After her twins threw an epic tantrum, Julie sat down, head in hand: Other parents seem to handle this—why does it drain me so much? When she saw her ADHD therapist the next day, she felt validated knowing that feeling tired isn’t a character flaw. The reality was that parenting taxes the very brain systems ADHD already struggles with: executive functioning. This blog explains how executive functioning impacts parenting and how to cope through therapist-approved strategies, ADHD testing, and ADHD-informed counseling.
What is Executive Functioning?
Executive functions are the brain’s management system. They are the skills that help you plan, focus, organize, and regulate emotions. In adults with ADHD, this system works differently from that of those without ADHD. This means everyday tasks that require structure and follow-through often take significantly more mental effort than people realize.
Here are some of the exact parts of the executive functioning system:
- Working memory: the mind’s ability to hold onto new information
- Self-control: things like impulsivity, oversharing, calming big emotions, and blurting things out in conversation,
- Task initiation: getting started on daunting tasks or mundane
- Task completion: completing projects through to their completion
Executive functions help us remain calm in a storm. When they are taxed, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, creating…
Sensory Overload
The brain uses executive functions to manage our response to our environment. When the situation is loud, chaotic, or noisy, we get overstimulated. That’s hard for parents, who are in that situation, literally all the time. As a result, many parents get irritable with their children or are easily overwhelmed. This hurts self-esteem. Leading to a strong…
Inner Critic
ADHD testing and counseling reveal that parents often carry lifelong narratives of feeling “not good enough.” Let’s be honest: you’ve likely compared yourself to other parents and think they have it “all together.” This tends to deepen shame and guilt, which only leads to parenting burnout. This exhaustion is a signal that more support is needed, not a failure.
How to Cope Without Adding More Onto Your List
1. Externalize the Load: People with ADHD have a hard time offloading. In a sense, it’s a form of asking for help, which is hard when you believe you need to “have it all,” But offloading is one of the best tools for reducing overwhelm with ADHD. Consider using visual systems, routines, and reminders to offload your brain.
2. Reduce, Don’t Optimize: Maybe you’re not failing because you can’t get things done. Maybe there’s too much to do and not enough time. Many adults with ADHD succeed when they consider what they can offload or (drum roll) not do at all. While this might feel like defeat, it’s not. Burning out and breaking down are signs that you might be juggling too much.
3. Build in Guilt-Free Recovery Time: People with ADHD only have so much energy to give. We need breaks and rest time to recharge dopamine stores. If burnout and overwhelm are dragging you down, it’s a signal to rest. The hard part is not feeling guilty. Few people with ADHD recognize that their guilt for downtime is often unwarranted. Consider rest a form of preventive medication, rather than a guilty pleasure. Your mind will thank you later.
A Different Definition of “Good Parent”
At our Ohio ADHD testing and counseling center, we often see adults with ADHD setting an impossibly high standard for what it means to be a “good parent.” It’s not enough to show up. You feel constant pressure to be a perfect one, especially if you’ve spent years being told you do things differently.
While it’s true that ADHD means your brain works differently, that only means you need different types of support to cope. The goal isn’t to be the perfect parent (no such thing exists anyway)—it’s to create enough inner calm and self-trust to parent with consistency and emotional availability. That means taking care of yourself and getting ADHD-friendly systems in place. This makes the space for a loving and healthy relationship.
Learn to Cope With ADHD While Parenting: Start With Online ADHD Counseling in Cincinnati, Ohio
If parenting feels constantly overwhelming, mentally draining, or harder than it seems for others, online ADHD testing may provide the answers you’ve been searching for. Many parents don’t realize that undiagnosed adult ADHD can intensify stress, emotional fatigue, and day-to-day parenting challenges—and identifying it can be the first step toward meaningful relief.
Our Ohio-based ADHD testing and therapy center offers secure, online ADHD assessments designed specifically for adults. Led by clinicians who specialize in ADHD, our virtual evaluations help you understand how attention, executive functioning, and emotional regulation may be contributing to parental burnout—without judgment or unnecessary complexity.
Getting started is straightforward:
- Submit our online contact form to request ADHD testing. A clinical director or intake coordinator will follow up to schedule a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation.
- Meet virtually with an ADHD specialist in Cincinnati who will walk you through the evaluation process and address your parenting-related concerns.
- Receive clear results and expert recommendations, empowering you to pursue treatment options that reduce overwhelm and support more sustainable parenting.
You don’t have to keep pushing through exhaustion without answers. A thoughtful ADHD assessment can help you better understand yourself—and create a more manageable, supported parenting experience.
Cope With ADHD & More: Other Services Offered at Focused Mind ADHD Counseling in Ohio
If you’re navigating parenting while managing ADHD, online ADHD testing can bring clarity to the challenges that fuel daily exhaustion and overwhelm. With an accurate assessment and the right follow-up care, parents can better understand their needs, cope with burnout, and build more sustainable routines at home.
Focused Mind ADHD Counseling offers far more than online ADHD evaluations. Our practice provides comprehensive, ADHD-informed mental health services for adults, with a strong focus on how ADHD impacts parenting, emotional regulation, and family dynamics. Beyond ADHD treatment, our clinicians support adults dealing with ADHD-related anxiety, depression, relationship stress, and identity-specific concerns that often intensify parenting fatigue.
We also offer specialized therapy for men with ADHD, women with ADHD, and couples navigating ADHD’s effects on family life, along with counseling for partners of individuals with ADHD. To support ongoing growth and understanding, our blog includes therapist-written resources and practical insights to help parents with ADHD feel more confident, supported, and equipped for daily life.
About the Author
Billy Roberts, LISW-S, LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist and ADHD specialist based in Columbus, Ohio, and the founder of Focused Mind ADHD Counseling. He has extensive experience providing ADHD testing and counseling for adults, with a strong focus on how ADHD impacts parenting, emotional regulation, and family dynamics. Known for his practical, ADHD-informed approach, Billy helps parents gain clarity around their symptoms, reduce overwhelm, and build more effective, connected relationships with their children. His work and clinical insights have been featured in Time Magazine, CNN, HuffPost, and Forbes.
