[Bill]

I agree with adamb: the counselor/therapist is more important than the technique they use. Most therapists actually use a blend of the difference processes they have learned and their own experience. If you feel that they understand you and if their suggestions make sense to you, you will have a much better outcome. As a rule of thumb, you should have a better understanding and a clearer view of what to do from the very first visit with a therapist. That’s right, good things should start happening immediately, or I would question the relationship.

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[Bill]

What about that AWESOME feeling when you’re deep into something you love?

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[Bill]

What about that AWESOME feeling when you have a brilliant idea that you just KNOW is going to help someone?

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[Bill]

Wikipedia has a detailed entry here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate#Substance_dependence

“The long-term effects on mental health disorders in later life of chronic use of methylphenidate [Ritalin] is unknown”

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[Bill]

Sorry if I’m covering ground you already know, but do you have a sleep routine (i.e. going to bed at the same time each night, no late night food, no distractions in the bedroom, no TV/computer before bed)?

Also, have you used anything like meditation to quiet your mind? If you’re new to it, there are lots of free sample recordings on the internet to help you relax.

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[Bill]

There is no question that Ritalin is a stimulant and that it tends to reduce appetite. Did the doctor talk to you about taking it after meals and ensuring you get enough protein so that your blood sugar level does not drop?

Many people see Ritalin as a short term solution, while the person develops the coping strategies they need to be successful.

All the best!

Bill

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[Bill]

@MT9er – A M A Z I N G ! ! ! Way to go! I hope others give it a try. (And it’s free.) Wendi sells her recordings, but she puts some good free stuff in her podcasts. Relaxation doesn’t have to be expensive!

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[Bill]

Megatron, That is soooooo cool! I have friends that knit. Interestingly enough, when you ask them what they’re working on, they always have an answer, but somehow it seems like there is a deeper reason. The thing being knitted is secondary!

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[Bill]

A minister I know named David once quoted, “Tell me about the God you don’t believe in. Chances are, I don’t believe in him either.” I disagree with the opinion expressed above that religion is just a set of rules or a single answer to all of the mysteries of the universe. That is taking a very narrow view of religion.

Some churches here in Canada don’t believe in easy answers to complex questions. My church runs a web site called http://wondercafe.ca because “we believe that it’s important to have a place at which you can explore your spirituality and life’s big questions on your own terms.” It doesn’t force religion down anyone’s throat, and it is quite comfortable talking about major issues like atheism. It also doesn’t mind poking some gentle fun at religion with videos like the “EZ Answer Squirrel” http://wondercafe.ca/webisodes/ez-answer-squirrel

It takes persistent patience to find the right spiritual path for you, but it is worth all the trouble. The value of religion isn’t found in its books or its buildings, but in the relationships with other people and ultimately something that is bigger than all of us.

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[Bill]

Hi Vic – There are lots of people that have more experience with CBT than I do. I went to a CBT therapist for a while. Her focus was on identifying automatic thoughts and bringing them to the surface so you can make a conscious decision and change your behavior. For example, are there times when you feel suddenly restless? With me, I’d suddenly get a craving for something sweet. As we worked with it, I came to realize that it wasn’t about food, my mind was seizing on anything to get away from the work. She had three stages:

1. Look backwards and identify the behavior you want to change

2. Recognize the automatic thoughts as they happen

3. Come up with strategies for avoiding the automatic behavior

One of the strategies we came up with was not trying to focus on one task for hours at a time. Have two things on the go and switch between them. That was helpful.

But I don’t think that CBT is your only option. CBT is one form of mental discipline. There are others. There are two things I think you should be looking for: an awareness of how you are affected by ADHD and tools to help you accomplish what you intend to do. Look for activities that encourage focus and intent. For some, it might be martial arts. For others, performing or fine arts. Still others might study business analysis. All of these disciplines involve hard work, so pick an area that energizes you.

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[Bill]

@Saffron – Fantastic! Do you have any tips for others? Is there a particular practice you follow?

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[Bill]

@Shoosh63 – What a great story! It shows what can be done when you focus your talents and abilities. Asking someone to visualize the challenge they face before they actually face it is a common hypnotherapy procedure to help people focus on what they need to succeed. It will work with all kinds of other challenges as well, including phobias, stresses and aversions. On the positive side, hypnosis can be used to help you focus on and stay on track with a project or idea.

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[Bill]

Here’s a fun way to try hypnosis. Wendi Friesen is a popular hypnotist who has produced literally hundreds of commercially available therapeutic recordings. She also has an informative, free podcast. But the reason I think she is good for us distractable ADHD types is her rapid fire delivery. If you think of hypnosis as being slow, boring and monotonous, Wendi’s the exact opposite, along with being a lot of high energy fun.

She has a quiz to see how hypnotizable you are here: http://www.wendi.com/hypnoquiz/hypnoquiz.cgi

After she goes through a few multiple choice questions, there’s an advanced quiz with a short sample hypnosis session, so you can see what hypnosis actually feels like.

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[Bill]

This thread has been very helpful for me. I hope this is a large boat, because it looks like there’s a lot of us in it.

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[Bill]

Without comparing one denomination to another, let’s just say that some churches are steeped in tradition, while others yearn for creativity. Even within the Catholic churches, there are some services that have a changing, more upbeat litany. Try seeking elsewhere. Go to a different church each Sunday or let your mouse do the browsing online. There are many options.

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[Author]

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