ADHD in Focus

ADHD Articles

5 Minute Refocus Per Interruption? Tips to Make Focusing Easier for ADHDers

Monday, February 7th, 2011

DNDI can’t begin to explain how hard it is at times for me to focus. To sit down, and get going on what I need to do. But when I do – look out – because I can do a lot to make the world a better place. Unfortunately, it’s so difficult to get to that place these days because there is an ongoing bombardment of distractions that seem to get greater by the day.

Research has shown that if you work in an office environment you get interrupted about once every 8 minutes.  And that it takes 4-5 minutes to refocus after an interruption.  And those are just studies on the general population!

ADHD and Assumptions; Success In ADHD Relationships Need Extra Clear Communication To Thrive

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

26/365 ChewyI always knew I assumed things, but not until a recent relationship did I realize the full extent.

There was SO MUCH misunderstanding going on and it absolutely baffled me.  I was being told on the one hand this person really cared for me and on the other finding all the evidence in the world to challenge it.

I was banging my head against the wall day after day after day trying to figure out what exactly was going on.

The Cure for Addiction: Being Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

Monday, January 31st, 2011

be  freeI have been addicted to just about everything, and have quit these addictions because of one primary reason; I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Granted, I found tools that worked and helped me along the way, but the thing that stopped the addiction wasn’t AA, a patch, advice from friends and family, or a divorce.  It was something inside me; a true exhaustion from the up and down of the addiction itself.

There are really no miracle cures for anything.  There are tools that can help you overcome challenges in getting there, but the only thing that can truly make you stop something is yourself.  And then by surrounding yourself with people and things that support that type of healthy vs. unhealthy behavior.  I do think it’s different for each and every person.

Can Someone Please Solve My Texting Addiction?

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

Technology consumes usFine.  I am totally ok admitting it to the whole world.  I have an addiction to texting that try as I may, I cannot seem to beat.  I am admitting now I am completely helpless over it – and asking all of you to help.

Why?  Because there doesn’t seem to be many great solutions out there – and I find the best way to overcome something is to find someone else who has done it successfully and build on that.

We don’t have any NIH studies that show success rates of different treatments, so we need to join together and find solutions that work.

Please, Don’t Call Me Crazy!

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

Why is it that being called ‘crazy’ is so bothersome? It’s as if this one word cuts right to the core of our very being and makes us question our intrinsic worth. Yet what do we ADHDers do when someone calls us crazy?

We act crazy!

Crazy can mean all sorts of things; bizarre, fantastic, deranged, insane, or dangerous.  I, personally, am using it in regards to how we term ‘unpredictable’ behavior.  Often the word is thrown around, “You are acting crazy or that idea is crazy or did you take your crazy pills?!”  Something about it just sets me off.  People – call a spade a spade!  If I am acting in a way that scares you or seems out of character and unpredictable, tell me!

What is Our Problem with Pharmaceutical Companies, Especially When It Comes To Drugs For The Brain?

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

Red Pill or Blue Pill?I’m sure just reading that title incited strong reaction in most people.  They either love the companies, or hate them.  For some reason I think companies working to sell drugs to fix the brain have the worst reputation of all – and to this day I can not figure out why.

Let’s face it, we can find fault in anything.  It is pretty easy to do, and it is usually our first line of defense when we fear something.  I think probably all of our biggest fear is the dark side of the brain, and unfortunately until we are all enlightened, we will all have a dark side to varying degrees.

Learning the Art of Presence

Sunday, January 9th, 2011

Buddha pathHow often are you really present?  I don’t mean just there in the flesh, I mean there with your heart and soul and eyes and everything that you are and more?

I’m reading Eckardt Tolle’s “The Power of Now” and I am again reminded of just what a small amount of time I spend in the present moment.  It is as if my feet are planted but my thoughts are spinning and tumbling from one connection to the next to the next without me even be aware.  For those of you with ADHD, I am sure you understand what I am talking about.

I think this was developed as a defensive mechanism when I was a child.  When I got scared, my brain detached and went into its own mode to create a safe haven in a place of chaos.  It served me well as a child, as it kept me alive when I sensed danger.  Unfortunately, as I got older, it was that same mechanism that would potentially kill me.

Five Habits for Highly Festive Holidays for ADHDers

Monday, December 13th, 2010

yahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHolidays make us all crazy; travel, gifts, coworkers, kids, parents, cards, trees, decorating…  the list goes on and on.  Imagine being someone that has a hard time keeping track of just how to get through the week – let alone the holidays!  Welcome to how us ADHDers feel.

I’ve decided that in order to make it through the holidays, I’m going to have to prioritize doing some things that I know help me make it through my regular days – but religiously!  We use holidays as an excuse to slack off on certain good habits – but for people with attention span issues these things we innocently slack off on could be our undoing.

ADHD, Suicide, and Parenting; Giving Your Kids Tools for Coping with Depression and Suicide

Monday, October 18th, 2010

It seemed fairly obvious to me that those with ADHD have a higher rate of suicide and depression, but I was surprised to learn that according to WebMD research both are 4-6 times more likely to occur in those with ADHD than those without it.

That scares me, and it’s a tricky subject because some research suggests that when you talk to students about suicide it puts the thought in their mind, and they are more likely to try it.  Thankfully, recent research is starting to suggest that kids already know about it, so in fact talking about it does just the opposite and helps prevent it.

ADHD and PTSD: Finding Peace Among the Nightmares

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

peaceI don’t know how to say it any other way.  I’ve been fortunate enough to have gotten treatment throughout my life while continuing to develop coping skills, yet it’s the reality of my situation.  Some days I wake up sobbing, a feeling so intense from the nightmare that I feel I can’t breathe and I can’t quite imagine how I will make it through the day.

The PTSD was easy to diagnose, and it happened early on so thankfully I’ve had comfort in at least understanding on some level what is going on in my brain.  The nightmares, various escapes, intense pain, depression, and necessity of my body to shut down when that pain is triggered is pretty clear.

While I still have all of those issues, my capacity to endure pain, ability to understand and care for others while in that pain, and reduction of escape routes grows daily.

Recent Comments
  • Kathryn Goetzke: What are you trying to accomplish?
  • Kathryn Goetzke: I’m so glad you made a doctor’s appointment, and hope it went well. I, too, questioned...
  • Kathryn Goetzke: Arlo, This is a great question! I, personally, run a marketing company and a nonprofit. I have found...
  • Kathryn Goetzke: Melony, Thanks for sharing! There are so many that feel the same way. I’m waiting for a book...
  • Kathryn Goetzke: I love this – great suggestion! It is amazing how kids are little sponges, and duplicate...
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