THREAD: #ADHD and emotions

This info was helpful to me in my early dx days. It’s about moods vs emotions and why ADHD isn’t a mood disorder--and how/why #RSD and emotional dysregulation happen. 1/

This info was from one of Dr Russell Barkley's older books from the '90s, /The Nature of ADHD/ I think? I'm sure there's a newer edition(s), but that's where the emotional side of ADHD make sense to me. I haven’t seen it widely, even when I google it, so I thought I’d share. 2/

First Dr Barkley differentiated *moods*, which are ‘irrational’ (ie, having no identifiable trigger); they can come out of nowhere and often are long-lasting. This is what happens in eg clinical depression or #GAD. 3/

In ADHD, emotions--which are usually of shorter duration--have an identifiable proximate *cause*. Emotions in #ADHDers are *provoked* and *rational*. Meaning, an NT could understand the reason for the emotion AND would react similarly, had it attracted their notice. 4/

An ADHD brain, as we all know, can pick up on pretty subtle put-downs or hints of rejection, and the reaction is overwhelming #RSD. It is literally painful, but others don’t feel the same so we are seen as overreacting or being dramatic, unstable, flaky, etc. 5/

This is because an NT person can generally filter/choose what they will be provoked by AND whether/how to react to it. Further, the NT person could have all this happen in the background & not even be conscious of it, like an OS support program that isn’t directly used. 6/

ADHDers usually lack that program, AND lack the ability to consciously filter/choose the things that cause painful emotions. Once they are overwhelmed by that pain, it becomes difficult/impossible, to not react in some way. Ergo, emotional dysregulation, overreaction, and #RSD 7/

Doesn’t solve anything really, but I liked the acknowledgement that there is a REASON I’m having a feeling or 12. And hanging on by my fingernails to not visibly react or blurt hurt/angry responses at ‘inappropriate’ times.

So, #neurodiversesquad, what do you think?

8/EoT

PS: Please note I'm NOT any kind of scientist or doctor, just that the whys and wherefores of my crazy-ass brain are a Special Interest that I've studied extensively. ;-)

Adding in this summary table that is also helpful!

Also adding this epic thread about the updated RSD/ED research, by @outlierdoodles cc: @3TrackMind79 and @ThinckFinck and @Finnattentive

https://twitter.com/outlierdoodles/status/1320411507411308544?s=20

Additional note: I didn’t call out bipolar in this thread initially, but it is a mood disorder and seems to be most often either comorbid with ADHD and/or misdiagnosed instead of ADHD. FWIW based only on my research and observations as a lay person.