Medicines for ADHD?— ADHD Tip O the Day 817

 ADHD medicines – alway a controversy!

My View:

1. The medicines – Ritalin, Adderal, Vyanse,Concerta, Daytrana, et al – are miracle workers for some, very helpful to others, somewhat helpful to some, and worthless or even detrimental to some. You will never know until you try it.
   2. All children with ADHD deserve a trial of medication. If it doesn’t help, that raises some question about the diagnosis.
   3. The medications do not lead to drug abuse. In fact, they reduce the frequency of drug abuse in people with ADHD.
   4. The medications do not improve school or test performance in students who do not have ADHD; however, it gives them the impression that they have done better than they really have.  Diversion of the stimulants is a real problem, especially in colleges.
   5. Especially in children, the medications can sometimes cause problems, particularly with insomnia, reduced appetite, or slow growth. The growth will catch up with time. Other side effects can usually be managed by changing the dose, the timing, or the form of the medication.
   6. The New York Times has been on a campaign against ADHD and against the medicines. They seem now to have switched to a campaign against antidepressants, which I believe is equally misinforming. However, the antidepressants are indeed more problematic than the stimulants.
   7. As helpful as the medicines can be, I believe that strategies are at least as important. Dr. Goodwin stated that the purpose of the medicines is to help us focus enough to be able to use the strategies.

 

From the ADDA insider:

 

There’s a raging debate about medication for ADHD. 

Some people are against it.

 They feel “we shouldn’t be drugging our kids.” (I’m not sure if they’re fine with drugging our adults with ADHD or not.) I hope no one in their family is ever diagnosed with diabetes! 

Others think it’s a “gateway drug” and will lead to addictions. Most ADHDers I know do struggle with their medications! Their biggest struggle is remembering to take them! (Doesn’t sound like much of an addiction to me.)

 Some people are for it. 

When you get an ADHD diagnosis the first thing we ask about is medication. (I’m speaking from personal experience for myself and for my daughter.) We’re hoping the right medication will “cure” the ADHD! Of course, once we get our medication, we discover “pills don’t teach skills.” 

No pill will cure ADHD. (With luck and hard work, most of will become grateful for all the traits that make us unique.) 

ADDA is neither for nor against medication for ADHD. We are for consulting your doctor. We are for taking only your prescribed medication. And we are for following professional advice at all times. Medication is not right for everyone. And medication is not the entire solution for anyone.

 In today’s Insider, we have two articles dealing with ADHD medications. 

In Highway to Hell: Untreated Depression, Anxiety & ADHD Drove Me to Addiction, we share the all-too-common story of James. James struggled with addictions for years, addictions that started when he was self-medicating.

 

In ADHD Stimulants: Medication Diversion in the Real World, we share a podcast. Jeff Copper of Attention Talk Radio interviews a college student about his arrest. Caught diverting his ADHD medication, he suffered serious consequences.

 No matter which side of the debate you fall on, don’t miss today’s articles. 

Warmest Regards, 

Patti Schwab

Editor

Various Personal Notes O the Day:
I am struggling with procrastination on many fronts, especially on this blog, my autobiography, my other ADHD book, and my book, The Bully. I am concerned about the attack on antidepressants which are very useful medications and fairly effective, especially in moderate or severe depression. There is a lot of distorted misinformation out there. Many of us ADHDers have depression.  I should have a lot of free time in May, and hope to catch up. One trap I hope to avoid is expecting too much. I need to get back to fishing regularly.

Strategies:
1. Keep the to do list short and realistic.
2. Focus on one thing at a time and forget about the others. That is one of the purposes of the lists.
3. Try to be careful about the sources of the information you are taking in. But, be skeptical of even reputable sources.
4. Be aware that my views and opinions are simply that. They are based on personal experience and wide reading.

doug

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp    @thebullyonline #bully #bullying #thebullyonline

Life with ADHD

Life with ADHD can be hard

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“You Don’t Listen to Me!” — ADHD Tip O the Day 816

Have you ever heard that?

Miscommunication is a standard part of normal human life. So is the frustration with it. 

But who ever said that ADHD is normal human life?  So we have a lot more of it.

Feeling not listened to is very painful.

“You don’t listen to me!”

There are several possible explanations:

1. You had a very clear idea in your head and thought that your words had clearly conveyed it to me, but I didn’t get the idea the way you were thinking it.  This is life.
2. I wasn’t listening to you. I was stressed and/or had so many ideas going at once that your message just got lost in the shuffle.
3. I was listening to you. I heard you.  But then I got distracted and/or forgot it. Sorry.

 

Strategies:

1. Write it down.

2.Try not to take the mistake or the frustration personally. Its life.

3. Love.

doug

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Links:

Relationships and ADHD

Distraction and ADHD

Listening and Hearing with ADHD

 

Rhinocerantes. What does this have to do with ADHD?

ADHD and Irritiable — ADHD Tip O the Day 815

What Still Drives Me Up the Wall, I Mean Up The Flipping Wall:

Politics

The minority “president.”   It is not appropriate to go into that here. I probably                 shouldn’t even have said it. But then I do tend to say things I probably should not have   said.

Technology in general and my computer in specific. Sometimes I think it may be the work of the devil.

“Thank you for your patience.”

People who think we shouldn’t “drug” our children and we should “Let boys be boys.”

Arrogance in ignorance.

Conspiracy theories, especially against vaccinations.

You may notice there is some overlap in these.

 

I try to keep The Serenity Prayer in mind.  It helps. Somewhat. When I remember to think of it.

God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

doug

 

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Did I really just say that?

I AM CALM, DAMN IT!!!!

Don’t put up with it.

No one is more certain in their views than the one who has no idea what they’re talking about.

Stuck again – ADHD Tip O the Day 814

Well here I am again, writing about being stuck, because I’ve been stuck. Many reasons, will spare you the excuses.

In Mexico, on vacation, but still have a to do list of about six things that need doing pretty soon. Wasn’t doing any of them. One was this blog.

Made a list.  Made a four day calendar and spread them out across it. That helped a little bit.  Said I would do the first one. I didn’t. Ate some ice cream instead, which I’d said I wouldn’t do. But then I did one. Putting the reward before the achievement, probably a mistake.  But could be a new strategy?

Then I did another one, but not the next one high on the list. Trying to use my “do the hard part first“ strategy, but I’m not. The hard part can’t be broken into small steps. Well, actually, I haven’t tried that. It’s a good idea if it’s possible.  That’s my next strategy.

I have some links for you to make this post more useful than my dithering.

But at least I’ve done something now, which is better than nothing.

doug

Links

Hyperfocus

ADHD and Marriage

Distractions

 

Note: I did have a lot of distractions while doing this blog, and I wasn’t quite hyperfocused, but I committed to finishing it and did not follow any of the distractions.  It wasn’t easy.

Oaxaca dinner

oaxaca art rhinocerantes

Oaxaca patio where I am typing this

Oaxaca breakfast

ADHD, ADD,

Oaxaca

oaxaca

Goals for 2018 – With ADHD?! — ADHD Tip O the Day 813

Yes, even with ADHD, goals can help make our lives better.

I didn’t make any New Year’s resolutions, but I set ten goals for 2018.

These were spiritual, health, financial, professional, recreational, and educational goals.

They are each very specific and measurable, and achievable. These three characteristics are essential for success.

But that is not enough. If I left it there, I would have just set myself up for failure and demoralization.

Steps

The next necessity is to take each goal and write down the specific steps I will need to take to reach the goal.  And again, to make each separate step specific, measurable, and achievable – small steps

This is going to work.

If I can do it, you can do it.  Or do you have another other plan?

Doug

PS O The Day:

I did not make a goal to do two posts a week. It would be doomed to failure in my current situation. I did not make a goal to do one post a week, although I would hope to do that.  But making it a goal would be too much pressure and again, too likely to be a failure. I can hope, but I need goals that I can achieve.

Bonus Links

Goals

Goals – More Tips

This should work.

it won’t be January for ever

Never been that good with time, either.

ADHD doesn’t lack focus, just has no control of it.

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Make Your Life Better in 2018 — ADHD Tip O the Day 812

I  continually try to make my life better, make things easier, simpler.
One of the ADHD principles is to identify a problem. Sometimes we don’t think of it as a problem, but just as a part of life. But –.

Here are some recent examples from my life:

1.On the days I go to work, I need to leave early. I usually don’t have time to finish my coffee. That’s a loss of pleasure and a waste of coffee. And a problem.

Strategy: Make my coffee first thing. Then I can drink it while I’m fixing the rest of my breakfast, and I’ll be able to finish it by time to leave.

2. I need to take my Daytrana patch off by about 4 PM, or I’ll have trouble sleeping.  I set my iPhone alarm for four, but sometimes I just turn it off and never get around to taking off the patch. And I can’t take my iPhone into my job, so I don’t have an alarm on those days.

Strategy: I use an “anchor” – going to the bathroom. I’ve made the habit of checking my chest every time I go to the bathroom, checking to see if the patch is still there. If it’s after 4 PM, I take it off. This strategy only works because I check every time.

3. I keep tripping over the wire connecting my earphones to the computer, and my earphones keep getting in my way  when I’m not wearing them.

Strategy: I’ve found a perfect place to hang my earphones when I’m not using them. Just follow the rule of always putting them there when I take them off, and no more problem.

4.When I take the dog for her potty break, I need to take off my glove to tie up the poop bags. But I keep dropping my glove and have to go back and try to find it. A hassle.

Strategy: New rule. When I take my glove off I put it in my pocket immediately, before I try to tie the bag, and not in my other hand or under my arm. In my pocket.

It is amazing how these little things make a big difference – more efficient, more effective, less frustrated. Less ADHD ish.  My 2018 is going to be better. In many ways, I hope.

You can make your life better.

doug

Advanced Note O the Day

Setting the iPhone alarm for 4 PM is a great strategy. Nothing wrong with it. It just didn’t work for me. So when the strategy isn’t working, it’s time to try a new strategy.

Link:

Principles for ADHD 

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

 

Ain’t it the truth

 

More Research on ADHD (Supporting My Previous Opinions) — ADHD Tip O the Day 811

 

New Research On ADHD

Lots of important research comes from Scandinavia because they apparently keep very good detailed statistics on everyone from birth to death. That is a very valuable bank of data, but the concept probably would not go over well here. Anyway,a recent study  found that ADHD patients had significantly higher rates of both attempted and completed suicide and higher mortality rate in general, with accidents being the most common cause of death.
Previous research did not produce surprises – we have an increased proclivity to risk-taking behaviors, substance abuse, criminality, and risky sexual behavior, as well as accidents. It all fits together.
The important finding is that ADHD patients taking medication still had increased risk over vanilla’s, but a significant reduction of risk compared to ADHD patients without medication.

My Opinion

Everyone with ADHD, especially children, deserves a trial of medication. Medication doesn’t help everyone and not everyone can take it, because some get side effects. For some, medication is a life-changing miracle; for many, it is just a very significant help. I think it is always worth a try.

More ADHD Research

A study from Amsterdam showed that boys with ADHD significantly improved their sleep with Ritalin. They fell asleep earlier, quicker, and slept longer, compared to their findings before the Ritalin and compared to control boys who did not get Ritalin.
As you can see, this is important because sleep difficulties are a significant symptom with ADHD and poor sleep makes symptoms and general health worse and parents often are concerned that Ritalin will interfere with their child’s sleep.
The study indicated that the child needed to be on Ritalin for eight weeks before the positive effects on sleep were clearly significant.

doug

Another Silly Life with ADHD Story

It was time to take the dog for a walk and it was cold outside. Really cold. So I wanted my sweater in addition to my jacket. But of course, I couldn’t find my sweater. Looked everywhere that it might possibly be. No sweater. Looked everywhere that it couldn’t possibly be. No sweater.
Gave up. Started to put on my jacket. Found my sweater. I was wearing it under my shirt.
What?!?
Actually, in retrospect, I can explain that, I think. But why bother?

Bonus Links

Medication for ADHD?

Non-medication treatment for ADHD

What?

We all need a dog

ADHD– Strategies -Do They Really Work? Three Tips — ADHD Tip O the Day 810

1.  I have a fairly new strategy.  Whenever I park my car, I say, out loud, where it is.  “Second row, facing out, in line with the  I in the LIQUORS  sign.”

2.  It works. It’s a good ADHD strategy.  I spend much less time searching for the car now.

3. That is, as I learned again today, it works if you do it.  But only if you do it

doug

Bonus ADHD Links:

Memory Aids

Memory???

Memory Strategies

 

@dougmkpdp @addstrategies  #add    #ADHD

 

Ouch! Hypersensitivity and ADHD – – – Tip O the Day 809

I know I am hypersensitive.

Am I hypersensitive as a symptom of my ADHD? Or have my ADHD problems, including so many screw ups, just made my self-esteem fragile? So is the hypersensitivity an ADHD symptom or a consequence?

I am hypersensitive and overreactive to:
Put downs– Being laughed at, ridiculed, poked fun at, especially in a group.
Criticisms – although I think I handle constructive criticism  well.

I am also hypersensitive and overreactive to unrequested advice, supervision, instructions, and commands.
Is this because they imply that I’m not competent, not able to do it myself? That would certainly connect to my ADHD, wouldn’t it?
I have worked well with some bosses, those who left me alone to do my job my own way unless there was a problem. I have read that we ADHDers tend to do better working for ourselves.

And of course our actual incompetence, screw ups, forgetfulness, etc., invite people to feel they need to provide us with advice, direction, supervision and  also invite criticism, more than most people get.  Which is toxic when you’re hypersensitive. 

I am also hyper sensitive to certain noises, and a high level of noise drives me up the wall.  That may be another post (not a promise.)

So, are these problems of ADHD , or is it just me?

Strategies:

1. Recognize that I am hypersensitive, overreacting, and often misinterpreting.
2. Ask, ” Is that a criticism?”
3. Breathing techniques.
4. Try to think of the big picture, and realize that these incidents are not really significant (although large doses may be significant even though the individual ones are not).
5. Escape the situation.
6. Keep my mouth shut, offering less of  a target.
7. Never promise anything.
8. Direct my attention to something else rather than ruminating on the hurt.

How well does this work?

Somewhat.  I’m still working on it.  The good part is that I usually get over something pretty quickly

doug

Questions O the Day?

1. Are you hypersensitive, too?
2. If so, how does it connect with ADHD?
3. If so, how do you handle it?

Note O the Day

Happy Thanksgiving.  I am thankful for so many things, have been blessed far more than I ever deserved.  And thankful for you, the readers of the ADHD blog, and especially those of you who have contributed so much with your comments.  Thank you.

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Did I ever grow up?

Maybe this just isn’t my thing?

ADHD and marriage

Oh, my! Did I do it again?

 

 

Whipping Procrastination? With ADHD? — ADHD Tip O the Day 808

 It just seemed like too much, so I kept putting it off.  Hanging over my head for six long months.

Does that sound like ADHD to you?

I want a job in Maine.  I really really want a job in Maine.

But the first step required filling out an application to a head hunting company, so they can find me a job.  Many pages to fill in.  Many documents to find and copy ,many of them  from long ago,  many of them obscure. And many questions, also about long ago and obscure.  What was my address ten years ago?

Then if they find me a  job, I’ll need to do it again for the state of Maine, and then again for the hospital. They will all require pretty much the same information but they will each want it on their own forms.  And each one will also require some other obscure document that the other ones hadn’t thought of yet.

See, I’ve done this many times before.

So why in the world, you might ask, if he’s done it before, doesn’t he have all the necessary papers in one place, and just fill out the forms, copy the papers, and send them?  Have I mentioned that I have ADHD?

I do have all, or most, of the papers in one place, but they aren’t organized.  And often I have to search through them to find some obscure piece of information.

And why, you might ask, don’t the head hunting companies and the states and the hospitals use the same forms, and why, you might ask, if the state says I’m OK, isn’t that good enough for the hospital?  Or why, you might ask, can’t the head hunters send their files to the state and to the hospital, and that will take care of it?

Yes, indeed, you might ask.

But-

Yesterday, I sat down and filled out the forms and found and copied the papers.  I did.  And I was only distracted once – got tired and said, “Oh, I can finish the rest of this tomorrow.” But I got myself to pick up the next page and keep going til I was done.

Took the entire flipping morning.  Then rewarded myself with a nice lunch and then took the fifty pages to the UPS store and faxed them to the headhunters. (Fifty pages.) (Fifty.) 

Done!

Point

Besides just sharing my lament, the point is that if you let something keep hanging over your head, it seems to grow bigger and bigger and harder and harder to do.  And it hangs there and drains energy from you.  So just do it.  Do it now.  Get it over with.

Easy to say.

Strategy

I used a strategy to finally get started. I said that I need to just start. I don’t have to finish right away; I can spread it out over several days.  That lightened the size of the perceived burden.  But once I was able to start, I pushed myself and just finished the SOB.

Done! Done! Done!

In spite of ADHD.

doug

@dougmkpdp,@adhd,#ADHD

Distra-?

What??

Let’s actually do it! Now!

 

In ADHD, Attitude Makes the Difference – But Then, There is Word Power — ADHD Tip O the Day 807

With ADHD, Everything Can Be Difficult

But

there are strategies to make things less difficult.

Last post, I said that my job is difficult, but I love it.

What helps me is using the power of words and keeping focus on my attitude.

ADHD and the Power of Words

Today is Saturday.  I get to go to work on Monday.  I get to.  I never say to myself, or to anyone else, “I have to go to work.” No, I get to go. 

Research shows that ceertain words – “have to,” “must,” “should,” evoke powerful unconscious anti-authority resistance in most of us.  This makes it harder to do the task. ‘Don’t you be telling me what to do!’

ADHD and Attitude

I think that’s enough for today.  Next time I plan to write about how to work with attitude to make your tasks, like my job, for example, more enjoyable.  Hope you’ll enjoy it.

doug

Link

You don’t have to say “have to.”

Bonus Link

New Research Refutes Myths About ADHD

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

How to Start

Moderate OCD actually helps in ADHD

Be informed about ADHD.

It probably takes someone with ADHD to think up something like this.

 

Problems in ADHD — ADHD Tip O the Day 806

Your Life Can Be Better, and so can mine –

if we recognize problems, and then apply the formula:  recognize, strategy, rule, habit. 

My job is difficult, but I love it.

One of my many frustrations was dealing with a bunch of different forms as I move from office to office and patient to patient. I spent so much time shuffling through stacks of papers trying to find the specific one I needed at the moment.  Frustrating!

So, if you’ve read the book or been paying attention as we go along, the solution is already obvious to you, right?

It took me a year

to finally realize that this was not only an ongoing frustration and waste of time, but it was also A Problem.  That means, in my philosophy, there must be a solution.  And I found it.

 

The Answer

 

I got two of these suckers, one green and one purple.  The green one holds the routine papers- encounter forms, order sheets, handouts, etc – each in its own pocket.   The purple one holds the consent forms the patients need to sign, assorted according to the different types of medications.

Finding the right paper is a breeze.  My life is better.

 

If something is frustrating you, or wasting your time, or interfering with your efficiency, your comfort, your satisfaction, then it probably is not just life as she is, but it’s probably A Problem.

Your life can be better!

doug

Next ADHD Project

New rule:  I will not lay my iPhone down anywhere except on my desk, bedside table, or bathroom counter.  Nowhere else. Only one of those places.  

Let’s see how that works.

Bonus Links

On Rules with ADHD – The ADHD Formula

Applying the ADHD Formula

More on Distractions

 

Halloween again already.

Did you ever wonder?

What was I doing?

The Answer

 

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

ADHD Plus Anxiety – The Podcast — ADHD Tip O the Day 805

Do you have ADHD?  Then you know about anxiety:     

Am I going to screw this up, too? Am I going to get my to do list done?  Am I going to get anything done?  Am I going to blurt out the wrong thing?  What am I forgetting? And where in the world are my keys?

Anxiety!

Jennie is an ADHD maven, coach and podcast producer.  And she raises bees in her back yard!  Inadvertently.

This is the podcast we did for ADHD Awareness Month, October.

I was anxious about doing the podcast, but I didn’t do as poorly as I feared.

For  many reasons, anxiety goes hand in hand with ADHD, and it can be a booger. But, there are good strategies to help deal with anxiety.  I discuss three of them in the podcast.

Jennie Friedman’s Podcast

Jennie’s blog

Hope you enjoy.

doug

Very Excited Note O the Day:  I am learning how to use Dino’s ingenious strategy for making the Facebook images come out right instead of getting chopped off.  This is the first trial run.  Hoping.  And many thanks to Dino.

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Is It Distraction? Or Something Else? -An ADHD Dialog with Scott — ADHD Tip O the Day 804

I fear that some people may not read all the comments, which are over to the right on the site.  You are missing something.  Here are some great issues that Scott brings up (slightly edited):

Hi Doug,
I just realized, in one of those duh moments, that I actually seek out distractions as a way to feel a high, almost like drugs. It is so ingrained in me I’m not sure how to deal with it, but acknowledging it is a good first step. I’m starting to see that a lot of my other problems, not getting work done, piles of stuff that I can’t seem to organize, and not paying attention when listening and at other times, are caused by this getting high off of distraction problem.
So now I’m looking for ways to gently turn this habit in a much better direction.
Any ideas?

All the best,
Scott

Scott is right on.  Sometimes just recognizing there is a problem is a great step, and then identifying it even better.  (Everything in italics is my current comments on the dialog.)

Scott – late getting back to you – procrastination? Not exactly. Didn’t have enough info to address your question. It’s a new concept to me. So, OK, I was procrastinating.

Are you getting high off the distraction thing you are doing? Or are you getting high off the action of distracting?

So not sure yet if my ideas would fit?
1. focus on specific problems, one at a time. which one is most important now? piles or listening or getting work done? then strategies for that one. harder to do much about the general problem of distractability
2. thus also a change of focus and framing, from “I’m distractable” to “I have trouble completing a task,”  for example. There are many strategies for that.

If you let me know, maybe I can come up with more specific ideas
This is a great topic and I’ll use it as a post if it’s OK with you.
thank you for your comments as always
doug

I tend to procrastinate when I’m not sure I can do something, or not sure I can do it well.

Thanks Doug, I tend to get really excited about “the next thing” whether it is solving some problem with the house or garden or learning about violin varnish or a boat building project or making the ultimate alcohol stove for backpacking. There are millions of “next things” out there and they are way more entertaining than the thing that may be right in front of me. There is so much information available on the internet, especially through YouTube and Amazon, and it is fun to look stuff up and then play with it in my head trying to figure it out. That often leads me to buying books and materials and starting new projects. I don’t always finish those projects or read those books before I’m off on the “next new thing” and the books and materials have tended to pile up in the physical space and the ideas and problems to solve have piled up in my mental space to where it is difficult to get work done or even concentrate without running into the physical or mental stuff of it all. The positive spin on it is the quest for learning and solving problems, the creative impulse. The negative is the mess and distraction. Then there is the seeking for escape, which often happens by dreaming up a new project, searching YouTube or Amazon,… and the cycle continues.One thing I learned, on a YouTube video of all places, is how the internet, in only sometimes rewarding us in our searches, sets us up in an addictive cycle. We get a bigger dopamine response when we might find what we are looking for than when we know we will find what we are looking for. I think that is a big part of the high I get in searching for distractions.My latest strategy has been, just for today, no YouTube or Amazon. It is helping.Yes, use any of this for your blog or whatever.All the best, ScottScott is already coming up with good strategies.  What he describes here is typical ADHD.  The newer thing is the addictive power of technology. I am diligently studying Spanish on a great app, Duolingo (you can get any language on it.)  I don’t have any problem starting, it is scheduled and a daily habit.  But I have trouble getting off of it and moving on.We are interested in so many things, and so creative.  Blessings of ADHD, and part of the curse.

In reply to Scott Marckx.

Scott – lots of things going on. One suggestion – make a rule – you will not buy anything the same day, rule is to sleep on it before ordering.

other ideas: utilize the basic strategies – how to finish a task, how to manage distractions. use the search function on the site.

are you using two to do lists?

some things that may help:
1. pick one task to be sure to accomplish each day,a small step, and put it on the calendar. Schedule a week at a time.
2. schedule specific times to work on the task, and limit to 45 minutes per time.
3. schedule specific time for distractions. enjoy.
4. ditto for face book and u tube. schedule. and maybe a couple of days per week with no time for them.
5. Make sure you are not saying “have to” or “should” to yourself. Then distraction would be a rebellion against being controlled.

Again, strategies will be more helpful if you pick one area or problem to work on at a time.
the buying, the getting started, the finishing, the piles, not listening, the internet, whatever.

Most people at this point will be saying, “Yes, but -.” Are you hearing that from yourself?

One key point: You seem to have labeled your problem “a problem with distractions.” As you can see, I am suggesting these are actually multiple problems, where distraction may play a secondary part.

Look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for contributing

doug

I see that I’m being repetitive here, but these are basic ADHD strategy principles.  And often, whether or not a problem can be solved depends a lot on how you define the problem.

Links

Distractions

Distractions -“Do This.”

Procrastination – “I can always find something easier and more fun to do instead.”

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

testin

Just About Everything About Coping with ADHD — ADHD Tip O the Day 803

ADHD is about coping – you don’t cure it, you don’t overcome your symptoms, you learn to cope, to minimize the effect they have on your life.

Today I’m feeling lazy, kind of stuck, hard to get moving.  To be honest, I’m not feeling  highly motivated to do this blot post.  But it is time for one.  So instead of trying to force myself to do a post, to try harder, to overcome my inertia, I’m using a strategy, a coping strategy if you will.  I’m punting.  

This link below is pretty amazing, with so much information and so comprehensive.  Can’t say I agree with everything in it, but it’s well worth your checking out.  You’ll find a good tip that’s new to you, I’m sure, or at least you’ll be reminded of one that you’ve been forgetting to use.

Check it out!

doug

Just about everything about coping with ADD ADHD

Note O the Day: Some of the most astute among you will recognize that I actually have done a blog post.  But I was using the strategy of fooling my brain, a good common strategy.  I told myself I wasn’t doing one, which enabled me to get going and do this.  But, please, don’t tell my brain.

It takes longer with ADHD.

The round tuit. A gift from my wife.

Living with ADHD

The Roadrunner-not particularly related to ADHD, but I like it.

Oh, my, yes!

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

A Tool for ADHD — ADHD Tip O the Day 802

ADHD and Stress.

With ADHD, we experience a lot of stress.  With more stress, our ADHD symptoms intensify. This makes it harder to function, which creates more stress.  Can you see where this is going?

Some years ago, I saw a post from Dr. Weil on 4-2-6-2 breathing.  I wasn’t impressed.  More woo woo stuff.  But, I thought I’d try it.  Tried it.  No benefit.  Wasn’t surprised.

More recently, I learned another breathing technique, for very specific situations of distress:

Breathe in, through your nose,  what you need, from God, or nature, or the universe – wherever your good stuff might come from.  Breathe in peace, or calmness, or equanimity, or optimism, etc.

Breathe out, through your mouth,  what you need to get rid of- anger, frustration, despair, hopelessness, etc.

Repeat several times.

Tried it.  To my surprise, nay, amazement, it worked.

Back to Dr Weil

So then I tried the 4-2-6-2 technique.  Guess what?  It worked, too.

So now I have two new good tools to help me deal with stress, one for specific situations, at the moment, and one for use in general, daily.  For ADHD, we need tools.

Will these work for everyone?  I have no idea.  Do you have to believe in them for them to work?  Apparently not.  I have found that for them to be effective you do need to repeat them at least several times, and you need to keep practicing them.  They become more effective with practice.

To learn the 4-2-6-2 technique, clik the link

doug

Link

Dr Weil on breathing (Here he shows a different 4-7-8 pattern.  I don’t know where I got     4-2-6-2, but it works.)

To go to sleep, return to sleep, decrease anxiety, if angry, if craving, daily.

Question O the Day:

Do you have experience with breathing tools, or with other stress relieving approaches?

PS O the Day:  There are of course many other tools for reducing stress, both ongoing and immediate, for specific situations  and in general:  exercise, prayer, meditation, get outside, breaks, and on and on.

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Exercise helps with ADHD

Sleep? Any chance?

One style of procrastination.

Sometimes it’s all a little too much.

Stressing again, life with ADHD

It doesn’t always go smoothly.

What Helps with ADHD? —ADD Tip o the Day 801

Lots of things help with ADHD

Some are a little complicated: medications, strategies, tools, coaching, therapy, mindfulness, yoga, education.

They can be extremely helpful.

But there are some basic simple things that help.

1. exercise
2. healthy eating
3. good sleep
4. get outside

I’m going fishing tomorrow.  Yea!  First time this year.  And only a few times last year.  I used to go twice a week during the season.

What happened?

My ADHD snuck up on me.  I got into the attitude of “too busy”, “too much to do.”  Ugh!  I hate that.

Strategies:

1. Make getting outdoors – in this case, fishing – a priority.
2.  Realize and keep reminding myself – that attitude of busy, pressure, is only an attitude.  It is not a reality.  This can be hard to believe, but it’s true.
3.  Schedule one task a day, the most important one, and count the day a success when I get it done. I will probably get more done, but one a day will cover seven things in a week.  Except:
4. I have started taking Sunday off.  This is partly religious, but it is also a part of healthy living.  Will probably blog on this soon.  Probably.  So anyway, it’s getting six things done a week. 

doug

Personal Note O the Day:  Hoping to catch some fish tomorrow, but it’ll be a great day anyway.  It’s beautiful out there.  But I really do like to catch some.

Links:

Ratan Shetty on close to nature clik here

ADHD and fishing

“Vitamin N”

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

 

 

Caught, then released. A striper.

it won’t be January for ever

So try something different.

Enough is enough.

Attention?

Let’s actually do it! Now!

Do something!

ADHD, Listening, Hearing, Oh,my — ADHD Tip O the Day 800

“You just don’t listen to me!”

Have you ever heard that?  If you have, then does that mean you were listening?

Yes, I was listening to you.  I could repeat every word you said.  But that doesn’t necessarily mean I heard.  And if I heard, that doesn’t mean I remembered.  Or that I can recall it.

It’s all in the brain.  

Working memory –   I can remember a telephone number long enough to dial it (“dial???”); then it’s gone.

Short term memory – I can remember it for a while.

Long term memory – I remember it a long time.  However,  what I recall is not necessarily accurate.  It’s stored as a group of high points and when recalled, our imagination fills in the gaps.  However, we experience it as totally accurate, the way it really happened.  Further, each time we recall and then restore a memory it is changed, so when we recall it again, it will be different but still seem totally real and accurate.

Anatomy – Working memory in prefrontal cortex.  Requires transfer to hippocampus to become long term.  Probably the amygdala has to label it important for this to occur.  Requires the basal ganglia to recall it.

Note:  This is extremely oversimplified and probably wrong, but the best I can understand it now.

But with ADHD

1. These are exactly the areas that are miswired.  Therefore, guess what—?
2.  Our mythical focus center does not turn on like vanillas, but requires special circumstances.
3. We are generally over loaded, overwhelmed, and distracted at any given minute.
4. My best guess is that I store and can recall things that have a big emotional impact on me or that my unconscious labels as essential to my survival or that for some reason I have an intense personal interest in.   Otherwise, they are in and out.
5. Thus, if you tell me you are going to the grocery store, although you are extremely important to me, that fact is not.  But if you told me you were going to a Raven’s football game, or to visit the doctor to see if you have heart disease, bet I would remember that.
6. But I was listening; my failings lie in what happens after that.
7. See Note above.

Oh, my.

doug

 

The Brain 

Great post from Terry – how to listen

The brain

Two Brain Areas

Six Brain Areas@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp    

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Blessed with ADHD creativity?

What?

ADHD mind

ADHD is not —

There are no words to describe it

What?

Isn’t ADD ADHD life interesting? So many things to think.

ADHD and a Fleeting Moment of Fame — ADHD Tip O the Day 799

Who’d Have Ever Thought My ADHD Would Bring Me Fame, Other Than From An Horrendous Accident Or A Terrible Crime 

I am honored, and excited, within reason of course, to be a guest on a podcast recorded last Thursday.   It’ll show in October 2, for ADHD month.

The hostess is Jennie Friedman, a genuine ADHD maven and coach.  She has a good web site, ‘See in ADHD’ where I’ll also have a guest post in early September. Jennie is a very active member of the ADHD tribe.

Our topic will be ADHD and Anxiety, and it made me nervous just to think about it. The first podcast I ever did, I filled with verbal tics – “Uh”, “You know.”, etc.   You know?  I was appalled when I heard it, thought I had gotten over those.

The next one, I sounded like I was at the bottom of a well. Well, that’s not my fault, it’s the mike on my laptop, I guess.

Fortunately, you can’t see how I look in the podcast; that’s not my fault either.  Unless you insist on bringing up all those years of dissipation.

Since I am extremely technologically challenged, I was anxious about getting logged in, and afraid I might miss the whole thing while trying to figure out how to connect. But like last time, Jennie held my hand and walked me through it.  It went alright.

So, obviously you want to be sure to tune in October 2nd and see how I screwed it up this time. And you’ll meet Jennie, if you don’t already know her.  And you might learn something new that will make it worth your while.  

We’ll be talking about anxiety and ADHD.

Reserve the time, but you can check out her stuff before that.

Hope you enjoy.

Strategies:

1. If you’re anxious about doing something, do it anyway.
2. Ask, “What’s the worst thing that can happen?”
3. Then ask, “So what?  What will it matter 10 years from now? Five?”
4. Then make a plan B – “Assuming the worst does happen, what would I do then?”  
5. Use breathing techniques.  I used to think that these were woo woo nonsense, but I’ve learned they do work for me.  Very useful.

Doug

Jennie’s See in ADHD website

The Previous Podcast

Fantasy O the Day:  When I get back to my regular computer, I’m going to figure out how to make these pictures come out right on Facebook.

Yeah, right.

Half Serious Suggestion O the Day, Just to Make a Point About ADHD:

Mark the date on your calendar.  You know you’ll never remember it.

Addendum To Half Serious Suggestion:

If you do write it on your calendar, write it legibly so you can read it later.  Just saying.

Jennie’s  Links:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/see-in-adhd/id1096987579?mt=2

www.seeinadhd.com

Me and my computer – a strange love affair.

My ADHD

Stressing again, life with ADHD

Plan ahead. Give God a good laugh.

#ADHD @dougmkpdp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Losing Things – Living with ADHD and Three Strategies — ADHD Tip O the Day 798

1. Losing thing on a trip with ADHD 

If you’re on a trip, oh, say like to Maine, for example, and you’re out in the boondocks with very limited shopping opportunities around, and you can’t find some really essential items that you’re sure you packed, you could call Amazon and order them and pay an exorbitant price for two day delivery.

But it might be better to look in your suitcase again.  In all of the pockets.

After that, if they don’t deliver in the two days, you can send the box back and you don’t have to pay, thank goodness.

2. Losing Things On the Job

Working in the hospital, my badge opened the doors to units 200 and 300, to let me in and out.  I left unit 300 and went to 200, but when I came back to 300,  I couldn’t find my badge.  It stays clipped to my shirt pocket and must’ve gotten knocked loose when I pulled out a pen.

I went back to 200 and the nurse let me in. I searched everywhere I had been; no badge. So the nurse let me out.  It must be on 300.  The nurse let me in and  I searched 300, everywhere I’d been.  No badge. 

Are you following this?

Embarrassed, I had to tell Chris, the wonderful 3oo unit clerk, that I’d lost my badge, and ask if she could order a replacement.

Chris asked me, ” So you went into 200?”

Yes.

“So you got out of 200 OK?”

Yes. 

“Then you couldn’t get into 300?”

Right.

“And you looked in the hall?”

Yes, yes.

“Have you looked in your pockets?”

No.

Now, that was silly, ’cause my badge is clipped to my shirt and I would never ever put it in my pocket.  At work in Santa Fe, I have my car keys in my back pocket and have made a habit of putting my work keys in my side pocket so I know where they are, but I would never, ever put my badge in my pocket.

Do you see where this is going?

I use frantic searching, whereas Chris uses logic.  That is a strategy!

3. Losing things everywhere

If you lose your glasses, that’s bad.  But before you go running around looking for them, you might want to check the top of your head.  And if they aren’t there, you might want to check your face, like sitting on your nose.

Just saying.

doug

Obvious Comment O the Day:

That’s living with ADHD!

Weird Comment O the Day:

If you have ADHD, and don’t have a wife around, a good unit clerk is the next best thing.

Bonus Posts:

On Losing the Cell Phone

On Losing the Tags

A Video!       You need to watch this, especially Martha.

Question O the Day:

Does this stuff happen to anyone else? 

 

#ADHD @dougmkpdp

Moderate OCD actually helps in ADHD

More about lists and ADHD.

ADHD Blessings? Yeah, right.

Or it might have to do with the way your brain works. Or doesn’t.

“Well, where did you last have it?”

There are no words to describe it

Technologically challenged, too.

 

ADHD and Accident Prone? — ADHD Tip O the Day 797

You are not alone! Welcome to the ADHD tribe.

There’s gotta be a better way!

With ADHD We Need to Be Aware of These Things

Perhaps it would be better not to set it down right on the edge?

Just saying.

doug

#adhd  @dougmkpdp

Life with ADHD. Clumsy or inattentive?

All the time.

Blurting out with ADHD. Did I Just Do It Again? — ADHD Tip O the Day 796

ADHD: Impulsiveness, Distractability, Poor Social Judgement, Blurting Out

Impulsivness is one of the defining criteria for ADHD.  Products of ADHD impulsivity include both distractability  – I get a  distraction and I impulsively follow it, off task – and also blurting out. I get a thought and impulsively say it, sometimes even when I know better, but the impulse fires a microsecond before the alarm bell.  OK, let’s be honest.  Sometimes the alarm bell sounds soon enough and I go ahead and say it anyway.

When my wife kicks me under the table, that’s an external warning signal, but often I go ahead anyway, although sometimes I ask her to stop kicking me.  She doesn’t like this. But sometimes I pause and decide she’s probably right and I change the subject.  Sometimes.

I’m having trouble thinking of a good recent example, but here’s an old one:  

We were dining with good friends, very nice people, although bigotted (an oxymoron?  People can’t help where they were born?). They started in on some racist stuff and I interrupted them to deliver an educational lecture on the topic.  My wife kept kicking me but I just kept going.  They got very quiet and when I finished they started a different topic, and my wife stopped kicking me. (I am aware that people’s opinions are not affected by facts, but they had stated theirs, and I couldn’t just let it stand.  Could I?)

You know, that’s not a good example of blurting out, although I didn’t stop to consider before I started the lecture.  But I would do it again.

Anyway, I just asked my wife and although she agrees I blurt out all the time, she couldn’t think of an example either.  Maybe it’s not a bad as I think?  Maybe I can post an example next time.  She does point out that sometimes I post things that she thinks would go better unposted. Did I impulsively push the publish  button or is this an example of poor judgement, which I also have?

Strategies:

I don’t really have a strategy for this.

‘Stop and think before you speak?’ Seems like that’s like saying, “Just try harder.”  Could I really make that a habit, or is it that if I could do that, I wouldn’t have ADHD?

‘Stop talking when I’m getting kicked?’ But sometimes in my opinion, it’s not inappropriate.  Still, that might be a good strategy, percentage wise.

‘Keep your mouth shut?’  I do this a lot, and surely it keeps me out of a lot of trouble, but sometimes I need to speak.  Can I speak without blurting out?  Is it like all or nothing?

Any suggestions?

doug

 

Bonus Links:

intelligent   Oh, did I say something wrong?

Blurting out, I said it before.

#ADHD @dougmkpdp

 

Oh, did I do something wrong?

Life with ADHD.

ADHD mind

I can really use these.

Oh, my! Did I do it again?

There are no words to describe it

Whoops!

Prayers for Tom

ADD ADHD medicine usually helps. Not always.

 

ADHD and the Challenge of Relationships — ADHD Tip O the Day 795

If you think living with ADHD is a challenge, imagine what it’s like living with someone with ADHD.

I started to add, “And imagine what it’s like to live with someone who is living with someone who is living with ADHD.” but I decided that would be a little too much.

See, I don’t always blurt out. Note: That is a subtle clever segue to what I’m planning for the next post (planning).

 Is therapy the answer?

ADHD and Relationships

Six Secrets for an ADHD Relationship

Question O the Day:

You know that moment when you just pause and ask yourself, “Now what would be the very best thing to say in this situation?”

Me neither.

Quote O the Day:

“The only thing worse than being married is not being married.”

      Unknown Sage

Hopeful Note O the Day:  I plan to really do the third helping tool for ADHD once I get home, and then I plan to do a series on updates on medications.  I plan to.

What?

Whoops!

ADHD and marriage

Another favorite that’s been a problem.

I can really use these.

Send me to the store with ADHD? I think this one is worth repeating. Again.

right!

Marriage can be quite a challenge. Like most everything else, with ADHD.

 

#adhd,@dougmkpdp

Vacation! and ADHD. Vacation? — ADHD Tip o the Day 794

Have been on vacation a week now.  It’s wonderful!  But-

I had two goals for this vacation:

1. To relax.  It’s about time,
2. To get some things done, get caught up.

Unfortunately, the two goals are incompatible.  And guess what?  I’ve been busy, busy, busy.  Just like at home.  Lots of enjoyment, but no relaxation at all.  Until this morning.

I’ve had things to do:  blogs to write, papers to sort, folders to organize; medications, diagnostic criteria, lab values to learn; books to read.  And songs to polish, calls to make, passwords to update and organize, fotos to take, Japanese beetles to eliminate.  Exercise (gained 10 pounds on last vacation.) And not least of all, fish to catch.  Yes!

And I bought a used guitar, good one, but turns out it’s not playable.  I need to repair it – the action is way too high.  So needed to research on the net how to do that.  Hoping I can manage and not ruin it.

And besides, need to remind myself, this is not just MY vacation.  Martha has places to go and things to see.  So that takes time, too.  And even here, there’s still only 24 hours in the day.

We went to see Christina’s house in Cushing, after seeing an Andrew Wyeth exhibit in Rockland.  It was amazingly impressive and powerful; very glad I went.

Still, busy, busy, busy.

But this morning, I caught myself.  Got a cup of coffee and went out on the deck and just sat.  Well, mostly.  Did take a few fotos, but mostly just sat.  A very good ADHD tool which I haven’t been practicing for quite a while. I need to get back to it.

Strategies:

1.  Sit every day.
2. Prioritize my to do list, underline the essentials, and have a goal of one a day.
3. Use breathing techniques.

Need to be careful about my other goal, which is to catch more fish.  

Want to unhook from the busy,the  pressure, the ever turning internal flywheel.  Isn’t that what vacations are really for?  And also for getting a better perspective.

doug

Fantastic People O the Day:  Martha, Lucy, Jim, Katie, Will.  (wife, hosts – daughter and son in law, extremely generous and hospitable;  granddaughter and grandson in law)

Question O the Day:

Did anyone notice the little pun up above?  Anyone?

Link O the Day:

Christina’s World

Quote O the Day:

‘And you think you got troubles.’  related to Christina (progressive neuro muscular disease)

Striper (bass). catch and release.

it won’t be January for ever

#ADHD @dougmkpdp

ADHD Help Number Three — ADHD TIp O the Day 793

I had finished this post, had it ready to go, and now – wham!  It has vanished.  So, what is my strategy?

I can procrastinate, and maybe it will magically turn up somewhere.

 Wait!  I’m on my laptop, away from home.  Maybe it’s on my home PC, just waiting to be posted.  What a waste it would be trying to recreate it now when it’s already done and just waiting,  So I’ll  wait til I get home and check it out.  That’s not procrastinating.  Is it?

Anyway, it’s a great post and the last of the three part series on ADHD helps.  So you can wait for it.  Can’t you?

In the meantime, you can enjoy this typical example of Life With ADHD.  You’re not the only one, see?

And if I can’t find it, then I will recreate it.  Then you’ll have all three helps and your life will be better.  Your deserve it.

Strategy O The Day:

Keep plugging away anyway.

Doug

Just wait a little longer.

The ADHD life

We ADHD guys are creative.

ADD ADHD has just been practice?

 

Anguished Cry O the Day, just to further illustrate the point:

I had this post all set up with great cartoons, then managed to erase them all.  Arggghhhh!  But that’s OK, I managed to salvage these.  This is just life with ADHD.  RIght?

#ADHD,@dougmkpdp,@ADHD

 

ADHD Help Number Two — ADHD Tip O the Day 792

Three Basic Ways to Improve Your Life with ADHD

1.  Sleep  2. Exercise  3. Get Outdoors

Help Number Two — Exercise.

Our son Duane had ADHD and learning disabilities.  He was extremely smart but couldn’t actually function.  The only thing he was good at was theater,  certainly not sports.  But – he finally discovered cross-country running.  He didn’t need to cooperate with anyone, learn any rules or plays, or be organized – all he had to do was run.

He was not a star, but he did well, for the first time in anything except theater.  It was a real help to him in many ways. 

The Dirty Word

Exercise is a dirty word to many people, but there are ways to change that:

Find something you are good at, enjoy, or at least isn’t an abhorrent chore.  Then you’ll be able to stick with it.

Don’t let it be an unpleasant ordeal.  Exercise with music, or TV, or a friend, or in a nice setting.  If you dislike it, don’t do it.  I never do push ups – hate them.

Make a schedule (ie structure).  Then that is a priority – “Sorry, I can’t do it Wednesday morning; that’s my exercise time.”

Set goals to challenge yourself.  Make them reasonable, and achievable.  Use small steps.

It is advised to do moderate exercise at least 30 minutes a day at least 5 times a week.  But, anything is better than nothing.  Do what you can.

Also, be sneaky.  In addition to your regularly scheduled sessions, find occasions to walk, climb stairs, or take a two-minute break and do stretches and isometrics.

Be Knowledgeable:

 You can do cardio-endurance exercises every day, though I don’t recommend it (jogging, walking, treadmill)’ but strength exercise need to be done on alternate days, to give muscles a chance to recover.  Try HIT – high intensity training.  You get the same benefit in less time spent.  Avoid buying expensive equipment or member ships – you’re just setting yourself up for defeat.  Stay on your schedule but maybe schedule different programs for variation.  When you miss or skip or don’t do well, avoid judging yourself.  Just start again. Keep records to give yourself positive feedback.

Benefits of Exercise:

Exercise will make your brain function better and you’ll function with your ADHD better.  That’s the main point here.  But there are so many benefits,  in addition to the obvious general health benefits: Good treatment for depression, anxiety or stress; improves self-esteem, reduces risk of Alzheimer’s.

Questions O the Day:

1. Can you add some tips about exercising for the benefit of our tribe here?
2. Did you notice all the applications of ADHD strategies in the above post?

Links:

ADHD and Exercise

Sports Help Children with ADHD, But IMHO, Help Adults Also

Exercise Helps ADHD with or without medication

How Much Exercise Do You Need?

Isometrics

HIT – High Intensity Training

 

So try something different.

We learn from experience. Sadly.

Enough is enough.

Exercise helps with ADHD

Do something!

Oh, my, yes!

Three Simple Proven Helps for ADHD, or Maybe More — ADHD Tip O the Day 791

Making Your Life Better –  Even With ADHD

Here are the basics of dealing with ADHD:

1. Get enough sleep, whatever it takes.    Your best bet is to practice sleep hygiene, and/or use melatonin, or whatever.
2.  Exercise
3. Get outdoors

More helps for ADHD:

1. Use strategies.
2. Omega 3 Fatty Acid ( Fish Oil).

Additional Helps with ADHD:

1. Coaching
2. Therapy
3. Medication

Links:

Sleep hygiene

Melatonin

The instructions say 3-5 mgm, about an hour before bedtime.  Start there, but many people need 10 mgm before it works.  I need 15 mgm.  It doesn’t work like a sleeping pill, just helps you sleep better.  It works for about 70% of people.

Make Sure You Don’t Have Sleep Apnea.  

doug

Looking Ahead:

1. I plan to expand on the other points above, soon.  I plan to.
2. The June copy of Psychiatric Annals just arrived, dedicated to the topic of, guess what—“Adult Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.”  I hope to glean some interesting stuff to share with you soon.

The State of the Books:

1. Your Life Can Be Better needs a few typos fixed.  I’m still procrastinating. Should be simple, but guess I’m afraid it won’t be.
2. The Bully is undergoing significant revision.  I’m not happy with this version and have been incorporating many suggestions.  One more beta copy is out and then it needs  major rewriting.  I’m not looking forward to that, but don’t want to give up on the book.  It’s aimed at helping bullies, parents, teachers, and administrators to understand bullies and how to effectively intervene.  It has morphed somewhat into a book on violence in general.
3. Living Daily With Adult ADD or ADHD, 365 Tips O the Day, is undergoing major updating.  That’s on hold until the first two projects are done.
4. Transformations, my autobiography, is in rough form.  It’s primarily for my descendants; who else in the world would be interested?  But I’d love to have had more information from my ancestors, so hopefully it will get completed. It’s the last book on the agenda at the moment.

Grimace O the Day:

Remind me not to shut my finger in my car door please.

addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp    

There are many alternatives to sleep.

Escape for a little while?

I just want to sleep!

I must’ve been waiting all day for a chance to have good worry.

That isn’t the way i planned it.

It really does help.

Is exercise a dirty word? Find something you like, not a horrible chore.

Cross Off Your ADHD —ADHD Tip O the Day 790

The Power Of Positive Reinforcement

We all need positive reinforcement, ADHD or not.

One way to give it to ourselves is crossing off.

That’s one of the side benefits of the to do lists; we get to cross things off.

That builds our self esteem and our confidence, and gives us more motivation to do things.

Go for it!

doug

Sour Note of the Day

You do realize that before you cross it off, you need to have done it?

Links

What is positive reinforcement and how does it work?

Lists

More about lists and ADHD.

Life is different, living with ADHD.

The ADHD life

Never been that good with time, either.

A Little Extra Benefit

 

 

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Comprehensive Treatment for ADHD: An Update —ADHD Tip O the Day 789

OK, So I Lied – Here Is More From the ADHD Article by Rahil R. Jummani, MD,

This is actually the end of the article I’ve been reviewing, somewhat edited, with my comments in italics:

“CDC surveys have shown that about 17.5% of children with ADHD are not being treated for the disorder. Research demonstrated the superiority of medication for the short-term management of ADHD symptoms.¹¹ However, the long-term effects of treatment, such as therapeutic benefit and adverse effect burden, have been fiercely debated.”

True.  Some studies show that meds really help most people, but that over the years,  there is no long term benefit.  I find this quite unbelievable.  If a boy is in danger of failing a grade, driving his family and teachers crazy and interfering with the learning of other children, turning to drug abuse, turning to delinquency, having trouble making and keeping friends, having depression – or a girl is significantly underperforming, with some similar risks – and medication can help them do better, even if for only a few years, aren’t they going to do better later?  And even if not, what is the value to everyone to have the symptoms abated for those years?

But, in fact, most studies show very significant long term benefits, including lower incidence of drug abuse, for the ADHD children who are treated.

 I won’t go into the benefits of treatment for adults today.

“There is also rising concern about stimulant misuse, especially among adolescents and young adults; they may feign symptoms of ADHD to obtain stimulants for performance enhancement. It is therefore imperative to assess both current and historical symptoms and to clarify the degree of functional impairment. Careful monitoring of treatment and requests for prescriptions is critical.”

True.  Studies show that the stimulants do not actually improve performance in non-ADHD people, but give them the impression that they did.

“Both the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Academy of Pediatrics have published clinical guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of ADHD.^13,14 Treatment should be comprehensive and include psychoeducation for the patient and his or her family, cognitive-behavioral therapies, academic accommodations and services in the school setting, and executive functioning and social skills development. Although medications for the management of ADHD address core symptoms, it is increasingly recognized that they must be paired with other therapeutic interventions to achieve the best prognosis.”

True.  But just the medication alone can give significant help to many, just not the best.  The consensus is that in very young children, the interventions should be tried first.

doug

Bonus Links:

Many Links to ADHD treatment articles, most but not all are negative, the more positive ones are near the bottom.  Not very up to date (unlike my post!)

Reports That Are More Positive 

The Whole Entire Complete Article by Rahil R. Jummani, MD

Notes O the Day:

1. I think that if the meds help a child with ADHD, that’s a great thing, and if they don’t, there is a fair chance that the diagnosis is not correct.
2. I plan to go more into the effects of treatment, pro and con, an into treatment of adults.  (I plan to.)  There is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding out there.

So try something.

Enough.

So try something different.

(Not really.)

Children with ADHD tend to have problems in school. Duh.

Life with ADHD.

Anyone can make a mistake, we just do it more often.

Here’s my latest post.

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

 

“Are We Overdiagnosing and Overtreating ADHD?” – Part Three, the Last and Maybe the Best— ADHD Tip O the Day 788

Final Installment On the ADHD Article by By Rahil R. Jummani, MD, highly edited.

My opinions and comments are in italics. For what they’re worth.

Prevalence:

Prevalence estimates have been increasing, with a prevalence in US children of over 8% now and 4% in adults. However, prevalence estimates of ADHD remained static for older adolescents and decreased for children who were multiracial or of other races.  Because?

 Of those diagnosed, 69% were treated with medication—6.1% of US children.

Increasing prevalence

There seems to be a generally increasing prevalence of ADHD in the US. This upward trend may reflect better public and medical education and awareness of the disorder,  increasing recognition of the inattentive subtype, environmental factors such as pollution, prematurity, and food additives, although no clear relationships have been established.  This will not, however, stop some people from having very definite opinions. 

Methodological and criteria changes may also contribute.

There are also realistic concerns that the increasing prevalence of ADHD may be artificial and reflect poor diagnostic practices and that treatment that is increasingly reliant on medication. When child and adolescent psychiatrists  evaluate children, they are less likely to initiate medication management immediately upon diagnosing ADHD. But child and adolescent psychiatrists represent a small percentage of clinicians, and the vast majority of ADHD cases are identified and treated by primary care practitioners.

A study of  pediatricians showed significant variability:

• Parent and teacher rating scales were used in only about half of the cases

• DSM criteria were not universally documented

• 93.4% of patients with a diagnosis of ADHD were treated with medication

• Only 13% received any form of psychosocial intervention

Although rating scales are  sensitive, they lack specificity, leading to a high false-positive rate for the disorder. Rating scales must therefore be combined with a comprehensive assessment of patients, and in the case of children, their parents.

Obtaining information about symptoms in multiple environments with the use of multiple informants is critical. For example, it is good clinical practice to interview teachers and, at times, conduct observations in the classroom before making a diagnosis. This is ridiculous, given the time pressure on physicians.  

Meticulous assessment for ADHD reduces misidentification of the condition when symptoms are caused by another disorder, such as a mood, anxiety, substance use, learning, or disruptive behavior disorder. Conditions that frequently co-occur with ADHD must be a focus of treatment as well.

All true, but of equal concern is the number of undiagnosed and untreated children and adults who suffer from ADHD.

doug

The Whole Entire Complete Article

Another New York Times Attack on ADHD?

On Diagnosis

Blessings of Facebook and ADHD.

You don’t believe in ADHD?

Blessed with ADHD creativity?

Life with ADHD.

Me and my computer – a strange love affair.

More about lists and ADHD.

Life With ADHD. Oh, My! — ADHD Tip O the Day 787

With ADHD, I need a wife, an iPhone, and strategies.

I had an 8:30 breakfast appointment with my boss at an excellent restaurant. And he was paying. I set the alarm; it worked. I got up on time, got ready and left on time. I had a nice brisk walk, but went past the restaurant.  I soon realized this, turned around, found the restaurant, and was only a few minutes late.

Miraculous for someone with ADHD, right?

The boss and I  had an enjoyable, productive and delicious meeting. At 10:36 my sainted wife, who looks after me, called and asked if I’d forgotten the 11 AM meeting at my other job.

Guess what?  I had.

I wrapped up the meeting, excused myself, walked briskly to my car parked behind the house, and rushed to the meeting.

But the bridge was out. I tried to find  way around, but couldn’t. I called for directions and asked them to tell my colleagues I’d be a little late.

The directions didn’t work. I figured I’d missed the turn so I went  round again.            Same path, same results.

Pulled over, got on the GPS, and although it directed me to the bridge that was out, I was able to figure out what to do. Turns out I hadn’t properly followed the directions.

I drove as fast as I  could and got there at 11:30, only 30 minutes late.  No one was there except the administrator, who gave me a surprised look and asked why I’d come so early.

“Early?”

The meeting was scheduled for 1 o’clock. Not 11 o’clock. It’s the other day’s meeting that’s at 11 o’clock.

No problem.

This gives me time to get a head start on the paperwork, to dictate this blog into my iPhone, and to make some phone calls.  In addition, the kind administrator just brought me a snack so I won’t get hypoglycemic.

So I dictated this blog. Unfortunately, halfway through, it somehow got erased. That’s the way technology treats me. However, I remained calm, and dictated it again. Here it is.

All is well.  Surely the universe is unfolding according to plan.

Just another day in the life of a person with ADHD.

Know what I’m talking about?

doug

Written with SwiftKey Note ( while I waited for the 1:00 pm meeting to start.)

Sent from my iPhone (Which I finally got back on Monday from Springfield, Avis, and FedEx. Thank goodness.  Otherwise, this whole story would’ve been a disaster.)

ADHD Strategy O the Day:

As I said above, we need a caretaker, a smart phone, and strategies.  That’s the strategy.

Heads Up O the Day:

My intention is to finish the article on 

“Are We Overdiagnosing and Overtreating ADHD?”

next time. This is where we actually try to answer the question and look at why the frequency of the diagnosis is increasing.  Any guesses  or opinions you want to offer in advances will be welcome.

Note that this is an intention.  I’ve learned to never make promises. You can count that as a bonus strategy.

Links:

From Lisa  -The most liked comments ever

Messing up with ADHD

Some days just surviving is a great triumph with ADD ADHD.

 

Time is a booger.

With ADHD it’s hard to get started some days.

ADHD keeps life interesting.

Uh oh, I did it again!

“Are We Overdiagnosing and Overtreating ADHD?” – Part Two— ADHD Tip O the Day 786

More from the recent ADHD article in Psychiatric Times

 (Jummani, MD, et al, in Psychiatric Times, May 2017, pp 26-28.)

To diagnose ADHD formally in children requires at least 6 of 9 inattentive symptoms and /or at least 6 of 9 symptoms of impulsivity and hyperactivity, present in two or more environments, evident before age 12, not accounted for by other conditions, and        “…clear evidence that the symptoms interfere with, or reduce the quality of, social, academic, or occupational functioning.”

Thus, there are tight rules for making the diagnosis and not just saying someone is a problem in the classroom.  The “let the children be children” advocates don’t know what they’re talking about.  Johnny is failing his classes, spending a lot of time in the principal’s office, shunned or teased or bullied by the other kids, losing his homework if he did it at all and at times his whole backpack, and is a source of extreme frustration to his parents.  Annie is daydreaming through class, barely passing, and largely ignored because she doesn’t cause any trouble.

To make the diagnosis in adults,  the criteria are the same, but only five symptoms are required.

Most adult ADHDers  have less dramatic hyperactivity and impulsivity.  But life is still hard. We need strategies.  And often medication.

In addition, before diagnosing, a good evaluation would include historical data, a rating scale, DSM criteria and additional information from at the least one other person who knows the patient well.  This often does not happen.

Most diagnoses are made by primary care physicians who do not have the training, and more importantly, do not have the time, for this.  They are more likely than psychiatrists to quickly start patients on medication without first starting psychosocial interventions.

I agree with the need for a good evaluation, but sometimes just getting the story and observing the patient in an interview are enough to make the diagnosis pretty clear.  I did also use a rating scale, usually more to help convince the patient more than myself, and got outside information when possible. The recommendations can be impracticable, given the limited time most physicians have and the lack of enough psychiatrists to meet the need.  One recommendation was that the physician go to observe the child in the classroom. Oh, my.

Many psychologists are better trained to make the diagnosis than many physicians, even many psychiatrists, but may lean too far away from recommending medication since most can’t prescribe. Many well trained ADHD coaches could make the diagnosis, although they are not supposed to.

I think most people with ADHD deserve at least a trial of medication to see how it works for them.

The rate of children being diagnosed with ADHD, and often treated with medication, is rising.  There are many possible explanations for this, which I will try to address next time.  Maybe.  This post is already longer than I’d intended. 

doug

News O the Day of Interest to No One But Me:

My iPhone arrived Monday morning.  I really missed it.

Links:

DSM V diagnostic criteria for ADHD,  David Rabiner, Ph.D.

Getting Diagnosed

Medications for ADHD?

ADHD is not —

Who needs an eulogy? Won’t it will be a little too late?

There are two kinds of people, those with ADHD and when I eat ice cream sometimes I get a headache.

Denial

“I don’t believe in ADHD.”

My ADHD medication supplement.

 

   @addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp    

The Cell Phone Saga: Another Chapter in My Life with ADHD — ADHD Tip O the Day 785

My iPhone has a great GPS and since I’m directionally challenged, I use it a lot.  Sometimes it sends me on a wild goose chase, but usually it’s right on.

So I set it in the cup holder of the rental car where I could easily see it and hear it.  Once before, I’d walked out and forgot it there, so the small voice said, “This is not a good idea.”

But I also knew that if I set it in my lap I was likely to forget it and when I got out of the car it would likely fall to the ground and break, so I said, ” Oh, no, I’ll just make a point of remembering it.”

Got to the Springfield Airport just fine.  Turned the car in. Guess what?

Oh,my.

that moment of disbelief if a facebook picture comes out right

Life with ADHD.

Or it might have to do with the way your brain works. Or doesn’t.

What was I talking about??

“Well, where did you last have it?”

But it was early Saturday morning, and no one was in any of the car rental booths.

I left a note with my name and address and explaining the problem in the key drop box , where I’d earlier dropped the keys, which meant I couldn’t get back into the car.

So when I got home, I called the Avis counter at the airport.  See, I couldn’t call before, because I didn’t have my iPhone.  The nice man said he had it, but I would have to call Monday and talk to someone then.

Monday was a holiday, and I didn’t think they’d be there and I kind of forgot it. Know what I mean?  Tuesday I was swamped.  Wednesday I was at work and couldn’t make a call.  So my dear sainted wife made the call for me.

The Avis guy was not very nice and not very helpful, but he said she’d have to call Fed Express.  Could the guy have told me that on Saturday? The Fed Express lady was not very nice and not very helpful.  She insisted that we open a Fed Express account.  Finally my wife got it arranged.  $45 for shipping, $9 for picking it up, and $9 for something else.  

You can do the math.

Supposed to be here tomorrow, Friday.  Supposed to.

You’d think that Avis, the big company who I’ve paid a lot for rentals, could have just generously shipped it.

You’d think that, wouldn’t you?

You’d think by now I would’ve learned to listen to the small voice, wouldn’t you?

ADHD Strategy O the Day:

Listen to the small voice.  It knows better than you do.

doug

Question O the Day:

Is losing your iPhone worse if you have ADHD?  Yes, I know it’s more likely, but is it worse?

Bonus Links:

stop losing things?

lost it again

FOFA

Oh, My!

Additional Plaint O the Day:

They said it would be here Friday.  Today is Saturday.  Do you think it’s here yet?

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

“Are We Overdiagnosing and Overtreating ADHD?” Or Not? Or What? — ADHD Tip O the Day 784

This is the title of a recent ADHD article

in Psychiatric Times (reference below, for the compulsive or curious.)

ADHD was first identified as a syndrome in 1935.

(I didn’t know this, did you?  — Syndrome – “a group of symptoms that consistently occur together or a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms.”  Usually means we don’t know the cause, and/or that it might have multiple causes.  Whether or not a syndrome can also be called a disease is debatable.)

“Untreated, the condition takes a toll on a child’s self-esteem and self-confidence.”  It ain’t all that helpful in adults, either.

ADHD often co-occurs with other disorders, tics, anxiety,depression, unstable mood, disruptive behavior, substance abuse, and/ or learning disabilities.   Not surprising, given what it’s like living with ADHD.  Don’t know of any studies of the incidence conditions of these in our significant others, but –.

Adults with ADHD have increased rates of divorce, unemployment, traffic violations (and accidents) substance abuse, and arrests.

From the Net:

After adjusting for a range of factors, including age, sex, family history of psychiatric disorders, and employment status, people with ADHD were found to have a mortality rate ratio (MRR) that was more than twice as high as individuals without ADHD (MRR, 2.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70 – 2.50; P < .0001).Feb 26, 2015

Having a diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increases the risk of death and reduces overall life-expectancy, a large study published in The Lancet shows. It finds that people with ADHD have a more than doubled risk of premature death – and that accidents are the most common cause.

Well, if that doesn’t cheer you up, I don’t know what.

Can we give ourselves some credit for doing as well as we are?

doug

Heads Up O the Day: I plan to cannibalize this extensive article for a few posts. The rest is not quite so morbid.  Not quite.

Query O the Day: I’ve implied some follow ups on previous posts.  Does anyone remember what, or care, or want to suggest another topic?

Principle O the Day: I’ve learned never to promise anyone anything.

Irrelevant Comment O the Day: I start every morning with a prayer and a laugh. Some days, the laugh is forced.

Comment On the Comment: But the prayer and laugh actually do help. That is the ADHD Strategy O the Day.

addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

 

Be informed about ADHD.

ADHD and marriage

What?

At any age.

ADHD is interesting.

ADHD is not —

We learn from experience. Sadly.

Life with ADHD. Clumsy or inattentive?

I almost forgot, surprise, surprise. The ‘promised’ reference. Article by R. R.
Jummani, MD, et al, in Psychiatric Times, May 2017, pp 26-28. So there.

Is My ADHD Messing With Me Again, Or Is It Something Else? —Tip O the Day 783

Is it ADHD or Human Nature?

Puryear’s Principle of Human Nature #2:

Once we find something that helps us  cope with a problem, we will quit doing it.

And this does apply to me.  Oh, my.

The Index Card System for ADHD

I was doing great with my index card system, but gradually I let it slip.  I started putting every new task, or even ideas or phone numbers, on the red to do card, which is supposed to only have 5 things on it – the list of 5.  It was easiest to just pull out the red card, write on it and move on.  Bad.

A New ADHD Strategy

Once I realized this  wasn’t going well, I changed,  But I didn’t go back to the old way, using the yellow index card for new things and then putting them onto the red card or others as appropriate.

Instead, now I use a yellow sticky note on the inside cover of my appointment book.  It is much easier to pull  out the big appointment book than to search for the yellow card among all the other cards in my pocket.  And it’s easier to change the sticky for a new one than it was with the yellow card.

How ADHD Works

With ADHD, we get bored easily and  our focus center gets turned on by novel things.  So maybe after we’ve done something for a while, we need to change it.  Even if it has become a habit, although I hope that’s not true.   So maybe it’s ADHD, or maybe it’s just Puryear’s principle number two.

More on this next time.  Or soon.  Maybe.

doug

ADHD Questions O the Day:

Can you contribute an example of this phenomenon?

How could you use this ADHD strategy with technology instead of index cards or stickys?

Irrelevant ADHD Comments O the Day:

Just for fun, I put ADHD into each heading. More instances of ADHD in a post are supposed to make it come up earlier on google if someone googles ADHD.  Who knows?

I don’t really know if today’s principle is  principle number two or one or three.  With my ADHD I can’t keep the numbers straight.

#ADHD @dougmkp #adultADHDstrategies

“Well, where did you last have it?”

The ADHD Creative Mind

Where am I now?

ADHD can make the simplest htings difficult.

Its not ADHD, he’s just being a normal kid – in detention, expelled, flunking, ostracized, etc.

 

 

Is It Ethical to Diagnose A Public Figure? — ADHD Tip O the Day 782

It is unethical for a psychiatrist to diagnosis a person, either private citizen or public figure, without personally examining him.  If the psychiatrist has indeed personally examined a person, it is then unethical to make that diagnosis public, or even the fact that the examination occurred, except  in some rare exceptional circumstances  which would almost certainly include having the examinee’s consent.

The exception would be in legal cases, where the person examined is informed in advance that the examination is not confidential and will be discussed in court.  Still, the psychiatrist’s information sharing would be confined to the court, not in the general public.

In other words, a psychiatrist cannot ethically comment on the psychiatric status of any other person if they have not examined them, or if they have examined them.

I don’t know what the rules are for psychologists, but suspect they are about the same.  Not my problem.

However, there is no reason that I cannot share my own diagnosis, it’s adult ADHD.

My ADHD causes me a lot of problems in life, with the following symptoms:

Often makes careless mistakes and lacks attention to details
(Examples: overlooking or missing details or handing in work that is inaccurate)

Often has difficulty paying attention to tasks
(Example: difficulty remaining focused during lectures, conversations, or lengthy readings)

Often seems to not listen when spoken to directly
(Example: mind seems elsewhere, even in the absence of obvious distraction)

Often fails to follow through on instructions, chores, or duties in the workplace
(Example: starts tasks but quickly loses focus and is easily sidetracked)

Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
(Examples: messy, disorganized work; poor time management; fails to meet deadlines)

Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to participate in tasks requiring sustained mental effort, like preparing reports, completing forms, or reviewing lengthy papers

Often easily distracted by other things, including unrelated thoughts

Often acts as if “on the go” or “driven by a motor”
(Example: is unable to be or uncomfortable being still for an extended time, as in meetings or restaurants)
Often talks excessively,  blurts out an answer before a question has been fully asked, blurts out inappropriate comments. (Examples: completes people’s sentences; cannot wait for next turn in conversation)
Often interrupts or intrudes on others (Examples: butts into conversations, games, or activities; may start using other people’s things without asking or receiving permission; may intrude into or take over)

Often has difficulty keeping commitments.

Often has trouble getting pictures to show properly on facebook or script to line up right on wordpress.

And this just a sample, I have other symptoms as well.

Adult ADHD affects approximately 4% of the US adult population.

But with strategies, and sometimes medication, we can manage to function.  With difficulty.

Oh, well.

doug

@ADHD @dougmkpdp #adhd

Whoops!

My ADHD and me.

ADHD mind

Or it might have to do with the way your brain works. Or doesn’t.

ADHD mind

Did ADHD make you a target? Or a bully?

 

 

ADHD Strategies 40 Tips — Tip O the Day 781

Living With ADHD, Ain’t It Awful?  No, It’s Not.

Just got a bad book review from Frances.  She said she couldn’t read the book because my life is so awful it made her feel awful to read about it.  She imagined that the “counting things and routines and patterns” made me suffer.  

But these are strategies and I would be suffering if I didn’t have strategies to help me cope with my ADHD.  Not to brag, but I have a great wife, a good job, many interests, a good social network, a good spiritual life, rewarding hobbies, good health, a great family including eight grandchildren, and other benefits. And a new dog.   I am blessed and I am happy.

And things keep getting better.  For example, I think I finally just caught onto the secret to “living in the now,” which had always seemed a meaningless phrase, and it is making things even better.

So I am a big fan of strategies for ADHD.  Strategies are why I can say, “Your Life Can Be Better.”

doug

The Book Review

40 tips

Semi-irrelevant Remark O the Day:

I have heard that bad reviews are much better than no reviews, so I appreciate them.  Someone is paying attention.

Life can be hard with ADHD