[annie_muss]

Emotional control really is the *the* skill. When I was diagnosed with ADHD I learned that emotional disregulation was a part of it.

I had spent years trying to work out why everyone was so especially unkind to me. I thought maybe I was autistic (I'm not), or that I was giving off weird social cues. Turns out that I just have trouble regulating the regular ups and downs of normal emotional life.

Often people talk about task-completion and procrastination when ADHD comes up. That's emotional disregulation too. You sit at a desk, open your algebra book and start working on problem one. As soon as it is slightly difficult the uncontrollable emotions run wild. It feels awful. Now scrolling a couple of youtube videos takes your mind of it. You get a little break from (what feels like) world ending emotional pain.

I still struggle with this years after my diagnosis but the first step to improvement is to label the emotions you are having, when you have them.

[Ensorceled]

> Emotional control really is the the skill. When I was diagnosed with ADHD I learned that emotional disregulation was a part of it.

I agree. I think emotional control and social navigation are sort of, but not entirely related. My ADHD inspired emotional disregulation meant people often found me difficult to be around, the emotional swings made them uncomfortable.

I became happier and more successful when I started learning to be less toxic, to control my emotions, or at least not make it other peoples problem.

[MisterSandman]

Reading your post made me realize I may have ADHD

[antisthenes]

> I had spent years trying to work out why everyone was so especially unkind to me.

It is also possible that you met your fair share of assholes.

[vazma]

Thank you for sharing. I can assure you that there are many people with exactly the same difficulties including me :)