
18. Kid Stuck in Negative Thinking? Do this Today.
From Connected and Capable by Alisha Grogan
May 4, 2026 · 26 min
About this episode
In this episode, Alisha Grogan discusses how to help children overcome negative thinking patterns associated with ADHD and anxiety.
Does your child quickly jump to: “I’m bad.” “I never do anything right.” “Everything always goes wrong.” That kind of negative thinking can be exhausting for kids and heartbreaking for parents to watch. In this episode, I’m breaking down what’s often really happening underneath these thought patterns in kids with ADHD, anxiety, sensory needs, and other uniquely wired challenges. I’m also sharing a simple shift you can start using today to help your child move out of all-or-nothing thinking, build confidence, and feel more emotionally steady. If your child is hard on themselves, melts down after mistakes, or always expects the worst, this episode will help you see them differently and know where to start next. Key Timestamps: 02:18 What’s really happening under “I’m bad” thoughts 05:12 The hidden link between ADHD, anxiety, and self-talk 09:45 Why logic doesn’t work in the moment 13:08 The first thing to do before teaching confidence 16:42 A simple script to shift black-and-white thinking 22:05 How to build self-esteem in everyday moments Grab your free printable copy of our 5 Big Calming Techniques for Big Emotions + Dysregulation-- https://yourkidstable.com/emotions-printable/…
People in this episode
Host: Alisha Grogan
Topics covered
- negative thinking
- ADHD
- anxiety
- self-esteem
- parenting strategies
Keywords
- negative thinking
- ADHD
- anxiety
- self-talk
- confidence
- emotional regulation
- parenting
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