E278: How ADHD Women Are Vulnerable to Toxic Partners

E278: How ADHD Women Are Vulnerable to Toxic Partners

From Motherhood in ADHD – Parenting with ADHD, Productivity Tips, Brain based Science, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Education to Help Moms with Adult ADHD by Patricia Sung | ADHD Coach for Moms with ADHD

November 20, 2025 · 21 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the vulnerability of women with ADHD to toxic and emotionally abusive relationships, exploring the underlying patterns and contributing factors.

Ever wonder why so many women with ADHD end up in relationships that drain them? You're not alone -- and it's not a coincidence. After hosting another magical ADHD moms' retreat, I couldn't shake the conversations we had around partners -- some amazing, others... deeply painful. In this episode, I'm sharing the patterns I've seen over and over: women with ADHD stuck in emotionally abusive relationships, often with narcissistic partners. And honestly, it makes me furious. We're digging into why this happens, how low self-esteem and a lifetime of gaslighting make us vulnerable, and how abusers prey on our empathy and longing for stability. I'm not a narcissism expert (yet), but I've got a stack of library books and a brain buzzing with questions. If you've ever doubted your gut or felt like your relationship was slowly chipping away at your sense of self, this one's for you. Plus, I give a life and book update, talk about the whirlwind of writing with ADHD, and how I'm navigating deadlines, stomach flu, identity theft, and everything in between. Want to be part of the book's beta reading team? Sign up at patriciasung.com/book Add your name to the 2026 Retreat Waitlist…

People in this episode

Host: Patricia Sung

Topics covered

  • ADHD
  • toxic relationships
  • emotional abuse
  • self-esteem
  • narcissism
  • parenting

Keywords

  • ADHD
  • toxic partners
  • emotional abuse
  • self-esteem
  • narcissism
  • relationships
  • gaslighting
  • parenting

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