Ever felt like your child's emotions are too big for their body? In this tender final episode of our Alexandra ADHD En Masse series, my 13-year-old daughter Alexandra opens her heart about one of the most challenging aspects of living with ADHD – emotional regulation and friendship struggles.
With remarkable self-awareness, Alexandra shares how overwhelming emotions can suddenly explode, leaving her feeling misunderstood and sometimes excluded from friendship groups. "They might judge you... and then you're excluded because they think you lose it too often or cry too much," she explains, capturing what so many neurodivergent children experience but struggle to articulate.
The breakthrough came through learning the Zones of Regulation – a colour-coded emotional framework that Alexandra describes in detail. This simple but powerful tool transformed her ability to communicate feelings before reaching crisis point. Where once she would hide behind trees at school, unable to express her distress, she can now identify which "zone" she's in and get appropriate support.
We explore practical de-escalation strategies that work at home, from creating calming spaces to keeping a family list of regulation techniques. Alexandra also shares her experience with medication adjustments, school friendship groups, and the anxiety-excitement mix of transitioning to a new school environment. Her insights reveal how interconnected emotional regulation, social acceptance, and academic success truly are for children with ADHD.
Whether you're a parent seeking understanding, an educator looking for classroom strategies, or someone navigating neurodiversity yourself, Alexandra's voice offers both validation and hope. Download our free Zones of Regulation guide through the link in our show notes and join our community where neurodiversity is embraced, not merely accommodated.
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