Parenting a teenager with autism, ADHD, or an intellectual disability, or even one that is a bit snoody? I am certain you had moments that sounded like:

“What am I supposed to do right now with you right now!?”

“It is not that hard!!”

“What is wrong with you?!”

Let’s take a step back and reflect that maybe your teen is overwhelmed, burned out, and overly exhausted—but no matter what you do, it doesn’t seem to work.

If this is you… I want to start by saying this to yourself:

You’re not a failure as a parent.

You’re navigating a system that often isn’t designed for your child and a situation you were not prepared for.

In this episode, we’re going to break this down in a way that makes sense—what’s really going on with your teen, and more importantly, what may help.

Mental Health Awareness Month

Useful sites to learn more:

NAMI: https://www.nami.org/stay-connected/events/awareness-events/mental-health-awareness-month/

Imagine being a child who is constantly told to try harder, pay attention, or sit still—but no matter how hard you try, your brain seems to move in a completely different direction than everyone else’s. Teachers see distraction. Parents see unfinished homework. Peers sometimes see the “weird kid.” But what if what we’re really looking at isn’t a lack of effort… but a different wiring of the brain?

About 1 in 10 children in the United States between the ages of 3 and 17 are treated for ADHD. But ADHD rarely shows up alone. Research shows that nearly 80% of those children also experience another mental, behavioral, or developmental condition.

That might include anxiety, depression, oppositional defiant disorder, or intense emotional outbursts.

For parents, this can feel confusing.

Is it ADHD? Is it anxiety? Is my child just being defiant? Or is something deeper happening in their developing brain