More Than Just a Wrong Turn
A wrong turn. A racing heart. A body in panic over a simple drive. This is the story of how an overactive stress response shaped my teenage years—and how understanding emotional regulation helped me make sense of what my body was trying to tell me all along.
ADULT ADHD: EMOTIONAL REGULATION & STRESS MANAGEMENT
Emotional regulation isn’t just about keeping calm—it’s about understanding what’s happening beneath the surface.
From My Head to My Heart: More Than Just a Wrong Turn
When I was a teenager, I could barely get through a drive without getting lost. I’d take a wrong turn, panic, and suddenly my chest would be pounding like I was in danger. My heart would race, my palms would sweat, and my brain would freeze. I wasn’t just flustered—I was overwhelmed.
It happened a lot. I couldn’t retain directions, no matter how many times I heard them. My mind just didn’t hold onto that kind of spatial information. I’d mix up turns, forget landmarks, or blank out mid-route. At the time, I didn’t know this was connected to ADHD. I just thought something was wrong with me.
It became a running joke with my friends. They’d mess with me about my terrible sense of direction, and I’d laugh it off. But deep down, it wasn’t funny. I knew something felt off. It wasn’t just about navigation—it was about regulation. My body reacted to minor stress like it was a five-alarm emergency.
When the first Rand McNally GPS came out, it changed everything. It didn’t just help me get where I was going—it helped me breathe. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that tool gave me something my nervous system desperately needed: a sense of predictability and safety.
Looking back, those moments weren’t about weakness. They were my nervous system sounding the alarm over and over again—and me trying to make sense of it all.
🔍 What I Learned
ADHD and emotional regulation are closely connected. My reactions weren’t dramatic—they were dysregulated. Over time, I’ve learned how to notice the signals sooner, take breaks before overwhelm hits, and use strategies that help my nervous system settle down instead of rev up.
💡 Why This Stuck With Me
Because for years, I thought I just needed to “toughen up” or “calm down.” But it wasn’t about willpower—it was about understanding how my brain and body respond to stress, and finding tools that work with me, not against me.
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