Adult ADD Strengths

ADD Consults has a list of 20 ways to say no, with some commentary on each one, by Ramona Creel.

I’ve noticed that some of my ADD coaching clients (and Non ADDers as well) have trouble saying no to other people or themselves in regards to taking on extra tasks when they already have too much to do. When you combine this with ADD traits such as:

1. A reduced awareness of time in general, i.e., tending to underestimate the time involved to complete a task, and overestimating the amount of free time in their lives,

2. Procrastination

3. Disorganization

4 Being easily distracted

Just a reminder that the early registration deadline for ADD in 2005, the 22-week teleconference to be given by Drs. Hallowell and Ratey is October 1st. So you’d save $200.

The course is designed for professionals who assist those with ADD, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, ADD coaches, special education instructors and others. Participants can earn 27.5 CME or CE credits. I blogged about it here.

Course topics include:

Diagnosis
Biology of ADD
Key Psychological Issues and Pseudo-ADD
Comorbidity - Bipolar, Depression, Anxiety, OCD
Aggression, Abuse and ADD
Addictions and Motivation
Medications for ADD
Non-Medicinal Approaches to ADD
ADD in Families
ADD in Couples and Friendships
Schooling - Elementary through College
Learning Disabilities and ADD
Careers and ADD
Organization, Time and Coaching
Finding Strengths and Joys
Participant Topics

Podcast #6 Jeff Hamilton’s ADD interview with Tina Oliver of CFUN 1410 AM Radio. August 2005 Track 6 of 7. See also Track 1, Track 2, Track 3, Track 4, and Track 5.

Track 6 ADD radio interview with Jeff Hamilton Aug 05 cfun.mp3

8.54 minutes, 2.5mb

Jeff talks about his full page article by Damion Inwood in the Vancouver Province August 7th, 2005. They list some alternatives to ADD medications, and talk about learning specific life skills relating to ADD.

Jeff talks about how ADD coaching with Pete Quily has helped him and explains how the ADD coaching process works.

I just finished putting up some podcasts of my co author Jeff Hamilton’s interview with with Tina Oliver on CFUN 1410 AM radio in Vancouver. They’re at our new blog, Pills Don’t Teach Skills. The interviews were done in August 2005 and we had permission to use them.

We’ve written a book on Attention Deficit Disorder called Pills Don’t Teach Skills, based on Jeff’s experiences dealing with ADD. I was his ADD coach. It’s not anti meds, ADD medication can be very useful but by themselves are not enough to deal with ADD.

We’re looking for a book agent or publisher, so if you know of one, let us know.

That’s the topic of our next Vancouver Adult ADD Support group meeting.

While there are some definite negatives to having ADD, there are some positives too. Too many people focus 95% of their time on the negatives of ADD and not counterbalancing that with some of the positive characteristics of people with ADD, such as creativity, adaptability, high energy level, multitasking ability, resourcefulness, willingness to take risks, ability to hyper focus with laser-like intensity, etc.

We’ll be discussing some of the advantages of ADD. See the 151 Positive Characteristics of people with ADD, and the Advantages of ADD for examples.

I just found out that Dr. Ed Hallowell will be interviewed on the Today Show on Wednesday, September 21st.

Dr. Hallowell will discuss a recent study indicating that more adults are being medicated for ADHD. Please check your local listings for when the Today Show airs in your area.

He wrote the classic Driven to Distraction with Dr. John Ratey 10 years ago and they both recently wrote Delivered from Distraction.

Saw him in Seattle and he was great, here’s the notes from his talk.. He’s also doing a teleclass series on ADD with Dr. John Ratey this November check it out if you want to learn more about ADD.

One of the members of my Vancouver Adult ADD support group gave me a heads up on 2 ADD related TV programs for BC residents. For others there is a transcript available online for the BBC program.

The Knowledge Network (Channel 5 on Vancouver cable) is having two programs .

The first is part of a documentary, made in B.C., called Struggle for Control: Child and Youth Behaviour Disorders. It airs on Sept. 19 at 9 p.m. It also will repeat on Sept.22 at 11 p.m. and Sept.29 at 11 in the morning.

Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc., will host the seventh annual ADHD Experts on Call September 22, 2005, from 8 A.M. to midnight EDT.

Some of the nation’s ADHD experts will answer calls at the toll-free telephone hotline, 1-888-ASK-ADHD.

The hotline is designed to provide “live” access to English- and Spanish-speaking experts including physicians, school nurses, educators and advocates who can answer questions regarding the disorder. In addition, a confidential, one-on-one on-line forum will be available at www.ADHDExpertsOnCall.com throughout the day.

Celebrity carpenter Ty Pennington, who was diagnosed with ADHD as a child, will talk about his experience managing the disorder.

A recent national survey, “Capturing America’s Attention,” found that: