totallyaddauthor, Author at TotallyADD

Adult ADHD | Emotional Journey

It's Not Bipolar. I'm Just Excited!

By totallyaddauthor

Don’t you love when someone explains a complicated idea in a way that makes it instantly clear? That sudden, “Aha! I get it.” It instantly makes sense.
This morning a friend of ours had to escort her mom to see a new therapist. Mom is struggling with anxiety. And she was upset. Our friend was confused, “I would have thought she’d be happy and excited. New hope.” But my wife, Ava, pointed out, “When someone is struggling with anxiety, any kind of change is stressful. Uncertainty feeds the anxiety.”
The friend got it, instantly, “Ah… Of course.”…

Adult ADHD | Rick | TotallyADD Blog

I Don't Believe in ADHD

By totallyaddauthor

Everyone who has been diagnosed with ADHD has their own version of this horror story.
You’re struggling in life. You finally get diagnosed. You’ve started making changes, trying some ADHD-friendly tools, finally understanding why some tasks are so hard, and others are a breeze.

Adult ADHD | Rick | TotallyADD Blog

‘Reward Deficiency Syndrome’?

By totallyaddauthor

Have you ever heard the term ‘Reward Deficiency Syndrome’? From what I understand, it came out of research by Dr. Kenneth Blum and others. They were searching for a specific genetic glitch that might increase the risk of alcoholism.
They understood that something as complex as an addiction can not be caused by any single gene, but the one gene being studied did seem to increase the risk…

Adult ADHD

An Eventful Week

By totallyaddauthor

An eventful week! And it’s not over.
On Tuesday I went to Queens Park, the seat of government for the province of Ontario, where I had lunch with the Speaker, the Hon. Dave Levac. Mark Tishman, from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care joined us as well. Very moving conversation.
For me, it renewed the hope that we can keep doing what we are doing at TotallyADD.com. Because at the moment the future is by no means guaranteed. Many ADHD organizations are struggling. Some have had to close down. This week we were sad to hear that ADD Resources in Seattle is no more.

Adult ADHD | Rick | TotallyADD Blog

ADHD? It's The Whole Family

By totallyaddauthor

The web, and our Forums, are full of speculation about ADHD/ADD being caused by diet, bacteria, family stress, lack of a vitamin, or severe lack of good old-fashioned spankings.
(Cue old man muttering, ‘In my day we didn’t have all these fancy…’)
The problem with these theories…

Parenting, Children, School | Rick | TotallyADD Blog | Work & School

You Need a Good Education – Not a Standard Education

By totallyaddauthor

“You need a college education if you want to get a good job.” My parents told me that. The school system told me that. And what I could see of the real world from my High School seemed to confirm it.
A university degree brings you wealth, happiness, opportunity, and success. Not having degree doomed you to menial, unpleasant, and servitude. It was obvious…

Adult ADHD | Rick | TotallyADD Blog | Work & School

Disclosing ADHD? – Curb your enthusiasm

By totallyaddauthor

As ADHD specialist Dr. David Teplin explains, “In terms of disclosure, like anything else in life you have to be aware of who you are telling, who is receiving that, and what they might do with it. In some ways it has to do with trust. In some ways it has to be with naivety. Or lack of naivety. And really at the end of the day what you’re trying to achieve or what you think will be helpful.”
Who have you told? And how did it go?

Comedy + Holidays | Emotional Journey | Rick | TotallyADD Blog

A Different Kind Of New Year's Resolution

By totallyaddauthor

At this point, we’re well into the New Year. This year seems to be as turbulent as any other year. And I assume with all that’s going on – in politics, the weather, celebrity scandals, and your family – one can be forgiven for letting one’s New Year’s Resolutions fall by the wayside. If you haven’t forgiven yourself, please do so now.
Studies have shown that very few of us stick to our resolutions…

Adult ADHD

New Year's Resolutions

By totallyaddauthor

Made your New Year’s Resolutions yet?
Great.
Forgotten them already?
Even better.
Now you can create some new ones. I don’t know about you, but I’m like a lot of adults with ADHD—I love ‘new.’ Plus I have a problem sticking to long term goals.

Adult ADHD | Emotional Journey | Rick | TotallyADD Blog

Emotional SENSITIVITY – A Small Trigger Sets Off a Huge Explosion

By totallyaddauthor

Before I understood my ADHD, when I’d make small mistakes and they were pointed out, I’d often brush them off, miffed, ‘Whatever! You get the point.’ I felt like, ‘I’ve created the Mona Lisa for God’s sake, who cares if the frame has a chip in it!? Nitpickers! Critics! Complainers!’ By the way being ‘overly sensitive’ and ‘prone to drama’ are very common for many of us.

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