We Must Advance ADHD Care
Living with ADHD is killing us! It’s time that the health community and the ADHD community pay attention! ADHD is not just a condition that makes it difficult to pay attention in class or causes us to run late or misplace personal items. It’s a condition that shortens the lives of people living with ADHD…
Read MoreExpecting with ADHD: Surviving Pregnancy, Birth, and Life as a New Mother
I always knew I wanted to be a mom. Growing up with a single mother, I had a clear-eyed understanding of the challenges of parenting. But nothing—no book, no advice—prepared me for the ways ADHD would shape my experience of pregnancy, birth, and the early months of parenthood. When I became pregnant, I quickly realized…
Read MoreADHD and Social Functioning, Health, and Life Expectancy
A neurodevelopmental condition, ADHD has substantial impacts on individuals’ social, educational, and health outcomes across their lifespan. Recent research has explored the long-term consequences of ADHD on various aspects of life, emphasizing social functioning, mental health, physical health, and mortality risks. The first study investigated the life expectancy and years of life lost for adults…
Read MoreDisorganization and Adolescents with ADHD
Disorganized thinking. That is the conclusion I reached about what is at the core of the problems experienced by adolescents with ADHD after working with them over multiple years in the adolescent version of the Summer Treatment Program and when developing the Challenging Horizons Program. Disorganized thinking explained a lot of what I saw with…
Read MoreAdjusting to College: A Unique Model of Student Support for ADHD
The transition from high school to college can be a difficult adjustment for young men and women living with ADHD. Parents are important partners in their child’s success at college, but they can no longer be the drivers for their student’s success. There is an important, and sometimes jarring, developmental shift that occurs at college…
Read MoreCan AI Revolutionize Education for Students with ADHD?
AI can be a powerful tool to complement traditional teaching methods, and it offers fresh options for students with ADHD. Of course, AI is not a substitute for good instruction from an experienced teacher, but it does offer exciting new opportunities for students and teachers. Are you interested in learning more about how AI can…
Read MoreChasing Excitement in a Bottle: How I Mistook Alcohol for ADHD Relief
When people think about getting sober, they often imagine a dramatic event—a DUI, a car crash, losing a job, or a relationship falling apart. I always thought that was how it would have to happen for me, too. But my story was different. Getting sober wasn’t a punishment, nor was it the result of a…
Read MoreADHD and Focus Fitness: The Gym Isn’t Just for Your Body Anymore
We all understand that being physically fit takes effort. You go to the gym, lift weights, run on the treadmill, or do yoga to strengthen your body. But what about your mind? Just like muscles need exercise to stay strong, your brain needs regular training to stay mentally fit. This kind of training is called…
Read MoreHow Satisfied Are You with Your Friendships?
“I have friends, but my friendships are okay—not great,” is a sentiment I hear echoed from clients far too often. Friendships are demanding, and often few and far between, so clients tell me that they believe it’s important to take all the friends they can get. One gal shared last week, “I’m lucky I have…
Read MoreA Virtual Village of Learners: Young Scholars Academy
Gifted and talented students with attention and learning differences—also referred to as twice-exceptional or 2e students—now have access to a range of high-interest courses throughout the school year and during the summer months, thanks to the vision of Sam Young. This access is the result of Young Scholars Academy, a program he started just a…
Read MoreParental Guilt and Shame
I’d like to begin this important topic with an assertion: We engaged parents are crazy people. Every. Single. One. Of. Us. Our lunacy derives from the intense love we have for our children. I remember my first experience of this. I had a hard time drawing breath and felt like I was breaking apart on…
Read MoreNavigate Those Semi-Hidden Challenges
Jennifer, a forty-four-year-old mother of three, is a successful physician with her own private practice. On the surface it appears that she is functioning well and thriving even though she has ADHD. In general, with a combination of supports that include stimulant medication, organizational strategies to keep track of tasks, and delegating certain functions to…
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