Struggling with a teenager with ADHD? Learn how to navigate through the challenges with these helpful tips. Your child's mental health matters.
Before we started homeschooling, public school with my ADHD teen son was a real nightmare, yes, I just said that out loud.... read more about it in my previous blog.
He’s now 19, but needless to say: the struggle was real. Now not everyone reacts the same, or shows the same behavior, but my son checked all the feral, run away teenager, bad influence from “friends” and the list goes on, he was the ultimate ADHD teen, and it easy for him, or his brothers.
Here is just a small guideline, just keep an open mind for the red flags, read more about the red flag signs in my blog about rebel teenagers - with or without ADHD teen. Because did you know, it is estimated that one in every five children ages 13-18 has or will have a serious mental illness, and with a child with ADHD you clever to think ahead and see what you can offer. Little changes in Nutrition, structure and positive reinforcement can come a long way.
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In a world faced with more teen suicide than ever before, we need to act and not react to our children’s needs. We need to stay alert as to what our children are being exposed to and create an environment for them to thrive in.
Parents are becoming helpless when it comes to knowing what their children truly need, the need of getting a diagnosis for ADHD teen before we are getting any help, the pressure to medicate before behaviour therapy enormous. But guess what? We are not helpless. It’s time we understand our influence on our children and make sure we are doing everything we can to equip them to succeed mentally and emotionally and how to accept their ADHD teens, and learn to see the positive sides of being this multitalented person with ADHD.
Your children WILL be influenced by something, whether that’s you, the television, their friends, or their teachers.
1. Educate yourself and your teenager about ADHD: It is important to understand the symptoms and challenges of being a ADHD teen, so that you can better support your teenager. Educate your teenager about their condition and help them understand how it affects their daily life, I have been reading a ton of support books.
2. Create a structured and organized environment: Teenagers with ADHD often struggle with organization and time management. Help them by creating a structured and organized environment at home. This can include having a designated study area, using a planner or calendar to keep track of assignments and appointments, and setting up a daily routine.
The books from Ross Greene have been really helpful, especially the explosive child, and ever since we started unschooling we stopped planning in advance, but use the reverse planning concept, a huge hep for my ADHD teen, because he can now focus for however long he to, and no, I don't worry about the "real world" I'm he either find something he's willing to work hard for, or finds something that fits his state of mind.
“A kid shouldn't need a diagnosis to access help.”
― Ross W. Greene, Lost at School: Why Our Kids with Behavioral Challenges are Falling Through the Cracks and How We Can Help Them
3. Encourage healthy habits: A healthy lifestyle can help manage ADHD teen symptoms. Encourage your teenager to get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and eat a balanced diet. Avoiding excessive screen time and limiting sugar and caffeine intake can also be beneficial.
4. Set clear and consistent rules: Teenagers with ADHD may have difficulty following rules and boundaries. It is important to set clear and consistent rules and consequences for breaking them. Be patient and understanding, but also firm in respectfully enforcing the rules, even ADHD teen have to learn to adapt. I have to be honest, I try to implement responsibility and respectful parenting, so we set rules and boundaries together, but it does help my ADHD teen in his every day.
5. Use positive reinforcement: Instead of focusing on your teenager's mistakes or negative behaviors, try to catch them doing something right and praise them for it. Positive reinforcement can be a powerful tool in helping teenagers with ADHD develop good habits and behaviors.
The thing about #ADHD is that it’s actually great. I love the way my brain works. I’m funny and flexible and creative and adventurous. My frustrations mostly stem from trying to force my ADHD brain to function in a non-ADHD world.” Brittney Bush Bollay
6. Help them develop coping strategies: Work with your teenager to develop coping strategies for managing their ADHD teen symptoms. This can include techniques such as deep breathing, mindfulness, and breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable steps, sometimes a planner could be helpful.
The DBT Skills Workbook for Teens: A Fun Guide to Manage Anxiety and Stress, Understand Your Emotions and Learn Effective Communication Skills (New Books For Teens) has helped us a lot with understanding and mindfulness.
Support your ADHD teen through the challenges of adolescence with these helpful tips. Educate, structure, and encourage while taking care of yourself.
7. Communicate openly and regularly: Keep the lines of communication open with your teenager. Encourage them to talk to you about their struggles and challenges, and be open and honest with them about your concerns. Regularly check in with your ADHD teen, to see how they are doing and offer support and guidance when needed.
8. Seek professional help: If your teenager's ADHD symptoms are significantly impacting their daily life, it may be helpful to seek professional help. A therapist or counselor can provide support and guidance for both you and your teenager in managing ADHD teen, because sometimes it can go the wrong direction swiftly, just stay open for first warning signals to help your ADHD teen, and get the help you need for yourself to stay nsync and balanced.
"ADHD isn't a bad thing, it's a different way of thinking." - David Neeleman
9. Encourage self-advocacy: As your teenager gets older, it is important for them to learn how to advocate for themselves. Encourage them to speak up about their needs and accommodations in school or other settings, and help them develop the skills to do so effectively.
1. Independence
2. Time Management
3. Organization
4. Money -Because money can be a real problem for anyone with impulsivity issues
5. Medications - modern or holistic, get in the habit of remembering taking these every day.
6. Relationship Skills
7. Wise Decision-Making - yeah, I know... ADHD often includes impulsivity. That makes teens more likely to get into trouble with drugs, alcohol, reckless driving, and other problem behaviors.
10. Take care of yourself: Parenting a ADHD teen can be challenging and exhausting. It is important to take care of yourself and seek support when needed. This can include talking to other parents of teenagers with ADHD, joining a support group, or seeking therapy for yourself. Remember, you cannot take care of your teenager if you are not taking care of yourself first.
This is just a small section of pointers, there isn't one size fits all help guide available, I do recommend looking into holistic, and healthier food, and the only thing I can tell you: we are not alone, there is nothing to be ashamed of, and we are not bad parents. My instagram and Facebook dm's are always open, I have 2 sons with ADHD and the firstborn wasn't easy, so I can give a lot of pointers when it comes to parenting a ADHD teen. Just keep in mind, ADHD teen is just a fase, it's getting better soon, I promise.
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