--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not enough people realize that ADHD is…" description: "\"“Not enough people realize that ADHD is not a disorder about loss of focus. It is a disorder of loss of emotional control, which is triggered by outsid..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/shannon-l-alder-363_adhd_not-enough-people-realize-that-adhd-is-n_426549.jpg" --- # Not enough people realize that ADHD is not a disorder… ![“Not enough people realize that ADHD is not a disorder about loss of focus. It is a disorder of loss of emotional control, which is triggered by outside influences, self-esteem and our interpretation of events. Whether this is positive or negative it triggers us to hyper focus on what consumes our…” quote by Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/shannon-l-alder-363_adhd_not-enough-people-realize-that-adhd-is-n_426549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/shannon-l-alder-363_adhd_not-enough-people-realize-that-adhd-is-n_426549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/shannon-l-alder-363_adhd_not-enough-people-realize-that-adhd-is-n_426549.jpg) > ““Not enough people realize that ADHD is not a disorder about loss of focus. It is a disorder of loss of emotional control, which is triggered by outside influences, self-esteem and our interpretation of events. Whether this is positive or negative it triggers us to hyper focus on what consumes our thoughts. Staying positive is critical and distancing oneself from hurtful people is essential, in order to live a life with purpose.”” [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. ADHD involves emotional dysregulation driven by external stressors and self‑perception, not just attention lapses. Managing mood and relationships is key to purposeful living. **In simple terms:** ADHD is about emotional control, not just focus. Key Takeaway Focus on emotional health and supportive environments. Themes mental health self‑esteem relationships Mood reflective encouraging Type advice motivational When to use this quote - workplace - family gatherings - therapy sessions - social media use Key Concepts neurodiversity emotional regulation hyperfocus Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect your emotional energy? - What relationships drain you most? A Different Perspective Emotional control can be hard to maintain without professional help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adhd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adhd/) [Adhd Disorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adhd-disorder-3769389/) [Disorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disorder/) [Distance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distance/) [Emotional control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-control/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Focus Disorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus-disorder-3769388/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [Holding on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding-on/) [Impulsivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulsivity-89929/) [Loss Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss-focus-3769391/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mood swings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mood-swings/) [Overthinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overthinking/) [Reacting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reacting/) [Reactor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reactor/) [Realize Adhd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realize-adhd-3769390/) [Staying positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staying-positive/) [Staying strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staying-strong/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [“You may marry Miss Grey for her fifteen pounds but you will always be my Willoughby. My nightmare. My sorrow. My past. My mistake.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/you-may-marry-miss-grey-for-her-fifteen-pounds-but-you-will-always-be/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Rather than focus on the negative aspects of change, which is loss, I focus on the adventure of it and say "What's next?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-wholey/rather-than-focus-on-the-negative-aspects-of-change-which-is-loss-i/) [Dennis Wholey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-wholey/) > [“Why do women waste their time trying to convince their insecure family members and girlfriends that they are beautiful? Self esteem is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/why-do-women-waste-their-time-trying-to-convince-their-insecure/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“Human history is the ancient story of the umbilical conflict between a lone individual versus a cabalistic society. 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It shows up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/we-have-this-handy-fusion-reactor-in-the-sky-called-the-sun-you-don-t/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [A nuclear power reactor is just a fancy way of boiling water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-dewan/a-nuclear-power-reactor-is-just-a-fancy-way-of-boiling-water/) [Leslie Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-dewan/) > [“A nuclear reactor is a proposed "solution" to "the energy problem." But like all big-technological "solutions," this one "solves" a single problem by causing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/a-nuclear-reactor-is-a-proposed-solution-to-the-energy-problem-but/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [You know, boys, a nuclear reactor is a lot like a woman. You just have to read the manual and press the right buttons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-simpson/you-know-boys-a-nuclear-reactor-is-a-lot-like-a-woman-you-just-have/) [Homer Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-simpson/) > [Well you know boys, a nuclear reactor is a lot like women. You just have to read the manual and press the right button.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/well-you-know-boys-a-nuclear-reactor-is-a-lot-like-women-you-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I made a nuclear reactor when I was 14](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-wilson/i-made-a-nuclear-reactor-when-i-was-14/) [Taylor Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-wilson/) > [Bloggers and other flavors of lone wolf are publishing heart-wrenching photo-essays from the front line of the recovery effort. Newspapers and TV networks? They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-bray/bloggers-and-other-flavors-of-lone-wolf-are-publishing-heart/) [Tim Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-bray/) > [Our reactor actually burns nuclear waste as fuel. So not only is it safe and powerful, it solves an important issue: It actually reduces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/our-reactor-actually-burns-nuclear-waste-as-fuel-so-not-only-is-it/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) ## More by Shannon L. Alder > [“Don’t waste your time trying to explain yourself to people that are committed to misunderstanding you. Instead, commit your time to explaining who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-explain-yourself-to-people-that-are/) [Shannon L. 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Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“The art of being wise is the art of knowing that solutions don’t come from individuals, but rather experiences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-art-of-being-wise-is-the-art-of-knowing-that-solutions-don-t-come/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“If you have feelings for someone, let them know. It doesn’t matter if they can be in your life or not. Maybe, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/if-you-have-feelings-for-someone-let-them-know-it-doesn-t-matter-if/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“After every storm, there is a rainbow. If you have eyes, you will find it. If you have wisdom, you will create it. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/after-every-storm-there-is-a-rainbow-if-you-have-eyes-you-will-find/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“Don’t ever feel bad that someone couldn’t give you all of their heart. Be grateful that you can take the least complicated part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-ever-feel-bad-that-someone-couldn-t-give-you-all-of-their-heart/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“I don't know why anyone would be scared of a homeless person. The truly scary people are all the murder mystery writers. They spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/i-don-t-know-why-anyone-would-be-scared-of-a-homeless-person-the/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“Until you have stood in another woman’s stilettos, you will never begin to know the year of pain she felt breaking them in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/until-you-have-stood-in-another-woman-s-stilettos-you-will-never/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“I don't understand women that call themselves a "bitch". It doesn't empower a woman. Rather, it reveals to everyone that you were deeply hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/i-don-t-understand-women-that-call-themselves-a-bitch-it-doesn-t/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“ The Prodigal Son They gave the deep end of their heart--a hue of crimson red, They whispered their desire and offered up their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-prodigal-son-they-gave-the-deep-end-of-their-heart-a-hue-of/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) [Explore all 639 Shannon L. Alder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) ## More Adhd quotes > [“One of the defining symptoms of ADHD is distraction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-orlov/one-of-the-defining-symptoms-of-adhd-is-distraction/) [Melissa Orlov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-orlov/) > [Working is the best thing for me because I'm borderline ADHD, so I need some kind of focus or I go a bit extreme.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-winstone/working-is-the-best-thing-for-me-because-i-m-borderline-adhd-so-i/) [Jaime Winstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-winstone/) > [I have severe ADHD!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-beaumont/i-have-severe-adhd/) [Lucy Beaumont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-beaumont/) > [Increased physical activity during the school day can help children's attention, classroom behavior, and achievement test scores. Meanwhile, the decline of play is closely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darell-hammond/increased-physical-activity-during-the-school-day-can-help-children-s/) [Darell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darell-hammond/) > [I was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as an adult, but I don't remember a time when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/i-was-diagnosed-with-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-add/) [Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/) > [You're always moving and thinking about a whole bunch of things. 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