What if ADHD isn't just an attention problem—but also a problem of emotional regulation?

My guest, Dr. Sasha Hamdani, is a board-certified psychiatrist, ADHD specialist, author, and someone who has lived with ADHD herself. She brings a unique perspective to a part of ADHD that often gets overlooked: emotional sensitivity.

We explore why some people feel emotions faster, more deeply, and for longer—and what's actually happening in the brain when a small trigger sends you into an emotional spiral. Dr. Hamdani explains the relationship between the amygdala, frontal lobe, dopamine, executive function, and emotional regulation, and why ADHD can sometimes be confused with anxiety, depression, trauma, or other conditions.

But this conversation goes far beyond diagnosis. We get into practical tools for managing emotional overwhelm in real time—from delaying your response to a triggering text to moving your body when your nervous system is activated—and why practicing these skills can actually help rewire the brain over time.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The overlooked connection between ADHD and emotional sensitivity

• Why ADHD can be mistaken for anxiety, depression, or other conditions

• What happens in your brain during an emotional spiral—and how to interrupt it

• How to strengthen emotional regulation, executive function, and resilience

• Why sleep, movement, screen time, and your physical health affect how your brain functions

• How neuroplasticity allows you to build healthier emotional patterns over time

We also discuss the impact of short-form content and highly stimulating screens on attention and anxiety, especially in children, and why understanding your own emotional patterns may be one of the most powerful places to start.

My biggest takeaway is that the goal isn't to stop being sensitive or eliminate difficult emotions. It's to understand how your brain responds to them so you have more control over what happens next.

Learn more about Dr. Shah:

Website: www.drshah.com

Clinic: next-health.com

Instagram: @extend_podcast and @darshanshahmd

Learn more about Dr. Sasha Hamdani:

Website: drhamdanimd.com

Instagram: @thepsychdoctormd

What if sensitivity isn't something to suppress, but something to understand? Dr. Hamdani's new book "Too Sensitive" is available now! Get your copy today at: drhamdanimd.com/toosensitive

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

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Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com/drshah and use code DRSHAH at checkout for up to 35% off your first order!

193: Dr. Sasha Hamdani: ADHD, Anxiety and How to Regulate your Emotions

Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

193: Dr. Sasha Hamdani: ADHD, Anxiety and How to Regulate your Emotions