ADHD

Two neuroscientists at Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center are turning magic tricks into science. Stephen Macknik, Ph.D., director of the Laboratory of Behavioral Neurophysiology; and Susana Martinez-Conde, Ph.D., director of the Laboratory of Visual Neuroscience; are working with world-famous magicians to discover the brain's mechanisms underlying attention and awareness.

Does your child have frequent temper tantrums? Are they always fidgeting, running around screaming or falling over? Perhaps you teach a child like that. If so, the chances are there's nothing to worry about and they are just being boisterous. But for five to ten percent of children it isn't that simple. These characteristics can be some of the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD).

Shire Limited (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announced today the re-launch of its educational Web site, ADHDSupport.com, designed to provide families, caregivers, educators and patients with tools and resources about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The newly enhanced ADHDSupport.

Shire Limited (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has launched VYVANSE™ (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) for the treatment of adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This launch follows the recent FDA approval of VYVANSE to treat ADHD in the adult population. VYVANSE is now available in U.S. pharmacies nationwide in six once-daily dosage strengths.

A genetic change in the dopamine transporter - one of the brain's dopamine-handling proteins - makes it behave as if amphetamine is present and "run backward," Vanderbilt University Medical Center investigators report this week in The Journal of Neuroscience. The altered function of the transporter gene variant, discovered in two brothers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), supports a role for dopamine signaling in the disease.

ADHD Awareness Week 2008September 14th - September 20th In recognition of ADHD Awareness Week ADDClasses.com is hosting the first ever week long ADHD Awareness Marathon. Beginning on Sunday September 14, 2008 at 12:00 am EDT all the way through Saturday September 20, 2008 at 11:59 pm EDT, ADHD experts will answer Your Attention Deficit Disorder related questions!You will have the choice of submitting your questions by: * Telephone* Electronic Message Board Forum* Chat Room Not only can you get your questions answered from the comfort of your own home but in recognition of ADHD Awareness Week…

ADDClasses.com is offering a brand new ADHD Coaching Program this summer! Beginning on July 23rd Diane Ladd will be leading the 6-week program ADDing Focus. The regular cost for ADDing Focus is $247 but we are currently offering an early bird special of only $147. If you sign up for ADDing Focus before July 9, 2008 you will save $100. Space is limited in ADDing Focus and we have had a lot of interest in this program. Space for ADDing Focus is already beginning to fill up! ADDClasses.com is going to be exhibiting at the ADDA Conference later this month too. Due to the interest we have already…

Controlling Your Finances Tuesday June 17, 2008 Time: 8:00 pm Eastern Instructor: John MacKenzie Getting from Point A to Point B Wednesday June 18, 2008 Time: 3:00 pm Eastern Instructor: Sheri Hall These live Teleseminars are free but space is limited! Sign up now at http://www.adhdteleseminars.info

When "Fidgety Philip" grows up, the problems of attention deficit disorder can multiply into loss of nearly a month's work per year. Long seen as a problem for children, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder was first described in 1845 by Dr. Heinrich Hoffman, who wrote "The Story of Fidgety Philip." More recently, it has been recognized as continuing into adulthood for some people, and new research seeks to estimate the effect of ADHD on workers. This lack of ability to concentrate costs the average adult sufferer 22.1 days of "role performance," per year, including 8.7 extra days absent,…

Free ADHD TeleSeminar Date: Wednesday May 21st, 2008 Time: 8:30 pm Eastern Who: Dr. Rory Stern Interviews Evelyn Polk-Green Sign up now>>> 

The American Academy of Pediatrics concludes the heart screening test is not mandatory before taking...

Workers with ADHD lose almost a month in productivity each year, according to a new...

A new study examines the risk for children with ADHD to be either overweight or...

A joint advisory of the AAP and AHA has added explanatory statements to the AHA...

Study finds the rate of ADHD in children 12 and older increasing, while it remains...

Healthy Sports: Phelps’ accomplishments offer hope for children Norwich Bulletin, CT - 7 hours agoAt age 9, he was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). Yet he has become arguably the greatest athlete in the world.

Funding for ADHD drugNew Zealand Herald, New Zealand - 19 hours agoThe drug buying agency Pharmac will fund a once-a-day treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder from the beginning of next month. Once-a-day ADHD drug welcomed Newstalk ZBDrug to ease teens' trauma Stuff.co.nzall 5 news articles

ADHD symptoms 'normal behaviour'The Australian, Australia - 21 hours agoSubmissions to the review of ADHD guidelines being conducted by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians argue the symptoms defining ADHD are too broad

Hayes Evaluates Test and Treatment Options for Attention-Deficit MarketWatch - 22 hours agoADHD is a common disorder of childhood and adolescence that may persist into adulthood and is characterized by symptoms of inattention and/or

Olympic Star a Hero to Those With ADHDKansas CW, KS - Aug 19, 2008"I had no idea he had ADHD," Georgia Ahern says. When Ahern heard about Phelps' Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder she was encouraged but says not

Similar results have been found in studies of adults

Encourage reading when your child is young

Researchers say mothers milk makes for even-keeled kids

Finding could offer doctors a chance to treat the disorder earlier

They feel isolated and stressed, as well as physically and emotionally drained, report finds

  Kaori is 42 years old and is Japanese. She was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 35, She currently lives in Japan and is discouraged by the lack of information and resources for adults with ADHD in her country.   Kaori has been searching for an explanation of what has caused her differences and her struggles since she was 19. It was at that age she was diagnosed with depression and began attending sessions at a mental health...

Michael Phelps was born June 30, 1985 in Baltimore MD. He enjoys football, music and video games. He became a professional swimmer at the age of 16. Michael was also the younger male world record holder in modern history. In he 2007 FINA World Championships he won seven gold medals and shattered five world records. At the Olympics in Beijing, he is hoping to break Mark Spitz's record and win eight gold medals. (In the 2004 Olympics, he won eight...

Both in education and in the workplace, the terms modifications and accommodations are used to describe changes made to help someone with a disability succeed. Through the years, these terms have been used interchangeably, even though they both have different meanings.   The term "accommodation" refers to changes in the procedures, however, does not result in a change of what is measured. For example, if a student receives additional time...

Each year, one in four people suffer from a diagnosable mental illness in the United States. In addition, six percent of the population combats serious mental illness. But this problem is not just found in the U.S. Around the world; fifteen percent of "the burden of disease" is caused by mental illness. (National Institute of Mental Health, 2008)   Even with the worldwide problem, mental illness is misunderstood and still carries a...

Last week, a report was released showing that older children (over the age of 12) were being diagnosed with ADHD more frequently than previously. The rate of diagnosis for children under the age of 12 remained the same. For children ages 6 through 11, the rate of diagnosis was around 7 percent. However, for children ages 12 through 17, the rate increased to almost 10 percent. The report was completed based on data compiled from a government...

Rory Stern, PsyD, ADDA Board of Director   Last week my good friend, and ADDA President, Evelyn Polk-Green wrote about ADHD and feelings of chronic overwhelm. It was a post that really stood out for me, because since returning from the ADDA conference immediately followed by a family wedding, I was feeling incredibly overwhelmed too. I was a little stuck. I couldn't get back into a routine, I didn't know where to begin, and I was just...

Evelyn Polk Green, ADDA President     My very first blog post here was about being overwhelmed... Four months later and I seem to be in the exact same place! The last time I wrote for our blog here at ADHDCentral, I was gearing up to begin my term as ADDA president. As of today, I'm exactly one month into the term. We've been working on recruiting more volunteers, revamping and strengthening our committees, and of course, our...

Janet P. Kramer, MD. ADDA Board of Directors     Until I came on the Board of ADDA*, I never realized that so many of my friends and colleagues were struggling with ADHD-and these are some of my most gifted friends. I then explored why this was the case. The following is only a partial answer to Why There Are So Many With ADHD.   ADHD may confer survival benefits. Folks with ADHD in the past centuries, because of the...

Janet P. Kramer, MD. ADDA Board of Directors   I'm sharing what I learned from my friends who are adults dealing successfully with ADHD:   The earlier the challenge is recognized, the earlier folks learn to deal with it effectively.   Youngsters with ADHD, although a significant and complex neurodevelopmental challenge, often demonstrate signs and symptoms which are not recognized in childhood...

Dr. Janet Kramer     Within 30 minutes of posting my last blog, Marilyn wrote a very insightful comment in which she talked of her self review and the conclusions she was able to make after she learned that she had ADHD at the age of 57. Her diagnosis gave her the impetus to critically review her assets as well as her challenges at home and in the workplace and come to some conclusions regarding treatment, work...

Photo: Los Angeles Times Michael Phelps is the US swimming sensation that is taking Beijing by storm. He has won multiple gold medals and hold multiple world records. He also has ADHD. He was... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

First of all, thanks so much to those of you who subscribed to my blog feed during the month of July. You made my July Feed Drive a huge success! Now for the good stuff... the winner of any item of... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Not only is it important to prepare your child to go back to school, but you need to prepare as well. These are the things I do to prepare myself for a successful school year: Purchase a monthly... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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My ADHD/LD son will start back to school in just three short weeks. It's incredibly hard to believe that summer is coming to an end. However, he couldn't be more excited! In spite of the numerous... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

My mother just sent me an email this afternoon that put a smile on my face! Mom: Does this mean you are a celebrity now?  That is my old tennis partner.Tennis Partner: Haven't seen you in ages, hope everything is going well.  I was reading a blurb on an ADD Conference and saw the name Tara McGillicuddy listed...is that your daughter?  Others included on the panel of presenters are Dr. Edward Hallowell, Dr. John Ratey, Wendy Richardson, Sari Solden, Dr. Michele Novontni, Dr. Thomas Phelan, Dr. Patricia Quinn, Wilma Fellman, Sarah Wright, Dr. Kenny Handleman, Sandy Maynard,…

Last night I sent out an email to ADDClasses.com members letting them know that there is a Free ADHD Teleseminar this Wednesday. I also added a reminder at the bottom that Adult ADD Boot Camp - Organized in In Control begins this Thursday. I got a reply back from an ADDClasses.com member saying that the only way she would sign up for Adult ADD Boot Camp - Organized in In Control was if we offered her a Money Back Guarantee! We don't offer Money Back Guarantees on our ADD Coaching Programs. Success in an ADD Coaching Program depends just as much on the what the participant puts into the…

So Michael Phelps has just done an amazing thing by breaking a record and winning 8 Gold Medals. Yes, Michael Phelps has ADHD! Do you really think it's just because he has Attention Deficit Disorder that he is at a loss for words? He's in shock and is still trying to process what he's just done! I would even expect the world's best speaker to be at a loss for words after something like this. I guess I'm just a little annoyed at all the people who are already commenting about his lack of speaking ability. People are blaming it on his ADHD, wondering if he's autistic, or blaming it on some…

I'm sure you have heard by now that Michael Phelps has ADHD. I know that a lot of his success has to do with the fact that at a young age he found something he was good at and really enjoyed. He's also had some very positive and supportive people in his life like his mother and his swimming coach. But let's not forget the obvious! Michael Phelps really does quite a bit of exercising! If you've read Dr. John Ratey's book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain you know how beneficial exercise is for people with ADHD. So I'm sure that all swimming Michael Phelps has done…

This my 400th blog post! When I started My ADD Blog I really had no idea that I would ever have this many blog posts. I'm rather proud of myself for blogging consistently over the past 3 years too! I thought about posting links to some of my favorite or most popular entries in this post. Knowing myself I knew I would get too distracted by them and end up doing something besides writing my 400th blog post. However, I will post links to some of my favorite categories:ADD Moments ADD Tools ADD Support ADD AwarenessSo what's next? I'm looking forward to my 500th Blog post! I thought about…

About | Symptoms | Tests | Treatment | Managing

About | Symptoms | Tests | Treatment | Managing

About | Symptoms | Tests | Treatment | Managing

About | Symptoms | Tests | Treatment | Managing

When the American Heart Association recommended in April that all 2.5 million children taking stimulant drugs for ADHD should have an electrocardiogram to screen for hidden heart problems (because a small number of these children die from abnormal heart rhythms), it came as an unpleasant surprise for parents. Turns out it was an unpleasant surprise for the American Academy of Pediatrics, too, which got the news just a few hours before the recommendation went public. So, a few weeks later, the pediatricians released their own recommendation: No ECGs. What should parents make of this expert…

I am using naturemade fishoil and flax seed oil. (the latter not including the o3s) on the fishoil supplement facts it says fish oil concentrate 2400 mg, Omega-3 fatty acids(EPA, DHA, and other Omega-3) is there a better source and which forms are most important.

I'm having trouble figuring out a technique for keeping a good pace when it comes to studying. As usual, I start my work feeling anxious and attempt to overcome it by starting with 15 or 30 minutes. Which then works and I end up working two hours straight or take 5 minute breaks in between each 30 min. session. However, the problem is that after those two hours or so, I take a huge two-four hour break to compensate for the time spent on work. I don't have time to do this when school starts again and I'm curious to hear the suggestions other ADD-ers have. I'm thinking about limiting myself to…

I was diagnosed with ADD-I over 2 years ago. Since then, I had a baby and had to go off meds. We hadn't found the right ones anyway before that happened. I now have to find a new doctor for the ADD but I am also having major sleep issues. I don't know which one I should address first or where to turn. My sleep issues are affecting my life more than my ADD at this point. I have to get up in the morning to get my kids off to school and there have been days that they didn't go to school because of it. At night, it takes me about an hour to go to sleep and that is even when I am totally…

http://add.about.com/od/treatmentopt...-treatment.htm Have any of you had experiences with life/adhd coaching and how has it helped (or not helped)?

I wasn't going to share this with anyone but then I cam across it and thought it wasn't doing anyone any good just sitting in my notebook. Maybe it's a bit melodramatic but it's what I was feeling at the time and I think it's what a lot of us can think or feel after yet another failure/setback --especially before we know what's "wrong" with us.... Anyway, I better post this quick while I still have the guts! Broken dreams, a broken body, and broken heart Sit in this saddle. They say I'll heal, but there's not time -- You know there's work to be done. One more fall could kill me But…

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians has delivered on a request from the National Health and Medical Research Council for a review of Australia's guidelines for diagnosing and treating ADHD.

Contrary to popular thinking, medications for child attention deficit disorder are not always the best first-line treatment.

Cody Kneir, who was diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, has been able to control it with the help of a tutor.

GUIDELINES for managing attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder have alarmed leading education researchers, who warn they will cause an exponential increase in children being labelled as having ADHD by ...

Unfortunately, when parents learn that their child is diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, a pharmaceutical intervention is often called upon.

The ADD Audio Library have dozens of classes about ADHD. Right now there more than 70 classes in the ADD Audio Library and many of them are by ADD Coaches. There are classes for Adults with ADD, Parents of Children with ADHD, Spouses and Partners of People with ADD, and General Classes for everybody affected by Attention Deficit Disorder. Here are the titles a few of the classes in the ADD Audio Library: How to Thrive in Marriage with ADHD Moving On - Life After an ADHD Diagnosis Parenting Children with ADHD Setting Up Systems That Work Why Am I Getting Stuck? You can learn more about the ADD…

The school count down has begun at our house.  6 days and counting!  I have been busy making packets for their teachers to help them understand my children and ADHD better.  Their letters, resumes, and IEP’s are ready.  As usual I am still researching information to find the best articles or tidbits that I feel their teachers could use. Earlier this year I discovered an article about a study where researchers followed ADHD kids around for the day and compared their daily interactions with others to the daily interactions of non ADHD kids.  Of course I can’t locate…

This month the ADD Coaching Club welcomes ADHD Coach Diane Ladd. Diane will now be leading the Wednesday night group telephone session. In celebration of Diane joining the ADD Coaching Club team we are offering a $30 discount off your first month of the ADD Coaching Club membership To take advantage of this offer use the coupon code: DIANE30. This coupon expires on Friday August 15th, 2008 at 11:59 pm EDT. Sign up now at www.addcoachingclub.com

The next session of Adult ADD Boot Camp: Organized and in Control starts on August 21st. This is an intensive 6 week long distance learning program. You can participate right from the comfort of your own home! If you are serious about getting organized and willing to put in some hard work then Adult ADD Boot Camp: Organized and in Control is the ADD Coaching program for you! Sign up now at: http://www.adultaddbootcamp.com Space is limited and Adult ADD Boot Camp: Organized and in Control usually sells out!

In August the ADD Book Club begins discussing the book The ADDed Dimension: Celebrating the Opportunities, Rewards, and Challenges of the ADD Experience by Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo. The ADD Book Club is more than just a regular book club. It offers its members structure, support, education, coaching, and convenience. ADDed Bonus : A Thursday evening organizing peer support group for all ADD Book Club members! $27 per month www.adhdbookclub.com

When thinking about the word NO, I tend to think about the negative connotation that the word NO has attached to it. NO I can't do this, NO I can't afford that; it makes you feel like a failure when you have to tell someone NO. Many people with ADHD have additional issues with feeling like a failure because they often have had issues with school, chores, and other tedious tasks. This makes it more difficult for the ADHD adult to tell a client, their boss, a salesperson, or anyone else that they are unable to do something. Telling someone NO can be difficult for anyone, but it is a critical…

Having your vehicle repossessed is a very embarrassing and stressful experience. As fuel prices and unemployment rates go up, more people are having their vehicles repossessed. Adults with ADD are more vulnerable to repossession because: Poor Deadline Management - Repossession usually happens after someone is late on their vehicle loan for at least 30 days, for many lenders it is 60 days. However once you hit that deadline the lender will act very swiftly to repossess your vehicle. When other deadlines are missed the consequences usually are not as severe as losing your car. Attentional…

Many adults with ADD can get discouraged trying to accomplish their goals. It is important to learn from other adults with ADD who have used their strengths to succeed in life. Here is a short exerpt from Paul Orfalea's book Copy This! How I Turned Dyslexia, ADHD, and 100 Square Feet Into a Company Called Kinko's' that was posted in the Wall Street Journal As opposed to "Open three new stores by the end of the year," my goal became simply "Expand the business." Keep your goals as anchors and then wander around among them, giving yourself plenty of room for error and…

By: Tara McGillicuddy (Reprinted with permission from My ADD/ADHD Blog) I bet you were expecting this blog post to be about an offer for a program through ADDClasses.com or my ADHD Coaching services. I'm also sure the title sparked some interest and some emotion. Some of you were probably excited and couldn't wait to see what it was I was offering. Others were probably turned of by the gimmicky title but were still curious to see what I was going to be offering. I too get turned of by gimmicky sales pitches like this. I think they prey upon the weaknesses of people with ADHD and I don't use…

Here are six overlooked reasons why adults with ADD are struggling with their finances: Not Fully Committed Have not made other key life decisions Not identifying emotional obstacles Not reaching out for Support Not Changing Behaviors System Failure

My friend Sital Ruparelia tipped me off to this great video on TED of Sir Ken Robinson speaking on "Do Schools Kill Creativity?" It's an incredibly entertaining and thought-provoking talk, and he even touches on ADD. (Although one might argue that his conception of medication is slightly off.) If 19 minutes is too long for you, skip to the 15-minute mark and watch it to the end. Let me know what you think!

I'll be presenting for the ADHD Coaches Organization tonight on How to Use a Book (or Other Media) to Propel Your Coaching Career. This will be a casual presentation in which I talk about using your own authentic voice--in all forms of media--to attract the right clients. I'll also be taking lots of questions about my book--why I wrote it, how I did it, what to expect if you want to write a book, etc. If you're a coach, especially an ADD coach, then you'll definitely want to join us live! This teleclass will take place at 8pm EST and is for ACO members only. Visit www.adhdcoaches.org for more…

My parents returned from an Alaskan cruise over the weekend and stopped by the house to pick up their dog, Bailey, who some of you might remember as The ADD Dog. While they were here, my mother showed us countless pictures of the same distant glacier over and over again, and recounted the details of the trip. I like to think that my spunk, as well as my ADD, comes from my mother's side of the family. And from my mother, in particular, who managed to pass on her ADD to both her children, and her dog. As Erin (who is finally blogging again) says, my mother should have her own travel show. It…

Posted by Sharon Howell, ADD Management Group Coach I like to watch TV as much as anyone.  I really like movies, old and new and some comedy too.  But I have learned that watching too much in one day can make my brain feel like mush. Here are Dr. Amen's (Virtual AD/HD Conference speaker, neuropsychiatrist and founder of the Amen Clinics) words of wisdom regarding TV watching: Be selective about what you watch on TV. New learning causes new connections in the brain, while no learning causes disconnections. In this age of cable and satellite TV, there are wonderful programs that can…

You're probably expecting me to talk about Michael Phelps, the gold-medal-winning, record-breaking, ADHD-swimmer-extraordinaire whom everyone--especially the ADD community--is rooting for. But that's not what I'm going to talk about. Now, don't get me wrong. I think Michael Phelps is one hell of an ADD role model, and he's really helping people see AD/HD in a whole new way. I'd love to write a post about how wonderful he is. But what I really want to say about the Olympics is...when are they over? No, seriously. Does anyone know when the Olympics are over? I really, truly have never…

I had a little bit of a breakdown the other day. I had the intention of posting several times a week, and I couldn't think of anything to write about. It felt like a writer's block kinda thing, if I thought of myself as a writer. But I know that in all creative pursuits, it's best to just keep on keeping on- ok that holds for other pursuits as well, maybe anything with a goal. It's best to sit down and just write something to keep it going, keep the writing primed in the mind. But I don't want to just publish anything, even if I don't have illusions that what I'm putting out is some kind of…

I recently returned from Montana. My husband was working at the  National Folk Festival in Butte, and we attached a vacation to that trip. I've never spent time in the Rockies before and I have to say that it is in some ways culturally more foreign for me from most places I've been. During the festival, a friend pointed out something that helped me to understand why I was feeling so out-of-context: people give each other a lot more personal space ther than they do back East (or in Europe for that matter.) I suppose that in a place where there is so much physical space in your…

I want to talk about an inattentive experience I'm having today. It's been a long while, luckily, since I've dealt with this one, but I must have just the right mix of fatigue, estrogen (big effect on the AD/HD), and piles of stuff to do. From working with my clients I think it's an experience a lot of predominantly inattentive type folks have, and maybe some non-ADD folks as well, but it's something with which people usually struggle without having it identified. It goes like this: I have an errand or chore to do. I think of this task, then I start doing it--- in my head. I imagine all the…

Thanks to Pete Quily  and his blog for bringing my attention to this nice little video clip on WebMD about ADHD, which you can find here. This clip  starts out showing ADHD boys with hyperactivity, but then talks about, to paraphrase Tom Brown in the video, girls not getting diagnosed because they don't make enough trouble for other people, because they're not hyperactive. As is so common, it focuses only on children with ADHD, but it does so in the context of how we slip through the cracks, until later, or until, well, never, when we're predominantly inattentive. Not discussed in…

Because I want to write about ADHD- predominantly inattentive type, I've been  thinking I ought to do a bit more reading on what others have said on the matter. I'm attracted to the subject because (1) I have ADHD, predominantly inattentive and (2) not that many people seem to talk about it. It seems like when I talk to clients about inattentive challenges, these massive blinking lights go off, because no one "got it" before. I hope I can blog about some of the stuff that I keep figuring out with clients over and over again, that we aren't finding elsewhere. But in the…

The two articles I had planned to post last week still need a bit of work. They lack heart. I'll see if I have a spare and get back to you. ~Douglas.....I love to read your comments so please take time to visit my site. Registration is not necessary. You can even post anonymously.

Wendy Aron, author of Hide & Seek: How I Laughed at Depression, Conquered My Fears and Found Happiness, left the following comment in response to my post earlier today (Caution: A Reader's Personal Experience with Paxil):I have had the exact opposite experience with my medication. I have been on Elavil for twenty-five years and besides a greater appetite and dry mouth I have had no terrible side effects. My psychiatrist took me off the medication completely and I got depressed again. It's been a life saver to me.Thank you for sharing your viewpoint in such a non-combative way, Wendy.

While I finish up touches on two related articles, I wanted to point your attention to a fantastic comment left today on my "Wary of Psych Meds? Here is My Personal Experience With Them." article from last May. (What a wonderfully productive month that was. Let me pause for a moment while I reminisce on what being productive felt like....ah, they call these the halcyon days of Summer. Mine feels more like a series of random squalls than a calm breeze. Fortunately, school starts in two weeks.)Reader Cathy had a terrible time on Paxil and she shared some of the highlights with me. Here is a…

I don't know about you, but here's why I procrastinateI was digging around some old ideas for the blog and came across one from December 2005. It was titled "6 Reasons on Why are You Procrastinating". I thought, "Hey, cool! Here are six reasons why people procrastinate. I wonder why I never wrote about this article?" I may never know the answer to that question, but I bet it has a lot to do with procrastination.Normal everyday people procrastinate all the time. The teenager who hasn't taken out the trash yet? Procrastination. That client who hasn't settled accounts yet? Procrastination. The…

No big article this week. I've been swamped with work. Client phone calls, web design, daddy duty up to my eyeballs, and lastly I've been spending every spare moment helping my daughter prepare for her county fair gigs. I booked her for four fairs this summer. She's even headlining for one of them. Wish I could tell you which one. I promised my family I wouldn't expose her to the online public unless she had an album for sale. She has a MySpace band page and a podcast I help her produce, but no pictures of what she actually looks like. Just bits and pieces of her. Maybe one day soon we'll get…

Just about 24-hours ago, my wife and I (with our children of course) were sitting in Tampa International Airport.  We had cut our first vacation in almost 3 years short, all to avoid the approaching Hurrican. It was only a few hours early that our flight was canceled, and we were looking at an extra day or two (or more) in Tampa.  At first glance, that might not be a bad thing.  After all, we were spending time with family and getting some long overdue time away from home. But with the storm approaching, we just couldn’t risk being delayed all week long. Looking back, the storm was…

History happens every day…  Records are made and broken…  Are you paying attention to it? Yesterday morning over breakfast, and I am sure all across the world, newspaper headlines were talking about Michael Phelps’ Olympic accomplishments.  And it got me thinking… History is happening every single day (and I don’t mean that in the most basic sense). Every day, miracles are happening.  Great accomplishments are achieved, and upsets happen all the time. An A on a paper when we expected a C or a D. Getting the promotion at work. Being recognized and celebrated.

When visiting my own family, things generally get more than a bit chaotic.  Gatherings usually lend themselves to pushing buttons, having disagreements, and typically ending up with an explosion or two.  Much like the finale of fireworks on the 4th of July - we really put on a great show. I often have joked that “The Osbournes” television show had nothing on us. While I am not certain if that is the right thing to share or not, it is important nonetheless.  It’s where I came from, and it has impacted my life and who I have become.  Understanding these events and…

Establishing good habits are extremely beneficial to many people, but for someone struggling with ADHD, they can mean the difference between ongoing struggle and getting on the road to success. Unfortunately, the trickiest part of establishing habits is often doing just that…  Setting them up.  Sticking to it… But once we get going, then it becomes natural and part of our daily routines. In fact, that should be the goal. When starting out, we do want to think about the end result, but we also want to be very mindful of taking one step at a time.  We need to focus on little…

Yep!  I am talking about Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps. Not only did he shatter the history books last night…  But he did it overcoming adversity as well. The Most Decorated Olympian In History In his first race of the night, Michael Phelps made history by winning his 10th Gold Medal of his Olympic Career.  Until this point, no other athlete has done that.  EVER!  Think about that for a moment… In 149 years of the Olympics, no athlete has ever won that many Gold Medals.  No other athlete has performed at this level (top of their game) with such consistency, tenacity, and…

Check out this story that ran on the Time online news site July 23. The magazine reports that an increasing number of older children are being diagnosed with ADD/ADHD – a trend that appears to baffle some of the nation’s public health officials. Typically, if a child is to be diagnosed with this disorder, it’s usually recognized by the time a child is 11 years old. But the study – which questioned parents from the years of 1997 to 2006 about their children’s health status – discover an increase in diagnosis of 4 percent every year. Because of the nature of the study, the question…

The Learning Disability Association of Prince Edward Island, and the United Way are putting together a program to help kids with ADHD and Learning Disabilities. You can read the news report here. Parents of kids with ADHD and LDs often don’t get the support that they need. Hopefully, this program will provide some desperately needed help. Share This

The Positive: Looking for a way to increase your child’s self-esteem? Lots of parents of children with ADHD are. And now, here’s a simple way, according to one study, that is. Let them enjoy those playing those video games now and then. That’s right! According to a study commissioned by Pop Cap, an online gaming company, playing casual video game playing can not only improve a child’s self esteem, but also his attention span, and memory. In addition, it can also help to relieve stress! The study looked at more than 13,000 casual game players. Of these nearly 3,000 of the respondents…

I ran across some interesting statistics the other day. Whether they’re relevant facts, I’m not sure yet. The deal with weight and the child with ADHD. Listen to these figures and you can help me decide. According to a news article in U.S. News and World Report online, children who have an undiagnosed case of ADHD are at a 50 percent higher risk for being overweight than those taking medication for this disorder. (To read the entire article for yourself, click right here) Now get this, those youngsters who were diagnosed with ADHD and were being treated, ran a risk of being underweight.

Taken once and lasting for 12 hours. Whether you’re six years old or 65. Sounds like this might be a good idea for a new medication. Well, Ortho-MacNeil thought so. And the result is CONCERTA, a new timed-release drug for not only adults with ADHD, but children as well. Recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, for adults, this medication has been on the market (as you probably well know) for children for quite a while. In fact, it was the first of the new generation of time-released drugs for ADHD. CONCERTA uses a relative new delivery system, called OROS – which stands…

Since Jen and I have lost our taste for industrial food, there are very few restaurants we actually enjoy going to. And the ones that do serve traditional food are often pricey "special occasion" restaurants. So in the past year, we've gone from eating out several times a week to eating out once a month, if that. Given the choice, I will enthusiastically take Jen's cooking over some casual dining concoction bearing the word "sizzlin," but I do miss the act of restaurant dining. Until I gave it some thought, I assumed I liked eating out so much because it meant no hassle…

If you've never been to the Hudson River Valley, there's a lot you're missing. Not only is it dubbed "New York's American Masterpiece," but it's one of only a handful of official National Heritage areas in the country. Living here definitely has its perks. Jen and I reside in the foothills of the Shawangunk Mountains, surrounded by orchards and wineries. In the summer, there's a lot of u-pick going on, and since we're fresh food junkies, we decided to get in on the action last weekend. On a hot tip from our go-to nutritionist Holly, we hit an orchard right down the road from our…

I recently learned something about myself that I'd suspected all along. I can shoot a rifle. And I can shoot it with better precision than a lot of people. Those of you who know me may have a hard time picturing me with a gun. My personality doesn't exactly scream badass. My hobbies up until now have been singing and dancing. I enjoy doing the Jumble. I have a fondness for bunnies. You get the idea. And yet I've long been drawn to arcade and carnival games that involve shooting. I loved those western-style shooting galleries where you hit the cowboy with a laser to make him play ragtime on…

As the Operations Director and resident non-ADDer of AMG, I have to be organized. My role is to create (and keep up with) the systems that allow the company to run smoothly. I've always been a "details" kinda gal, and I have a longstanding love affair with spreadsheets, so this is the perfect gig for me. But I'm no great pillar of organization. I have my challenges, which as you know include accounting. But I also struggle with managing my time. At my first job out of college, everyone always stayed an hour or more past closing time; some to legitimately catch up on work, most to "look busy"…

As many of you know, I'm in charge of all things operations for the ADD Management Group. That includes systems, technology, and of course, accounting. The problem is I'm a crappy accountant. There you go, my secret is out. I sometimes screw up the finances. This is one of those times. The nice people at American Express have imposed some serious consequences on me, and I need to pay them immediately. So I'm taking the liberty of having a sale on our coaching toolkits from now through Friday. I'm calling it The Save Erin Sale. Using the coupon code ERIN, you will get $10 off one of our…

Buck made his way around the corner to the GARAGE bar in Mobile where he could get a better view of the Mardi Gras festivities. He had never seen such in his entire life.He perched himself up on a building sign so that he could get a really good view- He loved catching beads, trinkets and especially the moon pies. He thought those moon pies tasted great with his COLD beer.He was having a large time.He had caught at least 10 strands of beads and put them around his neck. This made him a little top heavy though, but he was too tipsy to notice.OOOOOPPPPPSSS- His little foot slipped a little too…

Yes folks, I aged 10 years in about 10 seconds yesterday!I am a snakeaphobic- can't stand them- scared to death of them- don't want to see them live, on tv or in pictures. I will have serious nightmares for days if I happen to see one. Seriously, I have always been this way. When I was in elementary school, the snake man came and brought his snakes to show the class- I literally had a panic attack in the 4th grade- and I haven't been the same since. Just like some people are terrified of spiders and heights- all it takes is a thought of a snake and I lose it! So, yesterday the princess and I…

I mentioned in my divorce post that I think people can only take so much stress before they just "BLOW"- At least that is what corporate America does to me- I will just deal with so much stress and BS -bottle it up somewhere in my mind- then something will happen or somebody will say the WRONG thing to me- and then my "holding brain space" hits maximum capacity and KABOOM! I blow! Lose it! Done! Over! Stand back! Run for cover! Get out of my face! I go all but postal! Luckily, thanks to those wonderful "happy" meds that the drug companies now manufacture, I do a pretty good job of staying in…

I was in the grocery store the other day and the friendliest worker came up to me and asked me if I had tried the HOGWASH sauce yet- He said they had just gotten it in and was dying to try it himself! Well Drama Mama is a sauce queen! I luv to dip! Dip everything in anything!So, I picked up a bottle and it said "use as a ZESTY dip or marinade". SOLD!!!!!! So, for $3.99 I got myself some D*$# good DIPPIN sauce!In fact, I just poured me some right on a saltine cracker- It was so good that I had 2 platefuls of HOGWASH covered saltines 2 nights in a row!I told Big Daddy we were gonna have to…

People, I'm about to address a serious topic- and I'm gonna be serious about it- No fluff, drippin sugar or BUCK nonsense here- But if you have been reading the DramaPond for any length of time, then you know that it is all real here at the D-Pond!The topic is D-I-V-O-R-C-E!Why do I want to discuss it? Because it seems to be in our water system- I bet we have had at least 8 good friends or acquaintances get divorced within the past year- Krissy over at Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History just got the bomb dropped on her that one of her friendsis separating and she is devastated.Why…

I want to tell everyone I have a disorder that gives me spark, color and ideas.

I overloaded and need to escape—but at least there's one place that still brings me silence and serenity.

Here, I can be free, and pray for a day when the ADD confusion lets up.

I am perennially late, falling far short of the "be there or be square" mantra.

It sounds funny, but I think I'd rather be missing a finger or a toe than have this chronic disorder. With the new dosage, I see new hope.

The first challenge of reaching a goal is learning to set realistic objectives.

We ADD adults love projects because they're big, they make us feel like we're establishing a real beachhead in the war against confusion; but then everything goes off the rails.

Skimming ain't reading. Let me repeat that: skimming ain't reading.

Once again I'm plagued by that old bugaboo, indecision, and his partner in crime, bad time management.

You are what you remember ... where does that leave us ADHDans?

Endless ADHD generated chaos doesn’t do it for me. I'm teetering dangerously close to the brink of losing it and I need a weekend alone to get it together.

Expecting a hungry kid with ADHD to transition from daycare to car ride, right before medicine time, is just plain stupid.

Not everyone understands my sweet, charming, perfectly acceptable though not-quite-typical ADHD kid.

This morning, I met another ADDitude subscriber and mom to an ADHD kid - one of Ames' very best teachers! Turns out she's one of us.

Summer-event crowds, noise, smells, and heat are a killer combination for Natalie, who has major problems with sensory issues.

Sometimes it is nice to take a moment and reflect on things. ADDer World is now a year old (ADDer World community only 2 months) and my book “One Boy’s Struggle: A Memoir – Surviving Life with Undiagnosed ADD” has been on the open market for just over 6 months. I sit here, close my eyes and reflect. Where was I in my quest just over a year ago, what hopes did I have and what did I imagine the future would hold? Seems to me I was living on a prayer (to quote the inspirational band Bon Jovi). I have a very vivid imagination, it is incredible, the things I can see and the things I can…

The following blog post is by a member of the interactive ADDer World, NerdyMommy. She is a fun and charming ADDer that has a flare for expressing herself. She also has her own personal blog. I highly recommend reading her articles. I have read this particular post a couple times and agree with her assessment of our mask; however, I believe practice doesn’t just make perfect, it can make reality. I wrote about this exact subject in more detail in my book and this ‘mask’ or ‘pretending’ is not simply a way of manipulating what we do or how we act, it is a way of correcting our…

Those of us with ADHD have the tendency to get upset fast and react faster. If there is one thing I have learned over the years, and trust me, I am still learning it – it is that we have to take a moment to breathe and think a bit deeper into situations. Not too deeply, but deep enough to realize that reacting, just because we are impulsive, is usually not the right thing to do and doing so will probably not help us achieve things in a positive manner. Don’t get me wrong, being impulsive can be a benefit, in the right situations, as with firefighters or police who must be quick witted and…

Not long ago I was openly thinking of which laptop I wanted to purchase. Thankfully, after much research and consideration I decided on the right laptop for me. I have decided on the ASUS F8VA-B1, a complete departure from my original ‘feelings’. I had seen ASUS on store shelves, and yet never gave them a close look. Recently that changed and the reason for that change is actually rather simple: what I wanted on impulse and pure feelings was not available and therefore, while I impatiently waited for it, I started to fill time visiting local and online stores and began fiddling…

SIREN’S TOP 6 ADD MOMENTS… What follows is a blog posting by Siren, we all enjoyed it with much laughter over at the interactive ADDer World site, I thought it would be just as funny for the rest of ADDer World readers too. These are Siren’s top 6 and only represent her personal experiences, thoughts and actions, so, be your pinky toes warned and don’t you go doing any of this! ~ The above picture is by Chris, also a member, he has now put us into the Matrix… Makes me wonder if we should be X-men or X-files?! Just kidding. Be sure to join ADDer World at this…

Recent studies indicate that 7-10% of the population meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD a.k.a ADD. [caption id="attachment_26" align="alignright" width="300" caption="As many as 10% of us are dealing with ADD"][/caption] I think they're studying the wrong population. Among the people in my life, they would find about 40%. If they studied the group of friends that helped me move across town last week, the rate would be closer to 80%. [caption id="attachment_28" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Among my friends, it runs about 40%..."][/caption] Under normal circumstances, this…

I has it [vodpod id=ExternalVideo.646916&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26] more about "Procrastination...", posted with vodpod

Hi. My name is Michael Laskoff, and if I had the 'good luck' to have an old-fashioned substance abuse problem, then I could spending this time at a local ALANON meeting networking with other drunks. Ahh, to be so fortunate. I'm not, by the way, trying to take anything away from the people with drinking problems, or any other kind of substance abuse issues. Indubitably, addiction problems are bad and addicts – as well as those around them – suffer mightily. But at least they've gotten themselves a sometime sympathetic awareness of the reality that they exist and that their condition is not…

i've been trying to put my finger on exactly what it is about taking this stuff that makes such a huge difference... it's just SO weird to me how one little pill can change my actions/reactions so drastically. One thing in particular that I noticed is that, before – my mind was a constant whirlwind of thoughts/ideas/projects/lists/to do's, etc. and it seemed like i never had time to get anything accomplished because there was too much other stuff to think about doing or to try to remember to do. For example, let's say I saw some stuff that needed to be picked up and put away in my…

• all (ALL!) of my laundry is clean and put away • my apartment is immaculate • my new dosage of metadate is (clearly!) working splendidly (ah, so THIS is what it's supposed to do) • i have a tired pooch, exhausted from a hot afternoon at the dog park • rock band with friends tonight • getting a new (king size!) bed tomorrow! word. Of course, there are some things that suck too... but today, i'm choosing to focus on the stuff that doesn't... So far, so good :)

Idag ska jag på shoppingtur. Det är bara tvunget. Båda flickorna behöver kläder, skolutrustning och lite andra attiraljer. Själv måste jag ha ett par gummistövlar. Lersäsongen är ju här!! Jag ser inte fram emot mina shoppingturer. Det blir väldigt rörigt i huvudet så fort jag sätter foten på ett varuhus eller i en butik. Jag drunknar i intryck och ljudet är öronbedövande. Likaså kryper jag  ur skinnet när folk kommer för nära. Social fobi? Nä, bara väldigt stark integritet! Jag är rädd att jag glömmer nåt, att pengarna inte ska räcka, att jag inte hittar det…

Today I was reading Aikahi’s Blog and it got me thinking about the difference between who I am today and that hypothetical person I'd have become had I never been introduced to Adderall. The blogger writes: “It feels good being off Adderall but I have been experiencing some withdraw symptoms. For one I sometimes feel that I need this drug in order to succeed in life. I made it all the way through college without Adderall so I know it is possible to get ahead without it. But sometimes my mind tells me otherwise and I have to constantly remind myself that it is possible. The other problem…

Is there anyone who isn't overwhelmed by the awesomeness of Michael Phelps? How amazing is it to watch Olympic history, to know that we will probably never see the like of him again? Aside from his swimming prowess, I've learned that Michael has ADHD. Like my son, he struggled in school and needed behavior modification techniques to manage his outbursts. When I told my son, and his face lit up. It's a rarity to get a ray of hope. I could have done a victory lap around the pool or, realistically, the happy dance around the room. And I have to say I'm thrilled to see how well the U.S. women did…

I have been unable to write. I have about 2 million excuses but I think it boils down to not wanting to deal with Wildman's issues. Right now they feel very overwhelming and I feel like the hurdles are so high. I have to put a caveat out there that I have pneumonia. I am on steroids that are making me wacky as hell. They are making me want to jump out of my skin!!! So Wildman was diagnosed with ADHD. He has the combined type meaning he has attention deficiet and hyperactivity disorder. They also diagnosed him with a possible learning disability because in some of the testing he was unable to…

I know most home educating moms have probably had one or two or three of these type conversations. The ones that make you want to jump up and down, scream, and tear your hair out, but instead you bite your tongue and politely murmur, 'M-hm,' every now and again to show that you are still paying attention. Johnny** is just starting 2nd grade in his local public school. He is in a special education pull-out program to help accelerate him enough that he will be ready for 3rd grade at the same time as his classmates. He can't read yet. Mom says, "Yea, he was too busy running around the room…