How ADHD and Puberty Affect Behavior and Emotions
I’m just feeling so much all the time…
After his son began puberty, Mr. Johnson realized he was far more emotional dysregulated than he used to be. What once never bothered his son, such as being told to pick his clothes up off the floor, became a screaming match. It now seemed as if his son went from one emotion to another at the drop of a hat. He could be happy and smiling at one moment and throwing things at the next. At first, Mr. Johnson believed it was just his son, Ben, going through puberty like any other child. Emotions are high, which is something almost everyone knows, but after talking to his friend who also had kids Bens ages, he realized the extent to which his son was unable to regulate his emotions was far greater than some others.
Ben has ADHD, which Mr. Johnson didn’t realize could affect his son’s emotional regulation during puberty. Rather, he assumed it only impacted his attention span, when in reality, it was making Ben have a hard time controlling his impulses. He would punch walls, throw things, and just shut down, so Mr. Johnson called the Support for Students growth Center for help.
There, the Ben met with a coach weekly to try and avoid having his underdeveloped emotional regulation skills prevent him from flourishing during this time. He learned different strategies such as utilizing breathing techniques, learning his cues for when has getting upset, knowing how and when to walk away, self-advocate, and more. With these skills and a level of accountability, Ben was able to start taking control of his life again.
Going through puberty is already a lot for adolescents. The hormonal, body, and overall life change is difficult to navigate, and when they have ADHD, it can make this already difficult time even harder to manage. Emotional regulation in specific can become a problem for them. They are learning how to deal with changes, and one of these changes has to do with new social pressures, which can be overwhelming. Not saying mean things to their friends when they are upset, jumping up and walking around in class when they are bored, throwing a tantrum when they don’t get their way, controlling their impulses etc., are all things that can be made difficult when going through puberty.
These issues are also not isolated to school or social settings with peers, but at home too. Exploding in anger when their sibling touches their stuff, emotionally shutting down when dinner isn’t what they want, and throwing a tantrum when being told they can’t go out with friends that weekend are all ways puberty can be affecting an individual with ADHD at home because it makes emotions far more intense. They may also be behind their peers when developing the skills they need to manage them. According to ADDitude Magazine, “The prefrontal cortex, which directs judgment, reasoning, impulse control, emotional regulation, and decision-making, develops more slowly in ADHD brains. This exacerbates regulation issues.” Since those with ADHD may have a harder time regulating during puberty than most others, it is important that they are able to learn and practice regulating their emotions to ensure it doesn’t set them back in life. Age-appropriate regulation skills are important not only for home life, but social, school, and future independent life as well, and the Support for Students Growth Center can provide them with the tools they need in order to manage them.
At the Support for Students Growth Center, we provide social, behavioral, educational, emotional, and executive functioning skills services children, teens, young adults, and their families need for a happy and successful life in and out of school settings. Our team of professionals offers individualized and family coaching/counseling and social skills groups to help teach skills such as how to remain organized to ensure parents do not have to worry that their kids will be unable to make and maintain a functioning independent life on their own. So, if your child is struggling with skills like the ones listed above and much more, the SSGC is equipped with the tools to help.
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Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the Support for Students Growth Center and College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of children, teens, young adults and college students and those high school students preparing for college.
Paul Mitrani, M. D. (2025, October 25). ADHD and the turbulence of puberty. ADDitude. https://www.additudemag.com/teenage-hormones-puberty-adhd/
