ADHD with Jenna Free EP. 20: The Missing Piece in ADHD Treatment - How Nervous System, Thoughts & Behavior Work Together | ADHD with Jenna Free
Aug 11, 2025
Explore the complexities of ADHD regulation and how the nervous system plays a pivotal role in emotional balance. The podcast uncovers the dysregulation cycle and its impact on daily life, particularly how the fight or flight response can heighten ADHD symptoms. Listeners are introduced to a holistic approach that combines nervous system management, cognitive restructuring, and behavioral changes for lasting improvement. Discover practical insights for achieving emotional regulation and a more balanced life.
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Regulation Means Whole-System Safety
- Jenna Free defines ADHD regulation as aligning nervous system, subconscious, conscious brain, and behavior to feel safe rather than only managing emotions.
- She emphasizes chronic fight-or-flight underlies many ADHD problems and must be addressed systemically.
Overreacting At The Table
- Jenna Free recounts breaking down at her parents' house when her son almost choked, which was disproportionate to the event.
- She attributes the outburst to being in fight-or-flight rather than the immediate situation itself.
Nervous System Work Is Necessary But Not Enough
- Nervous system regulation is foundational but insufficient alone to move someone off a chronic dysregulation track.
- Jenna warns that meditation alone often fails for people in survival mode and suggests broader work is needed.