Is your marriage being affected by ADHD? Does ADHD have an influence on the likelihood of you staying married or getting divorced?
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects attention, impulsivity, and executive functions. It can cause various challenges and difficulties in personal and professional relationships, especially in marriage. In this blog post, we will explore how ADHD can affect your marriage and what you can do to save it.
The Impact of ADHD on Marriage
ADHD can have a negative impact on marriage in many ways, such as:
• Financial stress and debt. ADHD can cause poor money management, impulsive spending, and difficulty keeping track of bills and budgets. This can lead to financial problems, such as debt, bankruptcy, or foreclosure, which can create a lot of stress and conflict in a marriage.
• Emotional distress and isolation. ADHD can cause mood swings, irritability, anger, anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem. These can affect the emotional well-being of both the partner with ADHD and the partner without ADHD. The partner with ADHD may feel guilty, ashamed, or misunderstood, and may withdraw from their spouse and family. The partner without ADHD may feel hurt, betrayed, frustrated, or helpless, and may also lose their social and support networks.
• Communication and intimacy problems. ADHD can interfere with the communication and intimacy in a marriage. The partner with ADHD may have difficulty listening, paying attention, or expressing their thoughts and feelings. They may also forget, interrupt, or contradict their spouse, or say things that are insensitive or inappropriate. The partner without ADHD may feel ignored, neglected, or disrespected, and may lose trust and affection for their spouse. This can lead to a loss of connection, understanding, and sexual intimacy in the relationship.
• Family and legal issues. ADHD can also affect the family and legal aspects of a marriage. ADHD can cause parenting problems, such as inconsistency, impulsivity, or lack of discipline, which can affect the children’s behavior, development, and well-being. ADHD can also lead to legal issues, such as divorce, separation, custody, or child support, which can have long-term consequences for the family.
The Statistics of ADHD and Divorce
ADHD and divorce are closely linked, as ADHD can be a major cause or consequence of marital breakdown. Here are some statistics of ADHD and divorce:
• According to the US Census, the overall divorce rate in America is about 33%—meaning that the divorce rate for couples with a spouse with ADHD could be as high as 66%. In a recent survey of 700 people with ADHD who were married or in a relationship, 10% said they were considering divorce and 38% said their marriage had come close to it in the past.
• Studies have shown that parents of a child with ADHD are more likely to divorce than parents of children without ADHD. A 2014 study in Denmark found that 10 years after the birth of the child, parents of children diagnosed with ADHD had a 75% higher probability of having dissolved their relationship.
• Some of the factors that contribute to the higher divorce rate among couples with ADHD are financial stress, emotional distress, communication problems, intimacy issues, family conflicts, and legal troubles. These factors can result from the symptoms of ADHD, such as inattention, impulsivity, forgetfulness, disorganization, mood swings, and anger.
What You Can Do to Save Your Marriage
If you or your spouse have ADHD, there are some steps you can take to improve your relationship and overcome the challenges of ADHD, such as:
• Seek professional help. ADHD is a serious mental health disorder that requires professional diagnosis and treatment. You can seek help from a doctor, therapist, or coach who specializes in ADHD. You can also contact the National Resource Center on ADHD for more information and resources.
• Be honest and supportive. Honesty and support are essential for recovery and healing. If you are the partner with ADHD, you need to be honest with yourself and your spouse about your ADHD, and take responsibility for your actions. You also need to be open and willing to accept help and make changes. If you are the partner without ADHD, you need to be supportive and compassionate, but also firm and assertive. You also need to set healthy boundaries and protect yourself and your family from the negative effects of ADHD.
• Rebuild trust and intimacy. Trust and intimacy are the foundations of a healthy and happy marriage. To rebuild trust and intimacy, you need to communicate effectively, express your feelings and needs, listen and empathize, and show appreciation and affection. You also need to spend quality time together, engage in fun and meaningful activities, and rekindle your sexual intimacy.
• Seek marital counseling. Marital counseling can help you and your spouse work through the issues and challenges caused by ADHD, and restore your relationship. A marital counselor can help you understand the root causes and triggers of ADHD, improve your communication and conflict resolution skills, enhance your emotional and physical intimacy, and strengthen your bond and commitment.
ADHD can affect your marriage, but it doesn’t have to ruin it. With the right help, support, and strategies, you can improve your relationship and save your marriage. Remember, you are not alone, and there is hope. If you need more guidance and coaching on how to deal with ADHD and divorce, please contact us at Goodguys2Greatmen. We are here to help you become the confident, considerate, and masculine man that your wife will appreciate and desire again.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects attention, impulsivity, and executive functions. It can cause various challenges and difficulties in personal and professional relationships, especially in marriage.
• According to the US Census, the overall divorce rate in America is about 33%—meaning that the divorce rate for couples with a spouse with ADHD could be as high as 66%. In a recent survey of 700 people with ADHD who were married or in a relationship, 10% said they were considering divorce and 38% said their marriage had come close to it in the past.
• Studies have shown that parents of a child with ADHD are more likely to divorce than parents of children without ADHD. A 2014 study in Denmark found that 10 years after the birth of the child, parents of children diagnosed with ADHD had a 75% higher probability of having dissolved their relationship.
• Some of the factors that contribute to the higher divorce rate among couples with ADHD are financial stress, emotional distress, communication problems, intimacy issues, family conflicts, and legal troubles. These factors can result from the symptoms of ADHD, such as inattention, impulsivity, forgetfulness, disorganization, mood swings, and anger .
• However, not all marriages with ADHD are doomed to fail. There are some steps that couples can take to improve their relationship and overcome the challenges of ADHD, such as seeking professional help, being honest and supportive, rebuilding trust and intimacy, and seeking marital counseling.
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