ADHD and Attitude Adjustment — ADHD Tip O the Day 743

Leave them behind.

My ADHD social skills.

I can’t put up with much.

Thanks for my ADHD medication.

ADHD behavior

Sometimes it’s just all ADHD.

ADHD – Frustrated, Irritable, and Discouraged

I get easily frustrated, often over little things, and I’m irritable, which is a symptom of ADHD, and sometimes I get discouraged, tho not often.  But I have a strategy.

The Strategy

I’ve developed the habit of saying “Thank you.”  Occasionally, I will list all the things I have to be thankful for (unlike some more positive thinkers, I do not include ADHD in this list.)  It’s quite a long list.  I am generally thanking God, but you can do this non-spiritually if you prefer. 

After reciting the list a number of times, a new habit is formed. It’s  stimulus response – now, when I just say “Thank you,” I get the feeling of gratitude and peace that comes with going through the list, without needing to go through the list.  “Thank you” is the stimulus, and the improved state of mind is the conditioned response.

If you  are reading this, you at the least are literate, relatively intact, and have access to the internet.   You are more fortunate than what? – 85% of the human population of the world?

Let us say, “Thank you.”

doug

Bonus Links

12 Things You Don’t Know About Me and My ADHD

ADHD and Irritable

ADHD and Irritable, number two

 

Illustrative Comment O the Day

Now, why did the $%^&^&%$ pictures wind up at the top of the  $&**&*^%$ post?

Idle Question O the Day

Do you know anybody like Tom?

 

 

 

 

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

 

Caring for Someone With ADHD (ambiguous title). Affection or caretaking?— ADHD Tip O the Day 742

Life Is Hard

Life is hard.  Life with ADHD is harder.  Marriage is hard.  Marriage with ADHD is harder.  Being married to someone with ADHD is harder than I can even imagine.

There are strategies that will make our life with ADHD better.

There are strategies that will make living with someone with ADHD better.

Still, it does require the patience of a saint.

doug

When You Care

Tell me what to do?

Bonus Links:

Relationships and ADHD?

Experts on Relationships and ADHD

Oh my! with an ADHDer.

My ADHD

Send me to the store with ADHD?

Send me to the store with ADHD?

@addstrategies #adhd #add @dougmkpdp

Stimulants and ADHD — ADHD Tip O the Day 741

Stimulants for ADHD

One of the common misconceptions and falsehoods posted on the net are that the stimulants are the same as street drugs.  Not so.

amphetamines vs methamphetamine

Also, I believe that research shows:

1. Stimulants are rarely abused by people who actually have ADHD.
2. Stimulants do not give students an unfair advantage.  They do not improve performance in non ADHD  people.
3. None the less, there is a high rate of stimulant mis use in colleges.  (It just doesn’t help.)
4. Treatment of ADHD with stimulants does not lead to drug abuse, and some research shows that treatment actually reduces drug abuse.
5. There is lot of garbage and nonsense on the internet.

doug

Links:

About stimulants

Stimulant abuse

Misrepresentations about ADHD

ADHD research and meds

ADHD doesn’t exist?

Ignorance about ADHD doesn’t prevent opinions.

‘I defend your right to your opinion, even though it sounds like the ravings of a lunatic.’

The ADD ADHD brain is different. And very busy.

 

@addstrategies #adhd #add @dougmkpdp

Do a To- Do List or Don’t Do a To-Do List? — ADHD Tip O the Day 740

Where’s my ADD ADHD to-do list?

Life with ADHD is a booger, especially without a to-do list.

Your to-do list isn’t guaranteed to make you happy, but if you have ADHD and don’t have a to-do list you’re pretty guaranteed to be unhappy.

Although a to- do list is essential, it’s not very helpful if you don’t know how to use it.

The main key is Five- you can have a long to-do list with a thousand things on it, but your serious working to do- list needs to be limited to five items. Otherwise, you will tend to feel overwhelmed and find it hard to know where to start.  So you won’t.

There are many other tips for making the to-do list actually work for you.  Maybe more later.  I’ll put it on my list.

Homey writes about her to– do list constantly changing during the day as different things come up.

Aint life like that?

doug

Homeys post on the ever evolving to-do list

Just Received:

Simone Biles, US Oympic hero, has ADHD.  Yea for Simone!

Bonus Links:

Some of the Tips

The Card System

Lists Don’t Work for Me – More on the Tips

Anti To- Do List

Is Your ADHD Brain Mature?— ADD Tip O the Day 739

Delayed maturation, or erroneous maturation as basis for ADHD?

Like everyone else, I have my fixed ideas and opinions, and like most of us ADHDers, I have definite opinions about ADHD.

 Some researchers suggest that ADHD is a delayed maturation of the brain, especially in the executive functions. (See the link below.) That might help explain why about half of the kids seem to outgrow it. But further research shows that even in those people the brain networks remain “abnormal.”

Some people would prefer the term, “different,” rather than “abnormal,” but in my opinion, if the difference occurs in less than 8% of the population and causes significant difficulties  in functioning, it is “abnormal.”   But I digress.

If it is simply a slowness of maturation, then our brain should eventually catch up and we should no longer have ADHD. And 50% of us “outgrow” it. I think for some of us, our brains have matured and we have learned coping skills and  better self-control (over impulsiveness, procrastination, jiggling, etc.) and ADHD seems to have vanished, except in research studies. ( I am not in that 50%.)

Miswiring?

I believe the basis for ADHD is miswiring of the neural networks between the posterior and more primitive parts of the brain and the frontal lobes.  This leads to difficulty  in controlling focus  and  in controlling impulses.  And so we have the symptoms of ADHD, and we need strategies .

doug

Request O the Day:

I would love to get your opinions on this,  especially from our more scientific readers.

Question O the Day:

Did anyone get the joke on the next to last post  or did it fly right over your heads?

 

Maturation and the ADD ADHD brain

The next to last post, containing the joke

Explanation of the joke, in case you still didn’t get it. Oh well, never mind.

 

This helps us ADHDers to focus, and also burns a few calories.

Some things help the ADHD kid in the classroom.

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

Life is different, living with ADHD.

Summer’s Over – For ADHD Students and Parents — ADHD Tip O the Day 738

With ADHD,  school can be a booger.

Actually, school was very easy for me – that is, the academic part.  Socially and behaviorally, not so much.  But the work was very easy, until I hit college.  It was like hitting a brick wall.  I didn’t know how to study, and I didn’t know that I didn’t know how to study.  So I just tried harder.  You know how well that works with ADHD.

I did not do well in college.  An understatement.

How to Study and Learn, Even with ADHD

I learned how to study in my second year of medical school.  It was a life changing revelation.  I did well in medical school, from then on.   These days, I think most schools teach kids how to study early on.  I hope so.

I go into what I learned about how to study in depth in the book.  These days, I think most schools teach kids how to study early on.  I hope so.

doug

What every student with ADHD should know    Welcome back to school!

 

With ADHD, we don’t usually start easily – unless it’s impulsive, of course.

Life can be hard. With ADD ADHD, it’s harder.

Not too effective.

Life with ADD ADHD

With ADD ADHD, we’re gonna fidget!

Multitasking – one of the ADD ADHD gifts?

What every student with ADHD should know    Welcome back to school!

Bonus Links

Studying and ADHD    The First of  a Series

Helping Concentration

Note On Podcast

I just did a podcast with Jennie Friedman, ADHD coach.  Check it out.

Thank you, Jennie.

 

 

 

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

 

Open Mind VS Old Patterns — ADHD Tip O the Day 737

With ADHD, we need to make some changes.

It’s hard to change a habit, but there are strategies:

1. Spotting – This is the first step. Instead of trying to stop the old habit, just recognize every time you do it, spot it.  – “Oh, there I did it again.”  Later you will be able to shift to, “Oh, there I’m doing it again.”  It takes time.                                                                                       
2. Substitution- We don’t just stop doing something; we need to do something else instead.  Replace the old habit with a new one.

doug

Links O the Day:

James Clear on Habits  The Habit Guru     

doug on Habits

doug  on Problem,Strategy,Habit

                                                       

We ADHD guys are creative.

So I don’t have to spend the day on facebook?

Where am I now?

My ADHD routine.

 

Stupid Comment O the Day:

” Hope this post will take off. “

 

 

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

 

Meds for Adult ADD ADHD? — ADD Tip O the Day 736

My opinions about the medications:

There are many medications available  for ADHD – the stimulants, the antidepressants, and others.

Like everyone else, I have my opinions about the medicines, which I will repeat here:

• Everyone with ADHD deserves a trial of medication.  For some people, they don’t work. That raises the question of whether the person actually has ADHD.     For some people, they cause intolerable side effects.  For some people (like me), they help some. For some people, they are a life-changing miracle.  It’s worth trying.
• These medications are safe for most people, although caution is needed if there is hypertension or cardiac disease.
• These medications can be abused. This appears to occur mostly in college. They do not help with school performance for non-AHDers, although they give the impression that they do.  People with ADHD rarely abuse them.  The effect on people with ADHD is different from on vanillas.
• Starting the medications is a trial and error process.  You must determine which medication is best for you, at what dose, and with what timing.  Each of us is unique.

Benefits

The purpose of medication is to help us focus. Other benefits can be to increase motivation and decrease inertia.

The medications

Stimulants : methylphenidate -Ritalin, Concerta, Focalin, Daytrana ; amphetamines -Adderal, dexedrine, Cylert

Antidepressants: Staterra (atomaxetine), Wellbutrin (bupropion),Effexor (venlafaxine), Pamelor (desipramine)

Others:  Guanfacine, omega 3 fatty acid (fish oil) can be of some help.

There are other longer acting forms now available.

 

The link below covers this in more detail, as well as more about ADHD.  It is a gem.

doug

Pretty much everything about the meds  from Dr. Schwartz

 

Other ADHD Medication Links:

Medication Myths

Alternatives to medicines

Amphetamines

Totally Irrelevant Comment: Trying to publish a list with numbers is a booger.  But that’s nothing compared to trying to get the pictures right.  Patience is not one of my ADHD gifts.

 

Without the meds.

I never colored in the lines

my ADHD medication supplement.

ADHD makes us irritable

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADHD and Your Genes — ADHD Tip O the Day 735

The ADD ADHD mind.

What about ADHD genes?

We each have two copies of the serotonin transport gene, SERT, one from each parent.  This gene regulates uptake of serotonin back into the cell.

The gene comes in two flavors, long (L) and short (S). If you’re lucky, you got LL. You are not very sensitive to stress and you’re unlikely to become depressed no matter what happens.  You also have less anxiety.

With SS, you are very likely to become depressed in response to stress.   With LS, you’re in between.

With early childhood stress, the frontal area of the brain does not develop as well.  There is a lack of volume in the areas responsible for controlling response to stress and to unpleasant feelings and for controlling impulses.

If you have SS, you’re more sensitive to stress and this effect on your brain is more profound.

With SS things that are stressful to you will cause a bigger reaction than for your buddy with LL. He might not even find them stressful it all.  On the other hand, if you have ADHD you might be creating more stress in your life.

Recent research shows that those of us with the combination of SS and more stress have less frontal brain volume and more severe  ADHD symptoms.  Those with LL have more normal frontal brain volumes and less severe ADHD symptoms, regardless of  stressful life experiences.  The frontal brain is where judgement and delaying action live.

With  ADHD  there is also less good connection between the regulating frontal areas and the stress responding lower areas (subcortical structures).

For most  ADHD children the brain gets more normal with aging.  Stimulants (ritalin, adderall, vyvanse, daytrana, etc.) also change brain structures toward normal in children and in adults.

We have to be careful about confusing cause and effect and remember that  correlation does not prove causation.  But these findings are very suggestive.

Psychiatric disorders

If ADHD is like most psychiatric disorders, and it probably is, then there is no one gene responsible, but many genes that contribute to a propensity to have the disorder.  The environment and expericens may then determine to what extent those genes are activated.

Inviting Comments

I welcome comments from everyone but especially invite our scientists to correct any misinformation here.  I don’t claim to really understand this stuff.

doug

Links:

Is this what made you?

“Brain Correlates of the Interaction Between 5-HTTLPR and Psychosocial Stress Mediating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Severity”,van der Meer et al,Am J Pychiatry, August 2015

ADD ADHD brains function differently

Stimulants improve brain structure

(http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.11020281 in case the link doesn’t work)

Note: Actually, it’s even more complicated.  Newer research suggests that the SS combination may even be of some benefit, IF you don’t have a very stressful childhood.
Link: serotonin transporter gene

The ADD ADHD brain is different.

@addstrategies  #adhd #add @dougmkpdp #adhdstrategies #adhdadultstrategies

ADHD Evaluation? – A Terrible Experience – Jeff’s Ordeal — ADHD Tip O the Day 734

What can you learn from Jeff’s experience?

“Hi Doug. I saw a psychiatrist for the first time to help treat my ADHD,  and I wanted to let you know how it went. It went TERRIBLE! What a waste of time! I had called 3 psychiatrists who were in my insurance plan, but the other 2 had left the practices. So I was surprised that Dr. R was able to see me within a week because I had been warned of long delays before being able see a psychiatrist.

We (my wife attended to assist me in remembering what was said) arrived on time for my appointment. First, I was given a BIG stack of papers to read and sign, including the set procedures for filing a grievance! (a bad sign?) Next, we were forced to sit in the waiting room for almost 2 hours before he was ready to see me! He finally took us to an office, but then proceeded to curse because he didn’t like where the phone and computer monitor were located on the desk! Then he disappeared out of the office for 10 minutes!

Dr. R finally returned, and started to talk with us. I handed him a sheet of paper that summarized my ADHD problems, and listed  the few medications I take. He seemed mostly uninterested in this! Instead, he was focused on his cell phone, which constantly rang during our short time with him. He checked who was calling him, and occasionally took the call! One time he even stepped out of the office again! (no more cursing, fortunately)

Eventually, Dr. R allowed me to explain my experiences and symptoms of ADHD. He then stated that it was clear that I suffered from ADHD, but he wanted me to get TESTED by a psychologist in his office who specialized in ADHD testing. Dr. R said this would be necessary before he’d be willing to prescribe any medication. This was even though I was asking to be started at a low dose. Dr. R then took me to the scheduling desk to ensure I set up the testing appointment. My wife and I then left, stunned that a highly trained doctor would treat patients in this manner! This turned out to be the worst doctor appointment I’ve ever had!

The next day I looked for ANOTHER psychiatrist in my area who accepts my insurance, and I found one who treats patients with ADHD. The bad news: She isn’t able to see me until late OCTOBER! The good news: She doesn’t require separate ADHD testing, as I was told she evaluates patients during their first visit – during which she’s expected to prescribe medication!

So, what do you think of my experience, Doug? As a psychiatrist, I’m sure you treat your patients much better than Dr. R does. I hope you enjoyed my (hopefully) unusual story. Jeff”

Reply

Oh Jeff, terrible indeed, and an embarrassment to the medical profession. I’m sorry this happened to you. I trust your next appointment will go better.
You have the option of reporting this guy to the state medical board. The comment you posted should be sufficient. If several people report him, he will at least be investigated.

And/or you could google him and then grade him on the various sites and maybe have room for a comment.

In my opinion, there is no need for a psychologist testing just to diagnose ADHD.
I can’t say I enjoyed your story at all. I would like to use at least part of it in a post unless you object.

Lessons:   

Always check up on someone before you agree to see them.  Get references from other people, from your primary physician, from reviews posted on the net, from CHADD.

You don’t have to put up with this kind of crap.  Walk out.

There are some very poor physicians out there.

There are things you can do about bad physicians.

If it stinks, it’s probably spoiled.

doug

Bonus Links:

How to Evaluate an Evaluater

ADD or ADHD – Jeff used ADD but I changed it

Yes! Life is hard with ADHD.

Leave them behind.

Don’t put up with it.

Sometimes it’s all a little too much.

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

 

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

 

 

How I do an ADHD evaluation. What is an adequate ADHD evaluation? — ADHD Tip O the Day 733

You need a competent ADHD evaluation.

Jeff just had a horrible experience with an evaluation.  I felt very sorry for Jeff and very embarrassed for the psychiatric profession.  And personally embarrassed, because I keep recommending evaluations and then this happens.

Key Points:

1.You do need an evaluation. You can self-diagnose on the net, and that’s a good start, but you need confirmation. There are other things that can mimic ADHD. You don’t want to start medication from a doctor who doesn’t understand ADHD. There are conditions that contraindicate trying medicines.  So you need an evaluation.

2. You need an evaluation from someone who understands ADHD. This may be a psychiatrist, a psychologist, or an ADHD coach. I personally recommend the psychiatrist. Do research before you make an appointment.

Unfortunately, there are many physicians who don’t understand ADHD and don’t understand that they don’t understand. I used to be one.  Hope I’m not now.

An Evaluation:

I’ve been asked what I do for an evaluation:

1. Screen on telephone.
2. Send a general medical/psychiatric questionnaire to bring to appointment.
3. Get a history and get releases signed.
4. Do any indicated physical and neurological exams.
5. Go over questionnaire.                                                                                                                     

 6. If I suspect ADHD:
7. Review criteria together.
8. Some education about ADHD.
9. Some discussion of options.
10. Find out who else I can talk to – mother, spouse, etc.
11. Give Brown attention scale test to take home; explain the test.
12. Try to answer any questions.                                                                                                       13. Schedule next appointment.

13. Write up evaluation, 1-3 pages.
14.Whew!

I can usually do this in an hour, sometimes in an hour and a half. I do charge a little more for any initial evaluation appointment.

doug

Notes:

1. Jeff put his experience into our comments. Thank you, Jeff. I will put some of his ordeal into an upcoming post.

2. I rarely see any indication for psychological testing. Extremely rarely.

3.  This is past tense. I retired from private practice in 2013.

 

Links:

Getting an ADHD diagnosis

Diagnosis by an ADHD coach

Diagnosis and What then?

A good ADHD evaluation.

Denial

my ADHD medication supplement.

ADHD research

Diagnosis of ADHD

 

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

ADHD is a good thing to have. Isn’t it????— ADD Tip O the Day 732

Does ADD ADHD rock or does it suck? A controversy!

This is from my gifted good buddy Ken (edited). My comments are in italics.

Why ADHD rocks – surprising view of a freelancing expat

By Ken Powell – http://writeoutloudblog.com/
“… If you could give me a pill to take it away – I wouldn’t touch it! I love my ADHD and wouldn’t be without it.
I’m blessed that my particular form of ADHD didn’t need medication and is something known as ‘twice exceptional’ – in other words I’ve never struggled with behaviour or concentration or any of the other negative things we often associate with it. WOW!!???
My ADHD has enabled me to do MORE, learn more, love more and help more.
In fact, there’s good reason to suggest that ADHD has never been the problem at all – it’s society that has the issue.”

Ken goes on to suggest that society is the cause of ADD ADHD. He argues that if hyperactivity and hyperfocus gave our early ancestors an evolutionary advantage then the problem is that we are now expected to go to school. But wouldn’t that mean that our ancestors had ADD ADHD but it wasn’t a problem until school? So it wouldn’t be society that caused ADD ADHD, society just caused it to be a problem instead of the advantage it previously was.

…So really this condition was made by society changing. Girls can have ADHD too …but history seems to have made it so that most kids with ADHD are male. This is correct for ADHD but seems to minimize the problems that ADD inattentive type causes for girls.

There’s hundreds of attributes known to be typical of ADHD but no one has them all. To be diagnosed with ADHD you usually have to exhibit a significant number of these traits but not every one. Yes, except I would quibble about “usually”.

“Here I want to share just a few reasons why ADHD, when harnessed well, is brilliant and not debilitating. When harnessed well!!!!

My Top 9 Positive Points for ADHD

1. We have tons of energy – the trick is harnessing it! Exactly!

2. We’re enthusiastic – we’re free thinkers and our enthusiasm is infectious. Can be, but a lot of times we just piss other people off.

3. We’re generally pretty nice people
We’re warm, loving, kind and have a great love of humor. We’re sensitive and compassionate. And we’re great with kids! In fact we’re very family-minded, love to volunteer to help others and love making new friends. I believe that Ken is a nice person and has these traits. Sometimes I have some of them myself. Sometimes. Much less so when I’m stressed by the problems my ADD ADHD causes or when I’m hyperfocused.

I don’t have any data about us being nice in general.

… they make great babysitters. If we don’t drive off with the baby on top of the car or set the house afire or forget that we’re baby sitting or —.

4. We’re big-picture people.
We can see patterns in chaos, notice things more broadly and make connections easily. That does mean sometimes we see things differently, so differently you might wonder what planet we’re on, but on the whole we can give a fresh perspective on things. I agree we have that tendency.

5. We hyper-focus on the stuff we find interesting. Yes, and we can be very productive. But I don’t have much control over when or what I hyperfocus on or when I unhyperfocus, so it can be a problem.

6. We live in the ‘now’.
We’re impulsive and don’t live too much for the future. Well, I have a lot of concern about the future and try to plan ahead but I have a hard time telling when the future is. Something I need to prepare for that’s for next month seems like eons away. It will sneak up on me. That’s a problem.

…that makes us good company. Unless we’re being inappropriate and annoying and not doing what we’d said we’d do.

7. We need less sleep. I can get by on less sleep sometimes because I have insomnia but I don’t function as well. I have no data that we need less sleep, just that we get less sleep.

8. We’re speedy thinkers
We’ve learned to think on our feet and adapt well to change. … That makes us good to have around in a crisis or when a quick decision needs making. Sometimes a crisis triggers our hyperfocus and we do extemely well. Sometimes. I’m not sure it’s consistent.

9. We’re creative.

Brainstorming, thinking outside the box, creative solutions: That’s us! We do seem to do this. Yea, us!

doug

 

Question O the Day:

If I didn’t have ADD ADHD would I be able to figure out how to get WordPress to keep the formatting I put in instead of jumbling it all up together like this?

Second Question O the Day:

What do you think?  Is ADHD a blessing or a curse?

Links:

Ken’s original post

Gifts and Benefits of ADHD

Too much about the gifts

My ADHD

Only those with ADHD can know what it’s like.

Trying to juggle it all with ADHD.

The ADHD life

 

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

 

Goals and ADHD — ADHD Tip o the Day 731

 

With ADHD, sometimes we need to lower the bar.

“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?”               Robert Browning

This is one of the guiding principles of American life, but like another, “You can be anything you want to be,” it’s false and harmful.

We may believe that setting high goals will challenge us and drive us forward.  Maybe that works, sometimes.  We do need to set goals.  But repeated failures are demoralizing. We need successes. The solution? Lower the bar!

A strategy: Lower the bar!

(Note: All numbers are based on my memory.  They may not be exact.  Memory and ADHD?)

(Note: This is not about weight.  Weight is only used as an example to illustrate the principle.)

(Note:  Got that?)

I’ve been concerned with my weight since  high school. I wanted to play football and no matter what I did the highest weight I could achieve was 168. I was too small, but I did the best I could. When football season was over, I was no longer working out  and I was drinking more beer.  I got to 185 by graduation.  In college, I suffered the delusion that I was going to play football, and with heavy eating and heavy weightlifting, got to 208. Since college, it’s been a continual battle to keep my weight down.

For years my goal has been to get back to 168. I have set my psychic alarm clock at 179, trying desperately to avoid the dreaded 180. But now we are living in a place abounding in good food and especially good desserts. Multiple desserts. Oh my!

I have breached the 180 a few times but I generally manage to stay below that. I did get to 168 for one day.
If I work really really hard at it and strictly discipline myself, I can lose a pound in a week. That would be 52 pounds in a year. However, I can gain 5 pounds in one night, especially with Mexican food. And holidays are especially hard.  Discipline is not one of the strong points with ADHD.
I need successes, not constant failures. Failure is already frequent enough with ADHD.

I plan to  change my target goal from 168 to 172. I’ll set my psychic alarm at 176. I’m hoping to maintain between 172 and 176.  I will no longer shoot for 168. It ain’t gonna happen.

Note:

Our need for success is one reason the strategy of “small steps” works.  Instead of failing to complete a project, we complete a small step and the success gives us confidence, morale and energy to proceed to the next small step.

doug

Bonus Links:

Be More Productive

Goals and ADHD?

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

Happens to me all the ti

Any mountain can be climbed.

#add #adhd #adhdstrategies @dougmkp @addadultstrategies

Tips for Surviving with ADD ADHD — ADD Tip o the Day 730

What can we expect of ourselves, or of someone else, with ADHD?

“Life can be hard, and with ADHD, it’s even harder.”

“Some days, just surviving is a triumph.”

            Doug Puryear

The great cell phone adventure

The 1:20 alarm on my cell phone went off.  That’s a signal to take off my Daytrana patch so that I’ll be able to sleep tonight. I needed to turn off the alarm, but I couldn’t find the phone. The loud ringing continued.  It seemed to be coming from the kitchen, so I walked in there. There was  a cell phone on the counter, but I double checked and it was Martha’s. It sounded like maybe the ringing was coming from her purse on the counter, but when I stuck my ear in there, it wasn’t. It wasn’t in the cupboard under the counter either.

The phone kept ringing.  Then, God forbid, it sounded like it was maybe in the dryer, but it wasn’t (there’s another story behind that). I moved back to the dining area, but clearly it was coming from the kitchen on my left. I went back in and looked under the dryer. Nope.

It was then that I realized it was in my left pocket. I was wearing my exercise pants, very baggy, and hadn’t felt it.

I turned the alarm off.

It wasn’t until the 1:30 backup alarm went off that I realized that in all the excitement I had failed to take off the patch, which, of course, was the point in the first place.

What it takes

As Homey just pointed out in her comment, we have to work harder. We can accomplish,  but we do have to work harder to get things done. Nonetheless, although we tend to drive our significant others crazy, we can accomplish things and succeed in life.

doug

From Dr. Prevatt Tips on surviving with ADD ADHD.  She has hit most of my tips!

from Melissa Melov on nagging and reminding

Bonus Link O the Day:

Can you have ADHD and be in a relationship?

Note: Did you recognize the tips hiding in the phone story?

Yet another note: I have a new excellent job, so I’m even busier than before.  Think I will revive some of the best old posts from time to time. Hope you will find the review beneficial.

Life is different, living with ADHD.

Send me to the store with ADHD?

Oh my! with an ADHDer.

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Getting Diagnosed with ADHD – and Life Before the Diagnosis. Part 2— ADHD Tip O the Day 729

From Jeff – a comment on a previous post and on Ram’s comment on that post.              (The embolding is my doing.)

“Hi Doug. I have a different perspective from Ram’s that I thought I’d share. And my reaction to realizing I had ADD was more similar to yours. I learned I had ADD just a few years ago, when I was about 25 years older than Ram. I had been to see several neurologists in an attempt to learn the cause of my frequent migraines and memory problems. Unfortunately, these doctors only appeared interested in treating my migraines. I ended up self-diagnosing myself with ADD, although I don’t remember exactly when this was, or how it happened. I just remember that it was as though I had just solved a very difficult puzzle after the pieces just happened to come together and I had an eureka moment!

Realizing I had ADD, and learning many of the tips for living with ADD, has made my life much easier. I have many of the classic symptoms, quite a few of which you’ve described as having yourself, Doug. I didn’t get upset upon learning I had ADD, just happy that I finally knew what was causing many of my problems. And maybe it was for the best that I didn’t learn I had ADD when I was in school, because perhaps I would have thought I was unable to accomplish some of the things that I DID accomplish. I graduated from college, but had many difficulties caused by ADD. Not only was I a slow reader, but I found it difficult to study, etc. So, to combat these problems, I just worked harder than other students. Unfortunately, my social life suffered, as I had much less time to devote to having fun.

However, instead of being upset over the problems I’ve had due to my ADD, I try to focus on making my life better in the future. It’s a long process, but I find it a challenge to learn new tactics to combat the effects ADD has on me.”

Comment:  Many physicians don’t understand ADHD, but unfortunately, many don’t understand that they don’t understand. We have many tools to help self-diagnose, which is a good first step, but the diagnosis needs to be confirmed by a knowledgeable professional. There are other conditions that can mimic ADHD.  

Sometimes when we get the diagnosis, it is “Eureka” – everything suddenly makes sense. Then we can start identifying problems and using strategies which will make our life better. We can also try medication, which sometimes can be a miracle, and sometimes not.  There are a number of symptoms characteristic of ADHD and different ones of us may have different combinations, so we are each unique, but we all have a lot in common.

 Many of us have accomplished a lot, but with many difficulties and having to work harder than the vanillas.  

We need to learn to pay attention to the fact that we do have ADHD, and that we need to focus on coping and how to make our lives better.

Thanks, Jeff.

doug

Relevant Links:     

Ram’s story

More on diagnosis

Evaluating a professional

#adhd #adultADHD #adhdstrategies @dougmkpdp @addadultstrats

                                                                                    

Only those with ADHD can know what it’s like.

So I don’t have to spend the day on facebook?

ADHD is ——What was I going to say?

Adhd and sleep- are you kidding me?

With ADHD we are creative – not always a blessing.

Procrastination Flowchart

Is ADD ADHD different in women?

Distractions, anyone?

Routine

Some things are a little harder with ADHD

Blurting!

Ram’s story

More on diagnosis

Evaluating a professional

 

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

 

Science and ADHD Meds — ADHD Tip O the Day 780

from    Chris Dendy:

“Comments from Russell Barkley: Thanks Russ
More Evidence of Brain Development Enhancement from ADHD Medications
Just today yet another science journal article was published showing that staying on ADHD medications (stimulants) may help to promote brain development in those areas in which ADHD has been associated with under-development and poor functioning. What makes this article so significant is it is the first demonstration of this in adults with ADHD. The other 33 studies showing this effect were done with children. So ask yourself, why are these findings not covered in the mainstream media? Why are we always hearing from the MSM about the supposed evils of medication use with those having ADHD but never about the potential benefits, now including evidence of neuro-protection (brain enhancement)? If this were found to occur in any other area of medicine where treatment with a medication helped to at least partially correct the underlying biological development creating that disorder, wouldn’t the MSM cover that finding? The bias of the MSM against psychiatric medications, particularly for ADHD, is just mind-numbing. the findings from these 34 studies are some of the most important I have seen in ADHD in several decades.”

My comment:

Unfortunately, I have no idea what the MSM is. Help?

Jeff informs me that MSM means mainstream media.  Thanks, Jeff!

PS – sorry.  it wasnt Jeff.  Thanks to Russel!

The wiring (networks) in our brains are different.  Presumably, the neurotransmitters  and the anatomy are different.  Medications not only help our symptoms but apparently change our brains towards normal.  Some people don’t like this idea, but I think I could probably handle “normal.”

To repeat myself, over and over, repetitively -” The medications are a miracle for some, a help to others, and not useful or not tolerable for others.  We are each different, although we share a lot in common.”

Links:

The study

ADHD Medications

More on Meds from Oren Mason MD

Trying to juggle it all with ADHD.

The ADHD brain at work.

When my brain works at all.

My ADHD brain seems to have a mind of it’s own.

Time is a Booger with ADHD — ADHD Tip O the Day 728

I got a new job, and I played in a concert, and I let time get away from me and I didn’t get a post ready.  So I collected some ADHD links.  Hope you will like them.

Time management – from Ezra on Weebly blog

Punctuality

Strategies for getting there on time

88 tips on how to live- from David

Time management?

There’s time, and then there’s ADHD time

Notes to myself:

Remember to proofread before posting.

Remember to check links before posting.

Who am I kidding?

doug

Question O the Day:

Do you have a favorite technique I’m missing here?

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Eastern time, Central time, Mountain time, Western time, ADD ADHD time.

ADD ADHD and reliability. I am responsible, I’m just not reliable.

ADHD Time

And what ws I doing?

Priorities

Is the insomnia from ADD ADHD or from the medicine?

Oh! Is it here already?!!

THE INNATE PERVERSITY OF INANIMATE OBJECTS

Living with ADHD and Getting an ADHD Diagnosis — ADHD Tip O the Day 727

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

This comment from a fellow ADHD tribe member, Ram, on the post about diagnosis.  The bolding of parts is my doing.  My comments are at the end:

“Hi Doug, I’ve told you before about my diagnose, but I’ll recap for the sake of sharing.
Got my diagnose a year and a half ago; I was 32 going on 33. My sis often told me she was sure I had HAD adhd when I was a chilld – had! – which even I didn’t believe. When I got the diagnose, I thought adhd was a serious children’s affliction, maybe too overdiagnosed, but serious and real and well… for children. I thought my shrink was pulling my leg when he told me about it and prescribed me the equivalent of ritalin – something with a prescription pad that was very threateningly take out of a special pad that had to be filled by hand and everything, a different colour than the other pads and saying the words “It’s a different prescription because this medication counts as a numbing narcotic, but don’t worry, it’s not in the very least addictive.”

First I was puzzled, then I googled “adhd grownups” and realized it was actually me; then I spent the next few days crying in relief everytime I thought of it – I thought I had “spoiled” my head into being lazy and distracted during my teens; then I did consider how different my life might have been – I did drop out of college because I couldn’t focus and thought I was too dumb – and I was also slightly outraged that no one had diagnosed me – family always said “you just need to focus” and years of therapy with a psychologist did nothing for my impulsive eating and horrible mood swings (like 10 times a day). I even ended up having a depression despite it all.
But in the end, what helped me go over those thoughts of “what might have been” was the mantra I had luckily already developed for my overthinking of the past: “It all happened the way it had to happen”.

I’m not a fatalist. Except when it comes to the past.😉”

My Comments:

Some typical experiences.  Ram thought she was lazy and blamed herself for her symptoms.  This kind of demoralizing self abuse just makes the symptoms worse.  She dropped out of college and thought she was dumb. 

The family had no clue – typical, ‘Just try harder.’

Therapy can be very useful, if the therapist understands ADHD.  It can be unhelpful and maybe even harmful if they don’t.  Depression is a frequent co-morbid accompanier of ADHD, and no wonder. 

Often with the diagnosis there is finally understanding and relief, but also regret over “what might have been” if only the ADHD had been diagnosed sooner.  And with our history of so many screw ups, we do tend to over think the past – a formula for more depression.

But Ram has a strategy a mantra ( I call them mottos) – “It all happened the way it had to happen.”   You can’t get here without having been there.

Thank you Ram for sharing.

doug

Links:

The diagnosis of ADHD can be upsetting

The ADHD diagnosis, part one

Misdiagnosis and misinformation about ADHD

Note on the picture:

Some have objected to the picture from Tom Nardone, who is famous for his humor, and in this case, sarcasm.  I read it as both a parody on our tendency to shame and negative self talk and a put down to people who are too harsh with us for our failings.  Still,  I probably would take it off if i knew how to manage that.  However, let me know what you think – is it offensive?

 

If this isn’t my ADHD, what is it?

I try not to punch them. Jail is not pleasant.

The ADHD Creative Mind

Maybe my favorite ADHD cartoon, but then sometimes I’m not socially appropriate. Sometimes, Ha!

on picture

If this isn’t my ADHD, what is it?

I try not to punch them. Jail is not pleasant.

The ADHD Creative Mind

Maybe my favorite ADHD cartoon, but then sometimes I’m not socially appropriate. Sometimes, Ha!

This free technique helps my ADHD — ADD Tip O the Day 726

A Buddhist Practice, Borrowed for ADHD

My wife went to a Buddhist retreat.  It was very good for her.  She brought home a practice to share.

At this temple, one practice is at the sound of any bell, stop whatever you are doing and take three deep breaths.  I have been doing it and find it very helpful.

It takes me out of the pressure mode, relaxes me, and unhooks me from the “urgency” of my current task or activity.  It feels like a connection to God.  It is  a pause and, I think, a form of meditation.

They have bells  at the temple.  We fortunately live close to the Cathedral, where the bell sounds the quarter hours.  So the bell is an anchor for the practice, but you could use any other recurrent thing – going to the bathroom, eating or drinking anything, noticing a thought of food, etc. The anchor then directs you to the practice, the three deep breaths.

Meditation is good for ADHD

I’ve been trying to meditate for years, but rarely can get past 5 minutes.  I have a new STRATEGY.  I set my alarm for 20 minutes.  Now I can stop thinking about the time.  I know it will not take over 20 minutes and the iPhone will let me know when it’s over.

This seems successful and I believe the meditation is helping me.  Now we will see if I keep it up.

Your practices or suggestions?

doug

Links:

Be Healthy, even with ADHD

Meditation Light

Simple Meditation, from Leonie

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

 

Diagnosis of ADHD Can Be Upsetting — ADD Tip O the Day 725

Living with ADHD.

Traveling with ADHD.

Losing things with ADHD.

Late ADHD diagnosis

• I got a message from someone recently diagnosed with ADHD.  They were struggling with anger that they had been diagnosed late, and thinking how much better their life could’ve been if diagnosed sooner.  They asked how I handled the anger when I was diagnosed. (That was at 64, by the way).  Here is my response:

  Anon -I didn’t have much anger. I was so relieved and excited to get the diagnosis and to finally make sense of all the problems I’d been struggling with, and I jumped into strategies right away.

  I did have a little mourning and regret, but briefly and not much.  I have seen this response with many psychotherapy patients  – when they get better, there is relief and joy, but often it is briefly overwhelmed by the sense of loss and regret at how things might have been. Yet, could things have really been that way, or did they have to go through their stuff to get where they got?

  If you get seriously  stuck and feel bogged down with the anger and regret, then I would recommend therapy or counseling, with someone who clearly understands ADHD. But if it’s not so bad, I’d suggest focusing on strategies plus learning everything you can about ADHD.

   Glad you got the diagnosis. Your future is brighter and your life can be better.

  Best wishes

  Doug

  (maybe more on this later)

  Bonus Links:

  Diagnosis of ADHD

  Diagnosis?

  Bonus Quote:

  “My brain is a giant garbage pit, with some good stuff buried in it.  As the wind blows over it, constantly shifting the garbage, occasionally it uncovers, however briefly, something of value.”

          Doug Puryear

  Question O the Day:

  When did you get diagnosed and what was your reaction?

  
  

  @addstrategies #adhd #add @dougmkpdp

   

Save

“Science says —” About ADHD — ADD Tip O The Day 724

‘Research shows that young children with ADHD do better with parental training and behavioral approaches than with medication’

I am a big fan of science, but it is not perfect.

Much research is based on averages.    For example, a new medication is tried against placebo, and  it does no better, so research on it is dropped. But it is no better, on average.  What about the outliers? The few people who got much better on it, and even the few who got much worse on it?  Wouldn’t it be useful to look into what’s going on with those folks?  But because the drug companies have to get FDA approval to market a medicine, and that’s based on averages, that’s all that’s looked at.

This happens in  research other than developing medications.

And there are logical fallacies produced in research:

New Yorker, May 16, 2016 on touch

‘celebratory touch – fist bumps, chest bumps, high fives, etc.’

“… Teams where players touched one another a lot did better than those who didn’t.”

This implies that touching should be encouraged because it produces better play.

That makes sense. Teams where the players support each other and encourage each other might do better, right?

Or could it be that touching is stimulating, producing more endorphins and more testosterone, so that the players can play better?

Or could it simply be that teams which are doing well have more opportunities for “celebratory touch?” So rather than being a cause of good performance, touching might be a symptom of good performance?

Schizophrenia

I have long voiced complaints about schizophrenia research, a prime example of using averages – the average improvement on a medication  vs. placebo, the average size of the ventricles of people with schizophrenia vs non schizophrenia, etc. etc.

One problem with this research is that we don’t have a good definition of schizophrenia and there obviously are at least several different varieties, but they are all lumped together into “averages”.  Another is that while a study may show that people with schizophrenia have larger ventricles that those without (on average), the graphs overlap. That is, some people with schizophrenia have smaller ventricles than some people without. Again, the outliers are not being studied.

I’m using ventricles as an example; these observations apply to most studies of schizophrenia.

Young children with ADHD

It is my opinion that most of these children do better with parental training, behavioral approaches, and medication.  I think that reading the research carefully supports this opinion, but that is not what the headlines report.

There is good science, bad science, abuse of science, and misrepresented science. It is hard to know what to believe

doug

Links:

Young children and medication

Another article

On science

Send me to the store with ADHD?

ADHD research and meds

 

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Overdoing with ADHD — ADD Tip O the Day 723

Only One?   With ADHD?

I went to the library to pick up a book. We have a wonderful library.  It has a good selection,  they will hold books that are checked out, and they order on inter-library loan for books they don’t have.

They emailed me that one of my books on hold was ready. It was by one of my favorite authors, Annie Dillard, .  So I walked over to pick it up (I love being able to walk to the library. Getting out of doors is a good thing for ADHD.)

I got my held book and then wandered the stacks.  I love books.

I came home with my Dillard book, plus; a book on the brain; a book of poetry by Borges with the Spanish poem on one page and the English translation on the opposite; a book on anger by Thich Nhat Hanh; and Quantum Mechanics for Dummies, which looks very difficult (I told the librarian they need “Quantum Mechanics for Dummies” for Dummies.)

It was too much to carry by hand so the librarian  gave me a free cloth bag. That was very nice. Even though it was too heavy, I managed to get home with it all.

I went to the library to pick up a book.

When we ADHDers do something, we really do it. We really, really, really do it.

Know what I mean?

doug

Quote O the Day:

“Letting me loose in a library is like letting a kid loose in a candy store.

Letting me loose in a candy store is like letting a kid loose in a candy store.”

      doug

Bonus Quote O the Day:

“Too much is never enough.”

      Texas saying

Irrelevant Note O the Day:

My very favorite book is For the Time Being, by Annie Dillard.

Bonus Irrelevant Note O the Day:

My wife says I have a lot of very favorite books.

Final Irrelevant Note O the Day:

I can eat one piece of dark chocolate and stop. That is not true of anything else. Well, OK, it has to be very dark chocolate.

Bonus Links:

Too much with ADHD

Too many projects with ADHD

The Really, Truly Final Irrelevant Note O the Day:

I put too many things on this post. See what I’ve been talking about?

ADHD terminology

 

 

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

With ADHD, get rid of too much stuff.

 

ADHD Makes Me Irritable — ADHD Tip O the Day 722

Irritability is one of the many symptoms of ADHD.

Trust me on this.

From a big article on ADHD:

Wender (1998) provided a list of adult behaviours linked to childhood ADHD (see also Weiss & Murray, 2003; Asherson, 2005). Motor hyperactivity may be replaced by a subjective sense of restlessness, difficulty in relaxing and settling down and dysphoria when inactive. Attention deficits may well persist in a lack of concentration on detail, the need to re-read materials several times, forgetting activities and appointments, losing things and losing the thread of conversations. Thoughts are unfocused and ‘on the go’ all the time. Mood changes are often rapid shifts into depression or excitability, irritability and temper outbursts that interfere with personal relationships. Disorganisation is prominent, tasks are not completed, problem-solving is lacking in strategy and time management is particularly poor. Impulsivity continues and leads to problems in teamwork, abrupt initiation and termination of relationships, and a tendency to make rapid and facile decisions without full analysis of the situation.

Although most people experience such symptoms at times, individuals with ADHD experience these to a severe degree most of the time.

I impulsively decided to put that sentence in bold.

doug

More about ADHD and being irritable

The big article

ADHD Coaches – ADHD Tip O the Day 721

Get a good evaluation.

I recommended a psychiatrist, psychologist, or ADHD coach for an ADHD evaluation.

Sue, an ADHD coach, replied:

Hi Doug,

You bring up some good food for thought! I love your astute comment that “many professionals don’t understand that they don’t understand ADHD” – they got a few hours of training in it somewhere along the line and haven’t kept abreast of new research and developments, and I believe they do much more harm than good.

As a professional, well-trained, ADHD coach (who also has ADHD) I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that it isn’t the domain of an ADHD coach to diagnose clients. For that, we refer them elsewhere – although I can support clients in deciding if an extensive assessment is necessary (more likely if they are looking for accommodations at school, college or work, or if it seems likely that the ADHD is paired with another condition) or if they want a diagnosis because they would like to try medication. In my experience, if a “real evaluation” is a full assessment it will take many, many hours.

As professionals who also happen to have ADHD I think we do tend to have better intuition about clients who have ADHD though – while everyone’s ADHD is different, there are always some patterns we can pick up on because of personal experience. For me, it feels like I’m talking to a member of my tribe. But as a coach, I’d be unethical if I told my client this meant they did or didn’t have ADHD.

I also want to point out that as an ADHD coach, a client doesn’t require an official assessment/diagnosis of ADHD in order for me to coach them – The coach/client relationship is a partnership, so as long as someone wants to address something that looks like an ADHD trait – ie. procrastination, lack of organization, impulsivity, etc, then I can work with them. Our role is to help clients understand what is getting in the way of what they want in life and move them forward, and to be able to come at it from an ADHD perspective when needed. If I come to believe that someone will be better served by getting a full assessment or diagnosis, or working with a different kind of professional, I let my client know that.

My comments:

1. Sue and I agree that an ADHD coach would be a good person to know which psychiatrists or psychologists to refer to.
2. I love Sue’s suggesting that we are members of a tribe.  It does feel like that, doesn’t it?
3. Thank you, Sue.

doug

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

What is essential for ADHD?

Is It Really ADHD? DSM V and ADHD — ADD Tip O the Day 720

“Why do you call it ADHD.   Can’t you just let kids be kids?”  

Drives me up the wall.  Total ignorance of ADHD.  If the kid is floundering, it’s not just being a kid.

You don’t just label a kid that is active or is bothering you as “ADHD.”  They need to meet the ADHD criteria.  A good evaluation is important (for adults, too.)

Here’s a synopsis of the DSM criteria for ADHD (somewhat in my words):

Persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsitivity that interferes with functioning or development-

Inattention:

six or more inattentive symptoms for at least 6 months to a degree inconsistent with developmental level and negatively impacts on academic/occupational activities, not due to other problems.

   In other words, this kid is having problems.

                                                                      and/or

Hyperactive and Impulsive

six or more hyperactive and impulsive symptoms, for at least etc (as above).

  Ditto- kid is having problems.

Inattentive symptoms: often – doesn’t give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes; can’t sustain attention in tasks or play (but sometimes we hyperfocus),  doesn’t seem to listen, doesn’t follow through, can’t organize, avoids tasks that require sustained mental effort (procrastinates,etc.), loses things, easily distracted, forgetful.

Hyperactive symptoms: often– fidgets taps squirms, can’t stay seated, runs or climbs when inappropriate (or on top of his desk, etc), cannot be quiet, on the go/driven/restless/trouble being still for long, talks excessively, blurts out, difficulty waiting, interrupts/intrudes.

and in addition:

several symptoms before age 12, in two or more settings, interfere with functioning. Not due to other problem.  For adults, it’s five symptoms.

 

In order to have the diagnosis of ADHD, a person needs to meet the criteria.

You can have inattentive, hyperactive, or mixed types (that’s me).  Females tend to inattentive, males to mixed.

 

Also drives me up the wall – “Well, so what?  I have some of those sometimes.”

“Yes, but I have most of them most of the time!”

DSM goes into much more detail with good examples but this is too long and I have difficulty with sustaining attention and with sitting still and I have to correct too many careless mistakes .

Sound like anyone you know?  Martha?

doug

Here’s the link to the whole DSM magillah

@dougmkpdp @addstrategies  #add    #ADHD

Maybe my favorite ADHD cartoon, but then sometimes I’m not socially appropriate. Sometimes, Ha!

I try not to punch them. Jail is not pleasant.

ADHD doesn’t exist?

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

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

 

 

 

 

Diagnosis of ADHD — ADHD Tip O the Day 719

(If you know about diagnosing ADHD and the DSM, you might skip down to the good bonus links.)

To Diagnose ADHD:

1. Sometimes I can talk to and observe a patient for just a few minutes and it’s obvious that they have ADHD.  But not usually.  In any event, patients need a real evaluation to discover or to confirm the diagnosis.
2. A real evaluation would take at least an hour.  It need to be done by someone who understands ADHD – usually a psychiatrist, psychologist, or ADHD coach.  Other conditions that can mimic ADHD need to be ruled out.  Many professionals don’t understand that they don’t understand ADHD.
3. The evaluation should include an interview with questions about childhood and current symptoms, probably a pencil and paper test (which could be done before the appointment, or after), and ideally, talking with at least one other person who knows the patient.  Records from childhood, report cards etc. are  helpful.
4. Then the diagnosis and options can be discussed.

DSM-V and ADHD:

Actually, this is what I meant this post to be about.  But I needed to address evaluation first.  I’ll start now and finish this the next post (or two).

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fifth edition, is published by the American Psychiatric Association.  It is the universal bible of how to officially make a psychiatric diagnosis.  It originally (DSM I) was intended for researchers so that scientists in different places could be sure that when they studied one type of patient, schizophrenia, for example,  they were all diagnosing the same way.  Then all the patients would be comparable.  It also had some clinical usefulness, for example, you were struggling to figure out what kind of problem a patient had.

The insurance companies soon got hold of it (as well as the lawyers) and wouldn’t pay unless the official code number for a diagnosis was given.  It has been misused and abused since.

It is far from perfect.  It’s produced by committees amidst a lot of controversy, politics and turf issues.   And there is just too much we don’t know about psychiatric problems.  But it’s been tested for some scientific validity and it’s the best thing we have for now.

So it is useful for diagnosing  someone with ADHD, for example, using the DSM criteria instead of just saying, “Well, he looks like it.”

Too much already.  Next time.

doug 

Bonus Links:

good marriage tip from Melissa Orlov- mirror neurons

sentences that can change your life, from Brian Lee

 

n Lee

 

Maybe I’m just lazy?

More and more and more ADHD pictures — ADD Tip O the Day 717

OK, I’m swamped, over my head, behind – does that sound like ADHD?

Strategy:

             punt.

So my post is just some ADHD pictures that are too good to waste but haven’t fit into any of the posts.  Or maybe I’ll even repeat some.

I hope you will enjoy them.

doug

@dougmkpdp #adhd #adhdstrategies

Where am I now?

routine chores? are you mad?

The ADHD Creative Mind

The ADHD life

Vitamin D for ADHD????— ADD Tip O the Day 716

I intended this post to be about vitamin D, but I have ADD ADHD, so here:

I’m not a big fan of “natural” treatments for ADHD.  There is little evidence to support using most of them and some evidence against using some of them. Some of them are dangerous. Studies show that when you buy them, you can’t know what you’re getting because they’re manufactured without any regulation. Some of them don’t contain any of what they’re labeled and some of them contain toxic substances.

Vitamins

However, I am a big fan of some “vitamins”, although you also need to be careful about what you’re buying.

I’ve been enjoying some time in Montana. If you’re a Montana native,  if you’re outside in the winter, you’re bundled up.  Besides, it’s usually cloudy.   You’re getting no sun.  You are probably vitamin D deficient.

• “Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in adults of all ages who always wear sun protection  (which blocks vitamin D production) or limit their outdoor activities (or live in Montana)
• Researchers estimate that 50 percent of the general population is at risk of vitamin D  deficiency and insufficiency, and this percentage rises in higher-risk populations such as the elderly and those with darker skin (and those in Montana).
• Signs you may have a vitamin D deficiency include age over 50, having darker skin,  obesity, achy bones, feeling blue, heavy sweating, and gut trouble
• Increasing levels of vitamin D3 among the general population could prevent chronic  diseases that claim nearly one million lives throughout the world each year
• Optimizing your vitamin D levels may help you prevent cancer, heart disease,  autoimmune diseases, infections, mental health conditions, and more.”

So, relevant to ADD ADHD, low D contributes to depression, wherever you live.

Certification of “natural” products

“Unlike the National Organic Program in the United States, there is no legal definition of the word “natural” for food and consumer products. The Food and Drug Administration continues to follow the policy it set in 1993: “FDA has not established a formal definition for the term ‘natural’, however the agency has not objected to the use of the term on food labels provided it is used in a manner that is truthful and not misleading and the product does not contain added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances. Use of the term ‘natural’ is not permitted in the ingredient list, with the exception of the phrase ‘natural flavorings’.”^[1]

Many manufacturers are looking for standards and certification to support their natural claims, especially as natural and organic products are expected to achieve 10 percent market share in many product categories. The Natural Seal, launched by the Natural Products Association in 2008, is the most widely used natural certification for personal care products.^[4] NPA launched a certification for home care products in 2010.^[5]

The Natural Seal is described as the first and only natural certification in the U.S. Products certified by NPA must be at least 95 percent natural ingredients or ingredients from natural sources, excluding water. NPA-certified products use natural ingredients, avoid ingredients with health risks, don’t use animal testing, and include biodegradable or recycled material in the packaging. Products must list all ingredients on the package label. NPA also requires 100 percent natural fragrances and colorants.^[6] Certified products are said to appear in more than 85,000 stores nationwide. More than 1,100 products and ingredients have been certified.^[7]

In 2011, NSF International, a global public health and safety organization, and NATURE, the International Natural and Organic Cosmetics Association, announced a partnership to develop another standard for natural personal care products. “There is currently no regulatory, nor a globally recognized, definition for the term ‘natural. The new NSF/NATRUE standard will define the use of the term ‘natural,helping to promote authentic and quality natural personal care products,” said NSF International.^[8] NPA responded by saying, “A second seal with different standards does no service to natural products customers, retailers, or manufacturers.”^{[9]     Wikipedia}

Note:

I’m providing  useful information based on facts and scientific research.  What will the effect be on those people who say they only want to take natural products?

How about, “none, nil, nada, nothing.”  Or maybe, ” Zilch?”   Wanna bet?

More

OK, I’ve used up my space and still want to say more about vitamins.  Maybe next time.

doug

Sometimes with ADD ADHD we blurt out things, or even post things, that may be just a teensy weensy tiny bit over top? Is that why we’re so much fun?

 

the importance of vitamin D

What’s in this stuff?

Made in China

Signs of D deficiency

@dougmkpdp @addstrategies  #add    #ADHD

 

Mother’s Day and ADHD, or, Living with an ADHDer —ADD Tip O the Day 715

With ADHD, Nothing Is Easy

Hope you had a great Mother’s Day, whether you’re a mother or not.  You deserve it.

I took Martha, the mother of my kids, and Laura, the mother of my grandson, to a nice restaurant.  I had remembered to make reservations, had the right day and right time, didn’t knock anything over or get any food on my clothes.  I got Martha a nice card, which went over well, even though I had neglected to pick up the envelope for it.

Overall,  it was more pleasant than frustrating. That’s an accomplishment with ADHD, isn’t it?

Strategy:

Recognize that we are hard to live with and try to remember to do things to compensate for it.

doug

Link:

from June Silny  It’s hard when you love someone with ADHD

Bonus Link:

from Jacinta – Harmful myths we have about vanillas

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Note:

For what it’s worth, I had invited Martha to tomorrow’s “concert” that I’m playing in Monday. But I had told her it was on Tuesday.  See what I mean?

Trying to juggle it all with ADHD.

Where is the Time with AHDH? — ADD Tip O the Day 714

Where in the world do I find the time?! Especially with my ADHD.

Sometimes I get very frustrated with myself. But sometimes, I’m amazed at myself. I do mess up a lot, but I accomplish a lot, too.  And I deserve extra credit for what I accomplish in spite of the  ADHD.  And so do you.

With ADHD, do you also try to do too much?  Is is hard to set priorities?  Is it hard to let go of something that you would like to do?

100%

Dr. Mason writes about 100% – see the link below when you get there.  Which is more important, treatment  (therapy, coaching, etc.) – or medication?

100% also means full time.

Writing is a full time job.

Marketing is a full time job.  I want the books to get into as many hands as possible. I treasure the comments that tell me they have made a difference in people’s lives. So I keep the price low. Still, I have no objection to making money, also.

Taking care of the computer is a 50% time job. The guitar is a 25% time job. Spanish is a 25% time job. Taking care of two blogs now is a 25% time job, maybe 50%? Just taking care of the little daily necessities of life is a 50% time job.

doug

 

Dr. Mason- therapy or medication?   The 100% effect.

Note:

Recent much publicized research says to try behavioral treatment before medicines in children under six.  I think I will write about that soon.  There are a lot of things I think I will write about soon.  As soon as I find the time.

Note:

The new book, The Bully, is indirectly about growing up with ADD ADHD, although that’s not the focus.

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

Life is a little harder with ADD ADHD.  But there are ways to make it easier.

 

Does ADHD get you bullied? Criticized? Misunderstood? —ADHD Tip O the Day 713

Who gets bullied?

Kids who are different.  That would be us, ADHD.

But also kids with autism spectrum disorder (autism, Asbergers), dyslexia and other learning disabilities, physical handicaps, or different physical appearance.

And also, any minority, in any group.

And also, poor, or dressed differently in any way.

In other words, anyone who is different.

What if these kids were identified as at risk by their teachers, and then watched to see if they were getting bullied?  And then had some intervention.

Would that work?

Were you bullied?

doug

You need to watch this one – you’ll identify.  It’s special!

The Bully

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

Note:  More coming on criticized, misunderstood.

Did ADHD make you a target?

Just Be? With ADHD? — Tip O the Day 712

With ADHD, we need to be DOING

My very wise sister suggested that I need to do more “being” and less “doing.”  She’s right.

That’s very hard for me to do. The internal flywheel keeps spinning. The to-do list keeps flashing in my head. The computer keeps calling. The clock keeps ticking.

Does anyone know what I’m talking about?

I have been able to  “just be” for hours a time when on vacation. And sometimes, sometimes, I can linger over a meal in a restaurant. And occasionally, if the weather is nice, I can sit outdoors for a while and “just be.”  Those are all wonderful times. But they do not come naturally to me.

Does anyone know what I’m talking about?

Doug

Alert O the Day:

I am trying address this in my quiet time.  That’s a post that’s coming.

Bonus ADHD Links O the Day:

How to get smarter

Sitting

Enough Time?

The to do list – it never ends

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Amphetamines!? And ADHD— ADHD Tip O the Day 711

Research on amphetamines for ADHD

For many people, amphetamine is a scary word. Some of the anti-ADHD folks have preyed on this fear and promoted mis-information. Here is some research on amphetamines for ADHD for children and adolescents.  Presumably it would also apply to adults with ADHD.

This was a meta analysis, looking at multiple studies. It found that many, though not all, of the studies were poorly done.

Conclusions: “Amphetamines did seem efficacious at reducing the core symptoms of ADHD in the short term … they were associated with a greater number of adverse events [compared to placebo]  such as decreased appetite, insomnia, abdominal pain, nausea, headaches, and anxiety.”

 They found no difference between the various forms  of amphetamines.

Comments: I have never prescribed amphetamines, for many reasons, most irrational. I did not want to deal with people coming to my office seeking them, for good or bad reasons.  I have seen people for whom  Ritalin was not sufficiently effective and amphetamines worked well. Studies show that for people who actually have ADHD, there is very low incidence of abuse, dependence, or addiction.

As to  “adverse events,”i.e., side effects, for any medication, they are possible. Listing them as possible side effects does not mean that you will get them.  If you do get them, you can simply stop the medication, or adjust it.  You are not stuck with them.

My opinion, based on experience and reading the literature, is that amphetamines are safe and effective for people who have ADHD. They may have to deal with other people trying to get their medicines from them; that could be a problem, especially in college.

Doug

Link to the report

Note O the Day:

If we have our minds made up, we will declare our opinion to be fact, and facts that refute it will be dismissed and the source will be attacked.

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Bonus Links:

amphetamines     

ADHD and medication, or not      

ADHD doesn’t exist?

dexedrine and more

 

More Apps for ADHD – – – ADD Tip O the Day 710

I am taking the easy way out and just posting Hold’s comment here in case you didn’t see it.  Many cool apps, get what you like:

Hey doug,
I apologize. In classic ADHD fashion I’m a week late in seeing this and being able to respond.

The apps I use that help me cope day-to-day with my ADHD:

Google Keep (free)
I love this app. It’s very similar to your Note app on your iPhone, except it can also sync with https://keep.google.com/. This is very, very powerful because typing a bunch of notes on my phone isn’t always my preferred way of remembering things. Keep is basically a note taking application developed by Google that features color coded notes, labeling said notes, creating lists, inserting images, reminders, voice recording notes to yourself, the list goes on. Sounds pretty complicated! But it’s not, once you play around with it it’s one of the easiest tools ever. There are many decent youtube videos explaining what it is and does, but here is a very short one (48 seconds) that caters to our ADHD brains:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbvkHEDvw-o

How do I use it, specifically? Primarily, like this:http://imgur.com/iH7S8dE
As inspiration I used Doug’s great notecard system that allows him to prioritize his to-do lists–the red card of 5, the orange card, and the yellow card.

Those cards are always at the top and are always easily accessible. I can add and edit on-the-go on my phone or computer. Yes, any computer, it doesn’t have to be on my personal laptop. Cool, right? Even cooler is that every little thing I want to remember, I can add it to a different notecard in Keep and can always search for it as long as I remember a keyword from it.

Daily inspirational quotes that motivate me? Check. Grocery list? Check. Early start for Christmas present ideas? Check.
It’s all with me all of the time, everywhere I go. I love Google Keep.

Google Calendar (free)
Any calendar app will do, but I particularly like Google Calendar because it syncs so seamlessly with https://www.google.com/calendar. This is very powerful. Trying to get organized with the weeks or months ahead is much easier on a desktop with a keyboard than on a phone on-the-go. Plan and type in your engagements in the simple-to-use interface and it magically syncs with the app on your phone, iPad, etc. You can edit or add to this with any computer or device, anywhere at any time with your Google login credentials.

Pocket
This application is very unique to me because when I discovered it, it solved a problem of mine I never even realized I had. Have you ever found an article online somewhere that you’re interested in reading but don’t have the time at that moment in time? Most people would just email it to themselves so they would remember to read it later.
After sending myself dozens of these emails daily, I soon started to realize that this is actually a terrible system from an organizational standpoint. I routinely lost track of what was what and what was where. But I kept doing because I wanted to read ALL OF THE THINGS!
This is where Pocket comes in. See an article on the internet you like and want to read later? Maybe it’s a long one, or maybe you know once you start reading it you’ll get off task and use it as another way to procrastinate. Save it to Pocket! It saves all of the websites/articles for you and makes it easy to view them later (while removing ads!)

Scanbot
I just recently discovered this app, and one day it may very well become my most important tool in combating ADHD. You know that fine line between being a hoarder and being a responsible adult who keeps track of important documents? Nobody told me about that line, so my whole life I’ve hoarded useless pieces of paper while losing important documents all of the time. I’ve read suggestions to scan everything, but come on! Who’s really going to do that? Scanbot is amazing, because you just snap a picture of the document with the app and it auto-uploads it as a pdf in Google Drive (or whatever cloud service you prefer) to be found later. The magic this is app, however is its use of OCR. What that means for you: every document you scan will become searchable. Search for “Honda” and every document you uploaded from the dealership (oil changes, repairs, etc.) or the DMV will be found if it had the word “Honda” somewhere in there. Cool, right?

Headspace
There is a lot of emerging research on mindfulness and meditation, particularly concerning its effects on individuals with ADHD. I’ve tried to meditate before. It was impossibly hard. I didn’t know what to do, how do you just not think?
Headspace is a guided meditation app that is supposed to essentially guide you throughout the process. I’ve found it helpful, and it appears to calm me down a bit after using it for ten minutes.
Honestly haven’t used this much, but I think it’s important enough to include.

Tangibly related to keeping me organized with ADHD:
Feedly (free)
I’m interested in many different topics, and as a result like to regularly visit hundreds of websites to stay current on them. This app helps me keep the topics organized. Works really well with Pocket.
Google Photos (free)
Keeps all of my pictures backed up for free. I have it set up so that every picture I take with my phone gets immediately backed up onto Google’s cloud. Unlimited backups, for free!
Pocket Casts ($4)
I’ve always known about podcasts but just recently discovered how cool they are. I can learn fun facts about very random subjects while driving? Improve my vocabulary while laughing? Listen to interesting stories about real people? Pocket Casts does a great job of helping me discover new podcasts while keeping the ones I’m interested in well organized.
Google Maps (free)
I never know where I’m going as I’m very geologically challenged. Not sure if related to ADHD or not.
Paprika ($5)
I recently got interested in cooking. There are so, so many recipes out there that I had no way or keeping them organized until I discovered this app. It’s fantastic and worth every dime.

That’s it for now, will add to this list later if I think of anything new that may be meaningful.

Oh, one more thing. I’ve proven myself not to be trusted so I’ve only got one real rule: no games on the phone. Games are for the iPad. At home. Not for when I get bored at the red light.

So far, I have downloaded Google Keep and am trying to learn how to use it. Looks promising. I do best trying one thing at a time. I’m in awe of these technologically apt folks. Thanks, Hold.

doug

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Just one of the many ADHD problems with cell phones.

Maybe there is an app that will work better than this system?

With ADHD, it’s always a challenge.

Four Great ADHD Tips, Number Four – – – ADHD Tip O the Day 709

As promised, here is Great ADHD Tip, Number Four-except, not quite-

 

Do This

With ADHD we get distractions. And when we start off on one distraction, other distractions will occur. With ADHD, we get distracted from our distractions.

I was fixing to shave, had my face washed, when I realized I needed to go get the mail. Took one step, then it occurred to me –Do This. Go ahead and finish shaving since I’ve started. Then – “what’s next?”  Getting the mail.  But do this first

If I don’t finish the shaving first, who knows what distractions lurk between the house and the mailbox?

The Strategy

If you start something, finish it before you do something else. When the distractions arise, you can write them down. Then put them out of your mind until you “Do This.”

Doug

 

Confession O the Day:

I originally had the idea of three great tips, but then I thought of a fourth. I wrote them down so I wouldn’t forget them. But I forgot the fourth,  and couldn’t find where I had written them down.  Does anyone know what I’m talking about?

But I had promised four.  Fortunately, the shaving distraction incident occurred and I used “Do This.” But it wasn’t the one I originally had in mind, which was great, too.  If I ever get it back, I will share it.

ADHD terminology

The ADHD Creative Mind

 

 

With ADHD, Were You Bullied? Did You Bully? Plus a Free Podcast! — ADHD Tip O the Day 708

Eric Tivers just interviewed me for a podcast, mostly about ADHD but some about bullying.  The Link

The interview raised some questions:

What did the bullying have to do with my ADHD?  And what did my ADHD have to do with my getting bullied?

I started bullying in the fourth grade, nine years old. It continued for years. How early is bullying seen in the schools?

Who  gets bullied?  Kids who are seen as different and weak.  ADHD, special ed, physical problems, low IQ, autism spectrum, dyslexia. What else?

Should schools pay special attention to these children to make sure they are not being bullied?  Give them special instruction on protecting themselves?  Is any of this being done?

doug    

Questions O the Day:  

Were you bullied?   Were you a bully?

Bonus Links On Bullying

Prevention 1

Prevention 2

Note O the Day:

Great ADHD Tip O the Day Number Four Is  Coming!  Watch for it!

@dougmkp,@thebullyonline,#bully,#bullying, @addstrategies #adhd #add

 

Can we stop this?

Four Great ADHD Tips, Number Three — ADHD Tip O the Day 707

ADHD Vocabulary:

I highly recommend editing your vocabulary and eliminating the words “should” and “have to.”  As soon as we say one of these bad words to ourselves, we develop automatic unconscious resistance to doing the task. We really don’t need anything to foster our procrastination.

An ADHD Strategy:

I have recommended saying, “need to” or, “it would be good for me to.”

A Better ADHD strategy:

But this approach, of being determined to eliminate the bad words, often leads to awkward sentence construction. I recently ran across a better approach.  Eliminate the bad words, “should” and “have to,” and substitute  “I get to.”  This changes the whole thing.

I get to carry out the garbage. I get to pay my bills. I get to write tomorrow’s blog.

It’s a positive outlook. Your life will be better.

Doug

Questions O Question the Day:

Can you tell me where I saw this “get to” strategy, so I can give credit?

Can you tell me how I can get the pictures to be side-by-side on Facebook?

@addstrategies #adhd #add @dougmkpdp

The ADHD life

 Bonus Links:

More on “have to”

Procrastination

 

With ADHD, we don’t usually start easily – unless it’s impulsive, of course.

 

ADHD and Bio Feedback and Other Science— ADHD Tip O the Day 706

A short break from The ADHD Four Great Tips

A recent meta-analysis, a study of  previous studies, indicates that biofeedback is not an effective treatment for ADHD. That does not mean that it doesn’t help for other conditions, and doesn’t even mean that it doesn’t help some people with ADHD.

One of my concerns about science is that most scientific reports testing anything simply look at the averages. There are few negative studies that look at the few people whom a treatment helped or even the few that it seemed to make worse. Or at the outliers in brain imaging studies or any other type of study. I think some breakthroughs could be made by studying the outliers.

But I do believe that biofeedback is probably not an effective treatment for most people with ADHD.  And I believe that science, imperfect though it may be, is the best approach to determining what works and what doesn’t.

doug

The Link

clik  Biofeedback Treatment for ADHD

Bonus Link O the Day:

Alternative Treatments for ADHD

More on Alternative Treatments

 @addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp                               

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

 

Four Great ADHD Tips, Number 2 — ADHD Tip O the Day 705

When we’re doing a task, we want to focus on that task and not be thinking about the rest of the ADHD to-do list.

But a good strategy is, “What next?”  When we start a task, we can say “What’s next?”  Just be aware of the next task, maybe even write it down.  Then focus on this task, but when you’re done, you’re not just floundering around in a vacuum, you know what to do.

doug

This tip from my friend and fellow ADHDer Tom Costello.  Thanks, Tom

 

Procrastination Flowchart

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Four Great ADHD Tips – – – ADD Tip O the Day 704

I have four great tips that will help you with ADHD. 

I’m going to try something different, and piggy back them, adding one at a time.

ADHD Tip Number One

When you make a to-do list, the new rule is that you cannot just list the task.

Beside each task, require yourself to write the next step that you will need to do for that task.

Think about it.

Doug

Bonus Link:

How to take more action

Quote O the Day – from the above link

“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”
Leonardo Da Vinci

Notes O the Day:

1. I’m pretty sure this tip is from the book, Getting Things Done, by David Allen
2. I’m pretty sure that Da Vinci had ADHD. Very creative, always had a lot of projects going, many of them he never finished. But the ones he did, Wow!

addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

But the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

Our ADHD Brains — ADHD Tip O the Day 703

ADHD Doesn’t Exist?

There is increasing scientific evidence to prove the existence of ADHD.  There is no rational argument against it.  How can this new information be used?

1. To better understand the causes of ADHD.
2. To separate ADHD more clearly into the probable different types, not just inattentive vs hyperactive.
3. To be able to accurately prescribe the right medication and other treatments for the specific type.
4. To help develop new and better treatments.
5. To use overwhelming factual data to finally convince the doubters.  Ha ha, just kidding.

Strategies:

1. Educate yourself.  Become an expert on ADHD.
2. Don’t bother trying to educate people whose minds are already made up.

doug

Links:

brain scans and ADHD

more scientific support for ADHD – a little over my head

Quote O the Day:

“Don’t try to teach a pig to sing.  You’ll just get all muddy and it annoys the pig.”

Unknown wise person                

The ADHD brain at work.

@dougmkpdp #add #adhd

 

Opinions About ADHD — ADD Tip O the Day 702

Everyone Has An Opinion (I’ll skip the joke)

Opinions can be based on many things, such as sound scientific study in depth, delusions, or ‘My cousin told me that someone told him’, ‘My gut tells me’, ‘I think I read it somewhere,’or ‘I just know’, etc.

My Posts and My Opinions

Lots of material in my posts are my opinions.

My opinions are mostly based on:

1. Facts when I can find them. They’re elusive little buggers.

2. My personal experience living with ADHD and from treating my patients and from my fellow ADHDer friends.

3. Such scientific and secular reading as I have done.  It’s not too much.

Fallacies:

“I read it somewhere.”

Unfortunately, when we read,  “The idea that ADHD does not exist has been totally and conclusively disproven.” we tend to remember reading, ” ADHD does not exist.”

(Please don’t do that with this sentence.)

Quote O the Day:

“In my opinion, people often confuse their opinions with fact.”

              me

doug

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

I defend your right to your opinion, even though it sounds like the ravings of a lunatic.

Frazzled and My ADHD — ADD Tip O the Day 701

Frazzled

Homey just wrote about overwhelmed, but yesterday, I was frazzled. It’s not the same. My appointment was canceled and rescheduled, I was behind on my blog posts and everything else, Marge broke her arm and I needed to walk her dog for her, I was on the phone trying to get something straight with a lady,  and my wife came in and started writing me a note.   I threw my hand up in the air and waggled it at her but she kept writing.

All my structure was falling apart, too many things were happening at once.  I wanted to throw both hands up in the air and waggle them and scream. But I didn’t.   I finished the phone call and looked at the note. Funny, the urgent note was my wife telling me that the lady I was just talking to wanted me to call her.   That was fine, but I wasn’t any less frazzled.

Unsettled, agitated, spinning, jittery, disorganized, disconbobulated – frazzled.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, once said, and I paraphrase, “I’m really busy today. I’ll have to take an extra hour of prayer.”

So there was all this stuff I need to get done, and I was frazzled. I stopped and had my quiet time. It worked. I wasn’t frazzled anymore. I’m not saying I was great, just that I wasn’t frazzled.

Strategies:

1. Recognize that you’re frazzled.
2.  Stop.
3.  In this example, I stopped and did my quiet time. I think taking a walk outdoors probably would’ve worked too.

doug

Bonus Links O the Day:

Frazzled 1

Frazzled 2

Overwhelmed

With ADHD, sometimes things just get out of hand.

 

 

 

 

 

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Homey’s Back! – Strategy for Overwhelmed — ADD Tip O the Day 700

Affirmations

I love it when someone comes up with strategies that match mine. Looks like I might be on the right track.

For Overwhelmed

Homey has good tips for when she’s overwhelmed.  They match some of my general strategies – the list of 5, small steps, having a longer list.  And take into account what will make you feel good and remotivate you.  Homey has specialized the strategies to be especially good for overwhelmed.

One of my tips for overwhelmed is to recognize that you are feeling overwhelmed.  Then you can work from there instead of just floundering around.

doug

Link:

Homey’s 5 tasks

Quote O the Day:

“For me, behind is the new ahead.”

doug 3/3/16

Bonus Links:                                

Welcome Back, Homey, ADHD Planner Maven

Overwhelmed

The Power of One

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Irrelevant Comment O the Day:

Yes, this is post number 700!

Changing From ADD ADHD – – – ADD Tip O the Day 699

Changes

For years, I’ve been using “ADD ADHD” because I thought it would address more readers and possibly produce more hits. Under the new DSM V system, it’s now called       Attention – Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.  You then specify Combined presentation, Predominantly inattentive presentation, or Predominantly hyperactive/Impulsive presentation.

Of course, to properly make a diagnosis, you still need to meet rigorous criteria.  It takes a good evaluation, not just saying, “This kid is hyper.”

I always thought of myself as “ADD,” but actually I do have the hyperactive components – restlessness, tapping, fidgeting, and driving my wife up the wall.

Another Change

I’m now mostly changing to just using ADHD, which would fit the new nomenclature, and also takes a little less typing.  I will still call this ADD Tip O the Day.

Your Opinion Matters

I would appreciate any input about this ideas  – does it matter?  are there any cons?

thanks

doug

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

Bonus Links:

From Homey – why people don’t pick up after them selves

Evaluation

Diagnosis also put diagnosis into the search box on the post.  There are many posts on it.

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

Technology and ADHD? — ADD Tip O the Day 698

Technologically Challenged with ADD ADHD

I’m technologically challenged.  That’s just part of my ADD ADHD. But I’m finding some apps very helpful. Of course, the iPhone is both a gift and a challenge. It pretty well solves the problem of impatience and boredom while waiting, but it can be frustrating at times.

My favorite apps:

iPhone alarm clock – can be set to ring one time, or every day at a certain time (to remind me to take my Daytrana patch off).

Brainscape– love it! Can download quizzes on many different topics. Right now I’m focusing on Spanish irregular verbs past tense. Can scale it back to only ask five questions at a time, limit of my attention span.

Note – That’s the name of it.  Thanks to my wonderful cousin Martha-lets me dictate a note and then it retains it on the phone in text.

Dragon Speak – You dictate into the mike and it prints the text on your computer document.   I use the free version. Takes a while to set up and learn your vocabulary and can be frustrating at times, but much easier than typing when I have a lot to input.  I used it for this.

I also like the calculator, weather, camera, Google, Guitar Chords, Fretboard and Guitar NAV (to learn the guitar fretboard), Epocrates, 3-D Brain, Star Walk, and Virtuoso Piano.

Unfortunately, I also like the poker and chess games, but so far I’ve been able to keep control of them. 

doug                                                                           

Just one of the many ADHD problems with cell phones.

Quote O the Day:

— that moment when you look in the mirror and say,”Oh, no, that can’t be right!”                                                                 

Links to technology:

Jerry Bair on Helpful Apps 

Better Sleeping Through Technology – also from Jerry

ADD ADHD and Dystechnologica

 

 

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

 

 

Resume, Recoup, Retry with ADHD — ADD Tip O the Day 697

If we have a problem, and  finally find a solution, the next thing we do is to stop doing it.             

from Puryear’s Principles of Human Nature, Principle One

I’m rewriting Living Daily with Adult ADD/ADHD,365 Tips O the Day so that it will be in print form, not just in e-books. It will be better.  And I intend to give the original ebooks away free if I can figure out how to do it.

As I go through the rewrite, I’m finding a number of things that I was recommending, that were working for me, that I have quit doing. Not only am I shocked, it’s embarrassing.

Guess I’m human, after all.

Try Again

I’m already reinstituting sitting. Sitting is not easy to do with ADD ADHD. It worked for me before, and it’s working for me again. So I can recommend it to you, again.

Doug

Willpower, good intentions, programs  –              with ADHD?

 

 

Links:

Sitting and Being

Puryear’s Principles

Sitting

More Sitting

Totally Irrelevant Note O the Day:

English is a strange language. I am going to resume the practice of sitting. If I succeed, I will add that to my resume.

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

 

ADHD and Computers – Helpful? or Diabolical Instruments?— ADD Tip O the Day 696

With ADD ADHD, maybe everything is a challenge?

On vacation, I’m using my laptop. I’m cheap, and it doesn’t have Word, but KingSoft, a great free program that will save documents in Word form.

But, oh my! It’s a booger. I’ m slowly getting used to using  it, but still, the cursor is never where I think it is, and the pages jump around, and it doesn’t save what I thought I saved and when it does save something, I can’t find it later.

And I haven’t even mentioned what it does with bold and underline and how it’s always changing fonts on me.

Plus this computer  has some kind of “helper” that keeps popping up for some reason and it’s never been helpful in any way.  

The innate perversity of inanimate matter!

So how much is the computer, how much the program, how much just that I don’t know how to use them, and how much is due to my ADHD?

Well, I think it’s due to the evil spirits that live inside every computer. Sometimes they disguise themselves as a virus, but they’re always lurking in there.  

Strategy

1. Somehow find the patience to learn how to use the program before I try to use it. — Are you kidding? Patience?  Read the instructions?  Come on!
2. Exorcism?- Are exorcists expensive? Might it damage the computer?
3. And why did it put that 3 there when I didn’t want it and it won’t let me get rid of it?

doug – ADHDer, technologically challenged

If you are reading this, I somewhat got the better of it, for now.

doug                                                                                      

With ADHD, it’s always a challenge.

Bonus Link:

from Dr. Barkley on the misuse of stimulant medicines

Note: 

To be perfectly honest, the problems I’m having with Kingsoft aren’t much different from those I have with Word and with WordPress (this program).  But doesn’t that just help make my point?

jad.sagepub.com/…/1087054712468486.extract

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

Yes, You read it. But how much do you remember? — ADD Tip O the Day 695

How to read effectively

I am blessed with the ability to read fast.  I’ve read a lot of books, and I can get through most books quickly.  But like most gifts, there’s  a downside.  It’s a blessing if I’m reading for pleasure, but a curse if I’m reading something serious for content.  Because I retain very little.

The strategy for that, if I want to retain information, is to stop at the bottom of every page and ask myself ,”What did I just read?”  and then again at the end of each chapter, “What were the main points?”

I know that, but that strategy requires discipline and patience.  Have I mentioned that I have ADD ADHD?   I am so eager to turn the page and discover what’s next.

A Surprise

I just bought a used book that looked interesting and so far, it’s very good.  It’s Reaching for the Invisible God, by Philip Yancey.  It looked new, so shortly after I started, I was surprised to find that someone had marked in it. A little further on, I discovered that the someone was me.  I’ve read it before, but I don’t recognize anything in it, except my handwriting, so called, in the margin notes.

So is that a blessing?  Because I’m enjoying it as though I had never seen it before.  But this time, I’m reviewing a little as I go, though certainly not as much as with the strategy I’m recommending.

Maybe it’ll stick this time, in spite of ADD ADHD?

doug

Pay attention now!

@dougmkpdp @addstrategies  #add    #ADHD

 

 

Arguing about ADHD with people who don’t know what they’re talking about — ADD Tip O the Day 694

Response to another good comment from Ram 

Ram – Yes, there are crusade and controversy opportunities all around us. I have a good strategy for dealing with some of those situations – ask questions, ask more questions, then summarize – “So if I understand, you’re telling me that the world is totally controlled, including all the governments and all the big companies, by six men in Switzerland, and you know this because you read it on a blog, but you don’t know who wrote the blog. Is that correct?”
Sometimes the more questions you ask them, the more your adversary unravels.

There are many ways to end this – “So, what do you plan to do tomorrow?” Or “Well, how has the skiing been this year?” Etc. Or you can say “Really???” Or “Well, I don’t agree.” But those keep the conversation open, which you don’t want. Unfortunately, I don’t remember to use this good strategy very often.

But the one I sometimes remember to use is a better strategy, “Goodbye.”

If you’re dealing with a conspiracy nut, they’ve done research, using confirmatory bias, and will present “facts” to prove their case. And they’re totally wedded to it, because being one of the few elite privileged to this secret knowledge makes them important. You’re not equipped with facts, because you haven’t spent time on the subject, and your opinion is based on commonsense, common knowledge, and your own confirmatory bias. Thus, you are at a disadvantage in an argument, which would be totally pointless and a waste of time anyway.

“You can’t win, you can’t break even, and you can’t get out of the game.”
But in fact, you can get out of the game.

Doug

Bonus Link:

from Nancy Snell- increase your productivity by 41%

Note:  I hope you are carefully reading all the comments, but in case you’re not, I put this one up for you.

 

@dougmkpdp @addstrategies  #add    #ADHD

Another way to deal with arrogant ignorance?

617.48, or, The Mystery of the Missing Book — ADD Tip O the Day 693

At the Library with ADD ADHD

Went to the library to get a specific book. Computer says it’s 617.48, and it’s on the shelf. Went to the shelf. Not there.  There was a big book on brain injury, a subject I’m interested in, and I considered taking it instead, but I really wanted the first book.

I know myself, ADD ADHD, so back to the card catalog and recheck the number. It’s correct. Go look on the shelf again. Nope.

I’m not proud. Asked the librarian for help. Checks the computer. Says it’s on the shelf. Librarian goes to the shelf. Hands me the book. Was right where it was supposed to be, right next to the big brain injury book.

Best I can figure, the big brain injury book captured my attention and I couldn’t see anything else?

ADD ADHD and Chess?

Also, once again, I’ve given up on chess.  One of the reasons I’m no good is that I only see the pieces I’m  considering and never notice the bishop sitting over there on the corner.

A Good ADD ADHD Strategy – Planning Ahead

Have already set an appointment with the tax man. But when is it? I know I wrote it down somewhere. It’s not in my appointment book. It’s not on Martha’s calendar.  I have to call.  It’s March 3.  Oh, there it is in my appointment book, “tax”, on March 3.  And also on Martha’s calendar, the same.

Maybe I was looking for the man’s name, and not for “tax”?

Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

Strategies:

1. Look again
   
2. Get help.
3. But if it’s my glasses I can’t find, look on my face first.

doug                                                       

Try not to punch them. Jail is not pleasant.

   

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

 

Crusades, ADHD, Hyperfocus,Too Many Projects – Is it all a waste of time? — ADD Tip O the Day 692

Is This Hyperfocus, or What?

I get caught up in crusades.  They seem worthy, but are they worthwhile? Do the politicians listen to us? Is anyone’s mind ever changed?

Confirmatory bias is universal. We emotionally reach a decision or take a position, then we collect any information that supports it and ignore or dismiss any that doesn’t, and then we think we’re being logical.

(I’m about to offer some of my opinions, based on  data I have so far.)

Here’s my recent crusades. Do other people do this?

Guns

I get very frustrated with the misinformation. It’s not about mental health, although God knows our health system needs reform. The mass shooters, with one exception, have been frustrated, unhappy, screwed up people, mostly seeking  notoriety, but they are not technically mentally ill.  

The media promotes this phenomena.

They have not been criminals, not before.

The mass killings catch our attention, but the bigger problem with guns is the daily suicides, accidents, misidentifications, homicides.  Research shows that those who have guns to “protect” themselves and their families suffer these problems more often than they ever successfully “defend” themselves. (And do you really want to kill a 16-year-old kid who is trying to steal your TV? Really?)

Thus, laws to prevent criminals, domestic abusers, and mentally ill from acquiring guns are all very worthwhile, but have nothing to do the mass killings.  The NRA (Not Rationally Armed) is delighted to see us focus our attention on these distractions and red herrings, while missing the real problem – guns, large clips, multiple clips, specialty ammunition.

Vaccinations

The net is recently flooded with misinformation and propaganda against vaccinations. This is dangerous. I have lived through polio epidemics, seen children with whooping cough, and seen the aftermath of measles. If it were not for people refusing vaccinations, polio would have been eradicated years ago. Vaccinations can cause complications, usually mild. There can be serious complications. These are so rare that it cannot be determined if they were caused by the vaccination or by coincidence.

For example,vaccinations can cause fevers, and in young children fevers can cause seizures, and seizures can cause  brain damage.  If an uncommon occurrence (high fever) uncommonly causes something (seizures), which uncommonly causes something (damage), that last something is going to be rare. (.o1 x .01 x .o1 = .000001) People who protect their children from these extremely small risks are endangering all children.  

The claim that vaccines cause autism, just for one example, has been totally discredited.

Drunk Driving

This blog is already too long, maybe next time.

Notes

1. This post originally contained a rant against the red herring of banning assault weapons, which I thought referred to automatic weapons, but in fact are the semi- automatic version of assault rifles.  I was wrong. Confirmatory bias was at work.

2. The Bully is published.  Now it takes an enormous amount of time, especially with ADHD, to do all the blogs, and links, and posts, to advertise it. And most everything I do takes more time than I could have imagined. Do I have time for crusades?

3. There is no point in trying to have a discussion with a drunk, a conspiracy theorist, a gun nut, or an ADHD denier. That is truly a waste of time.

Question O the Day

Do you get caught in crusades?  What do you think about these ideas?

doug                                                               

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

assault weapons

vaccines

confirmation bias

The Bully  paperback

The Bully  kindle

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

 

 

 

 

Writing with ADD ADHD? Is It Possible? — ADD Tip O the Day 691

Writing with ADD ADHD?

It takes me a long time to write a book.  ADD ADHD does not help. I’m a lousy writer, so I need many drafts with many suffering reviewers helping along the way.  But I finally got The Bully ready to go.  It was time to send it to CreateSpace for publishing.  They advertise you can do it in two hours. It took me two weeks. A lot of that was due to my ADD ADHD.

I spent all day Wednesday trying to get the back cover right, adjusting it over and over. I finally got it very nearly right. In my last review of the text I found a very few minor errors. There is a time to stop.  I sent it in Thursday morning.

CreateSpace said it would be published in 3 to 5 business days.  Of course, I was impatient; that’s ADD ADHD. But it was published by Thursday noon, showing up on Amazon!  Unfortunately, it won’t show up under The Bully, but under The Bully: A story of violence or under Puryear. Now I need to try to get that fixed.

Is writing possible with ADD ADHD.  Well, yes, but it ain’t easy!

Strategies:

1. Perseverance, or just plain stubbornness.
2. Good enough is good enough.
3. Find good reviewers.  Thank you.

doug

Note:

The Bully is a story about growing up with ADD ADHD, although that is not the focus.

The Bully on Amazon                                                           

The Bully

The Bully website

 

Bonus Note:

The next project is to get Living Daily with Adult ADD or ADHD into print form. Then use Create Space to publish it. Whew!

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

 

 

Addictions and ADD ADHD — ADD Tip O the Day 690

With ADD ADHD, we are prone to addictions.

I struggle with addictions. I have two chess games and a poker game on my iPhone. I manage to control myself and only use them when I’m on a trip or have dead time. There are better ways to use my time and I’m afraid of getting addicted to them.  I’ve been addicted to games in the past.

But I have a new addiction, and I love it.

Brainscape

If you don’t know about Brainscape, it’s an app of flashcards in a wide variety of subjects. The cards are good and appropriate, and the program is excellent. It’s well designed based on learning theory and principles.

So far, I’ve downloaded and used programs on Spanish, music theory, nuclear physics, English vocabulary, and religions, among others.   When I have those little moments of nothing particular to do, these are great. The problem is, once I get on it, it’s hard to get off. But I don’t consider this a waste of time.

Brainscape

Check it out. I think you’ll love it too.

doug

Distracted. Me? Let me look up the definition. Where’s the dictionary? Oh, what is that book? It looks interesting.

Question O the Day:

What you may ask, does this have to do with ADD ADHD?

Answer O the Day:

I don’t know, maybe nothing much.  But then, we are prone to addictions and to wasting time. And with our interest in so many things, it’s easy for us to get stuck in unproductive activities.  This one is at least somewhat productive.

Don’t you think?

@addstrategies  #adhd  #add  @dougmkpdp

The Wit and Wisdom of Tom Nardone – Coming Out with ADHD — ADD Tip O the Day 689

 

 

 

 

 

I am very pleased that Tom agreed to do guest post for me.  He is unique.

Nothing more to ADD.

doug

I was diagnosed over 15 years ago with ADHD. I never intended to be such an outspoken member of the community. It just sort of happened. Today, I don’t think there is anyone who knows me that is not aware of my ADHD. The Idea of hiding it has never occurred to me. What is the point of being this awesome if no one knows why.

I do not judge anyone who feels the need to hide their ADHD. I accept that there are circumstances for which discretion is warranted. Not everybody lets their ADHD develop into some kind of hobby.

I used to be a blogger and after I wrote my book, I shifted over to podcasting where my wife and I do a show together Podcasting allows me to say more than writing does. I enjoy it because I am an attention whore. My wife enjoys it because it is spending time with me.

On the show we celebrate our lives as an ADHD couple and the main purpose of the show is to give people an alternative to learning productivity and self-improvement. There are not many ADHD entertainment options out there so that is our thing.

My real job is being an associate at The Home Depot. One thing I like about them is they encourage Individualism. During this past ADHD Awareness Month, I tried something I had never tried before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I went a different way. My apron reads. Hi I’m ADHD my name is Tom Nardone. I was really curious to see the impact this would have. I am happy to tell you I have not received a single snide comment or insensitive remark about my ADHD.

What I have received is many people thanking me for being so outspoken. Others have shared with me, their own challenges or the challenges of their kids. I have had people asking me questions like what is ADHD and how does it affect me.

One man asked me, “Sir, why is it that I walk around scared to death people will find out I am ADHD and you wear it with pride for hundreds of people to see every day?” To which I replied, “Because you have not figured out what is Awesome about it yet.”

My point is this. If you want to keep it a secret then do so. It is not your responsibility to educate and help the world. I myself am a selfish bastard about a great many things and I do not offer an apology for it. I just have a burden for those with ADHD. Sometimes just by people knowing you are ADHD, you can make a huge difference in someone’s life.

There are benefits to people knowing. The biggest of which is that when people know you are ADHD, you don’t have to be alone with it. Not everyone will be so compassionate about it. Some people are just a$$holes

We have all run into people who are insensitive about it and we have all heard it before. They anger many of us and I have even had friends of mine get depressed about an article they have read. Those people do not bother me anymore. I just say, “Okay, I don’t have any requirement of you to believe me” and I move on. I will never let those people prevent you people from being inspired by this person

I am Tom Nardone, and you are welcome.

Tom Nardone
TWITTER
@tomnardoneshow
@adhdpeople

Websites:
http://adhdpeople.net
http://tomnardone.net
http://thetomnardoneshow.com

Wrongness About ADHD? Who’s Wrong?— ADD Tip O the Day 688

All Wrong

We’re thinking all wrong about ADHD,  Dr. Christakis, “a leading pediatrician,” says.

“The current thinking in the field is that attentional capacity and skills do occur on a    continuum or spectrum.” He also says that in general, pediatrics is evolving toward the idea of proactively supporting attentional functioning in everyone.”

I think he’s going on theory and ignoring the data, and I think he’s wrong, but there may a grain of truth.  Being “a leading pediatrician” doesn’t mean you can’t be  wrong.  Anybody remember Dr. Linus Pauling?

But

But Dr. Mahone seems to agree. but then says, “It doesn’t mean that diagnoses and medication aren’t helpful and appropriate in severe cases of ADHD.” And, he says, “There is strong, and growing, evidence of specific brain abnormalities associated with severe ADHD symptoms, which would lend support to the concept of ADHD as a brain disease.”

It is a little confusing.

Dimitri Christakis is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington and the director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Children’s Hospital in Seattle.   The link:   All Wrong

Mark Mahone is a pediatric neuropsychologist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute for children with special needs.

There’s lot more. You need to read the article.