top of page
Search

ADHD Feature #1: Why does Everything Feel so Personal?


Creation by Julie Davies Shields, created with AI
Creation by Julie Davies Shields, created with AI

In this mini-series, we explore the 10 most common, yet still often misunderstood "features" of our ADHD brains. Each article aims to reframe the "obvious" and "what you see from the outside" with an explanation on why the feature is challenging, as well as helpful tools and ways to embrace the beauty of our ADHD brain, rather than looking at them as if something is broken or "not right".


"You're too sensitive." 


If you've got ADHD, chances are you've heard those words more than once. Maybe after your cried after some criticism at work. Maybe after your got very angry during a disagreement with a friend. Or maybe you had a panic attack simply because someone didn't reply to your message as quickly as you expected. 


And every single time, you wondered:  "why does this hurt so much?" 


The truth is, many of people with ADHD experience emotions more intensely than those around them. While ADHD is often described as a condition affecting attention and organisation, many experts believe that emotional regulation is one of its biggest challenges for children as well as adults with ADHD. 


For some people, (like me), even small moments of criticism, rejection or disappointment can feel surprisingly overwhelming and leave us feeling distraught. A piece of feedback that someone else shrugs off may stay with you for hours - or even days. 


It's not just Your Imagination

Researchers and clinicians often refer to this experience as Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD). And although RSD is not currently an official diagnosis and research is still evolving, many people with ADHD immediately recognise themselves in the description. 


It can sound like this: 

"Did I say something wrong?". "They didn't smile... are they annoyed with me?" . "I made one mistake. I've completely messed everything up." .


This doesn't mean you're weak, dramatic or "too emotional." Your nervous system may simply react more strongly to signals of criticism, failure or rejection. And over time, this can have a big impact. 


Some people (children as well as adults) become expert people-pleasers, constantly trying to make everyone happy to avoid feeling rejected. Others stop putting themselves forward altogether because the possibility of failing feels almost unbearable. Neither response comes from laziness or a lack of confidence - they're often ways of protecting an already overwhelmed nervous system. 


Why You are not "too much"

The encouraging news is that understanding what's happening is often the first step towards changing it. Your ADHD brain simply experiences the world a little differently - and understanding that difference can be incredibly uplifting.  


Your emotions are real - they just don't always tell you the whole story. Learning to recognise the difference isn't about becoming less sensitive - it's about becoming kinder to yourself. And that's a skill worth practising. 


✨ Reframing your ADHD Brain 


💛 You are not "too much."

 

Once you realise that your brain may be amplifying emotional signals, you can begin to pause before believing every anxious thought. Coaching, therapy, self-awareness, supportive relationships and, for some people, medication can all help reduce the intensity of these emotional reactions. 


Coming next... 

Ever feel like everyone else got the instruction manual for life... except you?  In the next article, we'll explore another interesting feature (yet challenge) of ADHD: why we don't function all that well in a linear world. 


 

About Us

If you are looking for support for yourself and your ADHD, get in contact & find out what we can do for you. We also have a constantly growing network of great experts for different subjects, and we are happy to point you in the right direction if we cannot provide you with what you need. A simple e-mail to welcone@its-all-about-you.ch is all it takes to reach out for support 🫶. We look forward to meeting you and your ADHD 😊.  



Comments

bottom of page