DeepSummary
Dr. Stephanie Moulton Sarkis discussed the signs of toxic relationships and how they can be particularly harmful for teens with ADHD. She explained why those with ADHD may be more vulnerable to toxic relationships due to low self-esteem, difficulty maintaining friendships, and a desire for acceptance. Dr. Sarkis outlined tactics used by perpetrators, such as love bombing, gaslighting, and isolating the victim from family and friends.
Dr. Sarkis emphasized the importance of open and non-judgmental communication with teens in toxic relationships. She provided advice for parents on how to intervene, such as seeking counseling, monitoring social media usage, and potentially involving law enforcement if there are threats of violence. She also discussed the challenges teens with ADHD may face in recovering from a toxic relationship, including self-harm or suicidal ideation.
Throughout the episode, Dr. Sarkis stressed the need for consistent ADHD treatment, trauma-informed therapy, and family support to help teens recognize unhealthy relationship patterns and build self-esteem. She encouraged parents to model healthy relationships and boundaries while guiding their teens towards positive activities and support networks.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Teens with ADHD are more vulnerable to toxic relationships due to factors like low self-esteem, difficulty maintaining friendships, and a desire for acceptance.
- Signs of a toxic relationship include love bombing, gaslighting, isolation from family/friends, and attempts to undermine the victim's self-worth.
- Open and non-judgmental communication with teens in toxic relationships is crucial for parents to intervene effectively.
- Seeking counseling, monitoring social media usage, and involving law enforcement (if threats of violence) may be necessary interventions.
- Consistent ADHD treatment, trauma-informed therapy, and family support are vital for helping teens recover from a toxic relationship.
- Parents should model healthy relationships and boundaries while guiding teens towards positive activities and support networks.
- Recovering from a toxic relationship can be challenging for teens with ADHD, who may experience self-harm, suicidal ideation, or rejection sensitivity.
- Education on the characteristics of healthy relationships is essential for preventing future toxic dynamics.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “So gaslighting is a form of manipulation where the perpetrator, and I'll call it perpetrator and victim for the purposes of our talk. So where the perpetrator tells the victim that they're crazy, that they can't trust themselves, that everyone else thinks they're crazy, that their family's no good, and the victim tends to start questioning their own sanity and relying on the perpetrator for their version of reality.“ by Stephanie Moulton Sarkis
- “Abuse is. Abuse is abuse. Talk about warning signs early, what a healthy relationship looks like. There's equal give and take. There's mutual courtesy and respect. You can disagree about stuff, but you still treat each other with kindness. And also there are flexible, clear, rigid boundaries.“ by Stephanie Moulton Sarkis
- “So 43% of college women report experiencing violent and abusive dating behaviors quite a high. Number one in three college women say that they've been in an abusive dating relationship.“ by Stephanie Moulton Sarkis
- “The more time that your teen or young adult spends away from this unhealthy person, the better chance that they will go on to having healthy relationships and to go on to move on from that relationship. Education and going to counseling is key.“ by Stephanie Moulton Sarkis
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Episode Information
ADHD Experts Podcast
ADDitude
4/9/24
Stephanie Moulton Sarkis, Ph.D., explains what makes a relationship toxic and how to identify the signs, why adolescents with ADHD are at particularly high risk, and how to support teens through ending and recovering from an unhealthy relationship.
Teen Relationships: More Resources
- Download: Questions to Get Your Child Talking
- Replay: Gaslighting, Love Bombing & Beyond, by Stephanie Sarkis
- Read: ADHD Teens and Dating — Relationship Advice for Parents
- Read: “How Toxic Relationship Residue Poisoned My Love Life”
Access the video and slides for podcast episode #497 here: https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/toxic-relationships-teens-adhd/
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