Delve into the intriguing world of Justice Sensitivity, especially for those with ADHD and AuDHD. Discover how intense feelings of fairness and injustice shape daily life, relationships, and self-perception. Hear personal stories about navigating bullying and the quest for acceptance, along with emotional challenges in educational settings. Explore the complexities of emotional overwhelm and learn effective strategies for managing reactions to perceived injustices, underscoring the importance of self-care and mental health.
Justice sensitivity in individuals with ADHD leads to overwhelming emotional reactions to perceived unfairness, affecting their daily life and relationships.
Coping with justice sensitivity involves recognizing emotional responses and employing strategies like mindfulness to manage intense feelings and maintain stability.
Deep dives
Understanding Justice Sensitivity
Justice sensitivity is characterized by strong emotional reactions to perceived injustices, which can often feel overwhelming for individuals with ADHD. This sensitivity makes it difficult to cope with minor unfair experiences, as they may ruminate on them far longer than neurotypical individuals would. For example, when faced with everyday situations like a coworker taking credit for someone's idea, the affected person may feel intense resentment, leading to disruptive behaviors. This stark contrast in perception reveals a deep-seated need for fairness and prompts a struggle with feelings of helplessness regarding injustices both in personal interactions and on a larger societal scale.
The Neurological Basis of Justice Sensitivity
The neurological underpinnings of justice sensitivity include emotional intensity, impulsivity, and cognitive rigidity inherent in ADHD. Individuals with ADHD experience heightened emotional responses and are often less capable of regulating these feelings within the normal spectrum, leading to a black-and-white view of fairness. For instance, a person with ADHD may respond strongly to a comment perceived as disrespectful, experiencing it as a profound personal affront rather than a minor social lapse. These brain differences can create challenges in processing everyday interactions while simultaneously amplifying their emotional responses, causing distress and frustration over what may seem trivial to others.
Coping Strategies for Justice Sensitivity
Managing justice sensitivity requires recognizing and addressing emotional reactions while finding effective coping mechanisms to mitigate their effects. Techniques such as breathing exercises, somatic healing, and mindfulness can help individuals process their emotions and regain calm following episodes of intense reaction. It's also crucial for those affected to avoid engaging in confrontational behaviors that could exacerbate their feelings of injustice, particularly in social media interactions or heated discussions. By focusing on recovery from emotional turmoil instead of trying to prevent feelings of injustice, individuals can better navigate their sensitivity and maintain healthier relationships with themselves and others.
In this episode: Jen explores the concept of Justice Sensitivity in people with ADHD and AuDHD. She explains why fairness and injustice can feel so intense for neurodivergent individuals and how these strong reactions shape everyday experiences and influence relationships, work, and personal well-being.
SHOW NOTES:
For bonus episodes, transcripts, captioned videos, live online events with Jen, a private chat community and more - go GET A LOT in the “You Are a LOT” podcast Patreon community. Start with a 7-day-free-trial at any level, and when you join take 15% off if you subscribe annually.