As an ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) man, Jason was struggling to communicate with his wife Jennifer about organizing their lives. He often agreed to take on projects at home but struggled with follow-through. When Jennifer would ask him about it, he appeared to shut down and later expressed a pretty deep frustration with himself. In general, Jason always seemed cautious about sharing how he felt in a straightforward way. However, as their lives became more complicated–promotions, a mortgage, kids–his tendency to not be upfront about his needs became more of an issue. This couple isn’t alone: the “ADHD shutdown” is very much “an ADHD thing.” Even though Jennifer was familiar with this behavior, she struggled to understand why Jason seemed to have difficulty communicating effectively.
Causes for the ADHD Shutdown
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
Rejection-sensitive dysphoria (RSD) is an extreme emotional sensitivity or pain triggered by a person perceiving that they have disappointed important people in their lives or failed to attain their own standards or goals. Jason’s wife Jennifer felt like she was being pretty supportive, so she couldn’t understand why Jason continued to shut down. However, negative 
events don’t actually need to occur for an intense emotional response to make an ADHD person shut down. Rather, ADHD people are so bogged down by fears of making another unintentional mistake, that if they actually do drop the ball on something, they are much harder on themselves than anyone else. RSD can also make it difficult to share how you feel due to fears that your feelings will be dismissed.
Emotional Regulation
While shutting down might not seem related to emotional regulation, it is a literal symptom of ADHD. Because ADHD impacts the brain’s ability to self-regulate actions, it also impacts the ability to regulate one’s emotions. For some ADHD people, they feel so deeply that it seems like the only way to regulate their feelings is to shut down completely.
ADHD Paralysis
ADHD paralysis happens when a person with ADHD is overwhelmed. They could be overstimulated (e.g. by too much noise), cognitively stressed by too much information being thrown at them too quickly, or have too many big dysregulated emotions. The result can just be shutting down as a means of coping and blocking out all the noise.
Moving Forward from the ADHD Shutdown
For people with ADHD, the rational brain’s ability to process the emotional brain can feel like a tug of war. This can lead to intense emotional outbursts for some ADHD people or shutting down completely for others. However, once someone like Jason learns the right strategies in ADHD treatment, they can begin to untangle messy emotions, communicate more clearly, and actively problem-solve with others rather than shut down.
Begin Adult ADHD Treatment in Columbus, Ohio
Looking for more individualized support? You don’t have to shut down when feeling overwhelmed. ADHD-focused therapy can help you unlock your thinking brain in the midst of intense situations. Our counseling practice in Columbus, Ohio has caring therapists who specialize in ADHD testing and ADHD treatment. To start your counseling journey with Focused Mind ADHD Counseling, follow these simple steps:
- Fill out the contact form to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.
- Meet with one of our caring therapists.
- Stop feeling overwhelmed. Start getting unstuck.
Other ADHD Services Offered at Focused Mind ADHD Counseling
Adult ADHD treatment is not the only service we offer at our Columbus, OH counseling practice. At Focused Mind ADHD Counseling, we offer a variety of mental health services, including ADHD testing. As an adult with ADHD, we know you may also benefit from anxiety treatment for ADHD, counseling for men with ADHD, or depression counseling for ADHD . You can also view our blog for more resources and helpful info.
