Survived childhood trauma? Ready to thrive, find love, and build a life you’re proud of? Join renowned trauma coach Michael Anthony’s free group. https://www.skool.com/think-unbroken-5756/about?ref=deff9f4cffd7469182949355dd1c1a1e

Are ADHD symptoms secretly damaging your relationships?

In this powerful episode of the Think Unbroken Podcast, Michael sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of Embracing Joy Psychotherapy, Melissa Thompson, to unpack how ADHD, trauma, and emotional patterns impact dating, communication, conflict, and long-term connection.

They dive deep into the real work of building healthy relationships—from recognizing red flags in the dating phase to repairing conflict, overcoming resentment, and creating lasting emotional intimacy. If you’ve ever struggled with impulsivity, distraction, emotional shutdown, or feeling misunderstood in relationships, this conversation will give you practical tools and powerful insights.

Melissa shares how ADHD can show up in love, why many couples misunderstand each other’s nervous systems, and what it actually takes to repair after conflict. They also explore vulnerability, emotional safety, relationship maintenance, and why love alone isn’t enough to make a partnership work.

Whether you’re dating, in a relationship, or trying to heal patterns from your past, this episode will help you understand yourself—and your partner—on a deeper level.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
* How ADHD affects dating, communication, and intimacy
* The biggest relationship mistakes people make today
* How to repair after conflict and prevent resentment
* Why vulnerability and emotional safety matter
* The difference between nervous system reactions and character flaws
* Practical tools for building a healthy, lasting relationship

************* CONTENT OF THIS VIDEO *************

00:00 Introduction
02:06 Childhood Trauma & Adult Relationships
03:58 Why Couples Therapy Matters
05:11 Modern Dating: Choice vs Commitment
07:33 Dating Readiness: Must-Haves & Dealbreakers
09:38 Myths: “Love Is Enough”
12:29 Vulnerability: Letting Someone In
15:38 ADHD in Dating & Intimacy
24:11 Conflict & Repair (Gottman)
26:06 Learning Healthy Conflict
27:48 Self-Repair & Healing
31:11 When Apologies Don’t Change
31:58 What Real Repair Looks Like
33:30 ADHD vs Character vs Nervous System
34:32 Compromise & Common Ground
36:05 Resentment in Relationships
39:58 Relationship Maintenance Habits
41:13 Social Media & Relationship Pressure
42:36 What Effort Really Means
46:18 Fixer vs Listener
47:12 Signs Your Relationship Can Work
51:00 Preventing Divorce: Values & Commitment
53:36 Closing & Where to Find Melissa
55:41 What does it mean to be Unbroken

************* LINKS & RESOURCES *************

Learn how to heal and overcome childhood trauma, narcissistic abuse, ptsd, cptsd, higher ACE scores, anxiety, depression, and mental health issues and illness. Learn tools that therapists, trauma coaches, mindset leaders, neuroscientists, and researchers use to help people heal and recover from mental health problems. Discover real and practical advice and guidance for how to understand and overcome childhood trauma, abuse, and narc abuse mental trauma. Heal your body and mind, stop limiting beliefs, end self-sabotage, and become the HERO of your own story.

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Download the first three chapters of the Award-Winning Book Think Unbroken: Understanding and Overcoming Childhood Trauma: https://book.thinkunbroken.com/
Join the Think Unbroken Trauma Transformation Course: https://coaching.thinkunbroken.com/
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Connect with Melissa Thompson:
Website: https://www.embracingjoy.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-divaris-thompson-lmft-9353aa45/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/embracingjoypsychotherapy/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmbracingJoyPsychotherapy
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@embracingjoypsychotherapy