During an ADHD diagnosis some doctors will often leave out the emotional challenges that tag along with ADHD, in fact some will leave no mention of the intense emotions. Although recent research reveals that those with ADHD have significantly more difficulty with low frustration tolerance, impatience, hot temper, and excitability than those without ADHD. People with ADHD frequently experience emotions so deeply that sometimes they may feel overwhelmed or “flooded”
Oftentimes the working memory impairments of ADHD allow a momentary emotion to become too strong, flooding the brain with one intense emotion. Other times, a person with ADHD may seem insensitive and unaware of the emotions of others. The lack of emotional control creates struggles in everyday life, I have listed just a few struggles below.
Sharing too much- Obviously everyone overshares something when telling a story, or they say something they shouldn't have. But for people with ADHD oversharing happens almost daily. There can be various different reasons people with ADHD overshave. They could have trouble with executive function skills like impulse controlling. Or they could have trouble with low self esteem and social skills. Either way, oversharing is a recurring problem that happens to people with ADHD.
Behaving impulsive- ADHD impairs a person's ability to stop and think of the consequences before speaking or acting. Children with ADHD may blurt out an answer when everyone is supposed to raise their hand, leaping off a high point without thinking how they may land, react to frustration or embarrassment with a punch or a scream, ect. When acting impulsive, people with ADHD are not trying to be rude or disrespectful. It is just a function of the interior signaling system of the brain.
Having "motivational deficiency disorder"- Adults and children with ADHD tend to have lower levels of dopamine, which limits their brains ability to recognize rewards and seek them out. This results in a lack of motivation. Without recognizing rewards and accomplishments, the body and mind is unmotivated to act in any direction.
Feeling regret- Everyone feels regret, but people with ADHD may feel it more because of the struggles with impulse control, emotional control, and other functioning skills. For some people, living with ADHD can feel like 1,000 tiny paper cuts- a little cut felt each time we miss something, make mistakes, and receive unfair and unkind treatment. The feeling of regret can occur anywhere, but happens a lot at school or at home.
Showing anger and frustration easily- Sometimes people with ADHD show aggression as a reaction of impulse. This could be frustration, a provoking comment, stress, ect. That aggressive behavior may come from an avoidance of angry or hurt feelings. The aggression is an attempt to get rid of all the negative emotion that is building up.
Quitting a job on an impulse- People with ADHD have to always keep their brains interested otherwise it can be hard to gain motivation to do certain tasks. It can be hard to go to a job that you are not interested in anymore. This isn't a bad thing necessarily, in my opinion if you don't like it than find something new.
As someone with ADHD, I have experienced all of these struggles. Yet these are just a small portion of the struggles ADHDers have to go through. It is extremely important to keep a positive mindset throughout your day. Do not let this disorder overcome your everyday life and do not let it control your happiness. You are enough just as you are, even if the world doesn't deem you as "normal"
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