ADHD, Empathy, And "Raising a Narcissist"

04/01/21 • 14 min

Author and Adult ADHD Educator Gina Pera explores the complex relationship between ADHD and empathy.
She shares a compelling story from Taylor J., a mother with late-diagnosis ADHD who feared her daughter's apparent lack of empathy signaled narcissism.
Yet an ADHD diagnosis and subsequent treatment revealed a different narrative.
Gina delves into how ADHD-related challenges can mimic narcissistic traits and discusses the transformative impact of appropriate interventions.
This episode offers valuable insights for parents, caregivers, individuals, and professionals seeking to understand the nuanced behaviors associated with ADHD

ADHD symptoms can interfere with innate empathy—not to mention empathic actions.
When Taylor J had children, she vowed not to be like her parents: narcissistic.
She and her husband—both late-diagnosed—had tried to "teach empathy" to their oldest child, but the lessons never took. Or did they? Listen and find out!
In the discussion around "drugging children", what gets lost? Science and compassion.
You can read the post here: ADHD and Lacking Empathy: Was I Raising A Narcissist? https://adhdrollercoaster.org/adhd-and-relationships/adhd-and-lacking-empathy-was-i-raising-a-narcissist/

In addition to elevating lives, my goal is elevating the standard of care, with therapy and prescribing. We just cannot accept the standard slap-dash approach one day longer.

Send Gina a text!

READY TO GO DEEPER — AND ACTUALLY MAKE PROGRESS?

💬 I love helping you better understand the complexity of ADHD as it applies to you, not a stereotype!

My online training program walks you through everything step-by-step:

Solving Your Adult ADHD Puzzle
For adults with ADHD and their partners. Includes expert video lessons and optional peer Q&A Zooms.

Learn more: https://ginapera.adhdsuccesstraining.com/

Podcast listener discount: Use code POD15 at checkout for 15% off any course.

Thanks for listening!
—Gina Pera

🔗 About My Work: https://adhdrollercoaster.org/about-gina-pera/

ADHD symptoms can interfere with innate empathy—not to mention empathic actions.
When Taylor J had children, she vowed not to be like her parents: narcissistic.
She and her husband—both late-diagnosed—had tried to "teach empathy" to their oldest child, but the lessons never took. Or did they? Listen and find out!
In the discussion around "drugging children", what gets lost? Science and compassion.
You can read the post here: ADHD and Lacking Empathy: Was I Raising A Narcissist? https://adhdrollercoaster.org/adhd-and-relationships/adhd-and-lacking-empathy-was-i-raising-a-narcissist/

In addition to elevating lives, my goal is elevating the standard of care, with therapy and prescribing. We just cannot accept the standard slap-dash approach one day longer.

Send Gina a text!

READY TO GO DEEPER — AND ACTUALLY MAKE PROGRESS?

💬 I love helping you better understand the complexity of ADHD as it applies to you, not a stereotype!

My online training program walks you through everything step-by-step:

Solving Your Adult ADHD Puzzle
For adults with ADHD and their partners. Includes expert video lessons and optional peer Q&A Zooms.

Learn more: https://ginapera.adhdsuccesstraining.com/

Podcast listener discount: Use code POD15 at checkout for 15% off any course.

Thanks for listening!
—Gina Pera

🔗 About My Work: https://adhdrollercoaster.org/about-gina-pera/

Previous Episode

Blindsided by the ADHD Diagnosis: One Wife's Story

· How can you be blindsided by an ADHD diagnosis? It’s easy.

· Our culture has alternate explanations for virtually all ADHD-related challenges—e.g. depression, anxiety, and trauma. Even in this 21st Century, the mental health profession has not caught up to the science.

· When we finally learn, we are shocked: Why did we not know this before?

· How many relationships are imperiled by unrecognized ADHD? Maybe in the millions, just in North America.

· No matter how many “and then my spouse was finally diagnosed” stories I hear, each one moves me—and motivates me to keep beating the drum.

· This guest post comes from a woman named Claudia. I met her via a friend who is an Evangelical Christian—and who beats the Adult ADHD drum loudly in her community. Follow Christian Janeway on Twitter: @XianJaneway

· My friend tells me that many church friends have found themselves and their marriages in dire straits because 1) ADHD has gone undiagnosed, and 2) their church teachings call for wives to submit to and support their husbands.

· Cultural situations of all kinds can add another layer of invisibility to the presence of ADHD.

· You can read the post here: Blindsided by ADHD Diagnosis: One Wife’s Story

Send Gina a text!

READY TO GO DEEPER — AND ACTUALLY MAKE PROGRESS?

💬 I love helping you better understand the complexity of ADHD as it applies to you, not a stereotype!

My online training program walks you through everything step-by-step:

Solving Your Adult ADHD Puzzle
For adults with ADHD and their partners. Includes expert video lessons and optional peer Q&A Zooms.

Learn more: https://ginapera.adhdsuccesstraining.com/

Podcast listener discount: Use code POD15 at checkout for 15% off any course.

Thanks for listening!
—Gina Pera

🔗 About My Work: https://adhdrollercoaster.org/about-gina-pera/

Next Episode

Evidence-Based Therapy for ADHD-challenged Couples

Adult ADHD-Focused Couple Therapy TM. Why create a special model for Adult ADHD-challenged couples? Why not just use standard couple therapy?
Great questions. I’ll answer them, at least in part, in this podcast.

· I first explained in 2008 why standard couple therapy is typically unhelpful in my book, Is It You, Me, or Adult ADHD, including a chapter called “Why the Wrong Therapy is Worse Than No Therapy.” This book is as relevant today as it was then.

· My second book is Adult ADHD-Focused Couple Therapy: Clinical Interventions, published in 2016.

· It is the first and only clinical guide presenting a couple-therapy model based on the evidence—that is, a careful and flexible merging of what works for Adult ADHD and what works for couple therapy.
About my co-author: Arthur L. Robin, PhD, has long helped individuals and couples affected by ADHD. His strategies are battle-tested. In his primary occupation, from which he is now retired, he trained psychologists working at a children’s hospital. Both his ADHD expertise and skill as an educator shine through our model’s interventions..

· To be notified of new posts, subscribe: ADHD Roller Coaster
· Read the original blog post of this podcast here: Q&A with the Experts: Adult ADHD-Focused Couple Therapy - TM

Send Gina a text!

READY TO GO DEEPER — AND ACTUALLY MAKE PROGRESS?

💬 I love helping you better understand the complexity of ADHD as it applies to you, not a stereotype!

My online training program walks you through everything step-by-step:

Solving Your Adult ADHD Puzzle
For adults with ADHD and their partners. Includes expert video lessons and optional peer Q&A Zooms.

Learn more: https://ginapera.adhdsuccesstraining.com/

Podcast listener discount: Use code POD15 at checkout for 15% off any course.

Thanks for listening!
—Gina Pera

🔗 About My Work: https://adhdrollercoaster.org/about-gina-pera/