CHADD

It’s hard not to take things personally. When someone shouts at you on the road, you feel the sting of their anger. When scrolling through social media, you see a picture of a friend out with your other friends—and wonder why you were not invited. When you write a friend or relative to get together, […]

Many teens and young adults with ADHD face social skills challenges that make it difficult for them to develop healthy friendships. Their eagerness to fit in can lead them to participate in dangerous and unhealthy activities. Caroline Maguire walks us through the components of healthy peer relationships and signs of unhealthy relationships. She also answers

As we approach the holiday season, everyone has a list of expectations about how it will go. “Last year was a disaster when Uncle Gil went on and on about the government.” “We’d better ask Aunt Fran not to share too much about her work. Everyone was embarrassed about how much she overshared.” “Make sure

Question: My daughter has ADHD and feels left out at school. She has trouble picking up on social cues, and I can see the toll it takes on her self-esteem. How can I support her so she can improve her social skills and build stronger friendships?—parent of a third-grade student ADHD Information Specialist: I’m sure it is

Effective coaching is a way of being with and communicating with your child. HE CORE PRINCIPLES of effective parent coaching for social skills are based on proven strategies and techniques that support positive behavioral change. You don’t have to be some superparent with all the answers. You don’t have to fix your child or fix

A snarky, criticizing tone is one of the hardest things to tolerate. When it comes from a child, it is easy to see how parents can find it disconcerting. Children and teenagers with ADHD often can’t read the social nuances of body language, facial expressions, mood, or tone of voice. This challenge often results in off-putting

Many people with ADHD express frustration with the frequency and depth of negative and intrusive thoughts. These thoughts can be painful, and they may grow and grow until they affect daily life. Dwelling on such thoughts increases anxiety, depression, and restlessness—often causing you to make poor choices, incorrectly read the room, misinterpret social cues, and become

    Sometimes it feels like your child just is not listening to you. Are they getting a reward for being stubborn or selfish? This is a very common thought, but more often, the behaviors come from a lack of listening skills, one of several executive function skills. Research shows it can be these brain-based

Making small talk is a critical life skill and the foundation for all friendships. A conversation can increase your level of intimacy with someone. Small talk allows you to see if you have mutual interests and to get a sense of who they are and what they like. It can introduce you to a new person

When we are flooded with sensory information, lights feel brighter, sounds are louder, and crowds seem to close in on us. Sensory bombardment and overwhelm can make situations draining and anxiety-provoking. To reduce the effects of overstimulation, we may try to cope by going quiet or avoiding eye contact. For many adults and children with