Memory Issues and Social Relationships
An additional challenge for developing relationships for many with ADHD is our poor memories. What are the names of your best friend’s three children? What schools are they going to? Where was it they last went on their vacation? Who is due to have a baby? And when? Being told these kinds of personal details and then not referring to them in future conversations presents a huge stumbling block to creating long-term relationships.
People want to feel they are important, that their activities and successes and failures are shared and valued by their friends. Friends who consistently say, “I don’t remember that” or “I forgot you told me that.” give the impression that they didn’t care enough to remember.
In addition, people who avoid certain topics because they don’t remember key information find it hard to build a long-term relationship. When you are unable to share memories and details of your times together, you give the impression that you are not truly interested in them and don’t value their friendship.
Strategies for Poor Memory and Social Relationships
Unfortunately, a poor memory is not likely to go away—in fact, it will probably worsen as you age! Learn strategies to minimize the impact. Make notes on your friends–their likes and dislikes, their interests, their important relationships and activities–and review them before your next get-together. Subscribe to a service that will send birthday cards, etc. for you. You can set it up for the whole year at one time. When you learn the names of new neighbors, write them down and review occasionally. Prepare before meeting with someone you haven’t seen for awhile. Ask about what you know is important to them and what is going on in their lives. Demonstrate that you remember important details of things they have told you.
ADHD Coaching can help you learn and practice the skills to compensate for a poor memory. Contact Cynthia now to set up a complimentary consultation by calling her at 253-238-0729.
What Are Ways To Improve Social Relationships?
The first step to improved social interactions is to become aware of what you are doing that is harmful. Monitor yourself.
Are you truly listening or are you only waiting until you can put in your two cents worth? This is called competitive conversation. When I find myself so eager to talk, I recall that I am falling into competitive conversation and I stop it. I force myself to keep the focus on the other person. If they are talking about their mother’s illness, this is not the time for you to start talking about the problems you have been having with your mother, taking the focus away from them and onto yourself. Keep the focus on them and their concerns.
Make a commitment, that for the next month, you will focus completely on being a good listener–you will hyper-focus on this. You will not engage in any competitive conversations. If you say anything at all, it will be only to ask a simple, short question to clarify or expand what the speaker is saying. If you are listening to just one other person, occasionally ask her if you can say back what you heard her saying. And then just do it, simply and concisely. Don’t add anything. Give her a chance to say if you have correctly understood what she said and then let her proceed while you return to your role as the good listener.
Are you interrupting others? Again, awareness is the key. Become aware of yourself in your interactions. If you are interrupting, take steps to stop it. When you feel the urge coming on, take a sip of water, make a note, take a deep breath and hold it for a second, think, “relax.” Don’t interrupt…and if you do, immediately recognize it, apologize for interrupting and encourage the speaker to go on.
What about changing the topic, going off on an unrelated tangent? Again, become aware if you have a tendency to do this and stop yourself. People don’t appreciate it and will not view you kindly.
For the bigger problems–not paying enough attention and consistent attention to your friends–reflect on how much you want to improve your relationships. How much do you value having good friendships and what are you willing to do? Good friendships don’t just happen. They take nurturing and care. Are you willing to do what is necessary? Will you make good friendships and relationships a priority? When you have the choice between learning about your new computer and going to a movie with a friend, will you put a higher value on going to the movie because of the long-term payoff? The choice is yours.
Put the pieces into place for nurturing your relationships. When you are talking with a friend, make your plans for the next time you will get together, make a firm commitment and get it on your calendar. Learn to use a computer-based program that will remind you of important dates–birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Get all the contact information for each of your friends recorded. Buy assorted cards and stamps to have on hand so you can easily remember birthdays and anniversaries. When shopping, pick up neat items you can use as unexpected gifts for friends. Buy tickets to some activity and ask them to go with you. Purposely tell them how much you appreciate their friendship, how much you enjoy the time you spend together, how much you look forward to some event you will be going to together in the future. Don’t let too much time go by without being in touch with those whose friendship you value.
ADHD coaching can help you develop the friendships you desire. Contact Cynthia now to set up a complimentary consultation by calling 253-238-0729 or use my contact form.
Maintaining Friendships Can be a Struggle for Those with ADD/ADHD
Maintaining friendships can be a struggle for those with ADD/ADHD, but positive relationships are important in our lives. Without them we can feel isolated and alone. With them we feel connected and valued.
In What Ways Can ADHD Negatively Impact Social Relationships?
Recently, the headline on a news site listed the five best ways to be happy in life. The first thing listed was to highly consider the needs of friends. It would seem that those with ADHD might consistently receive a low score in this area. We get caught up in our own lives, challenged with trying to manage all that is happening, so that we often fail to think about others and what we can do for them.
When we are overwhelmed, even thinking about doing one more thing is one thing too many. If this “one more thing” is for someone else, it can easily never make it onto our radar screens. We tell ourselves, “It is not that important.” “They won’t notice that I don’t send a thank you note…send a birthday card…get them a small gift of appreciation…call them to congratulate them on a recent success…whatever. The opportunity to show a friend that we care about them and that they are important to us comes…and goes….and we have done it again–or should I say “not done it again.” Friends that don’t feel acknowledged and appreciated on a regular basis can often fall to the wayside as they ask themselves, “What is there in this relationship for me?”
A recent client told me he enjoys having friends, but often gets bored with them, feeling the need for a break. He finds it hard to be consistent in regularly enjoying their company, regularly paying them attention and providing them with goodwill. On other occasions, something else takes precedence for how he spends his time. He chooses learning to use his new computer, as this interests him more than going to a movie with his friend.
His erratic behavior–”I want to be with you today but then might not want to see you for several months”–is not the way to handle friendships. The person on the receiving end of this kind of friendship might feel used–”He only contacts me when he has nothing better to do.”
Other Issues Regarding Relationships
Then there are the common complaints: People with ADHD don’t listen. They interrupt. They introduce totally unrelated topics. In other words, they miss the beats of social interactions.
ADHD Coaching can help you develop healthy and satisfying relationships. Contact Cynthia to set up a complimentary consultation at 253-238-0729 or use my contact form.