The Emotional Side of ADHD
People with ADHD experience the same emotions people without ADHD experience. However, the regulation of emotions is a huge problem for those with ADHD, and those who do not have ADHD are much better at controlling their emotions. While emotional dysregulation is not included in the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, it is, nevertheless, common among those who suffer from ADHD. A 2012 study (1) pointed out that “[e]mpirical studies have confirmed a high prevalence of this psychopathological feature [emotional dysregulation] in adults with ADHD that compares to the frequency of the ADHD core symptoms, inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.”
ADHD brains are often overwhelmed by emotions, which impairs logical thinking. When your brain works as fast as an ADHD brain does, it can be hard to slow thoughts that increase stress and emotional responses. The anterior cingulate cognitive division, a functional subdivision within the anterior cingulate cortex that is key in complex cognitive/attentional processing, has been found to be dysfunctional in adults with ADHD (2) and cause problems with emotional self-control (3).
Moreover, ADHDers are passionate people. We are usually all-in or not-at-all; there is no gray area. Unfortunately, this means our emotions tend to be all-in. We have a tendency to feel all of the emotions when they arise. The struggles brought on by ADHD make us hypersensitive. For example, the correction of our errors, even when those errors are corrected charitably, can cause hurt feelings. This leads me to rejection sensitive dysphoria
RSD
Rejection sensitive dysphoria is a term coined by Dr. William Dodson (4). It refers to the intense experience of emotions related to rejection or perceived rejection. When those emotions remain internalized, these feelings can imitate the symptoms of major mood disorders. These symptoms can even escalate to suicide ideation. However, when the feelings are externalized, the result is an explosion of rage. RSD can also lead ADHDers to be hypervigilant about avoiding rejection because they expect to be rejected.
Anger
Another emotion with which those with ADHD have to contend is anger. ADHDers have little patience. We want what we want now, not later. This leads to situations where we run out of patience and anger boils over. Angry outbursts are common with those with ADHD. We do not intend to lose our cool, but we do. It can take a long time for ADHDers to learn how to control our tempers. In describing this struggle to control anger and other emotions, Doctor Edward Hallowell, an expert in ADHD who has ADHD, says ADHDers have a Ferrari brain with bicycle brakes. Anger can intensify other problems ADHDers have. For example, when anger and impulsivity are combined, it can lead to people getting punched.
There Is More to It
The above is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to managing emotions and ADHD. There is more I could have said on the subject, but that would make for a really long blog post. Suffice it to say that emotions and ADHD create an unpleasant combination.
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Sources:
Retz, W., Stieglitz, R.-D., Corbisiero, S., Retz-Junginger, P., & Rosier, M. (2012). Emotional dysregulation in adult ADHD: What is the empirical evidence? Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 12(10), 1241-1251. http://dx.doi.org/10.1586/ern.12.109
Bush, G., Frazier, J. A., Rauch, S. L., Seidman, L. J., Whalen, P. J., Jenike, M. A., . . . Biederman, J. (1999). Anterior cingulate cortex dysfunction in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder revealed by fMRI and the counting stroop. Biological Psychiatry, 45(12), 1542-1552. doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(99)00083-9
Allman, J. M., Hakeem, A., Erwin, J. M., Nimchinsky, E. and Hof, P. (2001), The Anterior Cingulate Cortex. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 935: 107–117. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2001.tb03476.x
Dodson, W. (2018, April 03). How ADHD Ignites Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria.Retrieved May 23, 2018, from https://www.additudemag.com/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-how-to-treat-it-alongside-adhd/