ADHD Communication

Strategies for clearer, calmer communication with coworkers, friends, family, and yourself — when you have ADHD.

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    How To Be A Better Listener With ADHD

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, Blog

    (originally published June 17, 2020, updated November 14, 2022 ) I know you have read and so know quite a bit about communication, including how to listen better. Yet, despite having all this information, you may still be struggling to implement it in a way that helps you communicate the way you want. So now you are wondering, “Am I just unable to listen and communicate well?!” That may be the case right now.  But, if you are struggling to implement the advice you’ve accumulated over the years, it’s likely, at least in part, because you haven’t customized it to fit your unique needs, including those related to your ADHD. Here is the good news! You can change that. So, you can communicate the way…

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    ADHD Adults Need to Use These 5 Strategies to Listen Better

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, Podcast

    DESCRIPTION: Your ADHD may make it harder to listen. But, if you want to do better, to improve your relationships and productivity, you can. Here’s how. KEY TAKEAWAYS: ADHD symptoms can make it hard to listen. ADHD adults might want to upgrade their listening skills to improve relationships, productivity or for some other reason. Preparing for the conversation can help you listen better in the conversation. Taking notes during the conversation can also help you listen. Checking in with the speaker can help you stay engaged and listen better, too. Another way to stay engaged and listen better is to be curious. Deferring your response to another conversation can make it easier to listen, as well. RESOURCES: BOOK: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People…

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    Trouble Saying What You Want Because of Your ADHD?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, Podcast

    Description: Organizing thoughts into words with ADHD can be a challenge. Ready to turn that around? Use these 7 strategies and you can. Key Takeaways: ADHD challenges with working memory, long-term memory, processing speed, emotional regulation and distractions can make it difficult for you to organize your thoughts into words. Learn more about these ADHD challenges so you understand why it can be a challenge for you to organize your thoughts to speak effectively. Then learn how to use 7 workarounds to address them. Articles: ADHD and Meetings: How to Take and Use Your Notes Do You Have ADHD and Feel Like You Often Respond Too Slowly? ADHD Adults Communicate Better Using These 5 Listening Tips Transcription: 00:01: Is one of your ADHD challenges organizing…

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    ADHD and Tips for Managing Holiday Stress

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, Blog

      Whether you celebrate an upcoming winter holiday or not you will likely feel their impact as you go about your professional and personal business. And, while the holiday season may look different for everyone, it is likely you will share some of the same challenges with other adults with ADHD, such as: You may have different challenges, I’m sure. But you get it. It is a time of year that can be more difficult than other times in terms of managing your ADHD symptoms. Being aware of this is the first step in addressing these challenges. The next step is deciding how to navigate the various contexts in which you will find yourself in the upcoming months. Ready? Work and the Holidays The one…

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    ADHD and Communication 101 – Listening

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, Blog

    It might seem listening should be easy. After all it seems like a pretty passive activity, right? But in reality fully processing and understanding what somebody is saying to you isn’t always easy, especially for Adults with ADHD. Sometimes it is… hard… really hard. Sure, if you don’t care much about what the person is saying, you could get away with, “Uh ah, right, yes, sure…” And be on your way. But what about those times when you do care and/or you need to remember and use the information the person is providing? You need to be able to actively listen. If you struggle with being able to do this now, you can strengthen this muscle so you can flex it when you want. ADHD…

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    Conversations & ADHD Part 2: Is Your Anger In The Driver’s Seat?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, Blog

      In Conversations & ADHD Part 1: Do They Feel Like Battlefields?, I wrote about conversations that, while they may feel like they are full of conflict, may in fact just be exchanges of different ideas. But how about when there is genuine conflict between you and others? How do you maximize the chances of constructively engaging with them while: It is not easy for most people to stay engaged in a conversation while also trying to meet the above objectives when there is conflict. And for adults with ADHD, in part because of the reasons I outlined in Part 1, it can be especially hard. Do you want to “build your muscle” so you can better handle interactions where there is conflict? Anger Ahead…

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    Conversations & ADHD Part 1: Do They Feel Like Battlefields?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, Blog

    Can you think of a recent time when you were uncomfortable initiating a conversation or bringing up a subject because you thought there might be some sort disagreement? How did you feel and what did you do? For most people the answer is, “Well, sure, they are not my favorite kind of conversations, and sometimes I try to avoid them. But they are just part of life…” But for adults with ADHD the answer may be more along the lines of: “I try to avoid those at all costs because I just don’t handle conversations where there are a lot of disagreements very well. Sometimes I just don’t know what to say because the conversation seems like a game of ping-pong. And the ball just…

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    Are You An Adult With ADHD And Feeling Isolated?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, Blog

      Of course, feeling like you are the only one that ­­_________ (fill in the blank) can also leave you feeling misunderstood and alone. As an adult with ADHD you may sometimes feel this way about having ADHD. If you feel this way, you know when you are connected to others (friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances) who “get and accept you,” you just feel better, right? But have you thought about the importance of your connections in being able to reach your potential, your goals and, ultimately, your dreams? Are you connected to people the way you want? The Importance of Positive Connections We know a primary reason for maintaining positive connections is its importance to our overall well-being. We need family and friends to…

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    ADHD and Friendships: Are You Tending To Yours?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, Blog

    We all know that you need to tend to your garden, if you want your plants to thrive. You need to water, weed, remove some if they are crowded, etc. And it is no different with relationships. If you want to have thriving, healthy relationships, you need to be mindful and tend to those that are important to you. You already know this. And maybe this is what you want. But you may not have the quality or quantity of relationships that you want. In all likelihood your ADHD symptoms may be part of your challenge in cultivating connections. You can change this. ADHD and Connections Dr. Edward Hallowell notes that for adults with ADHD connections with others are critical to our well being. It…

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    ADHD and Communicating: Finding the Right Words…

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, Blog

      For adults with ADHD communicating can be a veritable landmine at times. Sound familiar? You are not alone. These are common communication challenges when you have ADHD. Of course, some of the challenges may be due to differences in communication styles or the difficulties the other person has in communicating. And some challenges may be due to your ADHD symptoms. That is the good news, really!  After all, it is easier to focus on an area where you have the most control, yourself. This is the focus of this article. Once you understand how your ADHD may be impacting your ability to communicate effectively you can create an action plan to help you communicate better Retrieval For adults with ADHD the filing system for…