THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF EMOTIONAL DYSREGULATION
Emotional dysregulation can feel abstract when described in clinical terms - but in real life, it shows up in moments that are deeply human, often confusing and sometimes overwhelming.
These everyday examples highlight what emotional dysregulation actually looks like across childhood, adolescence and adulthood.
None of these moments are signs of being ‘too sensitive,’ ‘dramatic’ or ‘over the top.’
They are signs of a nervous system working without enough emotional brakes, often under pressure from Executive Function load, sensory overwhelm or ADHD wiring.
Seeing yourself or your child in these examples isn’t about labelling - it’s about understanding what’s really happening beneath the surface, and knowing that you are not alone.
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“I burst into tears when the dishwasher didn’t turn on.”
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“Someone asked a neutral question and I thought they were having a go at me.”
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“My child went from laughing to screaming in 10 seconds.”
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“I told myself not to snap… then I snapped anyway.”
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“I can’t calm down once I’m overwhelmed.”
These aren’t character flaws - they are Executive Function challenges around emotional control
CHILDREN - Small things that feel very big
While all children experience big feelings as part of normal brain development, we’re talking here about children whose emotional reactions feel beyond what is age-appropriate, or happen so frequently and intensely that they begin to impact daily life.
Here are some common examples:
TEENS - Fast emotions, fast reactions
All teenagers experience strong emotions as their brains develop, but this section focuses on when emotional reactions happen very quickly, feel much bigger than expected, or occur so often that they start to affect everyday life, relationships, or school.
Here are some common examples:
ADULTS - The world thinks you’re coping, but inside it’s chaos
Many adults appear organised, capable and ‘fine’ on the outside, but this section explores what it can be like when internal overwhelm, emotional intensity and mental chaos are constant companions beneath the surface.
Here are some common examples:
What all these scenarios have in common
They are all:
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rapid emotional reactions
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triggered by Executive Function load
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intensified by sensory overwhelm
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hard to control in the moment
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followed by quick recovery (or regret)
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misunderstood as “overreacting” or “being dramatic”
They reflect a nervous system doing its best with limited emotional brakes.
These scenarios are not exclusive to ADHD, but they help to illustrate what emotional dysregulation can look like - and for individuals with ADHD, these challenges often show up more intensely or more often because regulating emotions is more difficult for their brains without appropriate support and learning pathways.
Final Thoughts
Whether you recognised yourself, your child or someone you love in these examples, the most important takeaway is this: these moments are meaningful signals, not misbehaviour.
With understanding, the right supports and kinder expectations, emotional regulation can become safer, steadier and more manageable over time.
You are not broken.
You are responding to a nervous system that needs support - and that support can start here.
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