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ADHD RSD 🔍 UNDIAGNOSED ADHD and RSD Signs     Common Signs of Undiagnosed Adult ADHD (Beyond DSM-5) 1.  Emotional Dysregulation Frequent...

Getting a letter of support and a collaborative partnership from an organization like Still Serving Veterans (SSV) is more than just a formal gesture—it’s a crucial stepping stone for Veterans of the Storm (VOTS) and the veterans we serve.

But because believing the truth would blow your life up. So instead, you manipulate the truth. You find ways to reinterpret it, reshape it, numb it. You tell yourself: “Maybe it’s not that bad.” “Maybe I’m overreacting.” “Maybe I can make it work.” And boom — you’ve just chosen a lie.

Despite national efforts to reduce veteran suicide, the numbers remain stubbornly high—6,392 veteran suicides were reported in 2021, and rates remain virtually unchanged today. The traditional PTSD-focused models have not adequately addressed other conditions contributing to emotional collapse and suicide in veterans, including undiagnosed adult ADHD, Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD), emotional dysregulation, and Operator Syndrome (OS). Veterans with undiagnosed ADHD and

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria Redefining Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria: A Clinical Misconception Rooted in Misunderstood Emotion Author:...

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE: DSM Misuse, Misdiagnosis, and Emotional Harm in Adult ADHD ________________________________________ I. Clinical...

Special Forces personnel across all military branches are subjected to unique operational demands and high-stress environments, increasing their susceptibility to mental health conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Emerging evidence indicates a significant overlap between PTSD and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), with many cases of ADHD remaining undiagnosed within this population. Undiagnosed adult ADHD is associated with a markedly eleva

A raw look into the emotional collapse hidden inside black-and-white thinking. For veterans and high-performing operators, emotional rigidity isn’t strength—it’s survival. This post exposes how belief systems built on obedience can quietly destroy the very people they were meant to protect.

Here’s a sharp, research-backed breakdown of Emotionally Driven Cognitive Divergence (EDCD) traits. This framework leans on neuroscience, ADHD literature, emotional regulation studies, and lived experience insights—especially those tied to rejection sensitivity, emotional intelligence, and motivation theory.

Poor People Aren’t Allowed to Have ADHD Let’s be real. If I had money and private insurance, I’d have Adderall.But I’m in a system where...

Operator Syndrome (OS) is a term that describes a group of issues affecting many special operations veterans. It includes things like memory problems, sleep issues, depression, chronic pain, emotional instability, substance use, and feeling completely burned out. Most people assume it's just from stress, combat, and repeated head injuries. And yeah—that’s a big part of it. But there’s another piece of the puzzle almost no one is talking about: undiagnosed ADHD

SECTION 1: Emotional Red Flags  I feel emotionally raw — like I’m too sensitive to noise, criticism, or stress  I’ve started crying or shutting down unexpectedly  I'm reacting strongly to small things (snapping, lashing out, withdrawing)  I feel emotionally unseen or like no one gets me  I keep repeating emotional pain in my head like a loop  I feel like my emotions are getting bigger than me

It is normal to feel conflicted about doing what’s best for you and/or your children. The emotional part of your brain may still hold onto hope. You may worry about how it will affect the other person. You may feel shame, especially if your abuser has worked hard to convince others that you’re the problem. All of this is emotional backlash—and you cannot let it scare you out of survival. You do not need everyone to agree with you. You don’t even need to feel good about it rig

This tool matters most for people who have been emotionally destabilized. If you’re constantly being told you’re “too sensitive” or “overreacting,” you start to lose your grip on reality. You stop trusting your gut. And if you grew up in an emotionally neglectful or abusive household, you may never have learned what healthy love or conflict even looks like. That means you’re more likely to normalize harmful patterns or stay too long in dangerous emotional terrain.

rigger this protocol if a veteran shows any of the following:- Mentions suicide directly or indirectly (e.g., “I don’t want to be here anymore”)- Has a plan, means, or history of attempt- Goes nonverbal, dissociates, or suddenly appears ‘too calm’ after visible distress- Expresses emotional disconnection, hopelessness, or desire to disappear- Becomes unreachable after escalating emotional distress

Veterans of the Storm: Why Every Diagnosis Needs a Different Response When a veteran is misdiagnosed — or when the real condition is missed — the treatment fails, the emotional damage grows deeper, and the risk of suicide increases. Below is a breakdown of how each mental health condition screened by Veterans of the Storm requires a different type of support, and what happens when it is misunderstood or treated incorrectly.

This guide helps peer coaches and clinicians identify emotional patterns across major diagnostic categories based on written responses in the unified assessment. These patterns reflect underlying emotional injuries and neurological traits commonly misdiagnosed or overlooked in veterans.

These 10 prompts are designed to help veterans describe emotional experiences that may relate to undiagnosed or mischaracterized conditions such as ADHD, RSD, BPD, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, or Trauma-related collapse. Each question targets a different emotional pattern and invites the veteran to speak freely, without clinical language or pressure to sound 'correct.'

This guide helps peer coaches and clinicians identify emotional patterns across major diagnostic categories based on written responses in the unified assessment. These patterns reflect underlying emotional injuries and neurological traits commonly misdiagnosed or overlooked in veterans.

The ADHD Function Support Track is designed for veterans living with diagnosed or suspected adult ADHD. This track focuses on executive function recovery, emotional regulation, shame reduction, and real-world tools for daily life. It also addresses the lifelong misunderstanding many veterans with ADHD have faced—from school, work, and even their own families.