Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

Dana Kay
  • 4.9 (122)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Here is a place where you will learn how to address your child's ADHD symptoms naturally so you can stop walking on eggshells & bring back peace & calm to your home. Hosted Dana Kay, board certified health & nutrition practitioner, author of the best selling book Thriving with ADHD, leading ADHD expert but most importantly a mom with a child with ADHD who gets it. As a mother of a child with ADHD, she knows firsthand the struggles that come with parenting a neurodiverse child & the freedom that is possible once parents learn to reduce ADHD symptoms. Dana has been featured in Forbes, on Fox & CBS, & various other online media. She has also been a guest at multiple parenting & ADHD summits & podcasts. Her goal with the Soaring child is to give hope & answers to parents of children with ADHD who are looking for alternative (natural) and effective means of helping them learn to thrive at home, at school, and in life. Because children with ADHD deserve to soar, just like every other child.

  1. 1D AGO

    204: Why ADHD Symptoms Are Exploding in the Digital Age (& What Parents Can Do About It) with Logan McIlwain

    What if it's not just ADHD getting worse, but the world your child is growing up in? In this week's episode of The Soaring Child podcast, Dana Kay sits down with licensed therapist Logan McIlwain to unpack what's really happening to kids' brains in today's digital world. From constant notifications to endless scrolling, today's children are growing up in an environment of nonstop stimulation, and for kids with ADHD, that impact can be intense. You'll hear why screens don't create ADHD but can absolutely amplify symptoms like inattention, emotional dysregulation, and impulsivity. Logan breaks down what's happening in the brain with dopamine, why kids struggle to "just turn it off," and how devices can quietly become a child's primary coping tool. Together, they also tackle one of the biggest challenges parents face today: setting boundaries without triggering meltdowns. If taking the phone away feels like a full nervous system explosion in your home, this episode will help you understand why and what to do instead. Most importantly, you'll walk away with practical, realistic strategies you can start using right away. From creating consistent guardrails to helping your child build real-life regulation skills, this conversation is about supporting your child in the digital age. LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW https://loganlcsw.com The Anxious Generation by Dr. Jonathan Haidt: https://amzn.to/41vDzba The Explosive Child by Dr. Ross Greene: https://amzn.to/4taYzAj KEY TAKEAWAYS [00:01] Modern childhood overstimulation explained [02:10] Screens amplify ADHD symptoms [06:10] Environment vs diagnosis debate [09:32] Difference between distraction and ADHD [13:03] Dopamine and addictive screen loops [14:48] Loss of boredom tolerance [17:01] Screens as emotional coping tools [19:15] Importance of consistent boundaries [22:10] How to reset screen habits [25:34] Monitoring apps and content [29:43] Externalizing executive function [31:10] Small changes reduce nervous system overload MEMORABLE MOMENTS "When did childhood get so loud?" "There is absolutely no way my brain could have handled this much input." "Phones don't create true ADHD, but they absolutely create ADHD-like symptoms." "It's like this slot machine effect." "Our kids in this generation don't know how to be bored at all." "These devices have become their emotional regulation tools." "You can exercise your boundary muscle over and over again." "Don't ask a struggling brain to do everything internally." "We handed our children these tiny slot machines." DANA KAY RESOURCES 🔗 WEBSITES: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/ https://dana-kay.com/ 👋 SOCIALS: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute 📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK: Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 💻 FREE MASTERCLASS: Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0 ⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS:  ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

    34 min

  2. APR 9

    203: Biofeedback for ADHD Kids with Dana Hargus

    What if your child's meltdowns, impulsivity, and focus struggles weren't behavioral problems but signs of a dysregulated nervous system? In this episode, Dana Kay sits down with licensed professional counselor Dana Hargus to explore a powerful and often misunderstood tool: biofeedback. With over 25 years of clinical experience, Dana explains how we can train the brain to regulate itself, helping children feel calmer, more focused, and more in control of their emotions. You'll learn how biofeedback works in simple, practical terms, what it looks like during a session, and why many families start seeing changes in sleep, emotional regulation, and behavior sooner than expected. Dana also shares how this approach supports nervous system dysregulation (which can exacerbate ADHD), rather than just managing symptoms on the surface. This is a hopeful, eye-opening conversation for parents who feel stuck in daily meltdowns, constant dysregulation, or the feeling that their child just "can't shift gears." You'll walk away with a deeper understanding of what's really happening in your child's brain and what you can start doing today to support them. LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW https://eeginfo.com 📒 Show Notes and Resources 📒 📘 Connect with Dana Hargus ➡️Website: https://restoreofada.com/ ➡️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restoreofada ➡️ Instagram: https://instagram.com/restoreofada KEY TAKEAWAYS [00:00] ADHD behaviors are often regulation issues, not behavior problems [04:28] Biofeedback explained as "exercise for the brain" [07:48] How real-time feedback trains the brain automatically [09:07] Physical signs your child's nervous system is calming [13:36] How frequency training supports calm and focus [18:54] Real-life transformation using biofeedback [22:09] Sleep is often the first and most important improvement [25:31] Biofeedback can support all ADHD presentations [27:57] Long-term effects and when maintenance is needed [30:21] How to choose the right provider [34:13] Simple parenting strategy to support regulation MEMORABLE MOMENTS "Why can't they just calm down?"  "We can exercise our brain." "You're basically showing the brain, don't do that, do this instead." "The brain will do it on its own." "Without sleep, everything is worse." "Once the brain learns something new… it should not go away." "Connection is the foundation for all mental health." DANA KAY RESOURCES 🔗 WEBSITES: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/ https://dana-kay.com/ 👋 SOCIALS: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute 📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK: Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 💻 FREE MASTERCLASS: Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0 ⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS:  ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

    42 min

  3. APR 2

    202: Why ADHD Kids Don't Listen: Executive Function Explained with Cindy Goldrich

    Many children with ADHD know exactly what they're supposed to do but still struggle to do it. That frustrating gap between knowing and doing is one of the most misunderstood parts of ADHD, and it can leave parents feeling confused, exhausted, and questioning their child's behavior. In this episode, Dana Kay sits down with ADHD parenting expert and coach Cindy Goldrich to unpack what's really happening in the ADHD brain when children don't follow through on simple requests. Cindy explains why ADHD is not a problem of knowledge, but a challenge with executive function, and how factors like working memory, hyperfocus, processing speed, and transitions can all impact a child's ability to act. Throughout the conversation, Cindy shares practical strategies that help parents move away from constant reminders and power struggles and instead support their child's developing executive function skills. She encourages parents to shift from seeing behavior as defiance to recognizing the underlying skills that may still be developing. When parents understand the brain behind the behavior, it creates space for more patience, better communication, and stronger connection with their child. LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Free Gift: First Chapter + Parenting Resources- https://ptscoaching.com/soaring PTS Coaching Website - https://ptscoaching.com Cindy Goldrich Substack - https://adhdparentandteacherexpert.substack.com 📒 Show Notes and Resources 📒 📘 Connect with Cindy Goldrich Website - https://ptscoaching.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PTScoaching Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/PTScoaching Substack - https://adhdparentandteacherexpert.substack.com Free Gift - https://ptscoaching.com/soaring KEY TAKEAWAYS [00:00] The everyday parenting scenario where a child agrees to do something but doesn't follow through. [03:56] Parents often feel confused when kids know what to do but still don't do it. [04:26] ADHD is explained as the gap between knowing and doing. [06:48] Hyperfocus can prevent kids from shifting attention to a new task. [08:41] Multiple brain-based factors can explain why kids don't follow through. [12:57] Processing speed challenges can make kids appear resistant. [16:20] Understanding executive function helps parents shift their expectations. [18:14] Misinterpreting behavior as defiance can damage connection. [22:55] Parenting mindset plays a major role in how kids respond. [26:28] Instead of labeling weaknesses, parents should look for ways to support skills. [30:18] Executive function development is similar to learning any other skill. [31:37] Kids improve with practice, structure, and guidance. MEMORABLE MOMENTS "You ask your kid to put their shoes on. They say okay… and then they don't." "What if the problem isn't defiance, but executive function?" "ADHD is not a problem of knowing what to do. It's a problem of doing what you know." "Maybe this kid is so hyper-focused on what he's doing that his mind is nowhere near what you're asking." "They're basically saying, slow down. I can't process this fast enough." "When we assume our kids are being difficult, we miss the opportunity to understand what their brain actually needs." "It's not about labeling the weakness. It's about asking, how are we going to support this?" "Why would this be any different than learning any other skill?" "These are skills that develop with support and practice." DANA KAY RESOURCES 🔗 WEBSITES: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/ https://dana-kay.com/ 👋 SOCIALS: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute 📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK: Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 💻 FREE MASTERCLASS: Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0 ⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS:  ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

    36 min

  4. MAR 26

    201: 5 Biological Stressors of ADHD

    Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 You know what I wish someone had told me years ago when my son was diagnosed with ADHD? That ADHD isn't one neat little story. ADHD isn't one problem. It's often driven by  five biological stressors stacked inside the same child. And depending on the day, a different stressor shouts loudest. In this powerful solo episode, Dana Kay reframes ADHD in a way that instantly relieves shame and confusion for parents. If you've ever felt like you're parenting a different child by 4 p.m. than you were at 8 a.m., this episode explains why. Dana walks listeners through the five biological stressors inside the ADHD Thrive framework: blood sugar dysregulation, gut-brain dysfunction, food reactions, poor detox pathways, and the nutrient deficiencies. Instead of asking, "Why are they doing this?" she teaches parents to ask a better question: "Which layer is loud today?" If your child's symptoms fluctuate, if some days feel manageable and others feel impossible, this episode will help you understand the biology underneath the behavior. Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 KEY TAKEAWAYS [00:00] ADHD is not one story — it's five layers. [00:23] Parenting a "different kid" by 4 p.m. [00:50] The wrong question vs. the right question. [02:10] Introduction to biological stressor layers. [04:30] Blood sugar dysregulation explained. [07:15] Gut-brain dysfunction overview. [10:40] Food reactions layer. [13:20] Detox overload layer. [16:30] The final layer connecting impulsivity and picky eating. [19:45] Identifying which layer is loud. MEMORABLE MOMENTS "ADHD isn't one neat little story." "It's five stories all squashed into the same kid wearing the same jumper." "Depending on the day, you're parenting a different kid in the same body." "By 4 p.m. you're Googling boarding schools in Switzerland…" "We end up asking the wrong question." "Which layer is loud today?" DANA KAY RESOURCES 🔗 Access your free ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 It's free for a limited time. You just pay shipping!  🔗 WEBSITES: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/ https://dana-kay.com/ 👋 SOCIALS: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute 📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK: Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 💻 FREE MASTERCLASS: Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0 ⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS:  ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

    13 min

  5. MAR 19

    200: Picky Eating, Nutrient Deficiencies, and ADHD

    What if picky eating and impulsive ADHD behavior aren't separate problems at all—but signals coming from the same biological root? In a special milestone for the podcast — our 200th episode of The Soaring Child Podcast — Dana Kay explains how nutrient deficiencies can directly affect the brain systems responsible for focus, emotional regulation, impulse control, and sleep. Iron supports dopamine production. Magnesium and B6 calm the nervous system. Zinc shapes taste perception. Omega-3s carry the brain's messages. And vitamin D helps regulate serotonin and sleep cycles. When these nutrients are depleted, the brain struggles to function properly. The result can look like impulsivity, hyperactivity, emotional outbursts, sleep struggles, and extreme picky eating. Dana shares the story of a young boy expelled from four preschools whose behavior transformed after severe nutrient deficiencies were identified and supported. This episode helps parents understand how what looks like "behavior" may actually be a biological signal. Dana walks listeners through the nutrients most commonly involved in ADHD regulation, the signs that the brain may be running on empty, and how parents can begin identifying which biological stressors may be affecting their child. If you're trying to understand the biological drivers behind your child's symptoms, start here: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 The ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit helps parents translate symptoms into biology and identify which underlying stressors may be affecting their child. Get the Decoder Kit here to learn more about how ADHD symptoms connect to biology here: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 KEY TAKEAWAYS [00:00] Picky eating and impulsive ADHD behaviors may come from the same biological root. [01:15] Case story of a child expelled from four preschools due to extreme behavior. [02:10] Severe nutrient depletion revealed through lab testing. [03:40] The concept of the "starving brain." [05:00] Iron's role in dopamine production and emotional regulation. [06:10] Magnesium and B6 supporting nervous system calm and sleep. [07:00] Zinc deficiency affecting taste perception and picky eating. [08:10] Omega-3s and brain communication. [09:00] Vitamin D and its connection to serotonin and sleep. [10:45] The Ferrari fuel analogy for brain nutrients. [12:15] Signs that the brain may be running low on nutrients. [14:30] Introducing the ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit MEMORABLE MOMENTS "Picky eating and hyperactive and impulsive behavior are not two separate problems. They're the same conversation happening in different rooms." "What if the brain isn't being difficult? What if it's just hungry?" "A brain that's running on empty cannot do manners, patience or waiting turns." "When the brain is starving, no amount of behavioral strategies will actually feed the brain." "These nutrients are literally the wiring for the brain." "You can parent beautifully, but if that fuel is not there, their system stalls." "You're asking a Ferrari to run on cordial." "A hungry brain cannot be polite." "Feed the brain and the behavior follows." DANA KAY RESOURCES 🔗 Access your free ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 It's free for a limited time. You just pay shipping!  🔗 WEBSITES: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/ https://dana-kay.com/ 👋 SOCIALS: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute 📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK: Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 💻 FREE MASTERCLASS: Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0 ⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS:  ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

    14 min

  6. MAR 12

    199: ADHD, Sleep Issues, & Poor Detox

    Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 If you're raising a child with ADHD and sleep feels like a nightly argument, nobody wins. What if bedtime isn't a parenting problem at all? What if your child isn't resisting sleep… but their body is trying to take out the trash? In this powerful solo episode, Dana Kay reveals one of the most overlooked biological stressors impacting children with ADHD: poor detoxification. Sleep is not just rest. It is the brain and body's nightly cleanup crew. When detox pathways are sluggish, overloaded, or genetically compromised, children can wake between 1–3 a.m., feel wired but exhausted, experience red cheeks, itchy skin, anxiety, sensory overload, and morning meltdowns before the day even begins. Dana walks through  three major detox systems — liver, gut, and lymphatic system — and explains how genetic mutations like MTHFR, GSTT1, GSTM1, and GSTP1, combined with oxidative stress and environmental toxin exposure, can create internal pressure that looks like ADHD behavior. Through the story of Dara and her daughter Reese, she shows how supporting detox pathways changed sleep first, and regulation followed. If sleep plans work for other kids but not yours, this episode will help you understand why. Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 KEY TAKEAWAYS [00:00] Sleep reframed as the "nightly cleanup crew." [03:10] The three detox systems explained. [04:42] Genetics: MTHFR, GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1. [05:10] Heavy metals & oxidative stress research. [06:15] "Carrying yesterday's load." [07:00] Liver most active between 1–3 a.m. [08:35] Red flags: itchy skin, red cheeks, night waking. [09:50] Neuroinflammation & frontal lobe impact. [10:40] Why routines fail when detox is overloaded. [12:30] How supporting detox shifted Reese's sleep. MEMORABLE MOMENTS "If you're raising a child with ADHD and sleep feels like a nightly argument, nobody wins." "Sleep is your child's nightly cleanup crew." "Translation, their system is already carrying yesterday's load when today even starts." "It's not your child that they're resisting sleep. It's actually the body sending a red alert." "They're biological red flags." "No amount of meds or bedtime routines or behavioral therapy will fix a full bin." "We stop asking why won't they just sleep? And we start asking, what is their body trying to clear?" DANA KAY RESOURCES 🔗 Access your free ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 It's free for a limited time. You just pay shipping!  🔗 WEBSITES: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/ https://dana-kay.com/ 👋 SOCIALS: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute 📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK: Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 💻 FREE MASTERCLASS: Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0 ⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS:  ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

    18 min

  7. MAR 5

    198: Invisible Food Reactions & ADHD

    Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 Sometimes it's not your child having a bad day. Sometimes it's that you are parenting a completely different nervous system, depending on what went into their mouth yesterday. In this eye-opening episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, Dana Kay unpacks one of the most overlooked biological stressors driving ADHD symptoms: delayed, invisible food reactions. If you've ever felt like your child's behavior shifts overnight — same child, same house, same rules — this episode explains what may actually be happening beneath the surface. Dana walks you through the full biological chain reaction: trigger foods, IgG-mediated immune flares, cytokine release, gut inflammation, intestinal permeability, and how inflammation travels upstream to the frontal lobe. She explains how symptoms like meltdowns, rigidity, emotional volatility, and impulse control struggles often begin days before the behavior appears. You'll also learn about opioid-like food peptides formed from gluten and dairy (gluteomorphin and casomorphin), how artificial dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5 have been shown in studies to worsen hyperactivity, and why guessing at food changes often leaves parents exhausted and confused. This episode introduces Biological Stressor #3 inside the ADHD Thrive Decoder framework: Invisible Food Reactions. Most importantly, Dana helps you shift from "What's wrong today?" to "What touched their system yesterday?" — a mindset change that can quietly change everything. Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123  KEY TAKEAWAYS [00:00] Parenting a different nervous system depending on what was eaten yesterday. [02:42] Personal story: raspberries triggering delayed immune reactions. [05:06] IgG reactions are slow, quiet, and delayed. [06:35] Cytokines traveling to the frontal lobe. [07:02] Symptoms today often started yesterday. [08:40] Research on gut inflammation and intestinal permeability in ADHD. [10:08] Opioid peptides from gluten and dairy. [11:35] Artificial dyes and double-blind research. [13:12] "We test, we don't guess." [15:44] Parenting the same child but a different internal weather system. [17:30] Behavior decoding vs food journaling. [19:10] Introducing the ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit. MEMORABLE MOMENTS "Sometimes it's not your child having a bad day. Sometimes it's that you are parenting a completely different nervous system."  "Once you see it, you can literally trace meltdowns backwards through to their lunchbox."  "The symptoms or the behavior that you're dealing with today, that did not start today." "These are actual compounds that bind to opioid receptors in the brain." "You've basically built a nervous system hand grenade in a lunchbox." "We test, we don't guess." "Your parenting didn't suddenly stop working. The biology underneath them shifted." "Instead of asking what on earth is wrong today, we start asking what touched their system yesterday." DANA KAY RESOURCES 🔗 Access your free ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 It's free for a limited time. You just pay shipping!  🔗 WEBSITES: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/ https://dana-kay.com/ 👋 SOCIALS: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute 📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK: Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 💻 FREE MASTERCLASS: Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0 ⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS:  ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

    17 min

  8. FEB 26

    197: The Gut-Brain ADHD Link

    Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 Over 90–95% of serotonin and nearly half of the body's dopamine are produced in the gut, not the brain, and that one fact explains why so many ADHD meltdowns seem to come out of nowhere. In this episode, Dana Kay breaks down how gut inflammation, immune activation, and nervous system overload can drive ADHD symptoms long before behavior ever appears. This is Part 2 of a 5-part series unpacking the biological stressors behind ADHD. After decoding blood sugar dysregulation in the previous episode, Dana explains why the gut functions as a control panel for emotional regulation, focus, and impulse control and how the vagus nerve sends stress signals straight from the gut to the frontal lobe. Parents will learn why many children show no digestive symptoms despite significant gut dysfunction, how altered gut bacteria affect neurotransmitters, and what questions to start asking when behavior doesn't make sense. Dana also shares a powerful client story and introduces a practical tool designed to help parents stop guessing and start supporting the systems asking for help. LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 KEY TAKEAWAYS [00:00] The physical signs before meltdowns begin [03:29] ADHD symptoms often start in the body, not behavior [03:48] Serotonin and dopamine production in the gut [05:15] The vagus nerve and frontal lobe shutdown [06:22] Neuroinflammation vs. misbehavior [07:18] Research linking ADHD and altered gut bacteria [08:05] Why gut symptoms are often invisible [09:48] Questions parents can ask starting today [11:22] Introducing the ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit [13:22] Reframing meltdowns as nervous system overload MEMORABLE MOMENTS "There is a very specific look that kids get right before everything goes sideways." "That moment doesn't start in their brain. It starts in their body." "Over 90 to 95% of serotonin is made in the gut." "The frontal lobe basically goes offline." "Your child isn't being defiant. They're neurologically flooded." "The gut isn't a side issue. It's the control panel." "Once you can see which system is driving behavior, you stop guessing." DANA KAY RESOURCES 🔗 Access your free ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 It's free for a limited time. You just pay shipping!  🔗 WEBSITES: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/ https://dana-kay.com/ 👋 SOCIALS: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute 📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK: Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 💻 FREE MASTERCLASS: Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0 ⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS:  ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

    15 min
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4.9
out of 5
122 Ratings

About

Here is a place where you will learn how to address your child's ADHD symptoms naturally so you can stop walking on eggshells & bring back peace & calm to your home. Hosted Dana Kay, board certified health & nutrition practitioner, author of the best selling book Thriving with ADHD, leading ADHD expert but most importantly a mom with a child with ADHD who gets it. As a mother of a child with ADHD, she knows firsthand the struggles that come with parenting a neurodiverse child & the freedom that is possible once parents learn to reduce ADHD symptoms. Dana has been featured in Forbes, on Fox & CBS, & various other online media. She has also been a guest at multiple parenting & ADHD summits & podcasts. Her goal with the Soaring child is to give hope & answers to parents of children with ADHD who are looking for alternative (natural) and effective means of helping them learn to thrive at home, at school, and in life. Because children with ADHD deserve to soar, just like every other child.

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