The Emotional Side of ADHD
It's not always easy to control one's feelings when the situation becomes intense, but throw in the mental diagnosis of ADHD and those emotions are in overdrive no matter how great or stressful the situation is.
When a person's emotions are at a happy place, they are focused and productive in both work and life. When feelings such as being overwhelmed and stressed come into play, it can lead to impulsive decisions that could have negative consequences.
A person with ADHD may even avoid projects that need to be completed because of the overwhelming emotions caused by ADHD.
When those negative feelings get in the way, a lack of motivation sets in, and that to-do list gets put off for another day, sometimes months, even years if it's a project that's tedious.
Those emotions can also wreak havoc on relationships because those who have been diagnosed with ADHD often experience symptoms such as interrupting others and impulsive responses that often lead to an argument.
Gaining control of the emotions that are often seen with those who have ADHD requires a good understanding of the original problem.
For most people affected with the emotional symptoms of ADHD, stress is often a result of the underlying issue. If stress is left unmanaged it can cause unwanted health conditions and even death.
It's also not uncommon for anyone to experience stress in their life. For those with ADHD however, a stressful event can turn overwhelming if it's left untreated.
One of the simplest methods of treating stress is by reducing your to-do list to only include urgent tasks. Including every little thing that needs to be done. Staring at a list that seems like it's never-ending can be overwhelming even to those who don't have ADHD.
Stress can also be a factor when certain situations occur. Avoiding unnecessary events that trigger the emotional symptoms of ADHD when possible can help reduce that stress.
If it's not a situation that can be averted, try to keep from acting on the emotions that are causing the stress. Consider stepping into the other person's shoes if it's a confrontational situation. With ADHD, it's not always easy to agree with the other person, especially when it feels like a personal attack.
If seeing the other person's side of things isn't a possibility, take a step back until the overwhelming feelings have passed. Even when the situation seems helpless, there is no point in making things worse, especially when those feelings have turned to anger.
To avoid becoming emotionally overwhelmed in future circumstances, play out possible scenarios to cope with those feelings and explore any options that may help reduce a stressful situation.
Finally, find the time to enjoy any activities that bring out positive feelings associated with ADHD. Whether it's joining that new yoga class at the gym, exploring a new restaurant in the city, or binge-watching a favorite television series at home, making time to enjoy life's little pleasures is a big part of reducing the negative effects of stress and ADHD.
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