Effective management of anything begins with understanding how it works. The physical brain (gray matter, chemicals, etc.) and the mindful brain (thoughts, beliefs, and what we pay attention to) are different and must be managed both separately and together because what impacts one impacts the other. David Giwerc, founder and owner of the ADD Coaching…
In our world today, it is all about productivity, sticking to a schedule, focusing on what is important. In this episode of Attention Talk Radio, ADHD coach Jeff Copper shares lessons learned as a coach with Christine Robinson (www.addactioncoach.com) around the importance of daydreaming, creativity, and innovative thinking. They talk about how the emphasis on…
In a paper called “Self-Esteem Issues in Adults with ADHD,” Cynthia Hammer writes: When I am asked to speak in the community on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, I often start by holding one hand behind my back and saying, “I was born with one hand tied behind my back.” As I was growing up, no…
What if one of the biggest obstacles to thriving with ADHD is trying so hard to manage it the “right” way? Many of those with ADHD spend years trying to make themselves fit systems that simply don’t work for them. They put things away because that’s what an organized person is supposed to do. They…
Stop calling yourself disorganized… your ADHD brain already has a system. If you have ADHD, chances are you’ve said something like: “I’m so disorganized.” “I’m a mess.” “I just need a better system.” As an ADHD coach, I hear those statements all the time. My response often surprises people:
Emotional dysregulation was removed from the clinical conceptualization and diagnostic criteria for ADHD back in the 1970s. At the 2010 Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) conference, Dr. Russell Barkley reviewed the evidence and argued for its return. He went on to explain how the addition of emotion points to six things people…
What is the difference between executive function and executive skills? Expert Dr. George McCloskey explains the distinction and shares how it can help you find
Most people think relaxation means sitting still—maybe on the couch, with a cup of tea, a glass of wine, or the TV on. For many, doing nothing feels calming and restorative. But for many individuals with ADHD, that definition of relaxation doesn’t work at all. In fact, sitting still can feel uncomfortable—or even anxiety-provoking. Recently,…
I’d like to share with you one of my favorite quotes. I’m pretty sure that it will stop you in your tracks and make you think… that is if you give yourself the time to study it: “The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because…
When most people talk about attention, they assume it’s about what you’re focusing on. But according to ADHD and attention coach Jeff Copper, that assumption misses the point entirely. On Attention Talk Video, we invite you to rethink attention itself—and why misunderstanding it causes so much confusion, especially around ADHD. Let’s explain attention by using…
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often misunderstood as a behavioral issue or a lack of effort. In reality, ADHD is a biological condition rooted in brain chemistry—specifically, the way certain neurotransmitters function and interact. While medication is frequently used to support performance and regulation, understanding why it helps starts with understanding what’s happening inside…
If you’re like me, you’ve probably heard the phrase “the blinding flash of the obvious” more times than you can count. But have you ever really thought about what it means? In its simplest terms, it means that someone is too involved in the details of a problem to see what is really going on.*…
One of the most difficult—and damaging—issues in the ADHD world today isn’t ADHD itself. It’s parent denial. In an early episode of Attention Talk Video, I sat down with Dr. Charles Parker, a long-time ADHD medical expert, to talk about a topic that doesn’t get nearly enough honest attention. What he shared was both sobering…
Few topics create as much pain and confusion in ADHD relationships as lying. For the partner on the receiving end, it can feel deeply personal—like a betrayal of trust. For the partner with ADHD, it often feels shame-filled, overwhelming, and impossible to explain. In a revealing episode of Attention Talk Radio, I talked with ADHD…
Often, I hear clients say, “I just need to pick up the phone, sit down and write, stick to my schedule,” etc., but they don’t follow through. My guess is, if it was as simple as taking the next obvious step, they would have done it by now. At this point I usually ask them…
When people think about ADHD, they usually think about attention, productivity, or school and work struggles. But ADHD doesn’t clock out—it shows up in everyday life, including basic self-care tasks like showering. For many adults with ADHD, hygiene can be unexpectedly difficult, confusing, or even distressing. In this conversation on Attention Talk Radio, therapist Anita…
For many people with ADHD, visual distractions can be overwhelming, making it difficult to focus on conversations, lectures, or even personal thoughts. If you’ve ever found yourself struggling to concentrate in a visually chaotic environment, you’re not alone. Fortunately, a simple but effective strategy could help—closing your eyes. During my interview with him on Attention…
For many people with ADHD, getting diagnosed is only the first hurdle. The next challenge—often just as overwhelming—is figuring out how to afford medication, especially if you don’t have insurance or don’t qualify for public assistance programs. On this episode of Attention Talk Radio, ADHD and attention coach Jeff Copper tackles a topic he doesn’t…
In this blog post, I relate a conversation with Linda Roggli (https://addiva.net), author, retreat leader, and widely known as the “ADDiva,” to explore a deeply familiar experience for many with ADHD, which is pretending to be normal, wearing many masks. Inspired by conversations about stigma with Dr. Stephen Hinshaw, we unpack why ADHD is so…
When people with ADHD say they “struggle with planning,” they often assume it’s a problem with organization, time, or motivation. But according to ADHD and Attention Coach Jeff Copper, the real challenge runs much deeper. and understanding it can change how you approach planning altogether. Planning isn’t just about calendars or to-do lists. At its…
As we move into 2026, ADHD is getting a lot of attention in the media, in public conversation, and in policy discussions. Anytime that happens, I pay close attention. Not because attention is a bad thing, but because how ADHD is talked about really matters. When conversations about ADHD happen without the voices of people…
In a world of texts, emails, slack messages, and endless notifications, in-person conversations are quietly disappearing. For many people, that shift feels efficient—even convenient. But for individuals with ADHD, this trend comes with an often-overlooked cost. ADHD is fundamentally a self-regulation challenge, closely tied to working memory. Those impacted by ADHD aren’t lacking intelligence or…
When we talk about ADHD, weight isn’t usually the first topic that comes up. But if we understand ADHD as a self-regulation disorder, the connection becomes surprisingly clear. People with ADHD often struggle with managing attention—both engaging it when needed and disengaging it when necessary. This difficulty can apply just as much to food as…
A strategy is an overarching vision or path. A plan is the detailed execution of the strategy. Executive functions are used to problem-solve around specific tasks in the plan. Put differently, executive functions are used at point of performance in the plan where many variables must be organized. In other words, things that are multifaceted…
Have you ever had a gut feeling you couldn’t quite explain? That subtle nudge or sense that something is off, even when you can’t pinpoint why? Those who have ADHD often may feel like their intuition is a superpower—that is, the ability to pick up on patterns or changes that others might overlook. But what…
Most people come to coaching because they are “stuck.” They have applied the obvious solution to their problem, but it isn’t working, and their frustration is making it hard to move forward. Sound familiar? Have you stopped to consider that you are stuck because you are paying attention to the wrong things? Let’s face it,…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – December 1, 2025 Decluttering sounds simple—just get rid of what you don’t need, right? But for those with ADHD, it’s rarely that straightforward. Clutter isn’t just physical; it carries emotional weight. And when the ADHD brain is already working overtime to manage executive function challenges, sorting…
When we talk about ADHD, we often focus on distractions, missed deadlines, or poor time management. But underneath it all lies something more subtle—and far more powerful. That is the stories (or the lies) we tell ourselves. These are rationalizations and internal dialogues that shape our actions, often without us even noticing. If you’ve followed…
As an ADHD and attention coach, I’m often approached by my clients with their concerns about job searching. Of course, I have my own lived experience with job hunting, but I wanted to learn some winning strategies to be able to answer their concerns more specifically. That’s why I reached out to career counselor Wilma…
Motivation in the context of ADHD is often misunderstood. Today, we’re beginning with an important reflection on motivation. That is, when we talk about motivation, we’re often really talking about what we want those with ADHD to do—not what truly drives them. I’m drawing from the insights of Dr. Roberto Olivardia to highlight two fundamental…
As an ADHD and attention coach, I’m often asked what ADHD coaching is all about or how it works. Here’s my perspective: Metaphorically, having ADHD is like being born left-handed in a right-handed world. Society and the self-help section in bookstores are quick to suggest a right-handed solution. An ADHD coach helps those with ADHD…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – October 6, 2025 Expectations shape every moment of our lives—often without us realizing it. In Part 1 of this insightful two-part series, I had a conversation with Dr. Ari Tuckman in a thoughtful discussion on the nature of expectations and how they silently yet powerfully influence…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – September 29, 2025 In this post, I’m tackling a topic that continues to surprise many people, which is the comorbidity of ADHD and bipolar disorder. “Comorbidity” refers to disease or medical conditions that are present at the same time in a patient. To be completely honest,…
Just like physical fitness requires consistent exercise to strengthen the body, mental fitness involves training the mind to enhance focus, emotional regulation, and resilience. Mental fitness is crucial for maintaining a healthy, balanced life, and it relies on regular mental exercises. One basic aspect of mental fitness is mindfulness… the practice of staying present and…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – September 8, 2025 For many young adults with ADHD, the transition from high school to college isn’t a leap forward—it’s a stumble into overwhelm. The academic pressure, lack of structure, and sudden independence can quickly derail even the brightest students. That’s why more families are rethinking…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – September 1, 2025 Exercise is one of the most effective natural treatments for managing ADHD. It enhances focus, attention, and overall well-being. But when it comes to how much exercise is enough, the answer is surprisingly simple: the amount you will actually do.
When it comes to getting organized and getting things done, I believe what works depends on individual differences. Still, the best place to start is to work your way through the list of obvious solutions and then make adjustments based on what works for you. The purpose of this writing is to list many of…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – August 18, 2025 Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder negatively impacts executive functioning, and we often talk about its negative effect on self-regulation. To address how executive functioning impacts working memory, we asked ADHD genius, Dr. Russell Barkley, to talk about his concept of working memory and why…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – June 23, 2025 When it comes to managing ADHD, most conversations center around stimulant medications—what type, what dosage, and how they affect focus and behavior. But there’s a less-discussed, highly practical factor that can make a major difference in treatment outcomes, and that’s breakfast, specifically a…
I recently did some work with a tradesman who wanted to reengage in the workforce. He had been stuck for some time and couldn’t seem to move forward. During our work together, we focused on removing the obstacles that were getting in his way. As we did, HIS obvious solution revealed itself, and he was…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – June 9, 2025 Those with ADHD often struggle with communicating their needs or struggles. When I heard about art therapy as a mode of support for these challenges, I contacted art therapists Holly Oberacker and Tracey Bromley Goodwin, founders of Navigating ADHD, Inc. What I learned…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – May 26, 2025 Living with ADHD often means navigating the world in a way that’s fundamentally different from how others experience it. Recently, I had a personal realization that’s helped me better understand how my brain works, and I hope it offers some clarity for you,…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – May 19, 2025 Those who are diagnosed with ADHD are often characterized by impulsivity and distractibility that makes it difficult for them to maintain focus and manage time. ADHD and attention coach Jeff Copper interviewed Dr. David Nowell on Attention Talk Radio to discuss these challenges.
Emotional dysregulation was removed from the clinical conceptualization and diagnostic criteria for ADHD back in the 1970s. At the 2010 Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) conference, Dr. Russell Barkley reviewed the evidence and argued for its return. He went on to explain how the addition of emotion points to six things people…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – April 28, 2025 Human development is a complex process that involves physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes throughout a person’s life. As they progress through various stages of life, it is essential to understand the differences between normal and abnormal behavior. It is crucial that mental…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – April 14, 2025 As an ADHD and attention coach, I am often asked whether exercise is good for those with ADHD? The answer is a resounding yes! In fact, if exercise could be bottled into a pill, it would be hailed as the drug of the…
When it comes to coaching those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), interest isn’t just something; it is everything. In reading this article, you will understand why interest is such an important part of coaching those with ADHD and how it can serve as a window to what is instinctive—or how those with ADHD are…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – March 10, 2025 A big question I often hear is whether or not someone should disclose that they have ADD/ADHD. While I can’t make that decision for anybody, I do want to talk about the pros and cons and help facilitate your thinking process if you’re…
By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – March 3, 2025 Today, we’re talking about one of the most powerful tools for managing ADHD challenges—brainstorming. I don’t mean just the outcome, but the process itself. For those with ADHD, understanding and managing brainstorming can be a game-changer.
Much has been written about Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Some of it is consistent; other things are confusing. Today, I’d like to clarify a few things. The Classifications of ADD To begin, is it Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or is it just Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)? That is a great question because the terms…
