ADHD & Emotional Regulation: 7 Surprising Triggers for Moms That Spark Mega-Meltdowns

How to Be a Grownup: A Humorous Guide for Moms, with CK & GK

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Your ADHD brain isn’t ‘too sensitive’—it’s wired for emotional whiplash. Here’s why (and how to survive it)!

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Who Should Listen

• Moms who can’t hear one more noise without losing it.
• Women labeled “dramatic” for intense emotional reactions.
• Anyone whose RSD (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria) turns a thumbs-up reaction into “they hate me.”

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What You Get In This Episode

1. The science behind ADHD emotions: Why your brain’s amygdala and prefrontal cortex are frenemies.
2. Mom-specific triggers: Overstimulation meltdowns, invisible labor resentment, and the “what’s for dinner?” rage spiral.
3. Why RSD isn’t “just insecurity” (and how mom guilt amplifies it).
4. Hormones + ADHD: Why estrogen drops make Bluey a tearjerker.
5. Sneak peek: Tools to short-circuit meltdowns (coming in Part 2!), like why naming your ADHD brain helps—meet ‘Gladys the Chaos Goblin!’

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Bios

Caitlin Kindred: ADHD mom, former teacher, and recovering Lego-yeller. Still apologizes to her former students for her stapler-related outbursts.

Ariella Monti: Author, ADHD creative, and Roots in Ink novelist who battles RSD one thumbs-up emoji at a time.

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Sources & Mentions

• 🧠 CHADD – ADHD emotional dysregulation research.
• 📚 ADDitude Mag – The holy grail of ADHD info.
• 🎧 How to ADHD (YouTube) – Visual explainers on emotional hijacking.
• 🔉 Loop Earplugs – Caitlin’s overstimulation lifesaver (not sponsored, just obsessed).
• 📖 Ariella’s Roots in Ink – Use code CKANDGK for 20% off at ariellamonti.com.

P.S. Tag us with your most “ADHD emotional whiplash” moment—we’ve all yelled at a single LEGO on the floor.

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Love,
CK & GK
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Chapters

1. Welcome and Introduction (00:00:00)

2. ADHD and Emotional Regulation Explained (00:02:20)

3. The Science Behind Emotional Dysregulation (00:08:35)

4. Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) (00:13:45)

5. Emotional Triggers for ADHD Moms (00:18:04)

6. Preview of Next Episode and Closing (00:24:26)

7. Circle Time and Host Conversations (00:25:06)