Komisar argues that chronic early stress—triggered by practices like sleep training, early daycare, or parental conflict—activates the amygdala prematurely, disrupting healthy brain development and weakening the hippocampus, which regulates stress. This neurobiological imbalance mirrors symptoms diagnosed as ADHD. While genetic sensitivity plays a role, it's not destiny; secure attachment and empathic parenting in the first year can neutralize risks. Rather than defaulting to stimulant medications, which are often overprescribed and carry side effects, she advocates for addressing root emotional causes. The conversation also critiques societal values that prioritize achievement over emotional well-being, emphasizing that presence, emotional regulation, and empathy in caregivers are foundational. Ultimately, ADHD may be less a disorder and more a reflection of unmet developmental needs and untreated early anxiety.