#Adhd meltdown in child how to

When you’re dealing with overwhelming and challenging behaviors on a consistent basis, it’s easy to become physiologically overwhelmed yourself. Getting to discover and draw out the amazing person your child is, is truly a gift, so don’t forget to enjoy it. I love this quote from Fred Rogers that illustrates this so beautifully. When loud, defiant and aggressive behaviors dominate your day during a rough patch, remember that your child is so much more than their behaviors. Focusing on your child’s positive qualities will help when overwhelmed with ADHD behaviors during rough days, months or even years.

#Adhd meltdown in child how to

Knowing how to help a child with ADHD decrease negative behaviors means shining a huge spotlight on their innate gifts and strengths and not only focusing on and bringing attention to negative behaviors. Related: The Best Mindset for Parenting a Strong-Willed, Highly Emotional Child See your child through their behaviors “I’m doing the best that I can today and so is my child”, “It’s my job to recognize what ADHD symptoms in children are and to place my child’s behaviors in proper context, not the job of extended family or onlookers at the park.”įind what works for you to work through these complicated emotions such as talking to another special needs parent, journaling, prayer, etc. When these negative thought patterns creep in, call them out for what they are and squash them with a good dose of truthful and realistic thinking. When you give into the false notion that you’re responsible for your child’s ADHD behaviors it gives the impression that very real symptoms of a neurological condition are actually the result of poor parenting. P arenting a child with ADHD causes great parents to be really hard on themselves. Coming to terms with the unique challenges brought by ADHD in kids takes time, patience and self-compassion. You weren’t planning on navigating a special needs journey when you set out to be a parent. Related: 75 Awesome Calm Down Strategies for Kids Be Kind to Yourself You are not a bad parent for having thoughts and emotions about your child’s challenges.īeing mindful of these thoughts and emotions and not reacting out of frustration and criticism will allow you to show up as the best parent for your child and keep your relationship intact. Emotions are temporary and when we honor them and work through them we allow them to pass. What emotions are under the mask of anger and frustration? Are you frustrated and resentful that your child makes the same mistakes over and over? Terrified your child will never learn to clean up after themselves?Īccepting your feelings just as they are when overwhelmed with an ADHD child is step one. When the world is spinning around you, pause and look within yourself taking note of your emotions and bodily sensations. In most instances with your child, it’s not truly an emergency and both you and your child will benefit from putting the breaks on, and then following up when your ready with a more supportive and effective response. Give yourself permission to press the pause button when your about to lose it. 5 Steps to take When You’re Overwhelmed with ADHD Child Pause and let it be On the days you feel yourself lost in the stormy waters of overwhelm and exhaustion, keeping the following ideas in mind will help you stay anchored to what really counts, the well-being of both you and your child. I’m thankful that seven years down the road, these days occur much less often. On these days it seems like other parents just have it easier and that the vision of what I thought family life would look like has been snatched right out of my hands. Typically, this pondering occurs on the days I’m overwhelmed with my ADHD child and the role of raising an outside the box kid feels heavy. I wonder if I’d be ‘fun mom’ more often not having to provide strict routine and predictability all the time. I wonder if I’d actually be able to keep my house together from less impulsivity driven sneaking of ice cream and the leaving behind of sticky smelly messes everywhere. I wonder if I’d have extra patience from not using every. Some days I wonder what my life would be like if I wasn’t raising a child with ADHD.