The Passion Paradox: When Drive Becomes Dysregulation for Entrepreneurs with ADHD

Jul 29, 2025

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It’s 2 AM, and you’re lying in bed, reliving every word of an email you sent hours earlier, your mind spinning worst-case scenarios that could ruin your business.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—especially if you have ADHD. Entrepreneurial life magnifies our emotional intensity, for better and for worse, and in this episode, I’m getting real about a topic most business circles avoid: the double-edged sword of emotional intensity for entrepreneurs with ADHD.

Running a business and being an entrepreneur with ADHD comes with a unique set of challenges, based on the fact that our emotional intensity can be both a business advantage and a potential hazard at the same time.

We are talking about the fine line between passion and emotional dysregulation. Emotional dysregulation is not “being too sensitive” or being overly dramatic; it’s brain mechanics.

The same executive function deficits that scramble our to-do lists also juggle our emotional responses, often treating every emotion as urgent.

If you wonder why advice like “just breathe” doesn’t work for us the way it does for neurotypicals, this is why.

Here are 5 keys you’ll pick up from this episode:

What Emotional Dysregulation Is: Learn why it’s way more than just “being sensitive”—it’s a real neurological challenge for ADHD brains.
Solopreneurship’s Perfect Storm: Discover how running a business solo can amplify emotional ups and downs, thanks to isolation and rejection sensitivity.
How Emotional Intensity Can Hijack Business Decisions: Find out how unchecked emotions can affect your pricing, negotiations, and every tough conversation.
Spotting the Difference Between Passion and Dysregulation: Learn concrete ways to tell if your drive is fueling your business or putting it at risk of burning down.
Practical Tools to Build Emotional Resilience: Get real-life strategies for pause protocols, circuit breakers, sleep/nutrition hacks, boundaries, and even the right kind of professional support.

Fun Fact:

Did you know that your ADHD brain processes emotions more like a smoke detector than a thermostat?

If you’re tired of advice like “just breathe” and want strategies that actually work for our 🧠 brains, this episode is for you.

Take a listen, share with a fellow entrepreneur who gets it, and let me know what resonated most for you! Remember: Feeling deeply is one of our ADHD strengths—we just need to use it strategically.

About the Host

Diann Wingert (she/her) is a seasoned business coach, licensed psychotherapist, and serial business owner with decades of experience supporting neurodivergent professionals.

Diann specializes in helping ADHD solopreneurs and small business owners turn their energetic passion into strategic success, blending lived experience with clinical insight for real-world solutions.

Connect with Diann

Website: diannwingertcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diannwingertcoaching/
Cognitive Bias Hacks for ADHD Entrepreneurs

Mentioned in this episode:

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for ADHD and emotional dysregulation

Cognitive Behavior Therapy for ADHD and negative thinking patterns

Share the Love 🚀

If this episode resonated, share it with a fellow entrepreneur navigating their own intensity trap. Feeling deeply is part of our ADHD—learning to use it strategically is where the magic happens.