The Emotional Distress Syndrome

The Emotional Distress Syndrome (EDS), identified and coined by James Ochoa, is the cumulative effect of the neurological processing differences and behavioral challenges associated with ADHD. It’s a chronic state of emotional stress directly related to the struggle to live life with ADHD, a stress that breaks down emotional tolerance, stamina and the ability to maintain a strong sense of well-being and spiritual health. The chronic, lifelong nature of ADHD–related stress can increase to such a level that it becomes a syndrome akin to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“Emotional storms” happen when you’re in crisis, so deep in the emotional stress you can’t really attend to real life.

As with other ADHD symptoms, there’s good news and bad news, and you have choices to make:

• It won’t disappear on its own. One way or another, you’ll have to manage emotional distress for the rest of your life.

• If you choose not to manage the emotional distress, the EDS will continue to erode your sense of emotional, mental and physical well-being.

• But don’t despair–emotional storms can be navigated.

• You are not broken.

• You can live a full, interesting, potential-reaching life.