I still remind myself that it’s a thing and I’m not a screwup. I’m in my 30’s and have been diagnosed for decades. Patience and grace is the best thing we can do for ourselves and other ADHD brains.
Cheers to that. If you have any magic tricks to help a little one deal with emotional reactivity, though, I’m all ears. Little fella gets upset faster than a dog eats bacon.
I feel like I’m just gonna regurgitate one of my therapists, but there are two things I try to do.
In the moment I try to stay mindful and recognize I’m getting worked up, that way I can take a step back, take a break, and come back with a clearer perspective.
Journaling also helps to reflect on the situation that triggered it and the response I had in the moment. Obviously the journaling depends on their age, but I think it’s probably a good practice to start as soon as they are able.
Thanks yeah, building that level of self awareness in a (undiagnosed likely AuDHD why is getting an email back from the assessor so much work, argh) 7 year old is a matter of intense repetition. It feels like bad emotional habits are way easier for him to form than good ones are.
Maybe journalling would help too, but he still finds writing anything longer than a few words tiresome. I used to write down thoughts and feelings like mad as a youngster, it definitely helps.
Yeah, the repetitiveness required to create better habits is never easy, but the hope is that the tangible improvements are realized and help to promote further development.
I still remind myself that it’s a thing and I’m not a screwup. I’m in my 30’s and have been diagnosed for decades. Patience and grace is the best thing we can do for ourselves and other ADHD brains.
Cheers to that. If you have any magic tricks to help a little one deal with emotional reactivity, though, I’m all ears. Little fella gets upset faster than a dog eats bacon.
I feel like I’m just gonna regurgitate one of my therapists, but there are two things I try to do.
In the moment I try to stay mindful and recognize I’m getting worked up, that way I can take a step back, take a break, and come back with a clearer perspective.
Journaling also helps to reflect on the situation that triggered it and the response I had in the moment. Obviously the journaling depends on their age, but I think it’s probably a good practice to start as soon as they are able.
Thanks yeah, building that level of self awareness in a (undiagnosed likely AuDHD why is getting an email back from the assessor so much work, argh) 7 year old is a matter of intense repetition. It feels like bad emotional habits are way easier for him to form than good ones are.
Maybe journalling would help too, but he still finds writing anything longer than a few words tiresome. I used to write down thoughts and feelings like mad as a youngster, it definitely helps.
Yeah, the repetitiveness required to create better habits is never easy, but the hope is that the tangible improvements are realized and help to promote further development.