Re: The A-B-Cs of controlling ADHD's frustration and anger.

[Bibliophile]

As has been noted by Wgreen, ADHD sufferers have an impaired ability to self motivate , i.e. rely on willpower alone to achieve an outcome. The corollary of this is that behaviour modification cannot be used to teach a new skill for those with moderate to extreme ADHD symptoms. In the absence of rewards, there is no motivation. This is why applying the stoic or zen position of using the will for emotional regulation alone for ADHD will not work. Where is the motivation or positive stimulus to do so?

Dr. Jain made a comment about marathon running in one of his videos that speaks volumes to the ADHD condition. He couldn’t imagine why someone would want to run a marathon? This is ADHD to a tea. We have an impaired ability to motivate ourselves towards a goal, especially one that has no tangible benefits or seems arbitrary, i.e. running 42.195 km.

Also, if you are blind to the effects of your emotions on future events due to the impulsive nature of the condition, how can you stop and regulate your emotions?

The good thing is that many people with ADHD also have memory issues. Forgetting past actions is the best way to maintain a positive outlook on life. It also means you keep doing the same action expecting the same result, even if that result is unattainable.

I would like to also note that there is a tendency for people with ADHD to think in absolutes as it reduces the anxiety that a decision presents. A black and white world is much easier for decision-making than a grey one.

I agree that we often attribute negative emotions to events that may not be justified by the actual event itself, but asking somone to use their will to identify this and change future behaviour seems unrealistic for serious ADHD sufferers; if there are other comorbidities, such as oppositional defiance disorder or anxiety dissorder as well, it seems utterly unattainable.

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