10/05/2025
🧡 October is ADHD awareness month 🧡
This month is a time to break the stigma that ADHD is only about hyperactive kids, and instead shine a light on the real, raw truths while learning how to truly support and uplift our kids.
Did you know that ADHD brains work differently when it comes to dopamine?
Here’s how it might look like to people who don’t understand ADHD and how we can support these kids (or even some adults) in our lives
🔹 Interrupting or blurting out answers
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬: “Disrespectful” or “not listening.”
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: Their brain is chasing the dopamine hit of excitement, novelty, or immediate reward.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: Teach self-regulation strategies, offer outlets for ideas (like a notebook), and use positive reinforcement when they wait their turn.
🔹 Constant movement (fidgeting, tapping, pacing)
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬: “Disruptive” or “can’t sit still.”
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: Movement gives the brain little bursts of dopamine, helping them focus and regulate.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: Allow fidgets, flexible seating, or brain breaks. Movement doesn’t mean they aren’t paying attention, it often means they are.
🔹 Risk-taking or pushing boundaries
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬: “Defiant” or “reckless.”
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: Novelty and risk release dopamine, making them feel more engaged.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: Provide safe challenges, sports, games, creative projects, or problem solving tasks where they can channel that energy productively.
🔹 Hyperfocus on interests
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬: “Obsessed” or “ignoring everything else.”
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: When something lights up their dopamine pathways, they can lock in with incredible focus.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: Celebrate their passions, help them use timers/transitions, and connect less-preferred tasks to what excites them.
✨ The takeaway: What may look like “bad behavior” is often a brain seeking balance. When we understand the why, we can create strategies that support, not shame.
