"As your stress mounts, it can be challenging to keep up with the daily self-care routines that keep you grounded and stable. In addition, the cost of buying gifts, and the work of wrapping them and giving them out, can push you over the edge. Living with ADHD can already feel like navigating a daily obstacle course: forgetfulness, overwhelm, inconsistent focus, emotional highs and lows."
"Research consistently shows that helping others supports emotional well-being for the giver. Acts of generosity are associated with increased positive emotions, reduced negative affect, and greater psychological well-being overall. This benefit is often described as the "warm glow" effect-the internal sense of satisfaction that comes from giving without expecting anything in return. It's a natural dopamine boost. Even more importantly, this positive impact does not depend on large donations or formal volunteering."
Holiday demands and gift-related tasks increase stress and disrupt self-care, especially for people with ADHD who face forgetfulness, overwhelm, inconsistent focus and emotional swings. Small acts of kindness toward others and oneself generate a warm-glow effect and raise dopamine, producing immediate emotional rewards without large time or financial investment. Brief prosocial behaviors create meaningful, low-effort connections that support self-worth and reduce social anxiety. Microgiving can trigger an upward emotional spiral and counter negative cycles of criticism, judgment, and isolation by reminding people that they belong. Small, regular kindnesses offer sustainable emotional support during high-stress periods.
Read at Psychology Today
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