TV Shows with realistic ADHD Characters

Brooklyn 99 - Jake Peralta Although never explicitly stated, Jake Peralta shows telling characteristics and traits that would warrant a diagnosis of ADHD. From his poor time management, missing simple errors and checks on his paperwork. With horrific management of finances and impulsive spending, the man has a bathtub full of unopened letters with bills and overdue notices. He is incredibly easily distracted, but he is still a high-functioning well-respected detective in the Police precinct.

Malcolm in the Middle - The boys Hal and his sons Francis, Reece, Malcolm and Dewey all show telling evidence for ADHD. Dewey could arguably also maybe fall into the autistic category as well in many situations. But not once in the entirety of the series is ADHD or ASD mentioned, and it showed greatly that although these boys fail a lot. They get into a lot of trouble. They are impulsive, emotionally dysregulated, the household is chaotic. It shows that they are good people, they care deeply about each other, they are incredibly intelligent and they all end up finding their place in the world.

Modern Family - Phil & Luke Dunphy Touched on briefly for an episode, but it's never brought up again. But the show passes some lesser-known symptoms and traits of those with ADHD. Their poor working memory, forgetting to put on shoes before leaving the house. Abandoning tasks and jumping from new interests and ventures often.

YuYu Hakusho - Yusuke Urameshi This anime came out long before ADHD had really become known widely, and wasn't often recognised for what it was. This makes the representation of Mother and son all that more interesting, as the Mother displays a side of ADHD a lot of people aren't familiar with seeing, and often misrepresented as other conditions. Although likely to be another condition, the constant chain smoking, coffee drinking hunting for that stimulant, and the paralysis to bed and watching TV screams the constant tiredness and lack of drive and motivation many ADHDers experience. And then there is her son, who follows a very textbook description of the condition.

The Sport to help Anxious Children

Jujitsu, or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), the sport uses no punching, no kicking, no elbows, no body slams. It focuses solely on wrestling, locks and holds. It has shown to be a valuable tool for children grappling with anxiety. Unlike backyard wrestling with friends, family or cousins, BJJ provides a structured environment with an instructor present and clearly defined rules. This controlled setting enables anxious children to navigate their emotions more effectively, as they have the option to tap out at any time they feel uncomfortable. This empowers them with a sense of control, preventing the fear of escalation that could trigger panic.

Through gradual exposure, children gain confidence as they become more at ease with the sport. When faced with being held down, they learn to remain calm and employ strategic thinking to find a way out, rather than succumbing to panic. This skill translates beyond the mat, teaching them to handle challenging situations in other aspects of life. Similar to how soldiers and race car drivers manage their adrenaline release to maintain a clear and composed mindset, BJJ instills the ability to keep emotions in check and approach difficulties with a rational perspective. When you find the class that's right for your child the results are astounding. Having witnessed time and time again first hand. The bond the children make with those in their class, the confidence they develop, and they also learn important life lessons. Like, losing is actually a chance to cheer on your buddy for their awesome skills and understand that lifting others up is the best way to lift yourself up. It's all about building each other up instead of tearing others down to make yourself feel better. And here's the kicker: losing is how you grow and learn from your mistakes. And that to get progressively better, you need to lose in order to learn from your mistakes. Losing can be a good thing.

Free Hack for Better Sleep with ADHD

ADHD can make falling asleep a challenge, but there may be something to help, 'brown noise.' White and brown noise is a type of low-frequency noise that has been shown to benefit sleep quality, reduce stress, and improve focus across many personal experiences.

Studies have been performed into whether an optimum level of stimulation input could be required to benefit those suffering from ADHD. It was found that white noise supports both optimal stimulation theory and the Moderate Brain Arousel model hypothesis. Study references can be found below.

Citation. - Baijot S, Slama H, Söderlund G, Dan B, Deltenre P, Colin C, Deconinck N. Neuropsychological and neurophysiological benefits from white noise in children with and without ADHD. Behav Brain Funct. 2016 Mar 15;12(1):11. doi: 10.1186/s12993-016-0095-y. PMID: 26979812; PMCID: PMC4791764.

So What is Brown Noise?

• Brown noise is a low-frequency, calming sound similar to rustling leaves or ocean waves.

• It promotes relaxation and masks distractions.
  

How Brown Noise Helps with Sleep:

• ADHD often leads to difficulties with sleep due to lack of stimulation and background noise. Causing the brain to make its own, with racing thoughts. (It's why the majority of us can sleep with the TV on in the background.)

• Brown noise creates a soothing background sound that masks disruptive noises and noises that may grab your attention.

• It helps slow down racing thoughts and induces a state of relaxation, facilitating sleep by providing a minimum, or perceived 'optimum,' amount of input.
  

Brown noise is a powerful tool for individuals with ADHD to achieve better sleep. It calms the mind, masks distractions, and promotes relaxation. By incorporating brown noise into your bedtime routine, you can create a peaceful sleep environment and wake up refreshed. Give it a go tonight.

It's free after all.