Speaking of Teens
#121: Anxiety, Depression, ADHD = Emotional Dysregulation For Your Teen
Neurotypical teens, teens without any mental health disorders at all, experience emotional dysregulation from time to time (some more than others). This is simply a product of their changing brain and an oversensitive threat detector (the brain's amygdala).
But teens with ADHD, certain mood disorders and personality disorders are much more likely to experience intense mood swings and even more pronounced emotional dysregulation. And that's not the only symptom overlap. As you can imagine, this can cause real issues for a professional diagnosis and for parents trying to find an answer and help for their teens and tweens.
Today I'm going to talk to you about the problem with getting a definitive diagnosis. Plus, I want to tell you about one seldomly mentioned symptom of ADHD that only adds to the confusion and baffles many mental health professionals.
It's critical for you to be aware of these confounding issues so you can get the proper help for your teen.
Access TRANSCRIPT here
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You may be interested in one or more of my FREE Parenting Guides.
Sources, Resources and, Mentions
Free parenting Guide - "Giant Book of Parenting ADHD Teens"
Free parenting guide - "Your Teen and Anxiety"
Free parenting guide - "Emotion Coaching"
Free parenting guide - "Understanding Your Teen's Brain"
Episode 3 and 4 (the adolescent brain)
Episode 13 (ADHD and emotion dysregulation)
Episodes 19 and 66 (anxiety and emotion dysregulation)
Episodes 6, 78 and 95 (emotion coaching - dealing with emotional dysregulation)
Episodes 51 and 53 (depression)
Episode 7 (higher level of care)
Episode 29 (trouble with a mental health diagnosis)
ADDitude Magazine on RSD (Dr. Dodson)