You notice your child constantly checking their to-do lists, revisiting assignments they’ve already submitted, or asking you repeatedly if there’s something they’ve forgotten. Beneath these behaviors is a deeper feeling: the fear that they’re missing something important—and it’s weighing them down.”
For neurodiverse students, this fear isn’t just about organization—it’s about their internal narrative. They hold themselves to impossibly high standards, and the thought of forgetting or missing something feels like failing, not just in school or university but as a person. This constant vigilance takes a toll, creating anxiety, self-doubt, and exhaustion.
The problem isn’t just the fear of missing something—it’s the relentless cycle it creates. The more your child tries to stay on top of everything, the more overwhelmed they become, and the harder it feels to keep up. This leaves them doubting their abilities and questioning their worth, even when they’re doing everything they can. And as a parent, you see their stress but might feel unsure of how to help without adding pressure.
This week in therapy, we worked with a high school senior who said through tears welling up in her eyes, “I feel like I’m always forgetting something. No matter how hard I try, it feels like I’m falling behind.”
They shared how this constant fear made it hard to focus, even on tasks they enjoyed. They would double-check their work, rewrite lists, and stay up late trying to make sure they hadn’t missed anything—only to wake up more anxious the next day.
When I asked how this affected their relationship with their parents, they said, “I don’t want to let them down. I know they’re trying to help, but when they ask if I’ve finished something, it makes me feel worse—like I’ve already failed.”
Here’s what we did through therapy and tutoring: We started by breaking the cycle of overchecking. Together, we created a “task parking lot”—a system where they could write down tasks or worries as they came up without immediately acting on them. We also worked on reassuring them that making a mistake or forgetting something didn’t define their worth.
Behind the scenes, I collaborated with their tutor to build an executive functioning system that supported their ADHD challenges, including a streamlined way to track assignments and prioritize tasks. Their parents also shifted their language from “Did you finish this?” to “What’s the most important thing for you today?”—helping reduce pressure while fostering trust.
The result? They started feeling more confident, less overwhelmed, and more capable of handling their responsibilities without the fear of constantly falling short.
If you’ve noticed your child struggling with this constant fear of forgetting something, it’s not just about organization—it’s about helping them feel secure in themselves. At Warrior Brain, we provide integrated therapy and tutoring services that work together to support both their emotional resilience and practical skills, making life easier for them and for you, as they learn to help themselves learn what works best for them.
