Paper or Digital? The Best Planners for ADHD Brains

“There is only one cause of unhappiness: the false beliefs you have in your head, beliefs so widespread, so commonly held, that it never occurs to you to question them.” ~Anthony de Mello

January 6, 2023ADHD in men is not well understood. For most of the last century, ADHD research has centered on boys — leaving out huge populations of patients, including those very boys later in life.

Problems with communication, organization, and emotional regulation are not unique to relationships touched by ADHD. Symptoms such as impulsivity and executive dysfunction can, however, exacerbate these challenges. If you and/or your partner have ADHD, you’ve likely found yourself in need of long-term solutions that work for neurodivergent couples.We recently asked ADDitude readers how they solve big relationship challenges with their partner or spouse.

Not available January 31? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.People with ADHD face an elevated risk for substance use disorder (SUD).

An epiphany is a sudden revelation — an “aha” moment — that often strikes after you’ve adopted a new perspective.My goal as an ADHD coach is to help people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) view their condition differently. When they finally get to me, I know they’ve not yet experienced this “aha” moment because their stories are almost all the same: They’ve tried it all — to no avail — and they’re drowning in strategies for managing their life with ADHD.This is when I can step in to help them reach a crucial epiphany: They’ve been looking at the roots of their ADHD challenges — from procrastination and motivation to prioritization and productivity — all wrong.Here are the most important ADHD insights I’ve collected and shared with my clients over the years to help them separate their symptoms from themselves and reach their goals.Every time we think, we engage our executive functions — a set of cognitive processes that allow us to plan, organize, remember information, and initiate action on a goal.

. Now, for the good news: Although there’s bound to be factors that are beyond your control, feeling more confident about your finances can help you navigate whatever comes your way.What does financial security look like in 2023? We talked with five experts about everything from the economy to the job market to financial markets to find out what to expect.

Soon after my toddler was diagnosed with ADHD (and with an extremely high score), we were told to expect a home visit from Cal, the child psychologist who would teach us behavior management strategies to use with Kip. Though my son’s diagnosis left us downcast, scared, and uncertain about the future, we at least had vital information. And knowing that a behavior management plan was in the works made me feel I was not navigating entirely in the dark.In the weeks leading up to his first home visit, Cal asked us to keep a diary of Kips’ behaviors.

Pitching story ideas to editors is a nerve-wracking task that I have, for the most part, mastered as a freelance writer. Cold pitching is practically second nature to me at this point. But there are occasions when I think a pitch is terrible.So terrible, in fact, my mind conjures a scenario where the editor has called all their coworkers into the office to laugh at the electronic vomit splashed into their inbox.

December 27, 2022U.S. guidelines for diagnosing and treating adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are long overdue.Adult patients with ADHD deserve high-quality care, and providers likewise deserve authoritative resources that outline effective, evidence-based practices for adult ADHD.

Willpower alone cannot increase productivity in the ADHD brain. Also not helpful: the standard tips, tricks, and strategies designed for a neurotypical person. If you’re searching for effective, ADHD-friendly ways to get things done, look no further than the ADDitude community — and other readers like you who have found winning strategies by trial and error.Recently, we asked ADDitude readers to share their experience with buzz-worthy productivity tools, including brown noise, binaural beats, and bionic reading.

December 30, 2022Adults with severe ADHD symptoms were more likely to be expelled and receive reprimands from teachers as school children compared to adults with less severe or no ADHD symptoms, according to a partial study published this month in the Journal of Attention Disorders.1Researchers compared the school experiences and intensity of ADHD symptoms in 1,518 adults from the Czech Republic aged 18 to 65. Participants answered questions from the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) and were grouped according to symptom manifestation, or “ADHD type”: low, medium, and high.Findings revealed that those with higher ADHD symptoms were “significantly more likely to be expelled, receive notes for bad behavior, disturbing or forgetting, as well as receive reprimands from teachers” as children.“The results suggest that children with higher ADHD symptomatology are more likely to be forgetful, restless, and misbehave — which then gets written down by their teachers,” researchers said.

“Lost time is never found again.” – Benjamin FranklinNo one knows this better than someone with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), who may lose, mismanage, underestimate, squander, and search for time daily. After all, warped time perception is a core facet of ADHD.That translates into poor time management in the moment, and problems organizing toward the future.

2022 has brought many life changes — a new house, new jobs, newly single, new gym (that I’ve yet to visit). I’m in and out of London like a yo-yo, meeting hundreds of new people and struggling to put names to faces and firms.I find that life comes in waves. I had little going on in January and February besides job hunting and a few other projects.

December 22, 2022Older adults with a genetic risk for ADHD may be more susceptible to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).1 These results, published recently in Molecular Psychiatry, shed light on ADHD-related vulnerability to cognitive impairments as people age.The ADHD polygenic risk score (ADHD-PRS) “represents the combined genetic liability for the disorder” and “is highly associated with ADHD diagnosis and related traits in independent clinical and population samples.” Researchers found that a higher ADHD-PRS was associated with greater decline of cognitive performance and memory impairment over time, and persistent executive function deficits compared to participant baselines. Study participants included adults aged 55 to 90 without a clinical diagnosis for ADHD or cognitive impairments.The Preclinical Alzheimer’s Cognitive Composite (PACC) detects early signs of decline in cognitive function and was adapted to the current study.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends treating ADHD in children and adolescents with FDA-approved medications, plus parent training in behavior modification and behavioral classroom interventions. Likewise, research confirms that “stimulant medications are most effective, and combined medication and psychosocial treatment is the most beneficial treatment option for most adult patients with ADHD.” Still, many individuals seek to augment their ADHD treatment plans with natural therapies ranging from nutrition and vitamins and herbs and fish oil.“Parents and adults see me either because the ADHD medication isn’t doing the job, or they want more improvement and can’t increase the dosage without increasing side effects,” says Richard Brown, M.D., associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and co-author of the recent book How to Use Herbs, Nutrients, and Yoga in Mental Health Care.Here are 10 of the most popular natural ADHD remedies — including foods, ADHD supplements, and herbs — and research findings for each suggesting whether adding them to your treatment plan might unlock better focus, attention, and motivation.Keep in mind that all ADHD treatment decisions should be made in consultation and coordination with a licensed medical provider.Poor nutrition can cause a child or adult with ADHD to become distracted, impulsive, and restless.

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You might wonder, why we published an article that speaks about flirting with a married man… Isn’t that going to harm someone’s marriage? Here is the nuance you should get in this article: Flirting is not about doing something with someone, it’s more of a mental game. If the person you flirt with wants to […]

Updated 3/7/2022There are many different types of therapy that might be right for you. To make the choice manageable, we broke them down into the factors that make a “type” of psychotherapy (you can use the handy links below to jump around the guide):Whether you are an aspiring therapist planning your career path or a potential client looking for the type of therapy that best fits your preferences, considering all of these factors is crucial. “Type of therapy” typically refers to a therapeutic approach, but this factor is not more important than others.

When your to-do list becomes just another beast to avoid, it’s time to find a system that speaks to your ADHD brain. Physical journals and planners work for many ADDitude readers, 61% of whom said they prefer paper over digital tools. Some creative thinkers prefer bullet journals and two-page spreads with space for notes.

You might wonder, why we published an article that speaks about flirting with a married man… Isn’t that going to harm someone’s marriage? Here is the nuance you should get in this article: Flirting is not about doing something with someone, it’s more of a mental game. If the person you flirt with wants to […]