ADHD adults are often stereotyped as outgoing, high energy and talkative individuals. While extroverted traits like these are part of the ADHD experience for some people, they're not everyone's experience. In fact, many people with ADHD identify with introverted traits.
While there are lots of people with attentive ADHD who are introverts, this doesn't mean everyone with inattentive ADHD is an introvert and everyone with predominantly hyperactive-impulsive ADHD is an extrovert.
For example, one study of children with ADHD found that 58% of participants were introverted. The hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention strands of ADHD might look like extroverted energy, but that's not actually the case. ADHD symptoms are broadly independent of being introverted or extroverted.
Social Skills in Adults with ADHD. Individuals with ADHD often experience social difficulties, social rejection, and interpersonal relationship problems as a result of their inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Such negative interpersonal outcomes cause emotional pain and suffering.
Kids and adults with ADHD may also monopolize conversations and talk excessively. 2 Some parents might refer to it as "diarrhea of the mouth." It is like hyperactivity with words. Talking too much can be hard for kids, parents, and teachers alike.
People with ADHD tend to talk — a lot. We talk because we're excited or nervous, or because we just want to be a part of the conversation. Sometimes we talk simply to fill the silence because silence is hard for us.
ADHD may result in some symptoms that can make a person “socially clumsy.” If you often find yourself saying and doing inappropriate things during conversations, you might be experiencing social awkwardness.
The problem: The social maturity of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD) may be a few years behind that of their peers. In addition, they have difficulty reading verbal and physical social cues, misinterpreting remarks, or not getting jokes or games.
Hence, someone with ADHD might have difficulties keeping friends to the point where they establish a deep connection to understand each other. You see, sometimes, ADHD symptoms can be an obstacle they both need to overcome.
Individuals with ADHD who require solitude do not necessarily feel lonely or disconnected from others. Instead, they require alone time to manage their symptoms effectively and engage in activities that promote their mental health.
Their shyness may also be a result of their symptoms. A person with Inattentive ADHD type can easily feel embarrassed due to inattention, so they may choose to stay quiet and avoid any possible wrongdoings or mistakes ❌.
ADHD adults are often stereotyped as outgoing, high energy and talkative individuals. While extroverted traits like these are part of the ADHD experience for some people, they're not everyone's experience. In fact, many people with ADHD identify with introverted traits.
A recent review of findings on ADHD and FFM personality suggests that, in general, ADHD has associations with the FFM traits of Neuroticism (positive), Agreeableness (negative) and Conscientiousness (negative).
Their actions may offend or make folks angry, and that can lead the person with ADHD Inattentive Type to withdraw because social connections feel like a struggle. The root of this disorder is a difference in how their brain processes information.
Studies using the Big 5 Personality Factors show that ADHD is strongly tied to both extraversion and to neuroticism. Other studies using validated measures of personality find that those with ADHD rate very low on self determinism — an ability to devise and then execute plans.
“[People with ADHD] often struggle socially because they may miss subtle social cues; lose focus mid-conversation and realize they've not heard most of what the other person has said to them; or they may impulsively make statements which come across as inappropriate or rude without meaning to,” writes Natalia van ...
Many of the traits associated with ADHD — disorganization, procrastination, forgetfulness — are often considered by others to be traits of "immature adults". It's hard not to feel like you're failing at adulthood when everyone else seems to manage just fine.
It is easy for people with ADHD to lose confidence and feel frustrated with themselves or others. They may get discouraged and can even feel incompetent and unhappy with their lives because of these difficulties. Some withdraw from social activities and become isolated as a result.
Sometimes it can feel like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) hijacks your conversations. Maybe you interrupt people without thinking about it. Or you don't pay close attention and miss important details, like where you're supposed to meet friends.
Common ADHD-Related Problems
Impulsive spending or overspending. Starting fights or arguing. Trouble maintaining friendships and romantic relationships. Speeding and dangerous driving.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes differences in brain growth, development, and function. ADHD can also cause delayed maturation and activity differences in certain brain regions. The differences of the ADHD brain can affect thinking, behavior, and emotions.
Communication can be tricky for people with ADHD, who may interrupt too much, speak too quickly, or space out unintentionally and miss key elements of a conversation.
ADHD brains have low levels of a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. Norepinephrine is linked arm-in-arm with dopamine. Dopamine is the thing that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure center. The ADHD brain has impaired activity in four functional regions of the brain.