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Your kid’s teacher says they’re doing great. So why does after-school feel like a storm rolling in the second they walk through the door? 🌪️ This week on @thepedsdoctalkpodcast I sat down with ADHD coach and author Meredith Carder (@Hummingbird_adhd) to talk about ADHD masking in kids. Masking is when a child works hard to look neurotypical by hiding what their brain and body need to do. It usually starts early, once a kid picks up the message that their wiggling or daydreaming isn’t welcome. So they find workarounds, like sitting stiff as a board or waiting until they’re positive they’re right before raising a hand. Meredith remembers coming home with nail marks in her palms from squeezing so hard to stay still. Her mom used to joke that she was an angel at school and a devil at home. That’s restraint collapse, and for kids who mask, it can hit harder. After hours of holding it together, the tank is empty. You might see meltdowns, headaches, stomachaches, or a kid who wants to hide in their room and skip weekend plans with friends. Meredith calls it recovery time. As a pediatrician, I see a lot of kids with belly pain we can’t find a medical cause for, and the mind-body connection is real. Feelings that can’t come out at school often show up in the body instead. Over time, masking can grow into people pleasing, over apologizing, perfectionism, and burnout cycles that follow kids right into adulthood. For more on how to support your neurodivergent child, comment POD to get the full episode “ADHD Masking Explained: School Success, Home Struggles, and the Emotional Toll.” We also talk about why girls are so often diagnosed later, the subtle signs teachers miss, and the simple chair trick that ended up helping a whole classroom. Does your child fall apart after school, even on the “good” days? Tell me below 👇 #ADHDinKids #ADHDMasking #RestraintCollapse #
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