ADHD, Chronic Fatigue, and Fibromyalgia

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – September 18, 2023

What is chronic fatigue? What is fibromyalgia? Are they related to attention deficit disorder? Although ADHD is not typically associated with either chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia, it does seem to be an unusual combination of features that those with ADHD complain of. For answers, I interviewed Dr. Joel Young, a psychiatrist at the Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine (https://rcbm.net), who has studied and treated ADHD through the life cycle for 20 years. Continue reading “ADHD, Chronic Fatigue, and Fibromyalgia”

The Economic Impact of ADHD

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – August 21, 2023

The economic impact of ADHD is growing every year. It’s underestimated how much of an impact ADHD has on society in general, but especially adults and families, as well as on the workplace as shown by recent reports. ADHD is not a small thing, and it’s important to advocate for more investment in providing help and support.  But this is just one piece of the puzzle.

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The Power of the Pause in ADHD

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – July 24, 2023

One of the biggest challenges with ADHD is self-awareness. To learn self-awareness, you need to look in the mind’s mirror. With ADHD, executive functioning is impaired, and it’s very effortful to be self-aware so you can override the automatic brain.  That’s why the pause may be the most helpful tool to manage your ADHD.

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You Know You Have ADHD When….

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – June 26, 2023

Comedians make us laugh by using humor making fun of human nature. For instance, comedian Jeff Foxworthy popularized the phrase, “You may be a redneck if…” and then adds a peculiar behavior or trait poking fun at what it means to be a redneck. Another humorous example is one we learned from comedian Rick Green, that you can’t laugh and cry at the same time. Continue reading “You Know You Have ADHD When….”

The Importance of Emotion in Understanding & Managing ADHD

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – Published May 29, 2023

Medical papers dating back to 1798 always included emotion in the conceptualization of ADHD. This continued up to the 1970 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 2nd Ed. (DSM-II). Since then, emotional dysregulation has been excluded from the clinical conceptualization of the condition. Dr. Russell Barkley (https://russellbarkley.org), world-renowned authority on ADHD, argues that emotion needs to be returned to a central place in ADHD as it has been ignored far too long. Continue reading “The Importance of Emotion in Understanding & Managing ADHD”

Executive Functioning in Adults with ADHD: A New Construct

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – May 8, 2023

What is Executive Function Deficit Disorder (EFDD)? What does self-regulation have to do with EFDD, and what does all this have to do with ADHD? For answers to these questions and more, I reached out to Dr. Russell Barkley, the world-renowned ADHD expert, affectionately called “ADHD Genius.” Continue reading “Executive Functioning in Adults with ADHD: A New Construct”

The Diagnostic Confusion around ADHD and Bipolar Disorder

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – April 10, 2023

Confusion around ADHD and Bipolar DisorderThere are many questions and much confusion around diagnosing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder, including questions like:

  • Is it possible to have both of them at the same time?
  • Are these conditions easy to distinguish?
  • What’s the difference between them?
  • What’s the best treatment?
  • Should they be treated individually?
  • How effective is the treatment?
  • Who can diagnose and treat these conditions?

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ADHD and Bipolar Disorder: Treatment When You Have Both

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – March 6, 2023

ADHD and Bipolar DisorderResearch shows that it is not uncommon for those who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to also have bipolar disorder. But how do you treat both conditions together? The symptoms of each condition are quite similar to the other and may overlap. Sometimes ADHD is mistaken for bipolar disorder, and bipolar disorder for ADHD. This makes a diagnosis even more difficult for the clinician.

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ADHD and Sex: What We Are Learning

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – February 6, 2023

Little is known about the impact of ADHD on sex and intimacy. We do know that, when one person in a couple has ADHD, it affects all aspects of the relationship, how they relate to each other, one’s reaction to the other’s behavior, and much more. It can become a ping-pong reaction. It turns from being an individual issue into a couple’s issue because, when one person in the couple has ADHD, they are going to struggle more in daily life, and it can affect their sex life, as well. Having a good sexual relationship is important in helping those couples do better not only romantically, but also so that their married life gets better overall. Continue reading “ADHD and Sex: What We Are Learning”

ADHD: Why Get a Comprehensive Diagnosis

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – January 16, 2023

Evidence suggests that, with a proper diagnosis and treatment, those with ADHD can live a very fulfilling life. But many people reject or delay seeking a diagnosis out of fear or even disinterest. Also, the love/hate label of ADHD may prevent some from getting a comprehensive evaluation. However, that attitude makes it difficult to treat something if you don’t know what to treat. Continue reading “ADHD: Why Get a Comprehensive Diagnosis”