If you live with ADHD and feel like you are constantly managing other people’s emotions, you are not alone. Many people with ADHD find themselves stuck in codependent relationship patterns without realizing it. You might feel responsible for keeping the peace in your relationships. You might jump into caretaking or people pleasing when someone around you is stressed. You might give more than you get. These are common signs of codependency, and when ADHD is in the mix, these patterns can feel even stronger.

If you’re in a relationship, you’ve probably had this exact conversation (or at least thought it):

Are we fine?

We think we’re fine.

We’re probably fine… right?

Because sometimes love is easy. Other times, it’s like trying to assemble IKEA furniture without the instructions: frustrating, confusing, and maybe missing a piece or two.

Individuals with a history of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), unhealthy attachments, or obsessive/ perfectionistic thinking, may find themselves in a specific and often misunderstood subtype of OCD: Relationship OCD, or R-OCD.