Managing ADHD with Humor

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – March 18, 2024

“If we weren’t all crazy, we would go insane” ~ Jimmy Buffet.  That’s right; we’re all a little crazy in our own way, especially those with ADHD.  All too often, ADD-ers get caught up in the seriousness of life.  Most could use a little humor to lighten things up, and the ability to laugh at themselves is something we should aspire to just to take off some of the pressure. Continue reading “Managing ADHD with Humor”

How Stigma Impacts ADHD

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – February 19, 2024

What is stigma? How does it impact ADHD? Is it different from discrimination? How is it different and what are its properties? Does language play a role in stigma? How can we overcome stigma? In this blog post, I’m looking into the concept of stigma to unravel its layers and explore its implications… especially regarding its impact on ADHD. Continue reading “How Stigma Impacts ADHD”

How Teens Raise ADHD Parents

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – January 22, 2024

Bex Taylor-KlausLife in a family of five where they all have ADHD can be a unique and challenging experience. The dynamics in such a family are often characterized by high energy levels, impulsivity, and difficulty with focus and organization. With everyone sharing similar traits, there may be a sense of understanding and empathy within the family, as they can relate to each other’s struggles. But it can also lead to chaos and frustration, as it might be harder to maintain routines and responsibilities. Continue reading “How Teens Raise ADHD Parents”

ADHD: Control Your Attention with Attention Exercises

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – December 25, 2023

Have you ever meditated and noticed your mind wandering? Congratulations, you’re meditating correctly. You might be wondering, “What does meditation have to do with my ADHD?” The answer is in a paradigm shift, because meditation is all about paying attention to your attention! It’s like a workout for your mind, helping you become more aware of the present moment and improving your ability to control what you focus on.

If you’ve struggled with controlling your attention because of ADHD, don’t be surprised if this changes your perception of meditation and how it can work wonders for you!

One of the fundamental aspects of meditation is embracing the “now” or the present moment. For those of us with ADHD, our minds often feel like a mess with thoughts, feelings, and distractions all vying for our attention. Meditation helps us step back from this chaos and teaches us to anchor our focus on the present. By practicing mindfulness, we become more aware of our thoughts and emotions without getting lost in them.

During meditation, when you notice your thoughts drifting away (and trust me, they will), you gently guide your focus back to your chosen point of attention, such as your breath or a specific sound. Each time you bring your mind back, you get a little stronger at staying present and focused, even when distractions try to pull you away.

Remember, we’re not trying to eliminate thoughts or emotions; we’re learning to understand them and maintain our focus despite their presence. This awareness can be a powerful tool for managing the whirlwind of distractions with attention deficit disorder.

If you have ADHD and struggle to control your attention, please check out my podcast, “ADHD: Controlling Your Attention Using Attention Exercises,” with Gregg Krech, Executive Director of the Todo Institute (https://www.thirtythousanddays.org/). And don’t be surprised if what you hear shifts your paradigm on meditation and how it works. You’ll find the interview, here:  http://tobtr.com/2109347\

Unpacking ADHD, Stress, and Anxiety

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – November 27, 2023

Everyone can feel stress and anxiety, but those with ADHD probably experience it more than others. Stress at its core is a physiological response to perceived threats or anticipation of an event where you may or may not be prepared. Reactions may be triggered by situations where you feel you have no control; it may feel like you are being attacked by a lion. When stress ignites the limbic system, it’s like throwing gasoline on a fire.

So, what can you do about it? How can you manage anything if you don’t know what you’re managing? For example:

  • How are stress, anxiety, and daily hassles different from each other?
  • What about anticipation and actual events?
  • Can stress be different from, say, physical, biological, cognitive, or emotional perspectives?
  • What strategies work for managing stress, anxiety, or daily hassles?

There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy for dealing with stress, but there are methods available to manage stress and anxiety. If you have ADHD and suffer from stress or anxiety, it’s important that you learn to down-regulate the emotion. If this topic resonates with you, learn more in my interview with Dr. Blythe Corbett of Vanderbilt University, titled “ADHD: Stress and Anxiety in a Context We Can All Understand.” http://tobtr.com/5198211

ADHD and Sensory Sensitivity: Managing Distractions

By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – October 30, 2023

Many of those diagnosed with ADHD are sensitive to their senses, and this can create maddening distractions. It looks something like this. Imagine you have ADHD and are sensitive to light and you’re trying to write a paper. You’re focused, organizing your thoughts, and then there is a flash of light that grabs your attention. In that instant, everything in your working memory is erased and you have to start over… UGH! Continue reading “ADHD and Sensory Sensitivity: Managing Distractions”

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.

Continue reading “The Economic Impact of ADHD”

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.

Continue reading “The Power of the Pause in ADHD”

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….”