How To Tell Someone They May Have Dyslexia?

If you’ve ever felt exhausted trying to navigate life with a partner or loved one who has dyslexia or ADHD, you’re not alone. It can be an emotional rollercoaster of misunderstandings and frustration, and sometimes you just want to shout, “What’s going on here?”

This episode of the Truth About Dyslexia podcast tackles those intense pains we feel when supporting someone who processes the world in a different way. I share my personal challenges trying to live in sync with partners and family who learn differently, plus what I’ve discovered about making it all easier. We talk about recognising communication gaps and finding ways to fill them without losing ourselves in the process.

Why It Feels So Tiring

When I was in the thick of it, I remember feeling worn out by constant effort to guess my partner’s needs. I’d try to anticipate a meltdown, avoid an argument, or fill in the blanks when they lost the thread of what they were saying.

Often, couples or parents fall into these cycles of ‘help mode’ while forgetting about their own boundaries. It’s tough because you want to be supportive, but it can turn into unsustainable people pleasing.

In the podcast, I mention how easy it is to lose sight of your own well-being in the middle of these struggles. As one listener put it:

“It’s not that I don’t care, I just run out of energy trying to be everywhere at once.”

Creating Better Communication

A key takeaway is learning each other’s communication style. If you or your loved one has dyslexia or ADHD, clarity sometimes needs a helping hand. That means leaving space to process thoughts instead of bombarding them with more information than they can juggle at once.

Try choosing a calm time of day to talk about important issues. If there’s an upcoming challenge, plan a quick chat and lay out the steps together in bite-sized chunks. This reduces guesswork and keeps everyone on the same page.

It also helps to confirm what’s been said. A gentle, “So, you mean XYZ, right?” can stop confusion from bubbling over. It may feel obvious to you, but it might not be so obvious to the other person.

Building Boundaries Without Guilt

We often confuse ‘boundaries’ with being too strict or unloving. Yet boundaries actually create freedom. They make sure you don’t pour out every last drop of your own energy.

Here are a few ways to maintain healthy limits:

• Identify daily tasks you can help with. Then don’t feel guilty about letting them handle the rest.
• Set an agreed time each day to discuss concerns. No more 24/7 emotional firefighting.
• Create consistent routines that work for both you and your loved one. Routines are your portable anchors when life gets busy.

When you have boundaries, you protect your energy so you can show up as someone who’s calm, thoughtful, and actually helpful.

Adapting and Learning Together

Support shouldn’t come from a place of pity or forced responsibility. We need to embrace the idea that we’re all in this together, learning as we go along. There’s real relief in acknowledging you don’t have all the answers and that you can evolve side by side.

In the episode, I share how my partner and I brainstorm compromise systems. If something wasn’t working, we’d tweak it for the next day. We discovered that experimenting with small changes can spark big improvements. Even deciding on one weekly family meeting to chat about what’s on everyone’s mind can stop stress from piling up.

This approach also teaches kids that trying new strategies is natural and that none of us need to take missteps too personally. Mistakes turn into lessons instead of permanent failures.

Remembering Your Own Needs

I once believed if I didn’t hold everything together, it would all collapse. Turned out, the world kept spinning when I took a few breaths and asked for my own space. Small acts of self-care go a long way. That could be stepping outside for ten minutes, reading a funny article, or reaching out to a friend. Don’t underestimate how these small moments can recharge you.

As caregivers or partners, we sometimes immerse ourselves so completely that we forget how to function independently. But remember, you can surround someone with support without drowning yourself.

• Acknowledge that supporting a loved one can be emotionally exhausting, so don’t overlook self-care.
• Establish open and clear communication instead of piling on more assumptions.
• Recognise that boundaries aren’t barriers, but helpful guidelines for healthier lives.
• Experiment with micro-changes, and celebrate small successes along the way.

If you want the full story on how to keep your energy intact while still showing up for others, listen to the episode at the top of this page. You’ll hear real-life examples, reflections on common pitfalls, and tips you can put into action right now. Give it a listen, and let’s keep moving forward together.