One often-overlooked aspect of ADHD and autism in deficient emotional self-regulation. In this blog post, you’ll learn about the key components of DESR and how it impacts the lives of those who are neurodivergent.
Introduction
Emotional self-regulation is a critical aspect of mental health that affects how individuals manage and respond to their feelings. For autistics and ADHDers, managing emotions can be a significant challenge. This difficulty in regulating emotions is often referred to as deficient emotional self-regulation (DESR). Despite its prevalence and impact, DESR is not explicitly listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria for ADHD, which is the standard guide for diagnosing mental conditions. However, many experts in the field recognize DESR as a core component of ADHD.
What is Deficient Emotional Self-Regulation (DESR)?
DESR refers to difficulties in managing the intensity and duration of emotional responses. It includes challenges in inhibiting impulsive reactions to strong emotions, calming oneself after an emotional upset, redirecting attention away from emotionally provocative stimuli, and modulating emotional responses appropriately. Individuals with DESR often experience rapid, intense, and prolonged emotional reactions that are disproportionate to the situation.
The Impact of Emotional Impulsiveness
One of the primary aspects of DESR is emotional impulsiveness. This is characterized by a quick, often reactive emotional response, where the individual may act on strong emotions without considering the consequences. This impulsivity can lead to social misunderstandings, relationship conflicts, and personal distress.
Challenges in Calming and Shifting Attention
Another critical component of DESR is the difficulty in calming oneself after an emotional upset. Neurodivergents (NDs) may struggle to soothe themselves and reduce the intensity of their emotional reactions. Additionally, shifting attention away from emotionally charged events can be challenging. This difficulty makes it hard for individuals to disengage from the source of emotional arousal and can perpetuate turmoil.
Organizing Healthier Emotional Responses
Organizing and adopting healthier emotional responses is also a struggle for those with DESR. They may find it difficult to access coping strategies that could mitigate their intense emotional reactions. This can result in a cycle of emotional volatility and instability, impacting their overall well-being and their ability to maintain stable relationships.
The Role of Alexithymia
Compounding the challenges of DESR, some NDs also experience alexithymia, a condition that makes it difficult to recognize and describe emotions. This can prevent individuals from understanding their own emotional states, making it harder to employ strategies to regulate these emotions effectively. When only basic emotions like anger or sadness are perceived, the nuanced feelings that could guide more appropriate responses are often overlooked.
Emotional Storms and Empathic Sensitivity
For some individuals with DESR, periods of relative emotional calm can abruptly shift to intense emotional storms. These storms involve sudden floods of overwhelming emotions that can lead to rapid mood swings and heightened emotional reactions. Often, these episodes are linked to a heightened empathic sensitivity seen in some NDs—where they acutely feel and react to the emotions of others. Imagine watching someone tear up and finding yourself overwhelmed with tears too; this is a typical instance of how hyper-empathy can influence those with DESR.
Concluding Thoughts
Understanding deficient emotional self-regulation is crucial for supporting NDs effectively. Recognizing the nuances of DESR can help therapists, educators, and caregivers provide better strategies for managing emotional dysregulation. And with appropriate support and interventions, individuals with DESR can improve their emotional regulation skills, leading to enhanced relationships and a better quality of life.
References
Ashburner, J., Ziviani, J., & Rodger, S. (2010). Surviving in the mainstream: Capacity of children with autism spectrum disorders to perform academically and regulate their emotions and behavior at school. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4(1), 18–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2009.07.002
Barkley, R. (2023, September 25). DESR: Why deficient emotional self-regulation is central to ADHD (and largely overlooked). ADDitude. Retrieved from https://www.additudemag.com/desr-adhd-emotional-regulation/
Bunford, N., Evans, S. W., & Wymbs, F. (2015). ADHD and emotion dysregulation among children and adolescents. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 18(3), 185–217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-015-0187-5
Corbisiero, S., Stieglitz, R. D., Retz, W., & Rösler, M. (2013). Is emotional dysregulation part of the psychopathology of ADHD in adults? Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders, 5(2), 83–92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-012-0097-z
Predescu, E., Sipos, R., Costescu, C. A., Ciocan, A., & Rus, D. I. (2020). Executive functions and emotion regulation in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and borderline intellectual disability. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(4), Article 986. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9040986
Seymour, K. E., Macatee, R., & Chronis-Tuscano, A. (2019). Frustration tolerance in youth with ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders, 23(11), 1229–1239. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054716653216
Spencer, T. J., Faraone, S. V., Surman, C. B., Petty, C., Clarke, A., Batchelder, H., Wozniak, J., & Biederman, J. (2011). Toward defining deficient emotional self-regulation in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder using the Child Behavior Checklist: A controlled study. Postgraduate Medicine, 123(5), 50–59. https://doi.org/10.3810/pgm.2011.09.2459