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”
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. 
It’s a high-wire act without a net when you talk to children, because you never know what will come out of their mouths, and particularly so with ADHD kids. Or is it that ADHD kids have such great insight? That’s the case with Lucy, a seven-year-old, who is very interesting and articulate about sharing her ADHD insights, experiences, and strategies. 
As an ADHD coach, I am asked almost daily whether ADHD stimulant medications are addictive, but the answer is vague, and I’m not so sure we have all the information. Yet, we do need to understand the pros and cons about ADHD treatment with medications.