Emotional Regulation and ADHD - What is the Link?
Emotional regulation is one of the executive function skills that impacts someone with ADHD. All people with ADHD may have different challenges or different skills they struggle with. For example, one person may struggle with executive function differently than someone else with ADHD and that is because no two people with ADHD are the same, that is very important to know. Finding out which executive function skills you may struggle with is important to understanding how your individual wiring works and your triggers when it comes to ADHD. With that said, let’s dive into emotional regulation and it’s link to ADHD.
What is Emotional Regulation?
Emotional regulation is the ability to manage and control emotions. Someone with ADHD may struggle with impulsivity, making emotional regulation more difficult. There are strategies one can learn to manage their regulation better. It is important to learn these skills to better manage life, jobs, relationships, and school . People with ADHD seem to be very passionate and sensitive individuals, therefore they feel their emotions more extremely than neurotypical individuals. It’s important to note, this can be an asset as well, such as when it comes to happiness and other positive emotions. However, it can be a double-edged sword if the negative emotions are not balanced. In fact, it can lead to lashing out, blowing one's top easily, intensifying anxiety and/or depression - the list goes on. If someone with ADHD also struggles with anxiety, depression, and/or emotional regulation, this can really have a negative impact on that individual. Learning all they can about their own challenges and their own strengths can help someone with ADHD navigate life. An ADHD coach does just this, as they partner with the individual and help break it all down.
The Connection Between Emotional Regulation and ADHD
When someone with ADHD struggles with a few of the executive functions on top of emotional regulation, life can be daunting. Time blindness, organization, and motivation, mixed with emotional regulation can have negative consequences in school, work, and relationships. It can lead to a lot of miscommunication and negative assumptions from someone who doesn't understand ADHD. There can be a lot of negative judgment towards that person for things like, being late, turning in late assignments, lashing out, etc. Sometimes, these assumptions become labels on that person, such as this person just doesn't care, they are lazy, they are a troublemaker, and so on. Yelling at this person to “just do better”, “care more”, or “just do it”, actually makes the situation worse and harms the self-esteem and confidence that they are already probably battling with.
What Causes Emotional Dysregulation?
When someone with ADHD experiences stress or anxiety, their ability to balance is also challenged. A rise in cortisol which is your flight or fight hormone can also cause a “freeze” side effect. Making one with ADHD feel overwhelmed and or stuck, not knowing how to proceed to the next step. When the stress and overwhelm continue to happen and it is not lowered it can emotionally drain a person and they can feel exhausted, making staying on track even harder. Genetics, environment, past life experiences, hormones, substance abuse, comorbidities with other mental challenges, can all make this situation worse. Learning coping strategies, educating oneself, therapy, medication, ADHD life coaching, and working with a neurologist and or a psychiatrist with a specialty in ADHD can help immensely. In fact, there have been many recent studies, it is imperative you seek someone out with an ADHD background and practice.
How an ADHD Coach Can Help With Emotional Regulation
An ADHD-certified coach has an educational background in ADHD and executive function. They pair with a client and try to work with them to achieve the goal of helping them understand their own unique brain wiring. ADHD coaches try to help provide as much education about ADHD to their clients so they can then connect their own puzzle pieces together and help prepare that person to live more educated, well-balanced, and overall more aware.
Working with an ADHD coach is strength-based coaching focusing on the person's strengths and figuring out what the person struggles with, breaking it down, and exploring all facets – good and bad. This type of coaching helps to validate the individual and hopefully improves their self-esteem and self-confidence allowing this person to not feel so defeated, broken, or a misfit.
Someone with ADHD is simply wired differently than a neurotypical brain. If someone with ADHD learns how they are wired, focuses on their strengths versus their weaknesses, and slowly opens up their pathways, they can overcome those obstacles that once stood in their way, and work around them in a different way. As the saying goes, two brains are better than one. Teaming up with an ADHD coach is about hiring a coach to help you understand your own ADHD, leading to empowerment, action, and a more joyful life.
If you’re interested in ADHD coaching contact me today!
