If you have ADHD, you may find yourself often struggling with getting things organized, especially organizing your thoughts. I like to see the bigger picture to help me understand how it all comes together. With that in mind, my demonstration on Attention Talk Video offers a simple method to organize tasks and thoughts that have helped me. Continue reading “ADHD Tip: Getting Your Thoughts Out & Organizing Them”
Author: Jan Owens
ADHD, Productivity, Working from Home, and You
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – September 28, 2020
Our workplaces are formal, professional, and structured to accommodate business systems, interactions, frequency of direct communications, and access to human capital (or people knowledge) by being in the presence of others.
A workplace at home is more informal, more comfortable, and lacks the structure of the work environment, making it difficult for those with ADHD to self-regulate their attention. Gone are the face-to-face human interactions, the “buzz” of other busy bees getting work done with their work energy. Continue reading “ADHD, Productivity, Working from Home, and You”
ADHD Couples: The Parent-Child Relationship
In couples’ relationships where ADHD is involved, all too often there is a parent/child dynamic between the partners. What this means is that, usually, it is the non-ADHD partner who takes on the parent role, the one who seems to be the manager or who takes charge, whereas it’s the ADHD partner who is somewhat irresponsible, inconsistent, less competent, and more childlike. In our interview on Attention Talk Video, marriage and relationship consultant Melissa Orlov (www.adhdmarriage.com) shares insight on how couples can work together toward a transition where they learn how not to step on each other’s toes. Continue reading “ADHD Couples: The Parent-Child Relationship”
ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment: Art or Science?
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – September 7, 2020
People are unique, individual, and infinitely complex. In the interest of maximizing efficiencies, our world and medical community focuses on commonalities to evaluate, label, and treat patients. This approach raises some key questions: Can something so complex be labeled? Is the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD a science or is it an art? Let’s explore this system a bit deeper to understand how we get a diagnosis before answering these questions.
Continue reading “ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment: Art or Science?”
Exactly How Did You Do That: The Value of an ADHD Recipe
Some time ago, I talked with Dr. David Nowell (www.drnowell.com) about observing how we do things. What I mean is that, for most of us with ADHD, we are not aware of how we do things, like getting to places on time, making a relationship work, or sticking to a workout schedule. But to get the same results each time, we can use a very simple technique, which is asking “How exactly did I do that?” One example is Grandma using a recipe that enables her to make the same delicious cake again and again. So, it occurred to me that knowing our personal recipe for success is just as valuable. Continue reading “Exactly How Did You Do That: The Value of an ADHD Recipe”
Diagnosing ADHD With a Brain Scan: Yay or Nay?
Without a doubt, science is an amazing thing and strides in medicine are impressive. Many specialists turn to advanced tools to diagnose and better understand attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). By studying cerebral function, structure, and chemistry, specialists can discern biological differences in the ADHD brain. But seeing something different does not mean they understand it.
Continue reading “Diagnosing ADHD With a Brain Scan: Yay or Nay?”
Is It ADD, AGE, or Menopause?
ADHD manifests differently in women and men. It makes sense when you think about it as there are physical differences between the genders. More importantly, there are hormonal differences. Such small differences can result in big differences, especially when it comes to ADHD and menopause. Continue reading “Is It ADD, AGE, or Menopause?”
ADHD: Foraging for Information
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – July 13, 2020
Our ancestors foraged for food because it was necessary. Today, food is in abundance, freeing up time for us to forage for information. Why are we… especially those with ADHD… prone to forage for information? Because it is pleasurable! You see, one of the key neurotransmitters that impacts the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder plight is dopamine, the reward neurotransmitter. It’s the reason we procreate, why we forage for food or seek anything pleasurable. Continue reading “ADHD: Foraging for Information”
Attention Deficit Disorder: Meet the Neurotransmitters
Sometimes you just need to put a face with a name in order to remember something. It is also helpful if that face has characters that represent what the face is all about or helps you remember more about the face. Linda Roggli, the ADDiva, is very creative. She put a face on the names of the key neurotransmitters that impact those with ADHD. The cartoon faces really help bring a context to each neurotransmitter. Continue reading “Attention Deficit Disorder: Meet the Neurotransmitters”
ADHD: Is Dopamine Something You Can Feel?
Booyah! Is that what dopamine feels like? Dopamine is the reward neurotransmitter and, in a way, ground zero in the context of ADHD. Think of your brain like Pavlov’s dog. If you push a lever and don’t get dopamine, you find another lever, and so on and so on till you find a lever that gives you dopamine. At that point, the problem is not pushing the lever but, rather, not pushing it. Continue reading “ADHD: Is Dopamine Something You Can Feel?”