TIPS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ADULT ADD - Insight and Education
Edward Hallowell, MD and John Ratey, MD have listed 50 tips or practical suggestions for the management of adult ADHD. These are non-medication suggestions. They are divided into four categories: 1)insight and education; 2)performance management; 3)mood management; and 4)interpersonal life.
Insight and Education
1. Be sure of the diagnosis.
Choose a professional who truly understands ADHD and its related disorders
2. Educate yourself.
Understand ADHD. Read books. Talk to professionals. Gather information. Learn.
3. Coaching
Get yourself a coach. A coach can help you get and stay organized, stay on task, give you encouragement and be in your corner..
4. Encouragement.
Adults with ADHD need lots of encouragement. Find people who understand you and encourages you to reach your goals.
5. Realize what ADHD is NOT!
ADHD is not a psychological conflict. It is not because you and your mother don’t get along.
6. Educate and involve others.
Teach others around you about what ADHD is and what they can do to help. This can include family, friends, coworkers, even your boss.
7. Give up guilt over high-stimulating behavior.
Understand you are drawn to this type of thing. Try to make better decisions, don’t "beat yourself up" about the bad decisions.
8. Listen to feedback from trusted others.
Individuals with ADHD are poor self-observers. Information from others you trust can help you.
9. Consider joining or starting a support group.
Much of the information you need is in the minds and experience of other people. Bring these people together for support and increased knowledge. With new technology, telephone groups, like the ADDvisor, can be helpful in providing this support.
10. Try to get rid of the negativity.
Many of you have heard negative feedback for ages making it hard to accept the positive. Psychotherapy may help with this.
11. Don’t feel chained to conventional careers or conventional ways of coping.
Give yourself permission to be yourself. Give up on what you thought you SHOULD be and explore what you REALLY WANT to be.
12. Remember what you have is a neurobiological condition.
ADHD is caused by biology. It is how your brain is wired. It is NOT a disorder of will or moral fiber. Weakness of character has nothing to do with it. It is rooted in biology.
13. Try to help others with ADHD.
By helping others, you learn more yourself and feel good about helping others.
