[yellowfrog268]

I have always had difficulty in emotional regulation. Things that seem to not both others will bother me. Situations that are considered a minor annoyance for most will aggravate the hell out of me. But, the worst is that I can become angry and/or frustrated very quickly. It's not that anger or frustration isn't warranted, it's just that I tend to go from simmering to boiling over very quickly. Other people might just hold their emotions in check or find ways to calm themselves or perhaps wait for a better time or place to discuss the situation but not me. Once the feeling strikes (and it happens quickly) there is no such thing as distracting myself or cooling off.

I'd like to hear from others who experience something similar or the same and what you've done about it.

[kaliope]

I hear you saying that you have a hard time coping with emotions that overwhelm you. I had that problem too. I would say I went from 0-60 in my response. what helped me was taking DBT. it really taught me how to identify and manage my emotions in a way that they are now manageable. I cant believe the difference that it made in my treatment. take care.

[oil_and_water]

You know, I was honestly just about to post the same question to the forum. I get so angry all the time, and I attempt to calm myself down with breathing exercises and so forth. It's ruined my relationship with my family, I don't have many friends, and it is tearing my girlfriend and I apart. I wish I knew how to deal with the cause rather than the symptoms. Someone give me a shout when you know the answer.

[yellowfrog268]

Well, I'm kinda new to learning about my ADD.

From what I've been able to find out so far, it is part and parcel of ADD/ADHD.
I read one article that explained ADD as an issue with regulation; regulation of attention, emotions, motivation, and organization. Apparently, some of the same areas of the brain affected by ADD are also involved in emotional regulation. Now this does not mean we are doomed or are slaves to our biology. But it does help to know what you are dealing with. There was also mention made of the fact that as adults, emotional regulation difficulties throughout life may mean that we have acquired faulty coping mechanisms or conditioned responses to stressors.

Having said all of that, I still need to get a handle on this because I don't handle frustration very well at all. I also have this tendency to recall all past failures when faced with a task that is difficult. It's like all those bad feelings of being a failure or of being considered stupid come rushing back. It's particularly bad when the task at hand seems so simple and easy for everyone else. I'm left wondering "what the hell is wrong with me that I can't do something so damned simple?" Just one example but such is my life.