ADHD Guide

Best of 2022: Must-Read Articles by ADHD Experts

Real talk about revenge bedtime procrastination. Anger-management insights. Childhood anxiety truths. ADDitude’s expert contributors offered invaluable guidance on a broad range of topics in 2022. Here are our favorites, along with supplemental resources and honorable mentions. 

By ADDitude Editors Verified Updated on December 19, 2022
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Woman with ADHD sitting on top of mountain overlooking lake at sunset thinking about her diagnosis
Woman with ADHD sitting on top of mountain overlooking lake at sunset thinking about her diagnosis
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1. Five Overlooked Signs of ADHD – the Inattentive Type

People with inattentive ADHD often go undiagnosed, as they don’t exhibit the symptoms of impulsivity and hyperactivity so frequently associated with the condition. But when untreated, the symptoms of inattentive ADHD — distractibility, trouble following directions and difficulty completing tasks, among other things — can lead to mental fatigue and other negative consequences. The first step in treating these symptoms is recognizing them. Here, Sharon Saline, Psy.D., helps readers accomplish that by shedding light on the five most commonly overlooked signs of inattentive ADHD.

Inattentive ADHD: Additional Resources
Sad boy feeling left out, teased and bullied by his classmates. Unhappy boy having problems fitting in with others at school
Credit: Yobro10/Getty Images
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2. The Social Executive Function Skills That Elude Kids with ADHD

Dominating conversations. Not showing interest in others. Telling cringey jokes. Children and teens with ADHD know these social struggles all too well. That’s because the executive function skills needed to navigate social situations — namely perspective-taking, cognitive flexibility, and situational awareness — are often weak in kids with ADHD. These critical skills, though, can be learned. In this article, Ryan Wexelblatt, LCSW, equips parents of struggling kids with practical strategies to help bolster social executive function skills, and strengthen friendships.

Social Skills for Kids with ADHD: Additional Resources
Young woman laying in bed and using smart phone at low light.
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3. How to Break the Exhausting Habit of Revenge Bedtime Procrastination

Revenge bedtime procrastination is a complicated name for a simple (and common) phenomenon: putting off sleep in favor of “me time” activities — often involving Netflix, social media, and next-day exhaustion. Here, Tracy Otsuka, JD, LLM, AACC, explains the roots of this unhealthy sleep habit, why individuals with ADHD are particularly prone to it, and what you can do to break the cycle and improve your sleep.

Revenge Bedtime Procrastination: Additional Resources
Family fighting 2D vector isolated illustration. Kid stressed over mom and dad. Arguing parents and upset child flat characters on cartoon background. Troubled relationships colourful scene
Credit: Nataliia Nesterenko/Getty Images
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4. When Angry Kids Lash Out: How to Defuse Explosive Reactions

Emotional dysregulation is a defining characteristic of ADHD, and children and teens often struggle with explosive, aggressive, sometimes frightening reactions that disrupt the entire family. In this article, William Dodson, M.D., LF-APA, offers detailed guidance on how parents can help kids cool down from meltdowns more quickly, and avoid outbursts in the future by fostering emotional regulation.

Angry Kids and Explosive Reactions: Additional Resources
One red sphere leading others crossing to another side from group of neatly arranged spheres.
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5. How to Change Habits: 4 Ways to Make New Behaviors Stick

Old habits are famously hard to kick and new ones are notoriously tough to make stick. It can be done, however — and it all begins with breaking a habit down to its most basic components. In this article, Christine Li, Ph.D., explains why ingrained habits persist so stubbornly, and how to disrupt and redefine them to realize real and lasting change.

How to Change Habits: Additional Resources
Credit: bebe/Getty Images
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6. What If You Are Enabling Your Child’s Anxiety?

Well-meaning adults, intent on safeguarding children against stressors, worries, and uncomfortable feelings, may inadvertently exacerbate their anxiety. Conversely, parents who model and encourage behaviors that promote resilience can prevent anxiety from developing or worsening. Here,  Caroline Buzanko, Ph.D., details parental behaviors that worsen anxiety, from catastrophizing to over-correcting, as well as those that improve anxiety, such as increasing worry tolerance and seeking to accept, rather than eliminate, worry.

Childhood Anxiety: Additional Resources
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7. How to Set Intentions to Crush Procrastination

To combat procrastination, many people turn to daily planners and timers. While helpful, these tools aren’t enough. Setting concrete intentions that specify where and when we’re going to do a task (also known as implementation intentions) is one overlooked but effective strategy to decrease procrastination. Here, Timothy Pychyl, Ph.D., lays out more elements to consider — including time, environmental cues, and action — when setting effective implementation intentions.

How to Set Intentions: Additional Resources
An illustration of a pill bottle represents the dangers of medication diversion for teens with ADHD at college
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8. The Deadly Repercussions of Stimulant Medication Misuse

This spring, the death of two Ohio State University students due to suspected use of counterfeit stimulant medication laced with synthetic opioids brought attention to the fatal consequences of stimulant medication misuse. In this article, Kevin Antshel, Ph.D., explains the scope and context of the problem on college campuses and in high schools, and offers critical risk-reduction strategies.

Adderall and Stimulant Misuse: Additional Resources
Digital generated image of Brain shape made out of multicoloured spheres on white background.
Credit: Getty Images/Andriy Onufriyenko
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9. How to Sharpen Executive Functions: Activities to Hone Brain Skills

From working memory to cognitive flexibility to inhibitory control, executive functioning skills power our daily functioning, future planning, and mental/physical health. Here, Adele Diamond, Ph.D., FRSC, FAPA, FAPS, FSEP, explains how to improve core executive functioning through recommended activities, exercises, and games.

Executive Function Skills: Additional Resources
Money Down the Drain
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10. The ADHD Tax Is Draining — Financially and Emotionally

The symptoms and traits of ADHD — from impulsivity to forgetfulness and even emotional dysregulation — translate to very real consequences. This financial and emotional cost, sometimes referred to as the ADHD tax, carries a heavy burden. But there are many steps people with ADHD can take toward managing the symptoms that cost the most – financially and emotionally. In this article, Rick Webster walks readers through those steps, with detailed information and plenty of reassurance.

The ADHD Tax: Additional Resources
How to stop bullying, upstander, stop bullying
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More Great Expert Articles

How to Demobilize a Bully in 5 Steps

Many neurodivergent kids experience bullying, teasing, or taunting from peers because of their impulsivity, clumsiness, or awkward social skills. In fact, the same impulsivity and social challenges that put kids with ADHD at risk for bullying may also lead them to take out their frustrations on others. In this article, Sharon Saline, Psy.D., explains how to recognize teasing, taunting, and bullying, plus how to deal with a bully and become an upstander for others being targeted.

Bullying and ADHD: Additional Resources

The Transformative Power of an ADHD Diagnosis for Older Women

Receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life often unlocks a range of emotions — from regret and sadness, to relief and hopefulness. It allows for the possibility of treatment, self-understanding, and acceptance, and can usher in new challenges as well. In this article, Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D., describes what she’s learned from interviewing dozens of women who received an ADHD diagnosis after the age of 60, and offers advice on how to deal with the five most common post-diagnosis challenges.

Over 60 with ADHD: Additional Resources