Eight-year-old Joey gets in trouble daily at school for restless behavior that involves fidgety movements with hands and feet. His father sits in the office boardroom during an hour-long meeting where he rocks in his chair and doodles while taking notes. Both have been diagnosed with ADHD. These behaviors are presumed to disrupt their concentration…

Since the publication of our article on cognitive disengagement syndrome in the April 2023 edition of Attention, there have been growing numbers of caregivers, clinicians, and educators looking for ways to help children and teens displaying CDS symptoms. CDS is the term used to describe a set of symptoms including excessive internal distractibility (mind wandering,…

After they are admitted to and enroll at a college, students with disabilities, including ADHD, can request accommodations at the school by registering with the disability services office. As part of this process, they’ll likely have to submit documentation of their disability (meaning paperwork showing that they have ADHD). Note that students don’t have to…

Having one or more children who regularly struggle with big emotions can inspire a parent to search for oil rig work in the North Atlantic. Moreover, this is a super-common problem and is vexing to respond to and solve. So, if you find yourself having big emotions about big emotions, join the club! “Big emotions”…

Could self-compassion improve mental health outcomes in adults with ADHD? These adults often experience significant mental health challenges, including stress, depression, and anxiety. Self-compassion involves showing kindness to oneself during times of physical or emotional challenges. Studies have suggested that building self-compassion can be potentially protective for adults with ADHD. The first study explored the…

There is nothing worse than thinking someone is really your friend, only to feel let down when that person fails to show up for you as you wish they had. Many of us have been there. In my experience this sense of disappointment almost always comes down to a mismatch in expectations. You thought you…

Whether you have ADHD or your partner does, there’s one thing for certain: the tasks of living—whether fun or tedious—can often seem overwhelming and unmanageable. Executive functioning skill challenges, anxiety, or depression will add to the complexity of any relationship. Sometimes these challenges are met with humor, empathy, and compassion. Other times, they produce resentment,…

Experts now recognize that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD can co-occur, but there seem to be few sources of ongoing support that specifically address the unique needs of adults affected by both conditions. Fortunately, Dueling Minds is dedicated to filling the void. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to empower and support individuals who have…

CHADD president Jeremy Didier and board member Max Wiznitzer presented the 2024 CHADD Awards during the Annual International Conference on ADHD held in Anaheim, California, from November 14–16. Lifetime Achievement CHADD’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes those who have a depth of knowledge of ADHD and who strive to raise the standards of how ADHD is…

Living with ADHD presents unique challenges, from staying organized and managing time effectively to ensuring our communication is logical and focused. As artificial intelligence tools continue to evolve, they offer powerful ways to streamline these tasks, reducing overwhelm and cognitive load. AI is uniquely suited to address ADHD’s challenges by offering structure, focus, and personalized…

Sometimes the hardest things about having ADHD aren’t the ADHD symptoms themselves. Most people can name the cardinal symptoms of ADHD—inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. For individuals with ADHD, these symptoms are frequent and interfere with school, work, and relationships. Yet for many people with ADHD, other challenges are equally bothersome, if not more so. Struggles…

Hyperactivity, characterized by excessive uncontrolled movements, is a well-recognized symptom in children, teens, and adults with ADHD. These individuals often engage in fidgeting—leg shaking, tapping fingers, or fiddling with things.For a long time, stopping the hyperactivity rather than finding ways to redirect it was a goal in treatment for ADHD. For some individuals, it remains…