Friendships and relationships can be hard for neurodivergent people, especially if they experience lagging social skills, or struggle with executive function. Emily Kircher-Morris is joined by Caroline Maguire, author of Why Will Nobody Play With Me?, and they discuss the challenges and importance of neurodivergent friendships, particularly for individuals with ADHD. They talk about the lack of support for ADHD kids in developing social skills, and the negative impact it can have on their self-esteem. They discuss ways to build confidence and replace negative self-talk with positive thoughts. During a time when online friendships often outnumber in-person ones, they talk about ways to achieve a balance. A quest for meaningful relationships, on episode 214.

Takeaways

• Neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with ADHD, often face challenges in developing and maintaining friendships due to executive function weaknesses and a lack of social skills practice.

• Rejection sensitivity dysphoria is a common experience for neurodivergent individuals, leading to intense reactions to perceived slights or exclusion.

• Building confidence is crucial for developing friendships, and it can be achieved by focusing on strengths, celebrating small wins, and replacing negative self-talk with positive thoughts.

• Shared interests and activities provide opportunities for neurodivergent individuals to connect with like-minded peers and develop authentic relationships.

• While online friendships can be valuable, it is important to encourage a balance between online and in-person relationships to fully support social development.

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Caroline Maguire is the founder of a revolutionary social emotional learning methodology that helps teach social skills to children, teenagers, and young adults. She holds a Masters degree in Education with a concentration in SEL training, and is the founder and director of The Fundamentals of ADHD Coaching for Families training curriculum at ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA). Caroline is also a former coach for the Hallowell Center in Sudbury, Massachusetts. In addition to coaching and training, she is the author of Why Will No One Play With Me?, the winner of the Best Parenting and Family Book 2020 as awarded by American Book Fest, and a co-collaborator on the newly released HowToSel.com – a daily social emotional learning platform anyone can incorporate into daily life.

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