ADHD Video: Recognizing Adult ADHD, and Coping with it!

On June 7th, Jennifer Koretsky author of “The Odd One Out: Maverick’s Guide to ADD” appeared on NBC’s TODAY Show. She shares her experiences of overwhelm and frustration that ultimately lead to recognizing and seeking help for her own symptoms of Adult ADHD. If you want to hear how she recognized the symptoms of ADHD (at first she thought it was depression), and about the ways she found to cope with adult ADHD and find happiness and success.

To watch video clich here

Back to School: Seven Non-Medication Tips to Help Your Child Tackle ADHD This Year.

 Julian was just like most other 14 year old boys — energetic, fun loving and sports-minded.Summer was about to end, and the only thing on his mind was making the football team.

He dreaded school, but was willing to do anything that would get him on the field again.

Julian did not want to re-experience last year: athletically he was on top of the world… starting in football, basketball, and baseball; academically, the world was on top of him…beleaguered with low grades, discipline problems, and missing homework assignments. Because of the latter, the school stopped him from stepping foot on the field of dreams and told him to study harder.

For Julian, it was the worst of both worlds.

Just when he thought things could not get any worse, they did. His parents enrolled him in a popular motivational tutorial program, which promised better study skills, better organizational skills and better grades. Although he didn’t like it, this was his ticket to the athletic field.

Yet after six long months, his grades had still not improved, and he was again unable to play sports. Discouraged and defeated, his confidence shrunk even further. Julian went from someone who made academic mistakes, to feeling like he was a mistake.

“Something has to give,” his parents told the ADHD Performance Clinic (APC) during the intake meeting. “We are losing him. We have tried everything, and don’t have a clue on how to help our son.”

Upon assessing him, we realized Julian did not have a motivational, organizational, or a study problem; he had an attention deficit hyperactive disorder, ADHD. Following his diagnosis, APC put together a treatment plan that addressed both his short-term and long-term needs.

To meet Julian’s short-term attention needs a physician prescribed medications to help him focus, and for his long-term attention needs we placed him on an educationally proven computer-based program for children with attention problems.

We also included parent training to reinforce behavioral changes. In all, Julian began to better understand how ADHD was impacting his life, learned how to better manage the challenges related to the disorder, and developed his ability to focus.

Twelve months later, Julian has taken control of his life and is off medications – and is doing well academically and athletically. This season his parents will proudly sit in the stands watching him play in his first high-school football game of the season.

Here are a few steps APC recommends you take to help your son or daughter tackle ADHD.

1. Become Your Child’s ADHD “Parent Advocate.” You must learn as much about ADHD as possible. Period! It is critically important to understand the challenges your child may face and the resources available. Know the teachers, the treatment team, and the law. I recommend the following book to any would-be parent advocate, Special Needs Advocacy Resource Book, by Michelle Davis.

3. Develop a Schedule, and Strive for Consistency and Structure. Beginning a week or two before school starts, re-adjust bed and wake-up times. With young elementary children, eliminate the fear of the unknown by introducing them to their new school, teacher and bus schedule before the first day.

Kids with ADHD function much better if they know what to expect and experience few surprises. Let your child get comfortable with the new supplies, organizational and/or attention training systems they will be using this year.

4. Make Meaningful Behavioral Changes. As you well know, children with ADHD are frequently impulsive and often seek immediate gratification. Accordingly, they tend to do best when given more immediate and frequent feedback and consequences. You might also consider using incentives before punishment, and striving for consistency. Don’t personalize your child’s problems or disorder. Inattentive and impulsive behaviors are common symptoms of ADHD, which experts conservatively estimate affect between 5 to 7 percent of school age children.

I know it can be frustrating, but let your child know that whatever the school year may hold, “we’ll get through it no matter what.” Let him know that you are in his corner… fighting with him, cheering for him and proud of him. Also, discover and teach him about some of the many extremely successful adults with ADHD, see   www.SchwabLearning.org  for some examples.

6. Celebrate Every Success! Our kids will hear plenty about their flaws and their failures… so make sure you celebrate their successes, even small ones.

At APC, we have found ADHD doesn’t have to be a struggle! These seven steps will equip you to begin to discover and cultivate your child’s creativity and drive so that they successfully tackle ADHD, and maximize their personal potential on and off the field.

For more information contact us at www.ADHDPC.com, or 301.588.4600.

Shane Perrault is the Principal Psychologist at the ADHD Performance Clinic, and the only certified Play Attention provider in the Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C. area.

ADHD Assessment: Are you (or an employee) “dis-organized,” or do you have ADHD?

Helping yourself (or an adult employee with ADHD) struggle with “disorganization”, or ADHD can be a challenge. However, determining which one of these is causing the inefficiency can go a long way in your getting the most of their ability.

Determining if a client is “un-organized” is fairly simple. Be around them! On the other hand, determining if a client has (ADHD), and knowing what to do if they have ADHD is not simple at all.

What is ADHD?
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is currently defined as a neurological (brain) disorder.  What is important to know is that ADHD affects both children and adults. ADHD symptoms are characterized by

• disorganization
• inattention
• impulsivity
• hyperactivity.

ADHD is an unusual disorder in that many of its key symptoms are experienced occasionally by the entire population. For instance, who hasn’t forgotten a date, lost something, made an inappropriate comment, daydreamed, made a late payment, or lost track of time.

Here is a test help you distinguish if you (or an employee) are “un-organized,” or actually have ADHD:

Are/Do They…

1. Disorganized?
2. Chronically procrastinate or have trouble getting started?
3. Easily bored?
4. Have many projects going simultaneously, and have trouble with follow-through?
5. Sometimes over focuses on details, at other times appears distracted by everything?
6. Creative, intuitive, and highly intelligent?
7. Impatient; exhibit a low tolerance for frustration?
8. Say what comes to mind, without necessarily considering the timing or appropriateness of the remark?
9. Underachievers, regardless of how much ability they possess?
10. Have trouble going through established channels, following proper procedure?
11. Always on the go as if driven by a motor?
12. Seek out fast paced, exciting activities?
13. Demonstrate an inability to get things done unless there is an absolute deadline?
____________________________________________________________________
GUIDELINE FOR ADHD TEST INTERPRETATION: Since most everyone exhibits these characteristics periodically, when evaluating these behaviors have your client consider the frequency of which these characteristics are exhibited: “once in a while,” “often” or “frequently”. If a their behaviors are “frequently” consistent with 8 or more of these traits, then you are advised to have them seek a professional opinion. (Only a trained professional can truly determine if a person has ADHD, and provide treatment.)

Seven Habits of Highly Successful Entrepreneurs with ADHD.

By Shane Perrault, PhD

So You just found out you (or an employee) have ADHD, or are ADHDish (that is, you have a few symptoms of ADHD). What’s do you do now?

First, don’t panic!

Actually, if you are an entrepreneur you may want to celebrate. Many extraordinary contributions have been made to society by people with ADHD. (See SchwabLearning.org, for a list of “Successful People with ADHD.” This site was set up by Charles Schwab, who has ADHD himself.)

Also, realize creativity and innovation are hallmarks of people with ADHD. For example, if Edison didn’t have ADHD, we might be reading by brighter candle light. So there definitely is a Silver lining here… 

To help you or your employee manage ADHD, and maximize your ability, we recommend the following:

1. Get an ADHD Coach? Because true ADHD is usually neurological, and many ADHDer’s will have difficulties in these areas despite a strong desire and attempts to overcome it.

Traditional methods of coaching often will not work with someone who has ADHD! ADHD coaches offer techniques geared toward working with the unique brain wiring of individuals with ADHD.

I recommend a coach who uses a strength based approach that also employs data driven assessment tools that incorporate objective data about their own ADHD traits and strengths, individual learning style, performance and interactions with others.

2. Stop denigrating yourself, and start celebrating yourself. First, you don’t have a choice of your genetics. ADHD is an inherited, and “will power” alone has little chance against genetics. Next, be happy you don’t have a choice of your genetics. Creativity and “out-of-the-box” thinking, intuition, and resilience are also a genetic traits frequently linked to ADHD.

Believe it or Not,people with ADHD are 300% more likely to start their own business (see The Davinci Method, by Garret Loporto), and many business leaders have ADHD. To name a few accomplished business people with ADHD:

• Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Airlines.
• John T. Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems.
• Ingvar Kamprad, Swedish founder and chairman of IKEA stores, states he adapted the inner workings of his business to compensate for his ADHD and dyslexia.
• David Neeleman founder and CEO of Jet Blue Airways.
• Paul Orfalea the founder and chairperson of Kinko’s.
• Charles Schwabthe founder, chairperson, and CEO of the Charles Schwab Corporation, the largest brokerage firm in the U.S.

3. Learn more about your unique positive traits, and develop the specialized skill of harnessing and leveraging your unique creativity and positive strengths.

4. Educate yourself and your employee about ADHD. There are many good ADHD books, websites and support groups out there. For example, “Driven to Distraction,” “The Davinci Nation Method” and “You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy” are a few of my favorite books. Also, CHADD.org has a list of support groups and self-help tips and resources.

5. Help yourself or your employee with ADHD accept that they have a need for stimulation. This need fuels their creativity and allows them to be highly effective in high-risk/stress situations. Select activities where these ADHD trait can have a positive impact on your company’s bottom line.

6. Consult a nutritionist who specializes in ADHD. Numerous studies indicate that artificial flavors, colors, and other additives can increase aggression and hyperactive behavior. Avoid sweets and yeast products, and eat nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day.

A nutritionist specializing in ADHD can also help you eliminate other foods you may be sensitive to from your diets, and recommend specific nutrient supplements.

7.  Have Fun! Work out, Travel, Friends and Family, Entertainment, and more.

Consider Yoga or Transcendental Meditation, TM. Both increase blood flow to the brain, and that’s important because studies show is people with ADHD frequently have reduced blood flow to the brain.”

 Get your  Balanced Life on…Creativity, Productivity and the Universe insist on it. People with ADHD need Balance to stay outside-of-the box!

These 7 steps will help your or your employees maximize your creativity and other strengths, and realize your personal potential in a fashion that positively impacts their company’s bottom line.

Written by, Shane K. Perrault, PhD who is the Coach and Psychologist at Entrepreneurs with ADHD.

Should you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 301.588.4600.