ADHD Thrive Institute

ADHD Thrive Institute Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner. Helping families reduce ADHD symptoms naturally!

All I want for Christmas is for my child to be...normal...If you’ve ever had that thought, you’re not a bad parent for t...
12/22/2025

All I want for Christmas is for my child to be...normal...

If you’ve ever had that thought, you’re not a bad parent for thinking it.

You’re a tired parent.

A human parent.

A real parent.

One who’s probably been dealing with meltdowns during what should be a “magical” season…

One who’s walking on eggshells at family gatherings, praying your child makes it through dinner without a scene…

One who’s silently grieving the holiday you imagined, wondering, Why can’t things just feel easier?

I want to say something you may not hear enough: It’s okay to feel that way.

And… it’s also okay to reframe what “normal” really means.

Because here’s the truth:

What looks like “bad behavior” is often a child's body communicating, saying, I’m overwhelmed or I don’t feel safe or Something’s not working right inside.

That’s why I always say the better question isn’t, “Is this normal behavior?”

But instead....

What is my child’s body trying to tell me?

When we start asking that question, everything changes.

Just read what Kimberly, one of the moms in our community, shared about how her Christmas experience changed after working with us to figure out what her child's body was trying to tell her.

If you’re longing for more hope, peace, and clarity this season, I’d love to help you find your own version of that. Leave me a comment here or shoot me a PM to learn more.

12/21/2025

If you’ve ever had that gut feeling that something deeper is driving your child’s ADHD symptoms, you’re right to trust it.

Functional lab testing helps us move past the guesswork. Instead of asking, “Are these results in range?” it asks, “Why is this happening in the first place?”

We use tests like the Wheat Zoomer with leaky gut markers and Comprehensive Food Sensitivity Test to uncover what’s really going on inside the body, things like inflammation, gut imbalance, or immune reactions that standard labs often miss.

For many parents, seeing those results is the first time the biology behind their child’s behavior actually makes sense.

If you’re ready to explore what might be happening inside your child’s body, drop the word “CALL” below and we’ll send you a link via DM to book a free ADHD Thrive Breakthrough Call with our expert team.

12/19/2025

Comment PODCAST for the link to listen!

“Is this normal... or is this ADHD?”

It’s the question that keeps so many parents up at night.

Because kids are messy. They forget things. They fidget. They cry over the “wrong” colored cup.

But when those behaviors become patterns that disrupt daily life, it might be your child’s body saying: something deeper is going on.

So how can you tell the difference?

Here’s what I always tell the families I work with👇

→ Normal is occasional forgetfulness.

🚩 Concerning is never remembering, even with support.

→ Normal is an emotional outburst during stress.

🚩 Concerning is daily meltdowns over minor things.

→ Normal is a bit of fidgeting in class.

🚩 Concerning is constant disruption or inability to complete tasks.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about patterns, frequency, intensity, and how much it’s affecting your child’s ability to thrive.

I break this down even more on the latest episode of the Soaring Child podcast.

🎧 Want the link? Comment “PODCAST” and I’ll send it your way.

The other day, a mom I work with messaged me in a panic.Her son had a meltdown at school after weeks of doing really wel...
12/18/2025

The other day, a mom I work with messaged me in a panic.

Her son had a meltdown at school after weeks of doing really well.

And her first thought was:

“What did I miss? Are we backsliding? Is it the diet? A supplement? Is this ADHD again?”

I get it.

When you’ve worked so hard to support your child’s nervous system…

One bad day can feel like a crisis.

But here’s what I told her...and what I want to tell you too:

Even kids doing well will have hard days. Just like we do.

It doesn’t always mean something deeper is wrong.

Sometimes it just means…they’re having a hard moment.

Progress doesn’t mean zero symptoms. It means reduced frequency, lower intensity, and faster recovery.

Our kids are growing. Learning. And sometimes, struggling.

If your child is allowed to laugh, play, grow, and thrive....

They’re allowed to fall apart sometimes too.

Just like us.

Let’s stop expecting perfection, and start looking at the bigger picture.

❤️ If this hits home, tell me in the comments: When’s the last time you had an off day and needed a little grace?

The one question that can haunt even the most confident parent..."Is this behavior normal...or is something else going o...
12/17/2025

The one question that can haunt even the most confident parent...

"Is this behavior normal...or is something else going on?"

Swipe through for clarity...and if you want to dive deeper into this topic, listen to my recent Soaring Child podcast episode.

👉 Comment PODCAST and I’ll send you the link to listen!

12/17/2025

When you’re raising a child with ADHD, the advice is everywhere, but the answers still feel out of reach.

You run labs, you follow the plans, and everything comes back “normal.”

But normal doesn’t always mean optimal.

Traditional labs are designed to find disease.

Functional lab testing goes deeper, it looks at the why.

It uncovers gut imbalances, detox issues, nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, and other biological stresses that can drive ADHD symptoms.

This is how we move from managing behaviors to understanding the biology behind them. 💛

👇 Comment “BIOLOGY” below and I’ll send you my free Biology Beneath Flip Guide.

It walks you through how to start uncovering the hidden biological factors affecting your child's ADHD symptoms and what to do to begin supporting their body naturally.

Because ADHD isn’t just in the brain, it’s in the biology.

And when you address what’s happening inside, everything changes.

12/16/2025

Public school wasn’t made for many ADHD brains. When kids move from being labeled to being truly supported, everything changes. ✨📚

I’m joined by Leslee Dirnberger, founder of Aspire Education and mom of four, who has helped thousands of families create learning paths that actually fit their child, backed by real-world experience and a legal lens on parents’ rights. 🙌

🎙️ In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, we cover your first legal steps, what “deschooling” really looks like, how to structure days with movement, and why defining a “good education” as a family can be a game changer.

👇 Comment PODCAST and I’ll send you the link to listen!

Curious about the BEST functional lab tests for ADHD kids? When you're supporting a child with ADHD, understanding their...
12/15/2025

Curious about the BEST functional lab tests for ADHD kids?

When you're supporting a child with ADHD, understanding their unique health profile is key.

I recommend five functional lab tests that provide actionable insights.

(I have access to LOTS more tests, and will often use additional tests based on specific needs, but these are the top 5 tests I typically start with):

1️⃣ Wheat Zoomer Test from Vibrant Wellness Labs – Identifies gluten reactivity and intestinal permeability

2️⃣ Food Sensitivity Test also from – Highlights immune-triggering foods that increase inflammation

3️⃣ Organic Acids Test (or OAT for short) – Evaluates detox, neurotransmitter function, and nutrient status

4️⃣ Comprehensive Stool Test – Looks at gut infections, yeast, digestion, and immune response

5️⃣ Kryptopyrrole Test – Checks for pyroluria, a condition that can contribute to ADHD symptoms and is often missed in standard assessments.

With these tests, we are able to tailor our approach to a child's ADHD with precision and care.

👉 Want to know more about these specific tests? Comment YOUTUBE and then watch the 4-part series I just shared on functional lab testing for ADHD kids!

12/12/2025

Got questions about Pyroluria or nutrient deficiencies in ADHD kids?

Drop them here and follow for more expert tips that go deeper than behavior.

Is it ADHD...or could it be elevated kryptopyrroles? Kryptopyrroles are one of the most overlooked reasons we see for me...
12/12/2025

Is it ADHD...or could it be elevated kryptopyrroles?

Kryptopyrroles are one of the most overlooked reasons we see for meltdowns, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation in ADHD kids.

And guess what? It’s easy to test for (and even easier to miss in traditional care).

We run a simple, noninvasive urine test that shows whether the body is dumping out key nutrients like zinc and vitamin B6.

If you’ve tried diet changes, supplements, or behavior therapy but your child is still struggling emotionally, this might be the missing piece.

👉 Swipe through to learn more about Kryptopyrrole and how it can affect ADHD kids. Comment 100% when you've read them all! Then ❤️ this post and share it on your stories!

When Allyson shared this Facebook post, I may have cried a little bit...I cried happy tears for Allyson...but also becau...
12/10/2025

When Allyson shared this Facebook post, I may have cried a little bit...

I cried happy tears for Allyson...but also because I remember what this felt like.

I remember living with the emotional rollercoaster of daily meltdowns and explosive anger, walking on eggshells all day long.

If you can relate to this feeling too, I want you to know that those outbursts might not be about behavior at all.

One of the most overlooked reasons we see for mood swings, irritability, and emotional dysregulation is a nutrient-robbing condition called Pyroluria.

And what's crazy is that it's not hard to figure out if a child is battling this!

We run a simple urine test that shows whether a child’s body has elevated Kryptopyrrole levels.

In essence, Pyroluria (or elevated Kryptopyrrole levels) cause the body to lose vitamin B6 and zinc before it can use them.

These two nutrients are critical for emotional regulation, focus, and stress response, so when they’re depleted, the brain is running on empty, and kids often show it through intense emotional reactions.

Think of it like this...

High Kryptopyrrole levels can lead to depleted Zinc & B6 which can led to BIG emotional reactions.

The good news, though, is that when you identify it, you can support it, and things can start to shift, sometimes really quickly. Even within a week or two.

Have questions about Kryptopyrrole? Drop them in the comments!

12/10/2025

Imagine your child’s body like a trash removal system. 🗑️

Every day, it collects waste - from toxins, inflammatory foods, and stress hormones.

When the liver, gut, or lymphatic system are working well, that “trash” gets taken out overnight.

But when those systems are sluggish or blocked?

That waste builds up - and spills over into symptoms like meltdowns, poor focus, hyperactivity, and anxiety.

That’s the biology beneath ADHD symptoms that most people never talk about.

If you’ve tried everything and still feel stuck, your child’s body might just be full of clues.

👇 Comment “BIOLOGY” and I’ll send you my free guide that helps you uncover what’s really happening inside your child’s body.

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About our road to Thrive

Hi, I’m Dana Kay and I am Board Certified Holistic Health and Nutrition Practitioner. It’s my goal to help families who have been impacted by neuro-developmental disorders like ADHD, SPD, Anxiety and Autism (to name a few), through functional lab work to help identify HIDDEN stressors and dysfunctions and implementing a holistic and all-natural family approach to health and wellness.

Not only do I want to share my education, skills and knowledge with you and your family, but I also want to share the wisdom that I’ve gained through the challenges that my family has encountered in dealing with these disorders.

How Our Journey Began

I wasn’t always this passionate and educated about nutrition and neurodevelopmental disorders. Actually, my educational background was in Business and Accounting, where I completed my tertiary studies and spent the next 15 years in those industries. In some ways, I also felt like I became a magician as I pulled off a balancing act with my corporate career and managing our home.