Child psychology is a critical field in understanding and supporting the mental, emotional, and social development of a child from the early stages of his/her life. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) has an important place in this development process as a condition that deeply affects children’s lives. Understanding that emotional sensitivity and early emotional traumas are at the root of ADHD, especially as Gabor Maté mentions in his book Scattered Minds, allows us to address this disorder from a broader perspective.
Emotional Bonds Not Established in Infancy
According to Gabor Maté, the automatic distancing response that develops in the brains of individuals with ADHD is related to emotional deficits experienced in early childhood. In this period, when the baby cannot establish the emotional bonds it needs, it is left alone with feelings such as loneliness and shame. Infants cannot make sense of their parents’ stress, distraction or emotional coldness, but they feel it.
When the parent’s attention is diverted elsewhere or when the baby is made to feel as if the baby is the cause of tensions at home, the frustration triggers a mental distancing mechanism. This mechanism causes the child to divert attention to other stimuli in the environment. This may be the infant’s survival strategy, but this strategy can lead to chronic distraction at an older age.
Reward Mechanism and Anxiety
Differences in the Reward Mechanism:
During infancy and childhood, the process of exploration is supported by a reward mechanism linked to the brain’s dopamine system. This system gives the child a sense of fulfilment during learning and exploration. However, in children with ADHD, this system does not function properly. Due to this situation, the child, who cannot learn the limits and boundaries, continues to exhibit behaviours that he/she should not do despite all the warnings of his/her parents.
Anxiety and Hyperactivity:
Hyperactivity is closely related to anxiety. When a child encounters a source of stress that he/she cannot control, he/she tends to become physically or mentally active. This mobility is the child’s coping mechanism for stress. For example, a child growing up in an environment where a parent is constantly angry or tense may be constantly on the move to get away from this anxiety-filled atmosphere.
The Effect of Family Dynamics on ADHD
Child psychology reveals how critical the relationship between the child and parents is to the child’s development. One of the most important factors that aggravate the symptoms of ADHD is the parents’ reactions to the child.
Parents’ overreactions, outbursts of anger or condescending behaviour make the child feel incomplete, inadequate and worthless. When a child grows up feeling that everything they do is wrong, the traumatic effects of these feelings stay with them for life. These negative beliefs, especially those formed at a young age, shape the child’s perception of himself/herself in later life.
ADHD and Emotional Traumas
When a child is not emotionally supported and cannot find the secure attachment environment they need, emotional pain triggers a mental escape mechanism. This escape causes the child to withdraw from reality and focus their attention in other directions. For example, the child may daydream or show signs of hyperactivity in order to mentally escape from a situation that makes them feel bad.
In this process, if children are constantly exposed to criticism from the adults around them, these criticisms become negative thoughts that echo in their minds. These echoes cause the individual to feel mental fatigue and lose self-esteem in later ages.
Conclusion
Child psychology provides us with valuable information to understand the root causes of a complex difference such as ADHD and to manage this condition. As emphasised by Gabor Maté, ADHD is rooted in emotional bonds and traumas that were not established in the early period. In this context, meeting the emotional needs of the child, supporting him/her and proceeding with the right approach is vital both to alleviate the negative effects of ADHD and to contribute to the child’s growth as a healthy individual.
One of the most important steps towards a healthy life with ADHD is for parents to pay more attention to their children’s emotional world, accept them as they are, and seek support from a psychologist or ADHD coach if needed. It should not be forgotten that every child can discover their potential and become a strong individual with the right support.
