Dec 4, 2025
Is it normal…or is it ADHD?
That’s the question that keeps so many parents of neurodivergent kids up at night, especially when old behaviors resurface after months or years of progress.
In this episode of The Soaring Child
podcast, Dana Kay, board certified holistic health and nutrition
practitioner, 2X international bestselling author, and mom of a
child with ADHD, opens up about the emotional whiplash that can
come with raising a neurodiverse child.
She shares what it’s like to
second-guess every behavior, even the ones that might just be
typical childhood moments. Tune in to discover the difference
between developmentally typical behavior and patterns that signal
deeper dysregulation.
Links Mentioned in the Show
▶
https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/breakfastguide
▶
https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/tool
▶
https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/supplements
▶
https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/parenting
▶
https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book
Key Takeaways with Timestamps
[00:16] Why calm
can trigger panic for ADHD parents
[02:41] The “Is
this normal or ADHD?” fear spiral
[04:27] What counts
as developmentally typical behavior
[06:05] When
patterns—not moments—signal deeper concerns
[06:53] Why one
meltdown feels heavier after progress
[08:26] A client
story: panic when the school didn’t call
[10:12] Why
children (and adults) naturally have off days
[11:34] How
biology—gut, nutrients, inflammation—affects behavior
[12:20] Questions
parents can ask when behaviour worries them
[14:17] Why
hyperactive boyhood isn’t pathology
[16:42] Tracking
patterns over time rather than reacting to one-offs
[18:13] Validation
that every parent needs to hear
Memorable Moments with Timestamps (Exact Quotes)
“If peace somehow feels unsafe, it’s not your fault.”
“I felt my whole body tighten… that hot flush that runs through every bone in your body.”
“One school phone call… and we spiral.”
“That fear doesn’t mean everything is unraveling. It means that you care.”
“Progress hits harder when you finally experience peace.”
“For years, silence meant brace yourself—something bad’s coming.”
“It means they’re human children.”
“We’ve been conditioned to expect our children to behave better than most adults do.”
“These aren’t signs of ADHD symptoms returning—these are signs of life.”
“Let them be messy. Let them be human. Let them be in process.”
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/mycompany/
▶ 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://bit.ly/3GAbFQl
⭐COURSES & PROGRAMS
▶ ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd
▶ ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/