PTSD Parenting: How Parenting a Child w/ADHD Can Take a Toll on You – 2019

Parenting a child with ADHD takes a tremendous amount of energy, patience, and hands -on involvement. You want to make sure your child gets the help needed in school, at home, socially, and more. You’ve spent years taking your child to psychiatrist and therapist appointments, tutors, OTs, and attending endless IEP meetings. But what about you? Terry will be talking about the effects on the *parent* when raising a child with ADHD, addressing feelings of guilt, anger, embarrassment, sadness, exhaustion — topics we normally don’t acknowledge within ourselves, let alone share with others, leaving us spent, depressed, and angry. She’ll share her own experience raising her (now adult) child with special needs and how the chronic and ongoing struggles align with what could almost be described as PTSD parenting.

About Terry Matlen, ACSW

Terry Matlen, MSW, ACSW is a psychotherapist, author, consultant, and coach, specializing in women with ADHD. She is the author of the award winning books, The Queen of Distraction and Survival Tips for Women with AD/HD, and runs ADDconsults.com, an online resource serving adults worldwide with ADHD, and QueensOfDistraction.com, an online coaching program for women with ADHD. A nationally recognized expert and speaker on ADHD, she served for many years on the board of directors of ADDA and is immediate past coordinator of the E. Oakland County CHADD Chapter in Michigan. Terry is the co-founder, with Linda Roggli, of the ADHD Women’s Palooza.