ADHD "Empathy Sunburn"

[humble-rasberry]

Hey guys! I just wanted to share an interesting insight about neurodiverse people that came up in my therapy session today. Essentially I was talking about how I have a hard time regulating my emotions in a way that I can actually show people in my life that I care about them without making it over the top cheesy or not enough. For example if I forget to respond to someone's text, I will physically feel and visualize their hurt, rejection, and disappointment in me that's most likely not even the case, but I become emotional knowing I might have caused them to feel even the slightest bit of hurt.

My therapist responded saying that it is common for people with ADHD to have an increased amount of empathy, to the point that when we feel something it's intensified, especially when we think of how others are feeling or know their experiences. We take on their emotions, which ends up giving us a "sunburn" because of our emotional sensitivity.

I just thought the phrase "empathy sunburn" was such an interesting concept that I hadn't heard before and wanted to share. But now if anyone has any advice on how to actually deal with it I will also greatly appreciate haha! Thanks everyone!

[Shamany66]

Yes begin to not identify with your thoughts. Just see them and let go