THE LINK BETWEEN ADHD, SENSORY SYSTEMS, AND BIG EMOTIONS

Are you raising a child who feels deeply, reacts quickly, or struggles more than others to handle everyday challenges? Do you ever find yourself thinking: “Why can’t they just calm down?” “Why do small things become big explosions?” “Why does it feel like the world affects them so much more?”

If so, you are not alone. Many children today are mislabeled as “dramatic,” “defiant,” or “too emotional,” when the real story is often overlooked:

As a practitioner of Chinese medicine, kinesiology, and biofeedback for over 20 years, I’ve supported countless families who felt confused, frustrated, or judged, until they learned what was happening in their child’s nervous system. When we understand a child’s sensory world, we unlock compassion, clarity, and better tools.

Your Child’s Brain is Not Broken - It’s Working Differently

Imagine your child’s brain as a control panel with buttons for sound, touch, movement, emotions, hunger, energy, and more. For some children:

Buttons Are Turned Too HIGH (Oversensitive)

They notice EVERYTHING! Sounds, feelings, movement, smells, tension. Their system says, “This is too much.”

Buttons Are Turned Too LOW (Sensory Seeking)

They need extra input to feel grounded and regulated. Their system says: “I need more.”

Neither is wrong. It’s simply how the nervous system communicates. When those sensory buttons don’t match the environment? We see tears, shutdowns, meltdowns, or “big behaviors.” Through the lens of the Chinese Five Elements, big emotions make more sense:

Character	Element	Dominant Emotions	What They Need
Ryangry	Wood	Anger, frustration	Movement & boundaries
Dramamia	Fire	Intensity, overwhelm	Calm reassurance
Fearolina	Water	Worry, fear	Space & certainty
Pleasington	Earth	Over-caring, worry	Connection & self-kindness
Perfectron	Metal	Sadness, perfection	Flexibility & self-acceptance

When we pair sensory understanding and emotions, children feel seen, and their behavior improves naturally.

Small Shifts Make a BIG Difference

You do not need to change who your child is. You need tools that match how their nervous system works. There is more than one way and no "one size fits all". For home, here are free resources to start exploring:

Videos:

Sensory Massage for Calming the Nervous System - A simple, Shiatsu Massage routine to support regulation.

Emotion Exercise - Short tools matched to each emotion character, helping kids move feelings through their bodies instead of holding them in.

Our Creativity Book:

(Amazon) / (Printable) Supports: open-minded thinking, emotional flexibility, “mistakes are how we learn” mindset, growing confidence through creativity and curiosity

Podcast Conversations:

Deep dives into sensory-emotional development and empowering children from the inside out. Exploring Exceptional Minds - The Sensory Gut Connection - Apple Podcasts / Spotify

The Pause that Connects - Navigating Emotions: The Chinese Elements Approach - Apple Podcasts

You Are Not Alone - and Your Child Is Not “Too Much”

Every big feeling is communication. Every “behavior” has a root. And once we understand the sensory and emotional layers, everything becomes clearer. If you would like to ask questions, explore support, or request school workshops, I would love to hear from you: neta@mistakeandfriends.com

Let’s keep raising kids who feel, learn, and grow, not in the way the world expects, but in the way they are meant to.