What is Emotional Dysregulation?

Emotional Dysregulation is often considered one of the most impactful aspects of ADHD. It is marked by difficulty in controlling and regulating emotions, leading to intense or unpredictable emotional reactions. This sudden emotional shift from fine to very not fine is called Emotional Flooding.

Emotional Flooding occurs when a person experiences an overwhelming surge of emotions, leading to feeling a loss of control. Biologically, several processes are activated during this state:

• The body releases your entire storage of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline

• Your body initiates a Fight or Flight response

• Physical response includes increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and heightened blood pressure.

• Decisions are made impulsively based on emotion, not logic

Certain situations can trigger Emotional Flooding, such as feeling rejected or criticized. When this trigger impacts our relationships or academic and job performance enough, it can be described as Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria.

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is an intense emotional reaction to feeling rejected or criticized. It can also stem from a feeling of disappointing others or not meeting expectations. RSD looks like a rapid shift from feeling completely fine to feeling overwhelmingly emotional. We can direct this emotional energy at ourselves as a whirlwind of negative thoughts and feelings or at others as an angry outburst.

How to manage Emotional Dysregulation

Emotional Dysregulation is a permanent feature of ADHD due to differences in brain development. However, it is an executive functioning skill that can be improved, limiting the impacts of it. 

Improvement starts with:

• Building emotional self-awareness

• Recognizing your triggers

• Developing self-regulating practices

• Processing past trauma