Why Do ADHD Adults Feel Guilty About Relationships?

PostedOctober 30, 2025

UpdatedNovember 5, 2025

ByMy Patient Advice

Author: Harriet Winslow, BSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Adults with ADHD often experience intense guilt in their relationships, stemming from the difficulties that come with managing emotions, impulsivity, and inattention. This guilt is not just about occasional missteps; it can become a pervasive emotional response, particularly when interpersonal conflicts arise. This blog explores why ADHD adults feel guilty in relationships and how these emotional challenges can impact their connections with others.

How ADHD Symptoms Contribute to Relationship Guilt

Emotional dysregulation and impulsivity are core ADHD traits that frequently lead to interpersonal conflict. A 2024 study by Marques et al. found that adults with ADHD often experience guilt after impulsive or aggressive outbursts in relationships, as they struggle to regulate their emotions and avoid causing harm (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2024). This emotional volatility can lead to self-critical guilt, particularly when mistakes are made in communication or when feelings of rejection arise.

Additionally, low self-esteem and self-criticism amplify guilt. A 2025 study by Holden and Kobayashi-Wood revealed that ADHD adults, especially women, frequently internalise relationship conflicts as personal failures, leading to chronic guilt and an over-apologetic attitude (PMC, 2025).

Rejection Sensitivity and Guilt

Rejection sensitivity also plays a significant role in relationship guilt. A 2025 study by Platania et al. found that adults with ADHD often interpret even mild criticism from loved ones as a form of rejection, which then triggers intense feelings of guilt and shame. This emotional reaction can persist long after the issue has been resolved, as individuals with ADHD often struggle to separate their behaviour from their self-worth (Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, 2025).

How Therapy Can Help

Clinical interventions, such as CBT and mindfulness-based therapies, can help ADHD adults manage guilt by teaching emotional regulation and improving communication. A 2024 review by Geurts et al. found that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) helps individuals with ADHD reframe guilt-inducing thoughts and engage in more constructive coping mechanisms (Scribd, 2024).

Moreover, self-compassion and acceptance-based approaches help reduce guilt by encouraging individuals to view relationship struggles as challenges rather than personal flaws. These therapies foster healthier emotional responses and improve overall relationship satisfaction.

Conclusion

For adults with ADHD, guilt in relationships often stems from emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and rejection sensitivity. By integrating CBT, mindfulness, and self-compassion into treatment plans, individuals with ADHD can address the emotional triggers of guilt, improve relationship dynamics, and build more resilient connections with their partners. Clinical guidelines, including NICE NG87, recommend these approaches to help reduce relationship guilt and enhance emotional regulation in ADHD patients (NICE NG87, 2025).

Harriet Winslow, BSc

Author

Harriet Winslow is a clinical psychologist with a Bachelor’s in Clinical Psychology and extensive experience in behaviour therapy and developmental disorders. She has worked with children and adolescents with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), learning disabilities, and behavioural challenges, providing individual and group therapy using evidence-based approaches such as CBT and DBT. Dr. Winslow has developed and implemented personalised treatment plans, conducted formal and informal assessments, and delivered crisis intervention for clients in need of urgent mental health care. Her expertise spans assessment, treatment planning, and behavioural intervention for both neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy.

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.