By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – July 29, 2024
What is obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)? Can an individual have ADHD and OCD at the same time? If so, how can a person obsess and be compulsive and, at the same time, be impulsive and distracted? Believe it or not, it happens. To learn more, I had a conversation with Dr. Roberto Olivardia, a clinical instructor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard Medical School with a private practice in Arlington MA, as well as Dr. Kirsten Milliken, a psychologist and trained ADHD coach. Continue reading “Are ADHD and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder the Same?”
The word “how” is an interesting word when you think about it. “How” can be used as a noun, a conjunction, an idiom, or an adverb. As an attention coach, I use “how” as an adverb. Adverbs work as adjectives to modify verbs. For example, “How do I pay attention to something?” To illustrate, let’s substitute “attend” as the verb in the following sentence: “How does one address the president?” becomes, “How does one attend to the president?” 
We often talk about memories. It feels like it’s just one thing and one kind of memory, but there are several different kinds of memory. Today, we’re breaking down memory into three key types of memory for those with ADHD: long-term memory, working memory, and prospective memory. In other words, memories are remembering backwards, remembering in the moment, remembering into the future. 
What is obvious to you? To me, what is obvious is a function of what you pay attention to. Not sure if you agree with me? Then pay attention to most jokes, parables, quotes, and metaphors. They all illustrate my point. Each one is designed to shift your attention to what is obvious.