What Is the Opposite of “Overwhelm”?

Written by Cynthia Hammer, MSW

In March, after being incredibly busy with activities for the Inattentive ADHD Coalition, I felt down--not quite depressed, but I had the blues. I was at loose ends and thought, "Is this all life has to offer?" Initially, I thought I was just tired and needed some down time, some time to recover. But slowly I realized I was feeling down because I wasn't engaged in an interesting, mind-stimulating activity.

Dr. Hallowell says that people with ADHD need to have their minds engaged to feel alive. He believes when our brains aren't engaged in something interesting, novel, or exciting, then we engage our brains with worry. I am not a worrier, but when my mind isn't engaged in an idea or problem, my life seems flat and loses its appeal.  I start to wonder, "Why can’t I think of something to do?  How come nothing appeals to me?”  It’s the Ying and Yang of ADHD—too much or too little. 

Having too many irons in the fire makes me overwhelmed and irritable, but having too few makes life disappointing and dull.  I can’t tolerate feeling this way so I go into action. I think of something, or many things, to do.

I swing between overwhelmed and underwhelmed, never finding the right balance. Perhaps someday soon I will.