ADHDers tend to experience a lot of guilt to the point that the emotional turmoil from it can interfere with our daily lives.
Guilt can feel like a brick wall for ADHDers. Even when we know how important a task is, the strong emotions attached can make it impossible to start.
We're often hyperaware that we're "different" (even before we discover that we have ADHD) so we tend to expect high standards for ourselves and fixate on our past mistakes.
We may get overwhelmed by tasks with all of the steps involved and how long we think it'll take. Then past emotions may resurface like shame from being late or embarrassment for making a mistake. Then we feel worse because we're procrastinating which makes it EVEN HARDER to initiate tasks!! It's a vicious cycle!
If you struggle with ADHD guilt, consider:
SEPERATE IT FROM YOUR IDENTITY Your mistakes DO NOT define who you are. They do not make you a bad person. You're allowed to recognize mistakes, make changes, and move forward.
REMEMBER More often than you think, the thing you're feeling so guilty about, they either don't remember or it doesn't matter that much to them. We ruminate on our own mistakes much more than we do the mistakes of others.
TALK IT OUT Talk to a third party about the thing you feel guilty about. They can give you a perspective outside of your ADHD, emotions, perfectionism, and past memories.
If this resonated with you, consider checking out our Healing ADHD Emotions program! Join this 8-week group journey to heal the past and develop emotional regulation skills for life.
All the best,
Brooke
