In this episode of Grandma Has ADHD, Jami Shapiro sits down with internationally recognized ADHD coach, educator, TEDx speaker, and author Caroline Maguire for an honest conversation about one of the most overlooked challenges of ADHD: friendship.

While ADHD is often discussed in terms of organization, productivity, or time management, Caroline has spent more than two decades helping people understand another reality: many individuals with ADHD struggle with loneliness, social anxiety, rejection sensitivity, and maintaining meaningful relationships.

Together, Jami and Caroline explore why friendships can feel so complicated for neurodivergent adults, how ADHD impacts communication, and why so many people carry shame from social experiences that happened years or even decades ago.

They also discuss what happens when we stop trying to force ourselves into friendships that don’t fit and start looking for connections where we can be fully ourselves.

This conversation is validating, practical, and full of hope for anyone who has ever wondered, “Why does friendship seem harder for me?”

What You’ll Learn

• Why friendship can be uniquely challenging for people with ADHD
• How time blindness impacts relationships and staying connected
• The connection between ADHD and social anxiety
• Why many adults with ADHD struggle with rejection sensitivity
• How childhood social experiences can shape adult friendships
• The difference between a close friend, a casual friend, and a “best friend”
• Why having a best friend isn’t necessarily the goal
• How ADHD communication styles can be misunderstood
• A simple strategy for sharing personal stories without feeling like you’re interrupting
• Why masking can make friendships feel exhausting
• How to identify people who are truly your people
• The importance of finding friendships where you can be authentic
• Why friendships can change after an ADHD diagnosis

Why This Matters

Connection is one of the most important factors for overall well-being.

Yet many adults with ADHD carry years of social wounds, misunderstandings, and self-doubt that make building and maintaining friendships feel difficult.

This episode reminds us that friendship is not an instinctive skill for everyone. It’s something that can be learned, practiced, and strengthened over time.

Most importantly, it’s a reminder that you don’t need to become someone else to have meaningful relationships.

The right people will appreciate you for who you are.

The ADHD Button Question

Jami asks every guest: If there were a button that could remove your ADHD forever, would you press it?

Caroline’s answer is no.

While ADHD brought challenges, bullying, learning differences, and years of struggle, she believes those experiences ultimately shaped her purpose.

Without ADHD, she may never have dedicated her life to helping neurodivergent people build stronger friendships and feel less alone.

About the Guest

Caroline Maguire is an internationally recognized ADHD coach, educator, TEDx speaker, and author of Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults and the award-winning Why Will No One Play With Me?

She trained through ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA), earned her M.Ed. in Early Childhood Development with a focus on social-emotional learning from Lesley University, and developed the only family-focused ADHD coach training program accredited by the International Coaching Federation.

Caroline is also the host of the ADHD Social Playbook Podcast and has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, ADDitude Magazine, and U.S. News & World Report.

About the Host

Jami Shapiro is an ADHD coach, speaker, author, and founder of Silver Linings Transitions. Through her podcast Grandma Has ADHD, she helps adults, especially women diagnosed later in life, better understand their brains and navigate life with greater clarity, compassion, and confidence.

Resources

• Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults by Caroline Maguire
• Why Will No One Play With Me? by Caroline Maguire
• ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA)
• The ADHD Social Playbook Podcast
• Silver Linings Transitions
• This Explains So Much by Jami Shapiro

Links & Support

• Website: https://www.jamishapiro.me
• Silver Linings Transitions: Support for downsizing, organizing, and life transitions
• Book: This Explains So Much by Jami Shapiro