i am new to being aware of my ADHD and trying to unmask a bit where it’s acceptable to do so. i don’t know what to call it when i have been suffering more psychic pain than usual from ADHD.

for example, i yelled at my stepfather yesterday and when i apologize to him today i want to communicate that i’ve been struggling with being overstimulated and badly regulating my emotions for four or five days and i yelled at him partially because of that stress. usually i would just say i’ve been “feeling like shit” but how could i communicate the idea of like, an “episode” of adhd to him?

also, for him i don’t really expect him to understand, i’m just hoping he’ll accept my apology. how would you communicate the same idea with words to a partner or loved one who is actually on board with trying to understand your adhd?

thanks <3

  • Sickos [they/them, it/its]@hexbear.netEnglish
    2·
    30 days ago

    I’m a very formal apologizer, and have dealt with (and gotten through, mostly) emotional dysfunction and anger issues over many years.

    “I’m sorry about yesterday’s outburst. I’ve been having a pretty tough time lately and I took that out on you; please don’t take it personally, you didn’t deserve that. I feel like I’ve been really getting swept up in my emotions. While I can’t regulate them as much as I’d like, I will try to separate myself from situations before I explode.”

    That fight-or-flight instinct kicks in so goddamned hard; I pretty much find it impossible to deal with in the moment once it has started. I have gotten much better at noticing triggers and removing myself from bad situations and grounding myself before that happens.