Question: Is there any helpful coping mechanisms you could recommend to try with a child with ADHD whose struggling to express what they are feeling?

Emily McDougal answered on 23 Nov 2021:

Thanks for your question! One of the things that children with ADHD can struggle with is impulsivity – in other words, reacting on feelings or emotions before processing what they are feeling and considering what action to take. So before they can start expressing how they feel, they really need the time to understand it themselves. Taking time to disengage from the situation and reflect upon how they are feeling can really help, although they may need help from a teacher to do this or allow them to step outside of the classroom. This gives them the space to process what they are feeling. They could then try writing down or telling someone the negative thoughts that are in their head, rather than naming emotions. Younger children may find it helpful to draw with coloured pencils to express how they are feeling – for example, scribbling with a black pen when they feel angry. Once someone else understands how the child might be feeling, they have a better sense of how to support them.