Navigating social situations can be extra challenging for people with ADHD. In some cases, this can lead to social anxiety.
There are three main symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity. Each of these symptoms can impact how you communicate and socialize.
In some cases, ADHD symptoms may create social anxiety or make social anxiety symptoms more pronounced.
It’s possible to improve your social skills at any point in your life. While the symptoms of ADHD may make social situations more stressful, understanding the challenges can help you take steps to overcome them.
If you live with one or both conditions, there are many treatment options, and you may find that learning new coping skills may help you in your daily life.
If you live with ADHD, it’s worth remembering that this neurodevelopmental disorder affects many people — about 4.4% of U.S. adults and up to 10% of U.S. children — and you don’t need to put up with unfair character judgments from other people.
The same goes for social anxiety disorder, a condition that affects an estimated 12.1% of the U.S. population in their lifetimes.
“Social anxiety disorder is a mental health diagnosis marked by fear or anxiety about social situations where the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others,” says Brent Metcalf, a licensed clinical social worker in Tennessee.
“Usually, the individual [with social anxiety disorder] is afraid they will act in a way that will be humiliating or embarrassing, which will lead to rejection,” adds Metcalf. “Social situations almost always provoke anxiety in the individual, and people with social anxiety will often avoid social situations altogether due to fear or anxiety.”
Some ADHD symptoms can make conversation and communication more challenging, particularly for those who don’t understand the condition. ADHD can make you more likely to:
- interrupt people during a conversation
- jump between topics in a way that’s hard for others to follow
- get distracted during social interactions and lose the thread of conversation
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that children with ADHD are more likely to have other mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and autism spectrum disorder, all of which can make social interactions more difficult.
According to the CDC, about 3 in 10 children with ADHD also have anxiety. A 2015 study reports a link between social anxiety disorder and ADHD.
“It is common to have both anxiety and ADHD,” says Metcalf, “and it is also not uncommon for social anxiety and ADHD to coexist.”</…….
Source: https://psychcentral.com/adhd/adhd-and-social-anxiety