When Neurodiversity Is Present In Marriage Podcast

ADHD

Marriages can find themselves in places of despair. Marriages often assume the problems are symptoms of waning affection. Yet what is actually present is neurodiversity. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Kaleb Beyer educates us on the impact ADHD can have on marriage relationships and the hope that can be breathed into a marriage when this is understood.

Show Notes:

What is neurodiversity?

• The neurodiverse brain is contrasted with the neurotypical brain. The neurodiverse brain thinks, responds to its environment and interacts with emotions outside of the normative operating neurotypical brain. This condition is diagnosed, for example, as autistic, dyslexic, or ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder)

What is ADHD?

• ADHD stands for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. This is a diagnosable disorder. An individual with ADHD has the ability to hyperfocus. Often, they can be exciting, fun, creative, in the moment and flexible. Those with ADHD can struggle to prioritize matters that need attention. They have a higher threshold for experiencing rewarding satisfaction and therefore require more stimulus. These attributes create symptoms of distractibility and impulsivity.

How can ADHD impact marriage?

• When couples do not understand how ADHD is playing out in their marriage relationship, they run the risk of making the wrong meaning out of unfortunate interactions. Consider the examples below:
  • Lack of follow through by ADHD spouse is wrongly interpreted as lack of care.
  • Distracted ADHD spouse during conversation is wrongly interpreted as not valuing spouse.

What proactive steps can the ADHD spouse make?

• Get a diagnosis from a professional.
• Become educated on ADHD.
• Treat the biology through diet, sleep, exercise and medicine.
• Learn coping skills.
• Build relational skills.

What proactive steps can the non-ADHD spouse make?

• Become educated on ADHD.
• Grieve the unmet expectation of what marriage was “supposed” to be.
• Avoid reinforcing the negative unsuccessful interactions that historically has been used on your ADHD spouse. For example, nagging.
• Rebuild trust by measuring it differently. Instead of measuring “follow through” on requests, measure “follow through” of applying oneself to the treatment ADHD requires.

What hope is there for marital health?

• Beautiful marriages are possible when neurodiverse and neurotypical spouses live wisely with one another.

 

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Further Information

Attention Deficit Disorders in Children, Teens & Adults
To help understand Attention Deficit Disorders, this article provides information and resources, links to tests and diagnosis, and support organizations.

The ADHD Effect on Marriage: Understand and Rebuild Your Relationship in Six Steps 
Author: Melissa Orlov
This 233-page book is recommended when one or both spouses have ADHD. It identifies unhelpful patterns that are easy to get caught in when ADHD is present in marriage. It also helps identify and make a shift from trying harder to trying differently to resolve struggles in marriage. This book is not written from a Christian perspective, but you can easily sort out aspects that don’t fit. The author has experience personally and professionally with ADHD in marriage.

ADHD & Marriage
This is a blog by Melissa Orlov and Dr. Ned Hallowell which helpful information, articles, and resources on ADHD in Marriage.

Additude
This website contains helpful information and expert advice on heathy ways to manage ADHD in both children to adults.

ADHD Channel
This is a youtube channel with helpful tips, tricks and insights into the ADHD brain. This channel is managed by someone with ADHD.

 

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