Journey With Me Through ADHD: A podcast for kids

Make a New Year resolution they say!? Our ADHD brains say NOPE! Instead, let's create micro goals to practice and turn into HABITS! Creating habits allow you to do things without needing those executive function skills that are so tricky for us so often!  "Easier said then done" you say!? You are absolutely right! This is why you need a plan to create the habit. Set yourself up for success by setting alarms, reminders, post-it notes, visual checklist on a visible calendar (the key it to be sure it is in your face!) Try different tools and strategies until you discover what works best for YOUR brain! In this short but sweet episode, I recap some past take-aways as I encourage you to celebrate strengths, reflect and respond to some changes you'd like to make, habits you'd like to create in 2023, along with the question of how you plan to take steps to get there. Step by step and day by day you need to give yourself grace, practice lots of self compassion, be in tuned with your mindset and intentional about growing in all areas.  I want to make it a habit in 2023 to have more of you ADHD warriors as guests on this podcast. Please email me an MP3 audioclip sharing thoughts, tips, or things to try on your ADHD journey (katelynmabry4@gmail.com) I will use your clip as an topic prompt and feature it on a future episode! You can visit www.katelynmabry.com to get on my email list and recieve weekly episode updates with added resources! If you are interested in hiring an ADHD Life Coach, you can go to www.focusforwardadhd.com to set up a free consultation. Love you all! Happy New Year!

We hear, "It's the most wonderful time of the year!" This is true for many and I for one am so grateful for what this season brings! As much a Christmas and the holiday season in general brings good cheer, it can also feel like a time of choas and disorder with all that is going on over the break!  In this episode you will hear my little ditty, "Hey Hey Hey, Ho Ho Ho, It's holiday season and we need to know, what to do over break, when we come prepared it's a piece of cake!" Corny I know, and you will hear that my 10 year old isn't amused by my rhyme, but I'm hopeful it will be helpful to you!! Entering into break with a predictable plan will help you to feel more in control of those big intense emotions that often comes with the unknown. Remember, we crave order, but have a hard time creating it! This is why intentionally coming up with some sort of structure during break will be a helpful tool to use! Also, savor any extra rest given! Your brain and body will thank you for it! I give tips in this episode to stay hydrated, eat protien first thing in the morning, and make sure to get that body moving too!! The last part of the episode I share 3 R's to try to do during break. REST...REFLECT...RENEW! As I stated before, rest when you can to strengthen and grow that busy brain. Reflect on what tools and strategies work best for your brain and continue investigating what you can continue to try to tie into your day to make your brain and body happy! Continue to Renew that mind on a daily basis! On average, kids with ADHD hear 20,000 more negative comments before the age of 10!! That just hightens the negative self-talk that we too often let live in our heads! This doesn't have to be the way it is!! Choose daily to move those negative thoughts aside and push forward those growth thoughts that speak love and strength into your mind and heart!  Trusted Adults!!! Check out my website www.katelynmabry.com to get on my email list and recieve a weekly email with the latest episode along with more tips and resources! Also, please message me if your kiddo would like to share his or her thoughts on the show! Kids feel even more empowered hearing from other kids!  Sending hugs and love to all of you celebrating Christ's birth and/or simply celebrating with friends and family holiday season! 

Do you ever look around and think, "why are they doing that faster than me?" or "why is it taking me more steps to get this project done?" If so, you are absolutely not alone! Sometimes it feels things come easier to those around us and we work so hard for the same goal or result! Right!?  This is because our ADHD brains need us to show it some compassion and find the way that it figures stuff out best! We need to honor the fact that we are out of the box thinkers and at times things need to be looked at or presented differently so we can fully understand it. More steps, visuals, lists, whatever it takes isn't wrong, but simply your own unique way...that's OK!  In this episode, you will hear from Melanie Buckley, who is a therapist who works with kids and adults with ADHD. She lives in Denver Colorado and works for a wonderful mental health company called, "Family Care Center." Melanie herself was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 6 and has very personal and professional insite into this topic at hand. She shares her own experience with this feeling of doing things at different rates or in different ways and gives wonderful analogies to better understand and feel more confident in the way your brain learns best! She explains that 2+2=4, but you may it may make more sense that 3+1=4 in your mind. This is a visual of how we can get to to same result or goal by taking different paths. Same holds true for doing a project. You want a wall to be painted blue...Your friend may paint it in two steps and with one paintbrush and you may paint it in 5 steps and use more paint tools to finish it up! Neither way is right or wrong, it's simply unique to the way each of you feel most comfortable and confident gettiing it done!! Malanie is a great resource and you can find out more about this amazing company at https://www.fccwellbeing.com/clinic-locations/colorado-springs/. Check out my website www.katelynmabry.com to get on my email list and recieve the latest podcast episode straight to your inbox each week. I also included added tips and resources that may be helpful for you on your journey. You can also snag a copy of my book "Hi, It's Me! I have ADHD." This is a great conversation starter and makes a great teacher gift too!  Can't wait to be with you again next week! Love you all!   

Abolutely hypersensitive senses can be a trait that those of us with ADHD have! This is also something that can trigger emotional dysregulation or other misguided reactions due to low self-awareness. In this episode, you will start out hearing from our 8 year old friend Geovanne who has a brilliant ADHD brain like you and I do. He shows his vibrant personality and great sense of humor as he shares his strengths of creativity, along with having a strong "sniffer!" I ran with this point he made because I think many of us can relate!  This episode is meant to ignite self-awareness and conversation around hypersensitivities you may be facing both at home and at school. It's important to name these and bring them to light so that you can find ways to take care of your needs in those hypersensitive situations. Everybody is different and responds well do different tools and strategies. That's why I want to leave you with this as a discussion piece to unpack a little! We can revisit this topic in more detail durine future episodes!  Visit my website www.katelynmabry.com to get on my mailing list and recieve up to date episodes with added resources. You can also reach me on my site to submit your own audio or to set up a free coaching consult with me go to www.focusforwardadhd.com. I look forward to hearing from you!  Love you all! 

Do you even feel anxious in different situations and you wish you had something to do to help your mind and body find calm!? Look no further! In this episode, you will meet Michael and Luce who are the cofounders of Calm Strips. This brilliant product sticks on and off of any surface (phone, ipad, desk, etc.) and has texture that helps calm your nervous system when that anxious energy strikes! Not only do they have texture, but also come in a variety of designs, while also offering breathing techniques too! This multi-purpose tool can be helpful during test taking, homework time, or even used to ease those big emotions that can come when stuck in traffic! It's a great tool for kids and trusted adults alike! Michael shares that kids seem to enjoy trading the stickers as well, which is a great way to promote inclusion of the tool among peers. They are a helpful tool that also look cool!  You can connect with Michael or Luce and learn more about how you can get your own set of calm strips at www.calmstrips.com. This would make a great stocking stuffer or teacher gift!  Go to my website www.katelynmabry.comto get on my email list and recieve the most recent podcast episode each week with additional tips and resources! And if ADHD Life Coaching is on your radar, go to www.focusforwardadhd.com to set up a free consultation! I would love to dig deeper with you and your kiddos to help ensure you are thriving as you continue find what works best for you and your ADHD brain! 

Did you know that movement actually has the power to help your brain grow and function better throughout the day!? It's true! In this episode, you will meet Dr. Patrick LaCount who is a Psychologist from Fort Collins Colorado. Dr. LaCount specializes in helping those living with ADHD explore how their brains are built and how to individually thrive using customized treatment! One thing he is most passionate about is encouraging those with ADHD to get their bodies moving!! He shares how movement releases those endorphins, norepinephrine, and dopamine of course! These joy chemicals not only make us feel emotionally better, but also improve focus, motivation, and productivity, along with memory benefits and overall improvements in executive function skills. He shares the greatest secret about movement and that is the fact that it actually acts like water to our growing minds! We are not only exercising our bodies, but our brain reeps the benefit of getting stronger as well!! Wohoo!   Movement to start your day, throughout breaks in the day, and/or before an activity that requires focus is a great way to incorperate the joy feeling along with all the benefits of what movement releases to your brain! YES, it is HARD sometimes to get your body moving, especially when you just don't feel like it! BUT, this is when we encourage you to investigate that mindset and MAKE your body move! Your brain will thank you for it!  You can find Dr. LaCount at www.practicalpsychservices.com where you can learn more about him and his services as well as discover other ways to connect with him!  Hop on my website www.katelynmabry.com to get on my mailing list to recieve my weekly episodes sent straight to your inbox with additional tips and resources.  Happy Thanksgiving to my US friends and I celebrate all of your around the world as I am thankful for each and every one of you!!!  Love you all! 

ADHD is a neurological difference that research shows often runs in the family! In this episode, we talk about why it is important to get your ADHD diagnosis so that it can act as a roadmap for how your brain works differently. On this journey you will discover which Executive Function skills are extra tricky, they why behing big, intense emotions, what it means to have rejection sensitivity in relationships, and so much more! Investigating these things allows you to lean into your strengths as you continue to put tools in your toolbox to work through the struggles. The more we know, the more we grow! I also share this new and upcoming online diagnosis option. Go to https://get.donefirst/katelyn to check them out. I was honestly hesitant at first, but after talking with founders of this company, I hear the passion and urgency to help people who are wondering if they might have ADHD and want to figure out next steps. They work to better themselves as an online option day by day. After a quick free assessment, you are partnered with a licensed Psychiatrist who specializes in ADHD (these can be hard to find in your area). Once diagnosed, you will be offered an individualize treatment plan. They do offer medication and as you all know, I feel this can be a helpful TOOL given the correct type and amount, however your treatment should never stop there! They offer 24/7 customer care and resources on their site. Please know that different treatment options work for different people, but this is a great way to skip a long line and discover the explanation behind the challenges faced. Please let me know how your experience is with them! If you are diagnosed, you can look into more resources at www.katelynmabry.com. Check out my book, "Hi, It's Me! I have ADHD" as a conversation starter and print out my printable facial expressions as a follow up activity to begin identifying those big emotions.  1:1 Coaching is another option I offer. I am currently booked, but am taking clients come the New Year! Visit www.focusforwardadhd.com to schedule a free consultation and learn more! You were made to thrive with the incredible brain you've been given! I am here for you! Love you all!  

Dr. Tish Gentile, a health and science doctor and ADHD advocate, discusses handling boredom with ADHD brains. She shares personal experiences and tips, highlighting the importance of patience, emotional understanding, and creativity. Dr. Tish encourages embracing individual brain differences and offers support and resources for the ADHD community.

Do you ever feel like you are in a constant state of forgetting things or unsure of what to do next!? This is because working memory, organizing, prioritizing, and even task switchig can feel tricky for our ADHD brains!! This is also why you NEED to practice the strategy and use tools that get visual reminders/checklists/schedules IN YOUR FACE!  Investigating this area of struggle and discovering which "in your face" systems work best for your brain will allow for you to feel less overwhelmed and more in control of your day.  In this episode, you will meet behavior specialist Megg Thompson, who shares with us the value of visual support as she shares some great tips and tools to try both in school and at home!  The big take away to try is a mini-visual accountability checklist to have attached to the outside of your backpack in order to make your morning and after school routine of getting everything to and from school go smoother! This also grows confidence and independence!  Visit Megg on her website at www.meggthompsonbehavior.com for more resources and to follow her on all her other social media platforms! She creates fun filled content that is super informative too!  Check out my website www.katelynmabry.com to get on my email list so that you can get weekly episodes sent each Friday, along with other tips, tools, and takeaways!  Have a great day! Love you all!

This episode took a turn when my 10 year old ADHD warrior sat at my desk and said, "mom! I want to record an episode on my own!" What started off as a quick audio recording, turned into her taking notes and sharing some of her ADHD journey with you all, along with some tools and strategies that she finds helpful!  I just had to run with it and turn it into this episode! Validating her voice, thoughts, and feelings is empowering to her and I hope that this episode empowers you to share your journey too! Too often we tie shame to getting diagnosed with ADHD, but that is something we can change! Shame only lives in our minds if we allow it to. The way we present our differences to ourselves and each other will steer self- confidence and self- esteem.  This being the last episode of ADHD Awareness Month, I wanted to really encourage you to practice that self-awareness of how your brilliantly created brain works differently, so that you can first celebrate the strength while you name and tackle the struggles head on with the tools and strategies that work best for you!  Again, I know I have touched on this topic, but that's how important it is!! We often need to hear things at least 3 times, for me even more to really comprehend and begin making a change! Let's continue on this journey together one step at a time! Sign up for my weekly newsletter on my website www.katelynmabry.com, where you will recieve my latest podcast episode, along with some more added resources!! Please reach out if you'd like to send it an audio clip of your child sharing part of their ADHD journey!!! Kids absolutely LOVE to hear from each other!! Another reason I had to push this episode ahead so your kiddos can hear from my little lady! Have a great day! Love you all! Coming up...episodes on things needing to be "in your face" in order to remember them and a fabulous psychologist friend is coming on to share the reality of ADHD and bordom! You won't want to miss it!