Happy ADHD Awareness Month, Yes ADHD Can be happy.
October marks ADHD Awareness Month, a time dedicated to understanding Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, raising awareness and promoting support for individuals and families affected by it. ADHD is a complex condition that impacts not just attention but also executive function, emotional regulation, and relationships. When discussing ADHD, it’s important to highlight some insights from leading experts in the field who offer compassionate and evidence-based approaches.
Dr. Sharon Saline, a clinical psychologist, and leading ADHD expert emphasizes the importance of seeing ADHD through a lens of neurodiversity—that is, acknowledging that ADHD brains work differently rather than viewing them as inherently disordered. For Dr. Saline, the key is self-acceptance. Children with ADHD often struggle with low self-esteem, due to the constant feedback they receive about their attention and behaviour. Saline advocates for a shift in perspective, encouraging parents to help their children build resilience by celebrating their strengths, while compassionately supporting areas of difficulty. One of the core challenges with ADHD is difficulty with executive function—the mental processes that help with planning, organization, and impulse control. Dr. Saline suggests practical strategies like creating clear routines, using visual reminders, and breaking tasks into manageable steps. These tools not only help kids stay on track but also offer a sense of control and achievement, essential for building confidence.
Dr. Saline reminds us that empathy is the foundation. Instead of focusing on frustrating behaviours, we can recognize that children with ADHD are often overwhelmed and in need of support. She advises parents to actively listen and validate their children’s experiences, creating a foundation of trust and connection.
Dr. Mona Delahooke brings a brain-body perspective to understanding ADHD, rooted in the belief that children’s behaviours are directly linked to their physiological and emotional states. For children with ADHD, stress can trigger or exacerbate symptoms. Therefore, parents and caregivers should be mindful of how stress affects the autonomic nervous system, which regulates the body’s response to external stimuli.
Delahooke emphasizes the importance of sensory and emotional regulation in managing ADHD. Many children with ADHD are hyper- or hypo-sensitive to sensory input, which can manifest in emotional outbursts or withdrawal. Instead of focusing on behaviours as “misconduct,” she encourages parents to ask, “What is my child’s body telling me right now?” Practical strategies from her brain-body approach include deep breathing, movement breaks, and activities that engage the senses in calming ways. For instance, providing a quiet, sensory-friendly space can help children feel safe and regulated. By nurturing the child’s body as well as their mind, parents can create conditions that support self-regulation and emotional stability.
Dr. Laura Markham, known for her amazing work on peaceful parenting, provides essential guidance for families navigating ADHD. She feels that ADHD should not disrupt the connection between parent and child—in fact, it’s that very connection that becomes the child’s anchor. Her approaches are grounded in empathy and emotion coaching. She encourages parents to move away from punishment and control tactics, which often backfire with children who already struggle with self-regulation. Instead, she encourages parents to focus on understanding their child’s emotions and helping them work through difficult moments. One helpful way to do this is through co-regulation, where the parent stays calm and empathetic, offering a safe emotional space for the child to express their frustration or overwhelm. Markham suggests phrases like, “I can see you’re having a hard time. Let’s figure this out together,” rather than reacting in a harmful way. The goal is to build an emotional bond that helps the child feel understood and supported. This connection not only strengthens the parent-child relationship but also creates a foundation for better emotional and behavioural regulation over time.
Dr. David Newell focuses on the executive function challenges that come with ADHD. He explains that ADHD brains often struggle with the systems that govern planning, focus, and emotional control, which makes daily life difficult both at school and home. Nowell recommends creating external structures to support internal weaknesses. This might include using visual timers, checklists, and reward systems to help children initiate and complete tasks. By externalizing time management and task initiation, parents can relieve some of the mental load that children with ADHD carry.
He too stresses the importance of self-compassion for parents and children alike. Parenting a child with ADHD is challenging, and it's easy to fall into patterns of frustration or blame. He encourages parents to acknowledge their own emotions and needs, so they can approach their children with patience and understanding. For children, practicing self-compassion helps combat the shame and guilt that often accompany ADHD symptoms. By encouraging self-kindness, parents can help their children develop the resilience to navigate their challenges.
So how can we focus on creating ADHD Friendly environments this ADHD Month. One way is to extend our understanding of ADHD beyond the family. Schools, communities, and workplaces need to become ADHD-friendly environments that support neurodiverse individuals. This begins with raising awareness about ADHD as a neurological disorder and moving away from the notions that it’s an issue of misbehaviour or poor parenting. By cultivating an environment of inclusivity and compassion in all settings, we can create environments where children & adults with ADHD are both understood and supported.
So, consider this ADHD Awareness Month a reminder that ADHD is not a simple issue of focus or hyperactivity. It’s a complex condition that affects the brain, body, and relationships. By integrating some of the insights written here, we can foster a more compassionate and supportive approach to ADHD—one that honours the child’s unique brain, strengthens emotional connections, and creates ADHD-friendly communities.
