ADHD and Friendship

Executive functioning skills play a significant role in making and sustaining friendships. These skills are a set of cognitive processes that include self-control, organization, planning, time management, flexibility, and the ability to regulate emotions.

Here's how executive functioning skills can affect the ability to make and sustain friendships:

1. Reading social cues: Executive functioning skills help individuals interpret social cues accurately, such as understanding facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and subtle social norms. This allows them to respond appropriately in social situations and build rapport with others.

2. Problem-solving conflicts: Friends may encounter conflicts or disagreements from time to time. Strong executive functioning skills enable individuals to resolve conflicts effectively by calmly discussing issues, understanding different perspectives, and finding mutually beneficial solutions. This helps maintain the friendship and prevent misunderstandings from escalating.

3. Flexibility and adaptability: Friendships require flexibility and adaptability to accommodate each other's needs, preferences, and changing circumstances. Individuals with strong executive functioning skills can adjust their behavior, plans, and expectations in response to changes in their friendships, such as scheduling conflicts or shifting priorities.

4. Organizing social activities: Planning and organizing social activities, such as outings, gatherings, or group events, often falls on individuals with strong executive functioning skills. They can coordinate logistics, communicate plans effectively, and ensure everyone feels included and valued.

5. Regulating emotions: Emotional regulation is crucial for maintaining healthy friendships. People with strong executive functioning skills can manage their emotions effectively, express themselves assertively but respectfully, and empathize with their friends' feelings. This fosters trust, intimacy, and mutual support in the friendship.

Overall, strong executive functioning skills enhance one's ability to navigate the complexities of social interactions, communicate effectively, and build meaningful connections with others, which are essential for making and sustaining friendships.

To work on your ability to make and nurture friendships, we recommend finding an ADHD coach specializing in executive functioning skills. You can also discover your own abilities with this free assessment.

Check out the ADHD Wise Squirrels Podcast episodes for more about Executive Functioning Skills.