The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast You Are Not Broken: Reframing Depression and ADHD as Unfinished Business
Nov 2, 2025
Dr. Ardeshir Mehran, a renowned psychologist and author, transforms the conversation around ADHD, anxiety, and depression, viewing them as adaptive signals rather than flaws. He discusses his 'Bill of Emotional Rights,' emphasizing the importance of safety and connection in mental health. Dr. Mehran explains how addressing anxiety first can significantly enhance executive function and fulfillment. Parents learn to listen compassionately and create an emotional haven, paving the way for their children’s growth.
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Symptoms Are Signals, Not Flaws
- Mental struggles are data, not defects, and represent adaptive responses to environment and history.
- Dr. Ardeshir Mehran reframes symptoms as reversible patterns that convey information about unmet needs.
Frustration With Talk Therapy Sparked Research
- As a grad student, Dr. Mehran grew frustrated with repetitive therapy that replayed family stories without change.
- That frustration launched his research into patterns and led him to listen differently to patients.
Emotional Needs Underpin Mental Health
- He identified core emotional needs that, when unmet, produce predictable mental-health patterns across people.
- Dr. Mehran codified these needs into the Bill of Emotional Rights to guide treatment.
