Title: Big Emotions and ADHD: Why It Happens and How to Cope with More Ease

Have you ever felt like your emotions are always dialed up to 10 — like you're missing a volume control? If you have ADHD, you’re not alone.

Emotional regulation challenges are one of the most misunderstood — but very real — parts of living with ADHD. While many people think ADHD is all about focus and hyperactivity, the emotional side of ADHD can feel even more disruptive. You might feel like you're too sensitive, too reactive, or overwhelmed by feelings that others seem to shrug off. And that can be incredibly frustrating.

As a counsellor specializing in ADHD counselling in Victoria, I work with many clients who feel like their emotions take the wheel — and they’re left trying to steer from the backseat. Let’s take a compassionate look at why this happens, and what can help you feel more in control without shutting down your feelings.

Why Emotional Dysregulation Happens in ADHD

ADHD affects the brain’s executive functioning — the mental skills that help you plan, focus, regulate impulses, and manage emotions. This includes the ability to pause, process, and respond thoughtfully rather than reactively.

When emotional regulation is harder:

• Small frustrations can feel like major upsets

• You may experience quick mood shifts

• It's easy to feel flooded by anxiety, anger, or sadness

• Recovering from emotional upsets can take longer

This isn’t a character flaw or a lack of willpower. It’s a neurological difference — and it’s not your fault.

In fact, research shows that emotional impulsivity is linked to the brain’s challenges with managing stimulation and reward, which are part of ADHD. This means your feelings may show up more suddenly or more intensely, even when you're trying your best to stay calm.

What Can Help with Emotional Regulation in ADHD

The good news? You can learn strategies to better understand and manage your emotions in a way that feels empowering — not suppressive.

Here are a few supports that can help:

🌿 1. Understanding Your Triggers

We work together to identify patterns — certain people, places, or situations that spark emotional overwhelm — so you can create space to respond rather than react.

💬 2. Practicing Self-Compassion

Instead of beating yourself up, you learn how to speak to yourself kindly. This can quiet the inner critic and reduce emotional spirals.

🧠 3. Building Emotional Awareness

With mindfulness-based tools and ADHD-friendly techniques, you can start recognizing how emotions show up in your body before they take over.

🔄 4. Regulation Strategies That Work for You

Whether it’s breathwork, movement, sensory tools, or grounding exercises, together we’ll find ways that work with your nervous system — not against it.

💛 5. Support That Sees the Whole You

Sometimes just being heard, understood, and validated is the biggest step toward healing. You don’t have to manage it all alone.

You Deserve Support That Gets It

If you’re navigating big feelings and ADHD, you deserve support that’s grounded in empathy, understanding, and practical tools that actually help. Whether you’re recently diagnosed or have been living with ADHD for years, change is possible.

I’m Valerie MacNeil, a registered clinical counsellor specializing in ADHD counselling in Victoria, and I’d be honoured to support you. I offer a warm, non-judgmental space where we can explore what’s going on for you and work toward strategies that help you feel more grounded, confident, and in control. I have almost 20 years of counselling experience and I too have ADHD.

💬 Book a Free Consult or Counselling Appointment

Ready to take the next step? You can book a free 15-minute consult or schedule a full session on my website. Let’s work together to make sense of your emotions — and find your path forward.