Understanding the Interplay Between ADHD, Trauma, and PTSD with Dr Iris Manor

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Dr. Iris Manor on ADHD, Trauma, PTSD, and Resilience: Risks, Mechanisms, and Treatment The host interviews Dr. Iris Manor, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and ADHD researcher, about links between ADHD and traumatic stress disorders, including a Denmark study finding children with ADHD are about 11 times more likely to develop PTSD. Manor distinguishes trauma exposure from traumatic stress disorders and describes behavioral risk (novelty-seeking, impulsivity) and shared neurobiology (hippocampus/ventromedial prefrontal networks, inflammatory cytokines), including possible transgenerational effects of maternal trauma. She argues ADHD and traumatic stress are usually separate but interacting diagnoses, and emphasizes resilience through structure, goals, and avoiding helplessness, noting ADHD makes these harder. She warns clinicians often stop stimulants after trauma despite potential benefit, recommends treating ADHD (and parents’ ADHD), and highlights emotional dysregulation requiring treatment (often guanfacine) to enable ADHD and trauma care. The discussion also covers overlap with chronic pain/fibromyalgia and long COVID, autism-related vulnerability, and disagreement with claims that ADHD is primarily caused by trauma. 00:00 Trauma and ADHD Link 03:11 Why Risk Is Higher 04:02 Biology and Inflammation 08:04 Which Comes First 09:49 Types of Trauma Examples 11:52 National Trauma Risk Groups 15:14 Covid and Chronic Pain 20:42 Resilience Rules and Structure 22:20 Treat ADHD During Trauma 26:39 Family Screening and Care 31:12 ADHD Impact on PTSD Treatment 33:33 Emotional Dysregulation Hierarchy 35:51 Guanfacine for Dysregulation 38:36 Autism Risk and Safety 40:13 Therapy Can Backfire 41:29 Why Trauma Sticks 44:07 Mental Fatigue and ADHD 47:22 Does Trauma Cause ADHD 49:24 Neurodiversity and Impairment 53:25 Treat ADHD Like Medicine 57:41 Complex Pain Case Discussion 01:02:30 Fibro Screening Tools 01:04:53 Next Steps and Wrap Up Click here for the YouTube Channel Click here for the YouTube channel International Conference on ADHD in November 2025 where Dr. Lenz will be one of the speakers. Joy Lenz Fibromyalgia 101. A list of fibromyalgia podcast episodes that are great if you are new and don't know where to start. Support the show When I started this podcast and YouTube Channel—and the book that came before it—I had my patients in mind. Office visits are short, but understanding complex, often misunderstood conditions like fibromyalgia takes time. That’s why I created this space: to offer education, validation, and hope. If you’ve been told fibromyalgia “isn’t real” or that it’s “all in your head,” know this—I see you. I believe you. This podcast aims to affirm your experience and explain the science behind it. Whether you live with fibromyalgia, care for someone who does, or are a healthcare professional looking to better support patients, you’ll find trusted, evidence-based insights here, drawn from my 29+ years as an MD. Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn’t replace per...