Starting ADHD medication, School attendance and Frankie not knowing | NeuroDADverse Ep 32

In Episode 33 of The NeuroDADverse, Ben and Dan have one of their most honest conversations yet, navigating the early days of ADHD medication, school attendance challenges, emotional overwhelm, and the quiet work of protecting a child’s self-esteem.This episode explores what happens when support does help… but also brings unexpected side effects, emotional floodgates, and difficult parental decisions. It’s about staying steady when everything feels fragile.We talk about:Beginning ADHD medication and managing side effectsLethargy, overstimulation, sleep disruption, and emotional releaseWhen medication removes masking — and everything spills outSchool attendance struggles and shifting support needsThe fear of repeating past damage to self-esteemHow delayed processing can look like “regression”Supporting two ND children with very different needs at the same timeAvoiding shame while still holding boundariesCommunication that builds trust with ND teenagersWhy safe relationships matter more than perfect solutionsSitting in joy without over-analysing itWins that don’t look impressive — but change everythingChapter Breakdown (≈50 minutes)00:00 – Intro & Welcome to Episode 3301:05 – What This Podcast Is Really About02:20 – Three Words of the Week: Medicate, Educate, Floodgate03:55 – ADHD Diagnosis Recap & Medication Trial Begins05:30 – Side Effects: Lethargy, Dry Mouth & Sleep Issues07:40 – When Medication Lowers the Mask09:10 – Overstimulation After School & Emotional Release11:05 – Understanding Floodgates vs Regression13:10 – Protecting Self-Esteem After Past School Trauma15:45 – The Fear of “Going Back There”18:10 – School Attendance Challenges Shift Between Siblings20:35 – Supporting Two ND Kids With Different Needs23:00 – Sleep Disruption & Night-Time Regulation25:15 – Holding Boundaries Without Shame28:05 – Break28:30 – Wins: Delayed Communication & Joyful Language31:10 – Why Function Matters More Than Milestones33:20 – Sitting in Joy Without Over-Analysing It35:05 – Teen Communication, Trust & Timing38:00 – Creating a Safe Space for Hard Conversations40:25 – Why Kids Talk When They Feel Secure42:30 – Parenting ND Teens Without Comparison45:00 – Looking Ahead: School, Work & Energy Management47:30 – Final Reflections: Kindness, Patience & Perspective49:00 – You’re Doing Great. You Are Enough. 🎙️ Two dads. One mission.Raising neurodivergent kids in a neurotypical world.If this episode resonates — whether you’re autistic, ADHD, a SEND parent, or still figuring it all out — you belong in the NeuroDADverse.🔔 Subscribe for weekly, honest conversations about neurodivergent parenting📢 Like, share, or comment to help other families find us📧 Contact: [email protected]🌐 Links, episodes & socials:👉 linktr.ee/NeuroDADverse🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music & Audible📺 Watch full episodes & clips on YouTube#NeurodivergentParenting #SENDFamily #AutismParenting#ADHDDads #NeuroDadverse #DifferentNotLess Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.