The Legacy House Counseling Center

09/07/2026

--->> https://www.thesensoryspectrum.com/research-connects-early-exposure-to-screens-with-unusual-sensory-processing-in-toddlers/

09/07/2026

“Before I understood my own neurodivergence, I simply thought I couldn’t cope with life as well as others. I blamed myself for being overly sensitive, reactive, or stuck in cycles of burnout. What I didn’t realize was that I had spent decades living with a chronically dysregulated nervous system.”
👉 https://www.additudemag.com/dysregulated-nervous-system-women-adhd/

09/07/2026

Some children hold it together all day.

They cope with the noise, the social expectations, the transitions, the learning, the instructions and the constant demands placed upon them.

Then they get home — and everything falls apart.

This is often described as after school restraint collapse. What looks like an enormous reaction to something tiny may actually be the release of hours of accumulated stress, effort and overwhelm.

You may see tears, irritability, withdrawal, clinginess, refusal to talk, physical exhaustion or a complete loss of tolerance for even the smallest request.

It doesn’t mean a child has been “fine all day”.

Sometimes it means they have worked incredibly hard to look fine all day.

Understanding what is happening underneath the behaviour can completely change how we respond when they finally reach their safe place.

📌 See our post later today for how to request a download link for A Bitesize Guide to After School Restraint Collapse.

09/07/2026

When everyday requests feel like pressure, what looks like “won’t” can sometimes be much closer to “can’t — not while my nervous system feels under threat.”

Pathological Demand Avoidance — also described as a Persistent Drive for Autonomy — is most commonly discussed in relation to autism. For some children, ordinary demands can create such a strong sense of lost control that avoidance becomes an automatic stress response.

And it isn’t always about avoiding things they dislike.

A child may resist getting dressed, starting homework or leaving the house — but they may also struggle with activities they genuinely want to do, or even demands they have placed on themselves.

That is why understanding what sits underneath the behaviour matters.

More pressure, firmer demands and repeated consequences can sometimes escalate distress. Reducing unnecessary demands, offering genuine choices and using a more collaborative, flexible approach can make a significant difference — while still keeping appropriate boundaries in place.

Save this post so you can come back to it, and share it with someone who might find it helpful.

09/07/2026

DBT Skills.
Image credit : @ chronically meh

09/02/2026

Sign up for our free webinars this September! Learn more at additu.de/webinar

Can’t make the live sessions? Don’t worry—register and we’ll send you an email with the link to the replay.

Don’t miss future webinar announcements! ➡️ additu.de/newsletter

Tell us: What topics would you like to see us cover?

09/02/2026

A tantrum, sensory overload, and panic can sometimes look similar from the outside—but what is happening underneath can be very different. Understanding whether a child is seeking or avoiding something, overwhelmed by sensory input, or responding to fear can help families choose support that better fits the moment. Instead of focusing only on what the behavior looks like, look for the possible cause, body signals, environment, and what helps the child recover.

❤️

09/02/2026

For many adults, the challenges of staying organized, meeting deadlines, and maintaining focus at work or home may feel like a normal part of life. But for some, these ongoing struggles may point to something deeper: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

While ADHD is often associated with children, research shows that ADHD in adults is far more common than many realize. Unfortunately, countless individuals go years — even decades — without an ADHD diagnosis, which can significantly impact work, relationships, and mental health.

Many people with ADHD learn to mask symptoms or develop workarounds early in life, especially if they performed well in school or developed strong coping skills. Others may have grown up in environments where ADHD wasn’t widely recognized, leading to years without support or treatment.

Because ADHD presents differently in adults than in children, it’s not uncommon for symptoms to be misattributed to stress, anxiety, depression, or simple “disorganization.” As a result, adults may carry feelings of frustration or shame without realizing there’s an explanation — and effective help available. ( Counseling ❤️)

Image Coaching With Brooke ❤️

09/02/2026