What's an ADHD spiral?

You do something impulsive, or under stress. Instantly, you feel ashamed and embarrassed, which turns into frustration, anger, despair, or anxiety. The more you feed intense feelings with negative thoughts, the more emotional distress you inflict on your ADHD brain. Break that unhealthy spiral with these strategies.


Do ADHD people spiral?

Shame spirals are more likely to occur for people with ADHD or other forms of neurodivergence for a number of reasons. The reason is that people with ADHD, in particular, tend to have less self-compassion than those without. This is due, in part, to the higher levels of negative comments they receive.

How do you know if you are spiraling?

A downward spiral is when we can feel ourselves slipping into a lower mood and our mental health feels as though it's declining. They can be hard to handle because we might not really understand why things are sliding again.


What do ADHD meltdowns look like?

A MELTDOWN CAN SEEM TO COME OUT OF NOWHERE.

It's one of the challenging or explosive behaviors we see in those who have ADHD. Sometimes it appears as poor self-esteem, yelling, rage, or tears.

What does it mean to spiral mentally?

A downward spiral with depression is a situation defined by a series of negative thoughts, feelings, or actions that feed into themselves repeatedly causing the situation to become progressively worse. Learning to recognize a spiral before making it to the bottom can help avoid potential downward spirals in the future.


Handling Rumination/Thought Spirals: Tips on How to Cope With Self-Destructive Thoughts



What causes a mental spiral?

Where Does The Anxiety Spiral Begin? An anxiety spiral begins with stressful life events, long-term worries or even unpleasant physical situations or illness. The anxiety-prone mind may disproportionately focus on these thoughts, misinterpreting them as real danger rather than what they are – mere thoughts.

How do you break a thought spiral?

5 Ways to Stop Spiraling Negative Thoughts from Taking Control
  1. Remove “should” thoughts.
  2. Recognize automatic negative thinking.
  3. Putting your thoughts on trial.
  4. Acknowledge how overwhelmed you feel.
  5. Don't force positive thoughts.


What is an ADHD shutdown?

Differences in emotions in people with ADHD can lead to 'shutdowns', where someone is so overwhelmed with emotions that they space out, may find it hard to speak or move and may struggle to articulate what they are feeling until they can process their emotions.


What do ADHD mood swings feel like?

Symptoms of Mood Swings in ADHD

Switching from excited one moment to sad, angry, or anxious the next. Fluctuating between having trouble paying attention and hyperfocusing on an activity. Having bursts of energy and fatigue through the day. Feeling emotions intensely and having difficulty regulating them.

Does ADHD have manic episodes?

Manic episodes are not a symptom of ADHD, but a person with ADHD may experience some of the symptoms of a hypomanic episode. Although there may be some symptom similarities, the underlying causes of bipolar disorder and ADHD are different.

Is spiraling a symptom of anxiety?

This anxiety spiral — also known as “catastrophic thinking” or “magnifying,” — is cognitive distortion that often occurs alongside anxiety and depression. Think of your brain as a rocky mountain: one single negative thought loosens an avalanche of related anxieties.


How do you comfort someone who is spiraling?

In addition to listening, one simple way to help someone in the midst of an anxiety spiral is to ask calming questions. Dr. Aslinia suggests: "How are you feeling?"; "What's the worst thing that could happen?"; "Do you have a plan for this?"; and "Tell me what happens next," or "Walk me through your plan."

Does ADHD make you act weird?

The core symptoms of ADHD, like impulsivity and inattention, might lead children to behave in ways that can put their health at risk or cause them to forget healthy and protective behaviors.

Are ADHD people self aware?

In addition, another common struggle for children with ADHD that typically goes unnoticed is a lack of self-awareness. Self-awareness difficulties can negatively impact children's social interactions and relationships. The ADHD mind sometimes fails to recognize everyday social cues.


When Does ADHD manifest itself?

ADHD symptoms start before age 12, and in some children, they're noticeable as early as 3 years of age. ADHD symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe, and they may continue into adulthood. ADHD occurs more often in males than in females, and behaviors can be different in boys and girls.

Is ADHD considered to be a disability?

Yes. Whether you view attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as neurological — affecting how the brain concentrates or thinks — or consider ADHD as a disability that impacts working, there is no question that the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) covers individuals with ADHD.

What to do when ADHD kicks in?

9 Tips for Managing ADHD Mood Swings
  1. Schedule time to vent. ...
  2. Work on shifting your focus. ...
  3. Prepare for the days when you get the blues. ...
  4. Take control of your “hyperfocus” ...
  5. Exercise often. ...
  6. Put humor first. ...
  7. Consider a diet change. ...
  8. Set a solid sleep schedule.


Are you born with ADHD or can it develop?

ADHD tends to run in families and, in most cases, it's thought the genes you inherit from your parents are a significant factor in developing the condition. Research shows that parents and siblings of someone with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves.

Why is life expectancy lower for ADHD?

“In evaluating the health consequences of ADHD over time, we found that ADHD adversely affects every aspect of quality of life and longevity. This is due to the inherent deficiencies in self-regulation associated with ADHD that lead to poor self-care and impulsive, high-risk behavior.

What does severe ADHD look like in adults?

Adults with ADHD may find it difficult to focus and prioritize, leading to missed deadlines and forgotten meetings or social plans. The inability to control impulses can range from impatience waiting in line or driving in traffic to mood swings and outbursts of anger. Adult ADHD symptoms may include: Impulsiveness.


What is waiting mode ADHD?

Waiting mode is when you can't get anything done because you're distracted by the awareness that you have something planned — such as an appointment — later on. You feel anxious, impatient, and even overwhelmed. People with ADHD know all about waiting mode. And it's incredibly frustrating.

How do you break toxic thought patterns?

Thinking patterns can be habitual, but with a little awareness and some time, you can replace negative thoughts with more positive ones.
...
Here are five tips.
  • Practice Mindfulness. ...
  • Address Your Inner Critic. ...
  • Know Your Triggers. ...
  • Write it Out. ...
  • Recite a Mantra. ...
  • Change Your Surroundings.


Why do negative thoughts spiral?

We think about that screwup at work or that fight with a loved one and end up flooded by how bad we feel. Then we think about it again and again. This type of repetitive negative thought, which I call mental chatter, concentrates our attention on our emotional distress and can send us into a downward spiral.


What is catastrophic anxiety?

Catastrophic thinking is when your brain engages your imagination and creates worst-case scenarios; this is often fuelled by anxiety. Anxiety is an emotion. It manifests as a feeling of unease in your body – it is a combination of worry and fear.

What are severe ADHD symptoms?

Hyperactivity and impulsiveness
  • being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings.
  • constantly fidgeting.
  • being unable to concentrate on tasks.
  • excessive physical movement.
  • excessive talking.
  • being unable to wait their turn.
  • acting without thinking.
  • interrupting conversations.