In this week’s episode of The ADHD Women’s Wellbeing Podcast, we’re exploring the emotional complexities of female friendship through the lens of ADHD!

I'm joined by Dr. Gilly Khan, a clinical psychologist and author of Allow Me to Interrupt: A Psychologist Reveals the Emotional Truth Behind Women's ADHD, to explore how emotional dysregulation, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), and masking impact our ability to form and maintain healthy social connections, but also help us develop the deepest and most supportive friendships.

We discuss why friendships can feel overwhelming, how the fear of being left out (or left behind) can trigger deep emotional responses, and how self-awareness and communication can help us nurture more authentic relationships.

My new book, The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit, is now available, grab your copy here!

Key Takeaways:

How emotional dysregulation and rejection sensitivity (RSD) can impact female friendships, often leading to misunderstandings and emotional overwhelm.
Why ADHD women often prefer direct, meaningful communication.
How small talk or indirect social norms can feel confusing or exhausting.
The common experience of feeling excluded or disconnected in group friendships, especially during times of emotional sensitivity.
The pressure to mask or people-please in social settings, and the toll that takes on mental wellbeing.
The power of gently “filtering” through friendships to focus on quality over quantity.
Why FOMO, birthday anxiety, and fear of people not showing up are amplified for women with ADHD.
How to honour your social battery by setting boundaries and creating space to recharge.
Building self-awareness around your social patterns can help reduce RSD triggers and protect your emotional energy.
The impact of finding your “tribe” in friendships where you can be fully yourself, without masking or performing.

Timestamps:

00:01: Introduction to ADHD Women's Wellbeing
12:12: Navigating Female Friendships and ADHD
22:44: Understanding Social Dynamics in Women's Friendships
25:45: Navigating Social Expectations and Personal Reflections
40:00: Understanding Neurodivergence and Authenticity

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Connect with like-minded women who understand you
Learn from guest experts and practical tools
Receive compassionate prompts & gentle reminders
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Female Friendships and ADHD: How to Find Your Tribe and Build Meaningful Neurodivergent Connections

ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast