Journey With Me Through ADHD: A podcast for kids

Are they mad at me? Did I do something wrong? They must hate me! I feel sick to my stomach (in response to a tone of voice) They don't think I'm good enough. What does that look mean? Do these narratives sound familar? If so, you are not alone... In this episode, I introduce this beast called "Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria" (RSD)- This is a common intense, even painful and overwhelming emotional experience when faced with internal, external, or percieved rejection. We will stay creative and curious as we use the metaphor of a microphone and speaker to explore how your brain may be turning up the volume in certain emotions- making small moments seem HUGE! "I am not too sensitive- my feelings might just be amplified!" This episode helps kids understand: How their brains turns up the volume on rejection Why small moments feel much bigger then they are. That these feelings are real- but sometimes louder than the situation itself That their inner voice isn't always telling the truth Please remember that your feelings are not wrong- Your brain is just using a powerful sound system. And with the right tools and strategies, you can learn how to turn that volume down. I look forward to being with you all next week as we continue to explore RSD! Always remember that you are never alone in how you think and feel! You are loved just as you are! Check out my website www.katelynmabry.com to learn more about the opportunity to move through 1:1 coaching with me as your next step! I offer a free consultation to learn more! I would also love to hear from you about different episode topic ideas for the future or if your kiddo would like to share part of his or her ADHD journey by submitting an audio clip that I can share on a future episode! Have a super blessed day!

YIKES! This last episode really hits home! "I'm too much" was a fixed thought that I ALWAYS struggled with growing up and still to this day it creeps in and I have to talk back to that false belief! Does "I am too much..." creep up on you too!? In this final episode of this emotional regulation series, we focus on identity, confidence, and self-compassion for kids with ADHD and big feelings. You were created for a beautiful purpose! Sometimes you hear that you are "too loud", "too sensitive", "too emotional", etc... This episode reframes those experiences and reminds you that having a fast, powerful brain simply means you need the right tools and support to strengthen breaks and adjust steering in life! Using the metaphor of a race-car engine, we drive into a conversation about how some brains have a lot of power and energy. When kids learn and exercise skills like pausing, choosing actions, and getting support from trusted adults, that powerful engine can be guided with stronger breaks and steering. We also talk about how traits often be labeled as "too much" can be strengths- like empathy, creativity, passion, and determination. The episode races to the finish line with a short self compassion practice and a recap of what you've learned throughout the series! If you missed past episodes, I would encourage you to go back and listen to go on the entire emotional regulation learning journey together! We connect on understanding feelings, regulating bodies, repairing after big emotional storms, and remembering that tough moments do not define who you are! Big takeaway- Big feelings don't mean something is wrong with you. There are too many things right with you to even name! With support and practice, your powerful brain can learn how to steer in the direction you would like to go!! I would love to hear from you! Check out my website at www.katelynmabry.com, where you can find a link to my children's book or send me a message to inquire about my 1:1 coaching package, or give a future podcast idea! I would love to hear more about your child's ADHD journey too! Love you all! Have a blessed day!

Did you know that your feelings are not your enemy!? I know sometimes it feels like they are! But in this episode, we will talk about how feelings are messengers that is giving you a signal that your mind and body may need help in some way. In this episode, we will explore the idea of feelings being like mail being delivered to your brain and body. Every feeling carries a message that is trying to tell you something important. Feelings aren't good or bad, they are simply information. We will look at what anger, worry, sadness and anxiety are trying to tell us and ideas of how we can practice responding. Maybe anger is delivering a message that something is unfair. Maybe worry is dropping off a note that your brain needs reassurance or a plan. Even BIG stormy feelings are just messages asking to be noticed. This episode will help you see that you don't have to ignore, hide, run away or explode feelings. Instead, you can practice pausing, reading the message, and then deciding what to do. This is NOT easy and takes a lot of intentional practice! When you learn how to read your feelings like mail, you start to understand yourself better- That is a SUPERPOWER! Let's continue to build that emotional toolbox together as we understand our brains, bodies and big feelings better! I would absolutely LOVE to hear from you at www.katelynmabry.com. Check out my resources and reach out if you would like to be a future guest on my podcast or if you have a fun future episode topic idea! I also offer 1:1 coaching and will have more openings come Fall for the start of your new school year! You can book a FREE consultation to learn more about through my website too! Thank you for being here! You are loved and appreciated!!

Big emotions can feel like a tornado tearing through the house. Doors slam. Words fly. Feelings crash. But here is the truth: The storm is not the end of the story! In this episode, we talk about what happens after emotional dysreguation strikes- when the wind dies down and everyone is standing in the quiet. Because after every storm, we can rebuild. What you'll take away from this episode: Why dysregulation isn't misbehavior- it's a nervous system overload Why repair and reset are an important next step. How to reconnect after everyone is regulated What a healthy apology sounds like How to release shame Why "you are not your hardest moment" is a powerful reset! Imagine your relationship is like a house- When the storm hits: Things get messy, something might break, everyone feels shaken...BUT, the house is still your HOME! Repairing dysregulation is like: Picking up debris (naming what happened) Fixing what is cracked (apologizing and reconnecting) Turning lights back on (restoring safety) Remind each other (we still belong here! Repair process steps: Regulation before communication : Repair cannot happen in the middle of the storm! Reconnection before correction: Start with safety- "I love you", " That was a hard moment", "we are okay!" Name without shame: Example- Replace "you were so bad" with " your body was overwhelmed." Model accountability (adults go first)- "I raised my voice. I'm sorry." "That wasn't how I wanted to handle big feelings." Modeling is the best way to learn repair so they can mirror it! Clean up together: If something was knocked over- physically or emotionally fix it together- This builds responsibility without humiliation Reset the house: A hug, a shared laugh, return to your daily rhythm The goal isn't pretending nothing happened. The goal is showing: We can come back from hard things! Dyregulation is a storm. Repair is rebuilding and rebuilding is teaching resilience! Your child is not thier meltdown. You are not your hardest parenting moment! The house is still your home and your are doing the best you can with what you know as you continue to grow!!! You are seen and loved! Please reach out to me at www.katelynmabry.com with any future episode topic ideas or if your child would like to share their voice on a future episode! We are all on this journey together!! Have a blessed day!

Episode focus: Practical ADHD friendly regulation tools! Core message: Different tools work at different times and that's ok! Do you have BIG feelings too!!? I know I do and all 4 of my own kiddos with ADHD do too! They all look a little different and show up at different times, but we can all agree that the term, "just calm down never has and never will work! Do you agree!? The goal is learning how to REGULATE through using different tools in our toolbox! In this episode, I will introduce the idea of builing a regulation toolbox- because not every tool fits every job! Just like you wouldn't use a spoon to fix a bike, you won't use the same strategy for every feeling! And that's totally OK! You'll learn in this episode... Why big feeling aren't bad- they're signals! Different categories of tools that can be helpful: Including- movement, breath, sensory input, words, and connection! How to build a small, practical menu of go-to tools Why it's OK if a tool works one day and not the next... Movement helps the nervous system reset (wall pushes, jumping jacks, animal walks, quick sprints, etc... Breath that is slow and intentional- This is an internal tool that we can always turn to when our body feels safe to slow down (box breathing, balloon breaths, smell pizza and blow on it if it's too hot, etc.) Sensory input tools help your brain organize itself! (squeeze stress ball, weighted lap blanket, cold water on wrist, listening to calm music, etc...) Words- naming what's happening will lower the intensity ( "I'm in the yellow zone. I need a break, my brain needs help." Connection is key! This creates safety and helps the brain come back online to think of the next best step to take. (Sit next to trusted adult, ask for a hug, co-regulate before problem solving.) Key Takeaways- Not every strategy works in every moment. Different feelings need different tools What works today might not work tomorrow! That doesn't mean you fail, it just means you're continuing to learn your brain a little better every single day! Remember that big feelings are NOT bad behavior, they are information. Practice makes progress and the more confident you will become in using your toolbox! You don't need every tool, you just need a few that fit YOU! Visit me at www.katelynmabry.com for more resources or to share a future episode topic or series idea! I would love to hear from you! You are SEEN, VALUED AND lOVED!