ADHD and how to stop a mood spiral fast

Why can a small stressor like a confusing email or a last-minute change suddenly feel like the floor just dropped out from under you? One minute you’re fine. The next, you’re overwhelmed, avoiding, and stuck in a loop of guilt and overthinking.
Dr. J walks through what’s actually happening in your brain and nervous system during an ADHD mood spiral and how avoidance becomes “relief with hidden fees.”
You’ll leave with simple, science-backed ways to regulate, start small, and recover faster when your brain gets loud.
For more on this topic
Try: ADHD Unstuck (a free self-guided activity)
Listen: ADHD and emotional dysregulation
Read: ADHD and mood swings
For a transcript and more resources, visit MissUnderstood on Understood.org. You can also email us at [email protected]
.
Getting your child the support they need at school shouldn’t feel like a fight. But for millions of families, it does. In Zero Reject, an investigative podcast from Understood.org, award-winning journalist Anya Kamenetz looks at how changing federal policies are reshaping special education — and what’s at stake for families trying to access the support their children are legally entitled to. Start listening now.
Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at u.org/give
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.