New Information
I wrote about how hard it is for a person to change their opinion once it is formed.
But I am getting a lot of new information.
Dr. Charles Parker – I am reading his book- The New ADHD Medication Rules – and it is very informative. Three types of ADD ADHD – acting without thinking (impulsive), thinking without acting (paralyzed, indecisive), and not acting and not thinking. So a lot of mis and missed diagnosis. And lots of other new ideas for me. I recommend it.
Dr. Kinsella – good description of neuroanatomy, cerebellum, basal ganglia, prefrontal cortex, and how his ADD ADHD came from a birth injury to his cervical vertebrae. Honestly, at first I thought he was too woo woo for me, but he is teaching me a lot and I am starting to understand it, it’s making sense.
Angelique- is sending me information on the benefits of marital arts for ADD ADHD. I suspect this will fit in with Dr. Kinsella’s info- exercise the cerebellum. Angelique is also a fan of special ADD ADHD diets.
An ADD ADHD expert who I can’t find now – ARGHHHH!!!- who has good results using brain training techniques.?
(Does anyone else find ADD ADHD sometimes frustrating?? This was good stuff which I planned to use. )
Hey!! its Maya. I found it.
Stephanie, who has offered me a hypnosis session, to help me prioritize better, but I just haven’t found time to follow up. (Do you think if I could prioritize better, then I could find the time?)
Jonathon Marx and Dr. Farone have provided good information. It is now clear that food dye does make some difference in some people. But how many? And how much? Not as much as medication.
The Over Generalization Problem
Somebody finds something that helps them – maybe they just think it does, or maybe its placebo effect, or maybe something else is going on – but then they tend to think it is The Answer for every one. What we need is more studies – what per cent of people benefit from this?
This certainly does suggest that there are different causes and probably many different types of ADD ADHD, and therefore probably many different treatments – different ones for different people. Its complicated, and often over my head. But lets keep trying to muddle through.
I would like to be up on all the latest science and research, but honestly, my thing is strategies, whatever your cause and whatever else may help you.
Progress is being made and I am trying to keep an open mind – I don’t mean like a sieve.
doug
- Are we all in the same boat?
ADDadultstrategies 
Thinking without acting, yes! That is me. It is probably my biggest frustration in life. I get paralyzed. I would love to learn how to overcome this. I have great ideas and plans and they all stay in my head or in a notebook and never come to fruition, or not until a loooonnnnnng time later.
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amanda – there are strategies for this. one approach is to pick one of the things, committ to doing it, break it into very small steps. part of the trick is to be sure to pick something that really will be worth the effort and have a good payoff, not just an interesting idea – we have tons of those.
thank you for commenting
doug
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This is SUCH good news!!! I have this problem too, (think and don’t act), and I was getting so discouraged that I would just have to live with this, as meds don’t seem to change it. THANK YOU THANK YOU!
” there are strategies for this. one approach is to pick one of the things, committ to doing it, break it into very small steps. part of the trick is to be sure to pick something that really will be worth the effort and have a good payoff, not just an interesting idea – we have tons of those.”
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vicki- good. let us know how you apply this and how it goes.
i do believe that every problem has a solution (or most problems, or at least a way to cope.) you have identified a problem and so you are in position to go on it.
another tip – make it as specific as possible-not, i can’t get started on anything – but i have trouble starting my job assignments – or my homework – or paying my bills – etc ,then pick the one to work on
there’s lots of different strategies.
thank you for commenting
doug
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Hey, Doug! I am now 68 and was officially diagnosed at age 50 having received a previous diagnosis in fifth grade that I had something called “Minimal Brain Dysfunction”. When my parents and I were told what this meant, there were no medications to be used — no one had much information on it other than using tactics, tools, and strategies. For many people, this works without adding medication; for others, medication takes things a step or two ahead.
I utilize my own dietary limitations and find that low gluten helps. I also take supplements for my overall health, but some to help my ADD. The elderly, yes, I am considered “elderly”, seem to not absorb certain nutrients as well as they used to. For help with that, I talked to my family doctor. He knew what I was talking about and he knows the limits that are necessary to help me with my wish to stay functional and mobile.
Seriously, when I asked him about using a pen vapor device with Cannabis, he approved its use with caution to not over-indulge or find that my thinking might deteriorate to “mushy”. The use of Cannabis started in conjunction with pain control, but the welcome side affect was less tension and clearer thinking. Who knew? I man, Cannabis has been condemned for so many years.
I cannot use stimulant medications due to heart issues, but with the regimen I am following and all the years I have had to hone my skills, I doubt that things could be much better than they are for me now.
What works for one person may not (probably will not) work for another. There is not “one size fits all” approach to treating or living well with ADD. I think most of us find this frustrating until we find something (medication, tool, tactic, and/or strategy) that proves helpful and effective. ADD, when diagnosed in youngsters has a better chance of a good outcome, but only when the door is left open to use non-clinical methods and tools that prove useful for the person living with ADD — not necessarily for those who are in the observation role. That can be difficult for children and adults.
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Diane – i quite agree! excapt I dont think you are entitled to be called elderly yet. sounds like you have worked it out well.
thank you for commenting
doug
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H, Doug! My current doctor says that I am the epitome of “Peter Pan Syndrome”. The consensus from him and my other medical providers is that I think like a 30 year old. They do not treat me as a geriatric patent. The only thing that slows me down is my bad knees. I do still dance, however. LOL.
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diane
keep dancing, and thinking like 30. good for you
best wishes
doug
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Sorry, I got distracted by the ‘marital arts’ typo. I have a very visual brain and I already had 3 different images of what ‘marital arts’ would be before I got to the end of that sentence. Of course, I know you meant martial arts.
I think, all evidence based medicine apart, that in the end it’s going to be more about matching treatment to the individual. And it’s going to take skilled people to match solutions to people.
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Busy – Yes Yes Yes! and thats true for all of psychiatry and all of medicine I think.
we are each unique.
evidence based med has its place i think, but misses this point, and so much then is based on averages rather than on individuals. many of us are outliers.
thank you for commenting, always.
doug
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The psychiatrist that diagnosed me at age 50 provided some group therapy for those of us who were considered “Chronically Mentally Ill”. Along with providing a great deal of insight into our various diagnoses, he also encouraged the use of martial arts. The physical aspects of the training were great, but I found my life more impacted by the mental training. He often cited part of the book, The Way Of The Owl”. I still have the copy that I bought in 1996. It is interesting reading with or without ADD or other mental issues.
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diane – more support for martial arts. and i will try to check out the book.
thank you for commenting
doug
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vicki thanks! thats what i’m looking for,, research and not just anecdotess, tho i like those too. but sjsut cuse it helped me, or alternatively, made my ears fall off, doesnt mean it will have th same effect for anyone else.
thank you for commenting
doug
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Dear Doug, Great newsletter! There are some T’ai Chi and ADHD / ADD research citations on this website http://www.worldtaichiday.org/Medical_Research_On_Tai_Chi_Qigong/add_adhd.html
All these studies apparently were done with adolescents. Bill Douglas is a leader in teaching T’ai Chi and Qigong and posts a lot of research to back up his claims and promote T’ai Chi for health. I have done a Qigong practice for ten years and find it has always helped me to be calmer and more focused. (Nine of those years I didn’t know I had ADHD).
Interesting stuff from Dr. Parker. I will read more about that. Thanks!
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