. It is important to note that while these challenges are commonly associated with ADHD, not all individuals with ADHD will experience them to the same extent. Each person's experience is unique, and the impact of these challenges can vary depending on factors such as individual strengths, coping strategies, and support systems. With appropriate understanding, accommodations, and support, individuals with ADHD can overcome these challenges and thrive in social settings.
It is important to note that while these challenges are commonly associated with ADHD, not all individuals with ADHD will experience them to the same extent. Each person's experience is unique, and the impact of these challenges can vary depending on factors such as individual strengths, coping strategies, and support systems. With appropriate understanding, accommodations, and support, individuals with ADHD can overcome these challenges and thrive in social settings.
Does ADHD Affect Social Skills?
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental processing disorder that may affect one's ability to sustain focus and attention and regulate both impulsivity and hyperactivity. These processing differences impact social skills and one's ability to read a room while being self-aware of themselves simultaneously. Not all people with ADHD struggle with these social challenges, but many do. One example is someone who is inattentive and struggles to maintain focus which can lead to misunderstanding by others. They might be perceived as rude or preoccupied when in reality they struggle with fully devoting their attention to one subject when distractions may be present. This can cause them to ask questions preemptively or redundantly because their mind is in a different place. Those that struggle with impulsivity may blurt out comments or questions with no filter. This can easily disrupt the person telling a story, which can cause issues with maintaining relationships and friendships even when it’s not intentional. Hyperactivity can also distract neurotypicals because the person may have constant energy and movement. This may be seen as distracting or even rude. Emotional regulation can also lead to more intense emotions, mood swings, and lashing out, which affects relationships and friendships. Things like inattentiveness, impulsivity, hyperactivity, and emotional regulation all take a toll on how an individual with ADHD can compose themselves appropriately when in a social setting, as well as how they are being perceived and judged by others.
ADHD and Its Effect on Social Awareness
People with ADHD can often struggle with social awareness. Perception and gathering of social cues may be much easier for the neurotypical compared to someone with ADHD. The inability to read a room and the inefficiency of gathering information from others through body language, sarcasm, and jokes can make it difficult for individuals to feel comfortable or fit in social settings. Self-monitoring allows an individual to check themself when put into a social situation. However, when anxiety is high, self-monitoring becomes even more challenging for an individual with ADHD. When they are thrown into an unfamiliar social setting, like a group activity, often anxiety overtakes the individual and makes self-regulation even more difficult. The ability to put themselves in someone else's shoes is extremely hard when they are trying to monitor themselves or conform to social norms. This anxiety and uncomfortableness can escalate and debilitate a person with ADHD, which can then lead to isolation or alienation from future gatherings, activities, etc. It can also lead to greater anxiety issues and depression in their overall life. Education is key for the person with ADHD and also the person trying to help someone with ADHD; the shame and guilt must be brushed aside and the person must realize that this is a learned skill and one is never too old to learn it.
The Main Social Challenges For People With ADHD
Despite increased awareness, ADHD can still be stigmatized, leading to misunderstandings and misconceptions about the disorder. This stigma can affect how individuals with ADHD are perceived and treated in social settings, potentially leading to exclusion, discrimination, or reduced opportunities. Because there is still so much stigma many adhd suffer more from social anxiety than average, making it 10 times worse to be around others exasperating their anxiety.
Social Challenges For Children With ADHD
Children might feel the effects of ADHD and their social skills most when beginning to make friends. On a maturity level, they can be three to five years behind, which can make them feel inadequate compared to their peers; they may experience feelings of isolation and not fitting in. Parents can educate themselves on how to help their children develop these necessary social skills. There are many books written for adults to assist children and to help bring light to this issue and also how to tackle it step by step. An ADHD coach can work with the family and child to develop strategies and skills to help improve their social skills and better understand relationships and interactions. Social cues, reading a room, and social graces can all be learned by the child with proper guidance. An ADHD coach specializes in the unique brain wiring of children with ADHD. They can help educate the family unit and help them understand the challenges ADHD can bring, while also showing the family how to balance these traits out to the benefit of the child and the family as a whole.
Social Challenges For Adults With ADHD
Adults might struggle with the same feelings of inadequacy as children if the proper skills were never developed, taught, or learned. It may be easier for an adult to educate themselves on their ADHD and executive function and social skills than a child. There is a plethora of resources for ADHD that can help minimize the social challenges of living with ADHD as an adult - it is never too late to start to learn coping mechanisms and strategies by educating yourself on ADHD and how it plays out in you. Learning what you struggle with, being aware of the behavior, and determining new ways to cope with or handle tough or anxious situations can greatly help adults with ADHD. Learning to ask for help is also key, as well as minimizing one's shame or guilt if one still struggles with these areas as an adult. Hiring an ADHD coach can also help benefit an individual trying to navigate the adult and corporate world with an ADHD brain.
How to Improve Social Skills When Living With ADHD
Educating yourself on everything about ADHD is the first step to understanding the depths of the diagnosis. Self-awareness of key areas in need of extra attention, such as reading a room or emotional regulation, can help an individual to target their focus better. Knowing about themselves and what they need will improve their communication in all relationships. Working with an ADHD coach can help to develop these social skills. If there are underlying issues in addition to ADHD such as depression or anxiety, working with a therapist alongside an ADHD coach might drive better results.
For adults, some corporations and companies now offer accommodation programs through their human resource or EAP departments. Find out what resources are available to you and how to use them by pushing aside the shame or guilt one may feel and asking what help is available.
