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”
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.
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. 
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.” 
There are many questions and much confusion around diagnosing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder, including questions like:
Research 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.
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. 
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.