06/02/2026
Is It Really ADHD, Or Is Your Brain Stuck in Survival Mode?
After more than 20 years working with brains and nervous systems, I found myself quietly asking that very question about my own brain.
As some of you have seen me share, I’ve intentionally staged the expansion of my work around the life stages of my son.
For years, there was more I wanted to write, teach, and share from both my personal experiences and more than 20 years of working with brains and nervous systems. But I also knew that capacity is finite, and being present for my son’s childhood was the most important responsibility I would ever have.
Now that he’s stepping into adulthood, I’m finding more space to write.
One topic keeps showing up.
People calling.
People emailing.
People searching.
People asking:
“I think I have ADHD.”
Sometimes they do.
But after more than 20 years working with brains, I’ve learned that what looks like ADHD isn’t always ADHD.
That observation led me to write this article:
When Survival Mode Makes Your Brain Look Like ADHD
https://breakthroughneurofeedback.com/blogs/when-survival-mode-makes-your-brain-look-like-adhd