Thrive Socially with Adult ADHD

Dr.

Shawn Horn’s book reframes social difficulties in adult ADHD as rooted in nervous system dysregulation and shame-based narratives rather than character flaws.

Drawing on polyvagal theory and neuroscience, she explains how shame develops early and shapes identity, then offers practical strategies to down-regulate the nervous system and rebuild shame-resilient social skills.

The book integrates clinical examples, assessment of social executive functioning, and tools to map and respond to one’s nervous system states.

It emphasizes replacing shame-bound stories with a biological, shame-free narrative to improve relationships and self-understanding.

The work aims to empower ADHD adults to reinterpret their history and access their strengths while reducing social pain.