Symptom Tests Emotional Hyperarousal Symptom Test for Adults By William Dodson, M.D., LF-APA Medically reviewed by William Dodson, M.D., LF-APA What Is Emotional Hyperarousal? What Does It Look Like in People with ADHD? The physical hyperactivity so often associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) — jumping on the couch, barreling across the playground, or talking without a pause for 10 minutes straight — is far from universal. In fact, this external symptom occurs in only one quarter of children and 5 percent of adults with the condition. The vast majority of people with ADHD instead experience hyperactivity as an internal feeling of hyperarousal — they can’t turn off their whirring, overactive brains. This symptom often manifests as extreme emotions, a condition known as emotional hyperarousal. People with emotional hyperarousal have passionate thoughts, reactions, and feelings that are more intense than those of the average person. In other words, their highs are higher and their lows are lower — which means people with ADHD often experience both happiness and criticism more powerfully than everyone else. This can make them appear overly sensitive and be off-putting to those around them — which, in turn, can do deep, long-term damage to their self-esteem. Most clinicians are trained to recognize the intense emotions that come with mood disorders, yet they are wholly unfamiliar with the emotional symptoms of ADHD — particularly emotional hyperarousal. Take the results of this self-test to your doctor to discuss your emotional symptoms and a treatment plan that can help. Do you feel like you can’t rid your brain of a certain thought or idea when you want to? Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None Do you feel especially sensitive to rejection, teasing, criticism, or the perception that you have failed or fallen short? Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None Do you feel (or have you been told directly) that your intense emotions make you “weird” or “different?” Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None Are you unaware of how physically active you are (bouncing your leg, fidgeting, drumming your fingers, etc.)? Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None When you experience feelings of extreme happiness, anger, or sadness, do you feel like your emotions flare up out of nowhere — and then resolve themselves just as quickly? Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None Do you feel like you’re thinking about 5 things at once? Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None Have your strong and uncontrolled mood shifts damaged personal relationships or career prospects? Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None Do you have meltdowns or blow-ups, or have to be "talked off the ledge" when you are overwhelmed by your emotional responses? Do others "walk on eggshells” around you? Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None Before being diagnosed with ADHD, were you told you might have a mood disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or borderline character disorder? Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None Do you feel like you experience emotions differently — more intensely, more suddenly, more unpredictably — than the people around you? Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None As an adult, do you feel like a child who is "faking" being a real adult due to your uncontrolled emotions? Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None Do you struggle to fall asleep because you can’t get comfortable or stop thoughts that bounce from one concern and worry to another? Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None Do you feel like you can’t relax, even on weekends and vacation? Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None Do those around you complain that they can’t understand your reactions, or can’t “keep up” with your ever-changing emotions? Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None When attempting to do something quiet and mindless, like watching a TV show with your family, do you find yourself getting up, fiddling with your phone, or doing anything other than focusing on the TV? Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None Do you not see your mood shifts coming and get "blindsided" by your own emotions? Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None Do you experience low self-esteem as a result of your hyperactive emotions? Very Often Often Sometimes Rarely Never None (Optional) Would you like to receive your Emotional Hyperarousal symptom test results — plus more helpful resources — via email from ADDitude? Sign me up for the ADDitude newsletter for neurodivergent adults. {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. The server responded with {{status_text}} (code {{status_code}}). Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Learn More{{/message}}{{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}It appears your submission was successful. Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Learn More{{/message}}Submitting… Time's up Updated on August 31, 2023
