ADHD and Emotional Regulation: Why Small Things Feel So Big
Serving patients virtually across Wisconsin and Florida, I specialize in ADHD therapy for adults and children. If you live with ADHD, you’ve likely experienced moments when small frustrations feel enormous - when a minor mistake or unexpected change triggers a wave of anger, shame, or sadness. Emotional regulation challenges are core to ADHD, and they’re not about “overreacting.” They’re about how the ADHD brain processes feedback from others, rewards, and the fear of disappointing others. In this post, we’ll unpack why emotions hit harder and how to manage them more effectively.
Why ADHD makes emotions more intense:
The ADHD brain has lower dopamine, norepinephrine, and even serotonin availability, which impacts how quickly you recover from strong emotions.
People with ADHD experience “rejection sensitive dysphoria” (RSD), which causes feedback from others to be perceived as criticism or failure, and the feeling that they have possibly let someone down feels unbearable.
Emotional control requires cognitive control of emotions and impulse regulation - two areas that ADHD directly affects in the limbic system of the brain.
How to manage these emotions:
Identify your feelings early before they escalate.
Practice self-compassion - you are not “too sensitive”.
Use mindfulness and step back for a minute to regulate before responding.
Seek therapy with an ADHD-informed professional to build coping skills.
Whether you’re in Wisconsin or Florida, virtual therapy sessions are available to help you manage ADHD effectively.