Crying frequently or easily can sometimes be a symptom of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. While the core symptoms involve problems focusing and controlling behavior, ADHD is associated with emotional dysregulation that can lead to frequent crying.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, affecting around 9.4% of children and 4.4% of adults in the United States. It begins early in childhood and can persist into adulthood. The primary symptoms of ADHD include:
- Difficulty paying attention and staying focused
- Excessive activity and difficulty staying still
- Acting impulsively without thinking
These symptoms interfere with functioning in school, work, and relationships. ADHD is divided into three presentations based on the predominant symptoms:
- Inattentive presentation – difficulty paying attention, easily distracted, appears forgetful
- Hyperactive/impulsive presentation – excessive activity, difficulty sitting still, frequent interrupting or intruding on others
- Combined presentation – all of the above symptoms are present
What causes ADHD?
The exact causes of ADHD are not fully known, but research suggests that genetics and differences in brain development and chemistry play major roles. Specific factors that may contribute to ADHD include:
- Genetics – ADHD often runs in families.
- Chemical imbalances or deficiencies in brain neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine.
- Structural differences in certain brain regions.
- Brain injuries or exposure to environmental toxins during pregnancy or early childhood.
ADHD likely arises from a combination of these genetic, biological, and environmental influences that affect brain development and functioning.
How is ADHD connected to emotional dysregulation?
While the core features of ADHD involve inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, many people with ADHD also experience emotional dysregulation. This means they have difficulty controlling the intensity and duration of their emotional reactions.
Emotional dysregulation in ADHD may stem from some of the same brain differences that drive the other symptoms. Structural and functional abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, and limbic system can disrupt emotional processing and regulation.
Common signs of emotional dysregulation in ADHD include:
- Rapid, intense emotional reactions
- Frequent mood swings
- Difficulty calming down once upset
- Crying easily or often
- Outbursts of anger and frustration
- Chronic irritability
- Overreacting to minor problems
Why might people with ADHD cry more easily?
There are several reasons why emotional dysregulation in ADHD may lead to frequent crying or tearing up easily:
- Difficulty regulating emotional responses – Due to differences in brain function, people with ADHD struggle to manage the intensity and duration of their feelings. Strong emotions can spiral out of control.
- Low frustration tolerance – Struggling with distractibility, restlessness, and impulsivity can lead to chronic frustration. Small annoyances may trigger sudden “meltdowns.”
- Sensitivity to criticism – The challenges of ADHD can lead to a lot of criticism for things like forgetfulness and distractibility. High sensitivity makes criticism feel devastating.
- Poor self-esteem – ADHD symptoms like underperformance at school or work can batter self-esteem over time. Setbacks hit especially hard.
- Sleep disturbances – ADHD often interferes with sleep quality. Poor sleep exacerbates emotional sensitivity and dysregulation.
- Comorbid conditions – ADHD has high rates of comorbidity with conditions like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder that also involve frequent crying.
Signs that frequent crying may indicate ADHD
Crying often does not automatically mean someone has ADHD. But you may want to consider an ADHD evaluation if frequent crying is coupled with other symptoms like:
- Difficulty concentrating and staying organized
- Fidgeting, excessive talking, always seeming “on the go”
- Poor impulse control and frequent interrupting
- Trouble sitting still through tasks or paying attention during conversations
- Forgetfulness about tasks or obligations
- Losing track of things and chronic disorganization
- Difficulty following through and completing tasks
- Trouble managing time and frequent lateness
If chronic disorganization, distractibility, restlessness, and impulsivity accompany frequent crying or tearfulness, it may point to an underlying ADHD condition.
Should I see a doctor?
If you struggle with frequent crying episodes and think you may have undiagnosed ADHD, it is a good idea to visit your doctor. Describe any issues you have with concentration, hyperactivity, organization, following through, and emotional control.
Your doctor may do a psychiatric evaluation involving interviews, questionnaires, and assessments to determine if you meet the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis. They may also do bloodwork or other tests to rule out medical conditions that could explain your symptoms.
If diagnosed with ADHD, medications and behavioral therapies can help manage both the core ADHD symptoms and emotional dysregulation issues like chronic tearfulness. Treating the ADHD may resolve some of the crying tendencies.
ADHD treatment options
Treatment for ADHD typically involves medications, behavioral interventions, education, and self-help strategies. Some options include:
- Stimulant medications like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine-based stimulants (Adderall) to increase focus and self-control
- Non-stimulant medications like atomoxetine (Strattera), clonidine, and antidepressants for cases unresponsive to stimulants
- Behavioral therapy with a therapist to build coping strategies and routines
- Education and organization coaching to learn strategies to minimize distractibility and disorganization
- Self-help and lifestyle adjustments like planning, list-making, exercise, sleep hygiene, and regulating digital media use
- Mindfulness and relaxation practices to help develop emotional awareness and control
A combination of medication to regulate brain chemistry and behavioral strategies to cope with symptoms is often most effective. Treatment helps manage ADHD symptoms so adults can function and focus while minimizing emotional reactivity.
Coping strategies for emotional sensitivity
In addition to professional treatment, people with ADHD can try self-help coping strategies to gain more control over emotional responses like crying. Useful tactics include:
- Tracking moods and triggers – Keeping a log can help identify patterns in emotional reactions.
- Learning calming techniques – Practice deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness, or meditation when stressed.
- Cognitive restructuring – Challenge thoughts that trigger or inflame emotional reactions.
- Taking breaks – Walk away temporarily from escalating situations.
- Enlisting support – Ask family and friends for help in managing meltdowns.
- Simplifying obligations – Reduce stress by clearing away less critical tasks.
- Adding enjoyable activities – Make time for passions that boost joy and self-esteem.
Building a toolbox of coping strategies can help individuals gain skills over time to short-circuit excessive emotional reactions and tolerate frustration better.
When to seek additional treatment
Implementing ADHD treatment and emotional coping strategies should help reduce excessive crying over time. But seek additional treatment if:
- You engage in self-harming behaviors like cutting as an outlet for extreme emotion.
- Crying spells continue to interfere significantly with school, work, or relationships.
- Mood instability includes depression or suicidal thoughts.
- You are using drugs or alcohol to numb emotional pain.
- Vocal or physical tics develop alongside emotional issues.
Seeking counseling with a psychiatrist or psychologist can provide more advanced therapies to get severe emotional dysfunction under control.
Does my child cry excessively because of ADHD?
Frequent crying, irritability, and emotional outbursts are common in children with ADHD due to immature self-regulation skills. If your child cries a lot, also watch for other ADHD symptoms like:
- Inability to pay attention during school, homework, or play
- Constant motion and difficulty sitting still
- Excessive talking and interrupting
- Disorganization and forgetting obligations
- Impatience and difficulty waiting their turn
Consult your pediatrician if chronic emotional reactions interfere with school performance and relationships. Behavioral interventions and possible medication can help treat ADHD symptoms and teach self-control skills.
Professional treatment resources
If you struggle with frequent crying that may be linked to undiagnosed or untreated ADHD, consult a professional. Your physician can refer you to the following resources if appropriate:
- Psychiatrists – Can diagnose ADHD and prescribe and manage medications.
- Psychologists – Can provide testing and behavioral therapy for ADHD and emotional skills training.
- Social workers – Help connect people with community services and education resources for managing ADHD.
- Organization coaching – Help adults develop systems for minimizing ADHD-related disorganization and improving time management.
Seeking help can put you on the path to gaining control over ADHD symptoms so you function optimally. This often reduces excessive emotionality like chronic crying as a byproduct.
Conclusion
People with ADHD are prone to emotional dysregulation including frequent crying and teariness due to brain differences affecting emotional control. If you cry easily over minor frustrations and also struggle with classic ADHD symptoms like disorganization, inattention, and restlessness, consider an evaluation. Treating the underlying ADHD with some combination of medications, therapy, lifestyle changes, and coping strategies may improve emotional regulation and reduce crying tendencies.