Re: Here's a really big part of the whole Holistic approach to recovery-

[ipsofacto]

Those are great suggestions g.laiya, but going back to the OP, I really believe that the plasticity of the brain is the key to living better with ADD. The whole field of mindfulness is based on this. I think that training the brain not to run on auto-pilot would be a good way to describe mindfulness. Being aware of the present moment, our thoughts, and our emotions, being in control of our focus and reactions, these things are what make mindfulness life changing. The new medical understanding of how mindfulness can not only help us with the logistics of living, but the same process can give us control over our very thoughts and emotions is a huge step forward. The emotional response issues of ADD seem to have been overlooked until recently. I guess because of the previous focus on ADD has been on children where calming hyper-activity and improving educational outcomes seem to have been the main concerns. It’s the lifetime effect of ADD that is now becoming more fully appreciated. It’s not just forgetfulness and silly errors, but the toll in dysfunctional families and the consequences of unchecked emotionally triggered reactions that are the real tragedy. Whether it’s snapping back a hurtful answer to an inconvenient question from a family member, or feeling like it’s the end of the world because a few things went wrong, ADD tends to distort our perceptions and reactions. Confirmation by science that the brain can be rewired is one thing, training the brain to work in a different way is another thing.

Though I didn’t know why at the time, years ago I saw real improvements in my general cognitive abilities using mindfulness. Now with tools to use mindfulness practice to improve all aspects of my life, I am seeing benefits in my relationships and in the way I see and react to other people in general. It is a most profound change.

I would thoroughly recommend “the Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD” by Lidia Zylowska MD as a way to get started with mindfulness. I would stress that changing the way your brain is wired is not something that comes from reading a book, but takes time spent practicing. From my own experience I can also say that mindfulness also takes continuing practice if it’s benefits are to be maintained.

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