What Kids Are Carrying is a HuffPost UK series focusing on how the nation’s youngest generation is *really* feeling right now – and how parents and caregivers can support them.

When I reached out to therapists and counsellors about the themes that cropped up most in therapy among kids in 2025, one common thread was the impact of being neurodivergent.

If someone is neurodivergent, their brain “diverges from what is considered typical”, according to SEN psychotherapist Gee Eltringham. This can encompass ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and Tourette’s syndrome.

Belinda Gidman-Rowse, a mental health practitioner and school counsellor in a primary school in Devon, sees around 50 children between the ages of eight and 11 each school term. She notes that a “significant proportion” are navigating either diagnosed or undiagnosed ADHD and/or autism.

Counselling Directory member and therapist Debbie Keenan is also supporting neurodivergent children while they await diagnosis – “this period is often filled with uncertainty, anxiety, and confusion,” she explains.

“Many children already experience challenges such as feeling different, struggling with emotions, or finding school and social situations overwhelming.”

NHS waiting times for diagnosis can vary massively – kids may have to wait months or even years for support from specialist services, forcing parents to find strategies to help their child cope in the meantime, or pay to go private.

In schools, special educational needs (SEN) support can be patchy and hard-won.

Therapists are noticing two key themes in particular when neurodivergent children need mental health support.

While there can be a range of specific issues brought to therapy by neurodivergent children, Counselling Directory member Belinda Gidman-Rowse, has noticed a recurring theme.

“With all the children I see, there is often a pervasive narrative of being either ‘too much’ or ‘not enough’ which really impacts their self-esteem and sense of belonging in the world,” she says, “which is really sad to see.”

Some children will come to her wanting to make sense of their diagnosis – what it means for them, how others see them, and how they fit in to their school and home life.

“There can be a real sensitivity to feeling ‘different’ along with fears of being judged, excluded, or labelled in ways that don’t feel kind or accurate,” she explains.

On top of this, children can get stuck in cycles where their distress is expressed through behaviour, which is then met with punishment or frustration from adults – it’s something Gidman-Rowse notes can deepen the underlying overwhelm rather than resolve it.

“Over time, if these experiences aren’t understood, they can affect self-esteem quite deeply and, in more serious cases, increase vulnerability to things like self-harm as a coping strategy for dealing with overwhelming feelings,” she adds.

Another major element of what brings these children to therapy is the day-to-day impact of being neurodivergent.

Gidman-Rowse says for children with ADHD, this might look like difficulties focusing in class, frustration with learning, or challenges managing big emotions – “particularly anger, which can be heightened when they feel misunderstood or frequently corrected”.

Children might have explosive anger outbursts which caregivers describe as “coming out of nowhere”, and “going from 0-60”, says the counsellor.

“This can be incredibly challenging for families and teachers alike, and for the child themselves, who often feels out of control, and then ashamed or confused afterwards – they are aware that it is damaging their relationships but they feel unable to manage it.”

For children with autism, themes in therapy often centre around friendships and social situations, as there can be challenges in reading social cues and difficulties communicating their feelings and needs to others.

The key advice seems to be: remain present, calm, caring and essentially become your child’s anchor to help them weather the various storms they may encounter.

Curiosity is key. “Approaching a child with curiosity rather than correction – for example, asking, ‘What’s feeling hard right now?’– can open up the conversation,” says Gidman-Rowse, while validating their emotions (for example, saying “that sounds really overwhelming!”) helps a child feel seen.

Gently helping them name what they’re feeling can also support regulation, says the counsellor, though some children might also need visual tools to do this (a feelings chart which you can print out and stick to your fridge might help).

If your child is awaiting a diagnosis, offering support and small changes at home can help steady them in the meantime. These include:

• Reducing demands on your child’s already stretched system by breaking tasks into smaller steps.
• Understanding triggers, such as sensory overload, changes in routine, or social demands, so you can anticipate them and reduce distress.
• Offering consistent, calm guidance in times of transition during the day.
• Giving them time and space to decompress after the school day to help reduce the intensity of meltdowns.
• Engaging in co-operative, two-way communication with your school teachers and SENCo.
• Seeking therapeutic support with a neurodiversity-affirming therapist.

Therapist Debbie Keenan says it’s “important to recognise and celebrate a child’s strengths while also acknowledging their challenges without judgement”.

For kids with ADHD, offering simple instructions followed by praise can help build “I can do it” feelings, instead of negative self-talk. Recognising your child’s efforts, even if things don’t go to plan, and prioritising one-to-one time together can also help boost self-esteem, according to Connect children’s services.

Social rejection, bullying and communication challenges are just some of the factors which can contribute towards low self-esteem in autistic kids, notes Autism Parenting Magazine.

As such, for parents, focusing on a child’s strengths, encouraging special interests, using positive reinforcement and providing opportunities for success can all help improve how they feel about themselves.

Marco Rubio has revealed Donald Trump’s latest goal for the Iran war is to effectively undo the last three months of chaos.

The US president chose to work with Israel to bomb Iran at the end of February after international negotiations over capping Tehran’s ability to build a nuclear weapon stalled.

Iran hit back by targeting US military bases across the Middle East and effectively closing the major oil shipping lane, the Strait of Hormuz.

That has sent the price of oil up, increasing the cost of living around the world.

The US tried to impose its own blockade on the Strait in retaliation, while also continuing to bomb Iran, but to no avail.

Tehran also claims to have collected tolls from commercial vessels who want free travel through the waterway, though the US denies it.

Iran previously suggested tankers would have to pay $2 million to cross the Middle Eastern waterway – a huge cost which would trickle down to consumers.

Meanwhile, questions over exactly what America is trying to achieve with the war continues.

As the cost of the war continues to grow, the White House is desperately looking for an off-ramp.

US secretary of state Rubio tried to explain what Washington was doing to the press this week – but only added to the confusion as to why the war even started.

He said: “As President Trump said and as the facts clearly bear out, the United States holds all the cards.

“There is no scenario here where if they decide to join a ladder of escalation, they end up getting the last say.

“It’s for the Strait to be open, back to the way it was. It’s for anyone to use it, no mines in the water, nobody paying tolls.

“That’s what we have to get back to and that’s the goal here.”

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We’ve written before about how the sounds singers hear in their earpieces differ from what you’d expect.

But the rockstar revelations don’t stop there ― if (like me) you’ve always wondered what a singer is meant to do if they feel the urge to go mid-show, unfortunately, we’ve found some answers.

In a revolting but riveting video, TikTokker and pop culture lover John Joseph revealed how celebs handle the “if you gotta go…” problem.

Responding to another TikTokker’s comment which read “If Taylor can hold it, so can I,” the creator said, “Well, that’s because Taylor [Swift] is most likely not holding it during her three-hour show.”

They went on to explain that the singer’s Era’s tour set was three hours long, and while he “doesn’t know if this is Taylor’s tactic, there is such a thing called a pee bucket.”

I regret to inform you that it’s exactly what you think it is. Again, there’s no proof Taylor uses one ― but other celebs and singers have gone on record for having used one in the past.

“You see, at most concerts, there are two different dressing rooms for the artist,” Joseph shared. There’s “the one that they get ready in,” which “usually has a bathroom connected to it.”

But then, there’s the second makeshift dressing room (also known as a trap) which is “usually under the stage so that artists can do their quick change” and refresh their hair and makeup without being seen.

This is usually closer to the action than the singers’ fully-kitted dressing rooms, so, Joseph warns, it’s a likely spot for a pee bucket.

Katy Perry, the Jonas brothers, Kelly Clarkson, and even Kendall Jenner have admitted to using the makeshift loo.

“You walk on stage feeling like Mary Poppins but really you’ve just had your skin zipped, peed in a bucket and been dry-heaving over the trash can,” Katy told The Sun.

While in Kelly’s case, the bucket was actually a trash can backstage rather than a bucket under the stage, it was used for even more ~nefarious~ purposes than peeing after she ate some dodgy food.

“Well, I’ll tell you right now, there was one time – it wasn’t pee, my friend,” she revealed on The Kelly Clarkson Show

“I got some kind of wrecked up from some kind of food. We were in an arena – and I shouldn’t tell this story, but like I said, my man, I don’t have a filter. I had to run backstage to my quick-change. I grabbed this poor trash can, and boy, I destroyed it. It was bad,” she shared.

Well, that’s changed how I view concerts forever…

Keir Starmer is tonight locked in a Mexican stand-off with his Labour leadership rivals after refusing to quit despite four ministers so far resigning in a bid to force him out.

The prime minister told his cabinet to “get on with governing” rather than plotting his downfall.

“The past 48 hours have been destabilising for government and that has a real economic cost for our country and for families,” Starmer told them at the weekly cabinet meeting

“The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered.”

Starmer made his remarks and then said there would be no discussion of the leadership issue or the fallout from last week’s elections, when Labour were humiliated in England, Scotland and Wales.

Dozens of Labour MPs have now called on the PM to set out a timetable for his departure.

Junior ministers Jess Phillips, Miatta Fahnbulleh, Alex Davies-Jones and Zubir Ahmed also resigned after deciding they could no longer serve in Starmer’s government.

However, cabinet loyalists Steve Reed, Pat McFadden, Liz Kendal and Peter Kyle put on a dramatic display of support for the prime minister.

Leaving 10 Downing Street after this morning’s cabinet meeting, they took the unusual step of addressing the waiting media to say they were backing the PM.

Meanwhile, leadership hopefuls Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham remained tight-lipped as they weighed up their options.

It is understood Streeting, the health secretary, tried to speak to Starmer after the cabinet meeting but was rebuffed.

A government source said: “Keir said in cabinet that he won’t discuss the elections or his leadership, and that he will only speak to cabinet ministers about that individually. Then after the meeting he refused to see cabinet ministers individually.”

Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, travelled to London but it is still unclear if he has identified a seat to stand in to give him the chance of becoming an MP again.

Despite speculation that a Labour MP in a safe seat has agreed to stand down for him, no announcement is thought to be imminent.

Amid all the turmoil, tomorrow’s King’s Speech will set out the Starmer government’s plans for the parliamentary year ahead.

But it remains highly unlikely that he will be prime minister long enough to deliver it.

Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.