Many students with ADHD spend years hearing messages about what they forgot, missed, interrupted, or should have done differently. While difficulties with attention and executive functioning are well known, the emotional impact of living with ADHD is often overlooked.

In this session, we’ll explore how emotional regulation challenges, impulsivity, and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) influence how students see themselves and interact with others. Together, we’ll examine the connection between ADHD, self-esteem, perfectionism, anxiety, and relationships, and consider how schools can help reduce shame, strengthen connection, and support healthier identity development. Participants will leave with practical strategies and a deeper appreciation for the lived experience of students with ADHD