A person with ADHD who has been laid low by the “typical” flu may mix those memories with the threat of COVID, increasing her worry.

New stressors trigger negative emotions associated with past events. People with ADHD often find it hard to regulate emotions, because their brain is different from other people’s. Let’s examine the interplay between behavioral characteristics and the neurobiological differences associated with ADHD, and the stress caused by the intense events that affect our lives today. The severity of the symptoms ranges from mild (with little negative impact) to severe (with significant impact). Many exhibit the typical symptoms that are associated with the condition, but not everyone has all of these symptoms. The second fact is that people who have ADHD are not all alike. In terms of our ability to face danger and manage stress, we range in character from “Navy Seals” to “Nervous Nellies.” We face life’s stressors in different ways, depending on our health, our age, our temperament, and our previous experiences. What one person thinks of as a small problem may be perceived by another person as an intense stressor. Two facts: All people do not worry about the same things in the same way. The simple answer is: maybe… and maybe not. You wonder whether you, your child, or your spouse find these fearful times more challenging than those in the general population. You are reading this because you or someone you care about has ADHD. With so many unknowns, and the endless flow of confusing and conflicting information, we have diminished control - the perfect environment for stress to thrive and do its damage. We worry about keeping or losing a job, parenting, and our children’s return to school in some form or another. The anxiety we feel is created by many factors, including political unrest and the COVID crisis. Most of us are experiencing an increase in stress.

In recent months, we have been living in uncertain, dangerous times.

Free stressers that work