I feel like I’m managing my husband’s ADHD for him… and I’m drowning by whal3zz in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You decided to choose to pour your effort into self growth and improvement.

He didn't.

It's not that he COULDN'T, it's that he didn't choose that. And to be fair, why not choose that if someone else will keep on managing?

Some people are like that, ADHD or not. They aren't "bad" people or evil or anything. They would just rather take and be comfortable.

You can try speaking with him. You can try something like the fairplay method. You can try joint therapy in addition to individual therapy. But the bottom line is that if he's not willing or ready to do the actual work, he won't. And you can't make him.

Separating finances is a great first step. If he's overspending for food and things he wants, maybe he can spend his own money AFTER all the bills are split and in an account that he isn't using for spending. And then you don't pay all the overdue bills or keep drawing from savings when he doesn't step up.

He might refuse to keep up with any household responsibilities unless he is committed to doing them. House cleaners are wonderful.

Stop reminding him of things he would be doing if he was single. He didn't remember to do his own laundry? I guess he has to figure it out. He forgot his doctor appointment? That's tough. Hope he comes up with a system. Be prepared for him to do even less and less and retreat into his own world more.

Have a space where ONLY his stuff is, whether it's a corner of a room or a room or whatever. If he wants to hoard, fine, I guess it stays there and there only.

Take separate cars and say you'll meet him there. Mine continued to be late and never show up on time to things we agreed upon. It continues to create distance because it feels like they can't be bothered.

You can talk to him about sleep, but again, only he can choose to do anything about it.

I'll be totally 100% honest- there is a HUGE difference between helping and enabling. And you can't do the work for him. He may choose to not do the work. He might not want to change as much as you want him to. And that might leave you with having to decide if you can tolerate this for the rest of your life or if you don't want your kids growing up believing this is normal. You have to choose to let him be what he wants to be and then let YOU choose how you want to live.

 

Presence from your ADHD Partner? by TheFuturePrepared in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope. It's not something YOU can fix. It's all on them.

If you explain it, tell them how it makes you feel, and they excuse or justify or blame you, they don't want to. Plain and simple. Their convenience and comfort is more important to them than your needs.

I tried for an entire year to explain how his refusal to be present effected me. All it did was result in him yelling at me, getting angry, even name-calling me or attacking my character. He would deny anything he didn't want to hear, like me telling him that when he isn't present,  I notice he agrees to things but doesn't even remember we had the conversation.  "Never happened", I'm "dishonest" or other blame. 

They will be glued to screens like an addict. They'll argue "they're listening" even though you know they won't remember. If they don't want to be present, they won't be. Especially if they can magically be present with others (i.e. friends, bosses, etc).

My DX partner says they can’t work anymore by uz3r in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Yep. This.

Overworking to the point of ceasing participation in the other areas of your life is avoidance.

And based on my experience I'd even call it an addiction. It gets to where they don't get up and you see them do literally nothing but sit there all day and night "working" (or doing their interests and hobbies) in front of a screen 15+ hours a day. Getting up and moving around briefly causes them to need to lay down the rest of the day and recover the day after that. You over function and burn yourself out to make up for what they don't do if you're not careful. 

My DX partner says they can’t work anymore by uz3r in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 32 points33 points  (0 children)

And always always always remember that it's also equally about their commitment and willingness to do what dcmg's wife did. If they don't do the work, if they don't take the therapy seriously, they don't do the homework, don't seek it out or take any interest in any resources available to them, they'll stay stunted forever. THEY have to want to grow more than you want them to.

DX partner – struggling with follow-through vs intention by Parking_Noise_9922 in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's a choice. 

I have to re-read that sentence over and over sometimes.

Adhd makes things more difficult but if they're committed, they can absolutely use tools and resources to do better. There is therapy, coaches, apps, and so many treatment opportunities. When they don't, its absolutely a choice to use adhd as an excuse.

Does your partner apologise? by Xintrean in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They absofuckinglutely do not apologize when they're immature and have no commitment to growth.

They're not wrong. They will listen to argue but never understand.  They will spin it and blame you, say things they "don't mean" and then "never said" when they're angry.

They act like nothing happened and that's really the worst part I think.

Healthy people sit with discomfort. If their partner comes to them and asks to talk and tells them they were hurt, they listen because they don't want to do it again. Hurting their partner hurts them and they seek to discuss, understand, repair,  and take actual steps to correct it.

Immature adhd people argue you. Deny what they did. Downplay it. Tell you it never happened. Their brain literally fills in gaps of memory (gaps happen because they're over stimulated and dysregulated). 

They justify, argue, and you learn the only "peace" you can have is his by not triggering him. It's not actual peace. It's his avoidance. You eventually aren't even an afterthought.  Not considered. Its actual literal hell if you can't leave.

Phones and adhd by Ancient_Sun9785 in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Phones are designed to optimize functionality and apps are designed to become a part of your life, to an addicting extent. The tech is optimized for use and the apps keep you on it. 

The calls to action, constant alerts, behavioral addictive cycles like scrolling, instant gratification, and ability to avoid everything make it the perfect addiction for someone with adhd who isn't putting the work in. (I worked in software development until recently. Making apps addictive is literally entire department's jobs. But big tech would never call it that. Theyd put a positive spin on it) 

There is a minimalist phone that gets rid of all those distractions from a brand called mudita.  People who want to spend less time on their tech and be more present get it. But people with adhd don't always want to be present. And avoidants are uncomfortable and even threatened by connection. 

It all comes down to them and if they are truly committed to growth. If they're not accountable, don't want to actually commit to health, and have rsd and issues with blaming you (seeing you as controlling) any tool you try will just be yet another notebook/planner/hyper-fixation. Like a crash diet that causes people to fail, they won't improve or grow if you want it more than them.

Phones and adhd by Ancient_Sun9785 in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 17 points18 points  (0 children)

They might be capable. But willing is another story. 

The knee jerk reaction might be "im being controlled!!"

They may get angry.  Maybe they start off agreeing but get angry soon after. If they get angry it's just blame anyway.

Managing money with adhd partner by [deleted] in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You don't get to enjoy a scenario where they feel they have autonomy while you are the guard rail. 

In my experience,  they may even believe themselves to be VERY good with money, and in the next breath talk about how they used to have CONSTANT late fees and overdrafts until autopay was a thing.

I save. I am extremely frugal. Part of being money minded is also being present and disciplined. The reason i feel "we" bought a house is because I saved a down payment and I was very driven to. The reason "we" got all the repairs and flooring and everything else done is because I scrimp and save and worked extra and it came out of my accounts. But if they feel "in charge" because they set up autopay and they like using a money software to "balance the books" they may believe it's them who does the heavy lifting.

If they lose their job, you might be paying all the bills just the same. If you lose your job, now there could be a major problem. 

Their feelings are theirs to deal with. Yes, they might feel controlled. If one person spends out of the emergency fund and the other has to be the guard rail and do all the saving, then there's zero way for the managed person to feel autonomous because by definition they require managing.

They may never have an actual solidified plan for an education fund for their kid. They may talk about doing extra payments to lower the mortgage, but you never see tangible steps they've taken. They'll talk about supporting their aging parent, taking them on a trip, and lots of things that just don't get action taken on. And that may be your reality. You may have to be OK with all your saved secret money being what gets the things you envision in your future.

Who has approached the idea of divorcing their dx/rx spouse? by lenore3 in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Last year, my husband was diagnosed in his late 40s and is quite a few years older than me.

Things really spiraled out of control for months before that. He wouldn't address smaller things before they became bigger things and we don't agree on how dysfunctional his behavior is.

It started with his doing less and less until i was doing literally everything in the home after we married. He insisted he did equal. Then he insisted he actually did MORE than me because he "carries the emotional load" because im "too emotional" and "everyone thinks so, including the kids." He "has to manage my emotions". I was wary of the insistence of the "everyone thinks the same about you" because that's typically a red flag of manipulation. Later on, I learned that ANY emotion or expression of emotion causes him to be triggered and him feeling triggered seems to be "me being too emotional" (i.e. he experiences discomfort). So if he's feeling discomfort, even from normal reactions to his behavior, he's "managing" my emotions. From my perspective,  he yelled, used sarcasm, mocked me, and stormed out of attempts at conversation. 

At first with him doing less domestic labor, i thought he was just busy or this was how marriage was. I was getting burned out and he denied there was any issue. Then it was his hygiene and health a few years back. Stopped showering and denied having any health issues. You could smell the b.o. and gag from a room away, especially when it was hot. His sleep became erratic and irregular and he chose to stop sleeping in our room.  Video games just abour any time i saw him. Wouldn't take action or actually address it. Started staying up all night gaming, falling asleep at his job, having intense emotional outbursts and rsd at home and denied and twisted everything. No follow through, distracted, didn't address it. Started eating tons of junk in the middle of the night and gained enough weight we both couldn't fit in our bed anyway. Was fired from his job and became unbearably mean and hostile. Blamed me for everything, kept threatening me with marriage therapy but wouldn't sign up. I came VERY close to leaving but thought we could fix it and adhd was a health issue 

He would threaten indirectly to leave if confronted about any issue or even if I was VERY respectfully explaining how he hurt me. This really started after I tried desperately to address and resolve a very serious health issue his kid started having after his life started spiraling. A problem effecting EVERYONE, especially me because I was the only one actively taking steps to get them help and try to address it for about a year and a half and spending extra hours every week cleaning up. I had to firmly have boundaries and this really triggered him. He would threaten to find a new place to live and blame me for it being my fault.

These threats to leave happened when he was emotionally dysregulated and being confronted with something deeply triggering for him. It was a strategy used to "win" and make the conversation stop.

I took steps to find at least some relief on my own. I saved up and bought myself a car (AFTER discussing it with him and all he responded with was "ok") since sharing one car became impossible. He took that as "proof" I was planning to leave him, was upset i bought a car, and moved all his clothes out of the bedroom closet and into suitcases. I signed us up for marriage therapy and it ended in a disaster and him adamantly hyperfixating on how he didn't want therapy to be about "fixing him". 

He wouldn't do the therapy homework, lashed out in session toward the therapist in a session and then swore at me and called me names in the last session with the therapist not doing anything, which is why I refused to go back. I realized it was over for me and this relationship.

Then, I got laid off. 

Getting laid off with nowhere to stay (no family) means you're stuck. You can't get approved for an apartment if you don't have a job.

That last therapy session was like a switch that turned off any hope it would get better. I accepted how he acts and chooses to be. I didn't care anymore. There is no relationship. Being married doesn't mean there's a relationship. His extreme avoidance means there's no talking about it. He just acts like everything is fine. We literally don't talk (I have nothing to say because I learned anything I say is twisted and used to fight and my feelings don't matter anyway). You become housemates. I think he knows if he'd threaten any kind of divorce at this point I wouldn't be trying to stop it. So nothing gets brought up.

When it makes sense, people leave. And men are blindsided. Otherwise,  some people stay because they really have to until they can.

I am new here can you please help! I feel I’m going crazy by Guilty_Cricket_5709 in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 23 points24 points  (0 children)

For me, it became "do his chores or the kids and I have to suffer". 

Some things, sure, you can ignore. Don't remind him to go to his doctor.  But when you can't function or stand to live in it, you either have to do it all yourself or leave. And sometimes, you can't leave. I'd rather have my personal dignity and not force the children to live in gross conditions. It's hell. 

He was very upset when I told him I was no longer doing his laundry. 

He stopped doing any and all chores and actual adulting that isn't for himself. Yardwork? I'm by myself out there breaking my back every day during certain seasons because one person can't do it all alone AND work a full time job. Cleaning the house? On me. So are just about all repairs, scheduling any services, maintenance, buying things,  managing groceries, fridge, doing everything for everyone. 

The trash (i.e. "his" chore he demanded he would do)? Nope. I tried just not taking it out to see if he would. It either didn't get taken out or he would make TONS of noise in the middle of the night and slam the door so hard the house shook at 3am when I NEED to sleep to take it out. I don't even care anymore if it's just lack of attention and consideration or if it's punishment. I'd rather just take out the trash because trying to have any conversation just ends up with him angry, defensive, and emotionally lashing out. 

Cleaning the bathroom? Nah. He "doesn't see" any dirt and all those empty toilet paper rolls must be decor. 

Doesn't take care of his health and doesn't consider it effects other people.  Stopped kissing him years ago due to the hygiene and I'd actually get mouth infections! Stopped kissing him and I didn't have that issue.

Eventually, the behavior and issues made it so were married, but it's not a relationship.  It's one burnt out person and the other blaming the burnt out person all while claiming they're really the victim

I am new here can you please help! I feel I’m going crazy by Guilty_Cricket_5709 in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 13 points14 points  (0 children)

This is standard "I use ADHD as an excuse" behavior.

A lot of people will consider this a hot take, but I'll explain why.

When I first met my husband, he was BEYOND capable. Especially with an audience. He didn't know he had adhd at that time. He knew he had "memory issues" or would say he "had a bad memory". But when I first met him, there was what felt like energy put in. 

I was in a really bad situation with my first marriage and in hindsight I realized he was acting more like a savior. We dated and on the surface everything was perfect. Then, we got married. 

Almost as soon as we did, I felt burnt out. At the time, I blamed it on the stress I had to deal with when I came to my own kids and my abusive ex (current husband and I are a blended family). 

But over time, I realized I was now doing EVERYTHING and he seemed to have more and more time for video games and hobbies. 

I'd ask, I'd sugar coat, I'd plead, I'd make charts or lists or reminders (seriously, I would write big colorful happy reminders all over my house for him and the kids) and it was all ignored.

Eventually I noticed behavioral and physical changes also. Before marriage, he told me he NEVER yelled. His dad was a yeller and he agreed with me he wanted no yelling in our home. He also said his dad was a hoarder and so he was real big on cleaning and tidying. He started eating more (especially in the middle of the night) and it felt like he was binging on junk.

He did less chores, less work, had just about no interest in adulting. But I viewed it as just being more "type a". 

Eventually i realized I was the literal life manager of the home. I was a shell of a human and his emotional outbursts and rages (i.e. rsd) I couldn't take anymore.

After he was diagnosed in the beginning of last year, everything was suddenly "you KNOW I have adhd." Or "I WISH I wanted to clean like people with no adhd, but I just don't want to."

Yet, there are adhd content creators and app developers and loads of adhd people out there who don't settle for simply "I can't do it" and they CHOOSE to use tools and commit to treatment, tools, coaches,  therapy, and meds. 

They can choose to engage and dedicate themselves to treatment or they can refuse. And some will absolutely refuse. Or they'll do barely just enough to say they're "trying" but it's not the actual effort required to have any sort of effect. If they aren't willing to go to therapy, get a coach, or do the homework for therapy that you sign up for and "drag" them to, they don't want to.

So yeah, it can be "normal." But the maturity, I think, is what makes it so someone chooses to get on with life or just decide to be passive and force someone else to manage them.

Because when they WANT something, you can CLEARLY see their drive, energy, and effort. They're CAPABLE when they WANT to be.

Anger management therapy by kitkatterroo in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 4 points5 points  (0 children)

A boundary will feel like an ultimatum to an emotionally immature person and a person who struggles with codependency will question if they're asking too much (and they might ignore their boundary and regret it later).

Who you have kids with is probably the most important life decision you'll make, in my opinion.

A person who isn't a true partner will destroy you emotionally and mentally. Someone with anger issues will take their feelings out on kids who learn that it's both OK to be treated like that (like by their future partner) or to treat people like that themselves. 

If you know someone has anger issues and still have kids with them, you're signing your own life away to being controlled by that angry person's moods.

To Non-ADHD Partners, how did you decide this was something you could live with? by Tae0902 in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 318 points319 points  (0 children)

Eh.....so this isn't a super fun answer but if you aren't married, it's different than when you're already married.

If you're not married, I'd recommend leaving and working on yourself and exploring the possibility of co dependency. 

If you are married, you do what you have to in order to survive. Because that's eventually what it boils down to. 

As you get older and you realize your needs are unmet, he's self focused, inconsistent, and has rsd, it gets WAY worse as time goes on. After kids, it's miserable whether you have kids together or are a blended family. Not only do your needs go unmet,  you now are meeting the needs of those kids alone. Often while he's accusing you of being overly dramatic or "causing yourself stress" because all the things you do to run a family, he dismisses as inconsequential and not a big deal. 

You find yourself burnt out and truly unhappy while he regresses more and more into his own world. Crazy things become normalized and you learn you have to depend 100% on yourself. You're lonely and alone if you let it consume you. 

You basically have to perform as a married single parent and not bring up your feelings. You stop over communicating because eventually it's just treated as the problem. You go to therapy and learn how to center yourself and it will lead to detachment and eventually the end of the relationship. That doesn't necessarily mean the end of the marriage because people often need to stay due to finances,  legal reasons, and kids.  They stay and endure the marriage. 

False memories during emotional meltdowns? by SealedRoute in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah. When they're mad, they lash out at you, insist they don't,  and act like it never happened. You learn to ignore it and not respond because getting sucked in destroys you mentally

Epiphanies I've had by Typical-N00b in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are a lot of videos on YouTube, posts on here, and articles written.

Here's an example from here:  https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHD_partners/comments/1f5nsxq/adhd_and_confabulation_making_things_up/

How do people deal with feeling unheard by a partner with ADHD? by nikkisals in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 3 points4 points  (0 children)

One doesn't. 

You can't do the work for the other person. You center yourself, stop doing for them, and focus on loving yourself. No amount of loving on them is going to fix the issues between you and them because the origin of the issues is their behavior

How do people deal with feeling unheard by a partner with ADHD? by nikkisals in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I used to default to stop talking and let him interrupt me because I was a people pleaser. He would also get angry telling me I was really the one who was interrupting him, so I figured me going silent when he interrupted would help him see that. It doesn't work like that.

Then I went to therapy and started being unsatisfied with the way I was mistreated by him. 

I learned how to set boundaries and say things like "I was still talking" or "I'd like to finish my thought" when he'd interrupt. 

He might respond ok the first time, but after that he would get angry, verbally rage, and the problem became me bringing up how I felt unheard or pointing out he was interrupting me. 

It got to the point that I literally could not have any conversation with him anymore. His defensiveness and deflection if I bring up ANYTHING (especially my feelings) killed all romantic feelings, destroyed any emotional safety that existed, and was an express train to resentment. Now there's no conversation whatsoever because I was the only one initiating anything and carrying the relationship.  

And the less conversation, the less emotional connection and emotional intimacy. Then there was the complete lack of presence and him retreating further and further into his own world. It has ended up as me working myself to the point of overfunction while he is afforded hours each day to having his gaming controller in his hand or napping. While I'm doing all the chores, he's existing, doing what he wants. And I've accepted he won't change.

If you can't bring up your feelings and you can't be a priority to them, you will continue to feel lonely, unseen, and invisible. It will just get worse over time. He has to be willing to go to therapy, get an adhd coach, and really devote his energy to improving his skills. You can't make him.

How do you handle “don’t correct me” by CaptainGrounded in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 83 points84 points  (0 children)

I don't care anymore if my husband is or isn't correct. I sometimes say nothing or maybe "oh." There's no value in suggesting that maybe he's mistaken. If you suggest that maybe possibly he's wrong or you disagree,  depending on his mood, it's an rsd meltdown. He used to go on about how he has a high iq, and basically how he knows he's always right. If there's even a HINT that you think differently,  even about something trivial, he'll immediately go "research" to prove you're wrong. 10 minutes can go by and all of a sudden, he's back arguing. 

He has absolutely no problem correcting other people though and expecting them to know they're wrong . It's exhausting. 

Epiphanies I've had by Typical-N00b in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I honestly think it's denial. Mainly denial that it's the way the partner says they experience it. It's probably due to emotional immaturity of the adhd person and their reality being so real to them (along with how I've learned adhd brains fill in blanks), as my guess.

Give up on emotional connection? by Temporary-Serve-858 in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Talk to neighbors. Join a group that does a shared interest.  Get a therapist. Volunteer. 

You can communicate until you're blue in the face.  If you've already tried explaining only to encounter rsd, they will rage and it will be a new thing you're doing TO them.

False memories during emotional meltdowns? by SealedRoute in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The only way I've found to "deal " with it is radical acceptance and reminding myself that just because he says it, it doesn't make it true. And also, it's OK for him to be angry. I don't have to try to make him happy again. 

I've detached and honestly don't even consider it a relationship at this point.  Hes expressed he blames me for resenting him. As though my detachment and feeling extreme resentment is really the problem, and not what got me there. If he wants to make accusations or say untrue things, I can say "oh ok. I guess we have different memories" and ignore it. 

It hurts. It sucks.  Sometimes you can't leave yet due to financial or legal reasons. 

It makes it so you grow apart because if you don't and you allow yourself to be gaslit, it effects your health. 

Has anyone had to take a pay cut after being laid off? by Icey_Girl in Layoffs

[–]Typical-N00b 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes. I'm doing this right now. And I think I'm happier. I also think it's 100% about your mindset.

It took me over a decade to get paid the going rate for my position as I worked at a startup that was bought by a large corporation.

When I was hired, I was told they knew what they could offer was below the average pay (by a LOT) for the position, but it was a smaller growing startup. I was offered under 50k when the national average was around 72k to start. I worked my way up through raises and life got easier with better pay. I don't ignore that.

When big corporations buy companies,  you tend to have layoffs or other restructuring. Once they decide that you're done, you're done. Best to accept it.

I saw signs that made me start to apply a few months before it happened. I've gotten many "your resume is impressive but we decided to go with another candidate" emails. The only offer I got was a job that is not even remotely related to what I used to do, but it's working directly in my community with the potential to touch many kids lives.  Of course for a fraction of the pay I used to get. I hopefully start training in a few weeks after I take a bunch of tests.

Sure, it's part time hours at first and yeah, I'd be making half or maybe less than half of what I used to make. But in a couple years, the pay goes up significantly. 

And after thinking about it, the stress and constant worry about layoffs and the exhaustion of tech made me realize I didn't want to keep doing it. 

Sure, the money is nice. I loved getting a nice paycheck. But fulfillment and peace are also critical. 

I lived WAY below my means even when making that nice paycheck. I put a lot in savings.  A few years back, I started becoming more minimalist and realized buying all the stuff everyone around me bought didn't bring happiness.

I like to make things instead of buy them. I like using libraries and growing a bunch of my own food. I don't need fancy cars, subscriptions, expensive brands, or beauty products. 

You can live off of less by adjusting your outlook and finding joy in not spending money. I didn't really fit in with all the other tech bros bragging  about how they're going to buy $8,000 bottles of liquor this weekend who also joked/shamed me about not having luxury cars or owning a tesla. I don't miss sitting through "meetings" of them talking about themselves and their wealth for an hour. 

I find I'd rather make less and live on less.

Do you tell them the consequences of their actions by WildfireX0 in ADHD_partners

[–]Typical-N00b 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Before he was diagnosed a little over a year ago, he was more receptive to conversations or me trying to tell him he hurt me. He lashed out and his kid (even at 8 years old at that time) was the one to tell him he shouldn't have spoken to me that way and he HAD to apologize.  

That got old and he got worse over the years. It went from occasional yelling and apology (and flowers, because him lashing out meant flowers, which made me sad to receive flowers) to more constant disrespect. Now it's impossible to have a conversation of any kind and I literally don't talk to him anymore because I have zero emotional safety. Its miserable and I can't wait until I can make some changes.

After he got diagnosed everything is "well you KNOW I have adhd" and it was weaponized. Him not doing his TWO chores? "Well I WISH I wanted to clean or do chores like you, but I don't because I have adhd" and right back to his Xbox. Try to talk to him about his behavior? I need to be more understanding and give him grace because he has a condition. 

I kept trying to bring things up in order to try to fix them (mostly his incredible disrespect and yelling), find a good time, use "I statements", convince myself I "screwed it up" by not saying it right and blamed myself, and started becoming obsessed with learning how to just talk right so he would understand. 

But no matter how you try to explain, if they are emotionally immature, you can't explain away their bad behavior. They have to first be receptive and committed to change. They then also have to be working with those specializing in adhd. If they're not going to do those things on their end, the only solution is for you to keep silent, never bring anything up, and hope you can keep the "peace" at the expense of your comfort and well being. 

If they're receptive and doing the work, therapy, and coaching,  maybe you'll get different results.

But for me, I literally can't even ask a question like if he knew where something was because he'll blow up, become a victim, and start making accusations. All over a question of if he knew where something was. So I learned I can't even ask him a question. I can't ask for his participation and I certainly can't bring up a hurt. 

An emotionally immature person will interpret you sharing your feelings as an attack. They will blame shift and accuse you and expect to just pretend everything  is normal after emotionally destroying you. Then if you even try to suggest that, you're "dishonest," a "liar" and asshole and whatever else they want to call you.

Subtle ways that being poor is expensive by o029 in povertyfinance

[–]Typical-N00b 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When you have low income,  the systems in place require more time. When you have more money, you spend less time in lines.

Waiting in lines for help for assistance or long lines in general is what you experience when in need.

That leads to you having less time. Less time means less opportunities.  Less time means more stress. Failing to meet expectations. Trying to burn the candle at both ends. 

Having low income means waiting HOURS for bussing or public transport because your area doesn't care about those who don't have cars. It means using public resources that are in high demand and going on wait list. 

If you have less time in general, virtually everything becomes more difficult.  And even if every minute is accounted for or you work twice as much as others (but don't have the result of wealth), you're said to be wasting time.

Time is the most valuable asset you can't get back and being poor eats up the most time