Experiencing ADDvantages

Read the Fine Print

Hell, forget the fine print, read the normal print!

When I was in 6th grade, my teacher gave us a test. It looked something like this:

1. Read all the directions before starting your work.
2. Draw a circle on the left side of the page.
3. Draw a square on the right side of the page.
4. Fold your paper in half length-wise, then unfold it.
5. Fold your paper in half width-wise, then unfold it.
6. Underline the word "the" every time it appears on this page.
7. Draw a circle around the word "a" every time it appears on this page.
8. Ignore the directions in numbers 2-7. Write your name on the top of the page and turn it over on your desk. Please sit quietly while the students who didn't read the directions are working.

Can you guess which group I was in? I was underlining and circling and wondering why some of the kids were just sitting there. When I reached the end of the "test," I panicked. Uh-oh...I hope we're not being graded on this!

A lot of kids and adults with ADD have trouble following directions. It's an attention thing. Reading the directions is boring! And for some ADDers, directions in print aren't easy to absorb. Many of us prefer to figure it out as we go along.

So it came as no surprise to me that there was a lot of confusion during the month that my book was on presale.  A bunch of newsletter subscribers  just clicked right through on the buy button and ordered their copy...and then wondered where it was  a few weeks later. They didn't read the rest of the page to find out that they were buying at a preorder discount. In exchange for buying a copy in advance of the release date, they saved (quite) a few bucks.

But you know what, I was flattered. If these ADDers were so excited to get my book that they didn't feel the need to read the details before buying, then that says a lot for my reputation!

Besides, if you're going to have an ADD moment, who better to have it with than an ADD coach?

Did YOU get your copy of my book yet? Visit the book website to get your copy of Odd One Out today!

Do You Know About Your Adrenal Glands?

Posted by Sharon Howell, ADD Management Group Coach

I regularly receive inspiring newsletters from my health care practitioner about health issues. I recently received one about stress and the adrenal glands that relates to the issues we often deal with as ADDers.

Do you know what your adrenal glands are all about? The adrenal glands are important control centers for many of the body’s hormones and their basic task is to move all the body’s resources into “fight or flight” mode by increasing production of adrenaline and other hormones.

Every challenge of the mind and body creates a demand on our adrenal glands. Lack of sleep, demanding jobs, financial pressure, poor nutrition (skipping meals, dieting, over eating) relying on stimulants like caffeine and carbs, illness, unresolved emotional issues, and more, keep our adrenals on high alert. Consequently, adrenal fatigue can be responsible for conditions like fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, premature menopause and many more.

What can you do?    

• Make dietary changes that reduce carbs and stimulants (consider including high-quality supplements like a multiple vitamin and high quality fish oils)
• Reduce stress by doing moderate exercise and taking more time for yourself
• Get more rest

Does any of this sound familiar? Jen and I have often pointed out how important self-care is in the treatment of ADD. Now you have another reason to pay attention!

Don't forget: On Monday October 1st I'll be presenting on Identifying and Managing Attention Deficit Disorder at the Momference, a week long tele-conference for women at all stages of life and motherhood. Register at www.momference.com.

Why Trying to Fit In Doesn't Work

Now that my book, Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide to ADD Management, has been released, I've been asked by a few people, "What exactly is the maverick approach to ADD management?" In order to explain, I'd like to tell you a quick personal story about music that has more to do with ADD than you might expect...

I've been taking voice lessons on and off for the past couple of years. I've had two different voice teachers, both young musicians who don't adhere to classical voice training techniques. Although my voice is much better suited for opera, I just wanna sing rock! I don't care about classical technique.

In my last lesson, I was having some trouble. I just wasn't singing well! I wasn't hitting the right notes and my timing was off. I was annoyed with myself and my frustration was building. Finally, my voice teacher said to me, "Stop thinking, stop trying so hard, and just sing." So I did.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and let go. Suddenly I was singing again, and sounding great. Afterwards, it occurred to me what the problem was: I was trying too hard.

I was trying to hit the right notes, trying to breathe in the right places, and trying to project my voice...and I was caving under the pressure. But once I stopped trying so hard and started trusting myself, the pressure went away. My performance improved greatly, I felt relaxed, and I had fun.

The Maverick Approach to ADD Management

My voice lesson experience is a great metaphor for the maverick approach to ADD management. If you're trying really hard to live life the way you're "supposed" to, then chances are you're stressed out, frustrated, and overwhelmed.

Taking the maverick approach to ADD management means that you stop trying to fit in and start embracing your differences. You trust yourself and do what works for you, not what works for everyone else. Some examples include:

• Feeling comfortable taking care of yourself, even if that means saying "no" to people or taking a day off just to relax
• Doing whatever it is you have to do in order to pay attention, even if that means doodling in a meeting
• Organizing yourself in ways that are comfortable for you, even if that means being a little disorganized compared to most people's standards
• Refusing to stress out about the little things, even if that means running a few minutes late sometimes

The maverick approach to ADD management is NOT about trying to be good at everything. It's not about trying to conform to other people's standards. And it's not about fitting in!

The maverick approach to ADD management IS about managing your ADD in such a way that it doesn't prevent you from moving forward. It's about feeling comfortable being yourself, and finding solutions to your challenges on your own terms. It's about enjoying your life, and having confidence in yourself.

Mavericks aren't afraid to be the "odd one out" because they know that following other people's rules doesn't work. It leads to stress, frustration, anxiety, and pressure. Breaking those rules and making your own is a much better fit for adults with ADD.

Mavericks would rather be happy and successful than waste energy trying to fit in.

Are You A Maverick?

Think you could use a dose of maverick inspiration? Visit the Odd One Out website to read a 5-page excerpt from the book!

                

Two Kinds of ADD Hyperfocus

Adults with ADD are both blessed and cursed with the ability to hyperfocus.

Hyperfocus is the opposite of boredom. There are times when you just can't seem to concentrate--hypofocus, and then there are times when it feels impossible to stop focusing--hyperfocus. And that hyperfocus can either be a really good thing, or a really bad thing.

Positive hyperfocus is what I call being in the flow. You enjoy what you're doing--whether it's work, problem-solving, or being creative. You are productive and enjoy not only what you're doing, but also the fact that you're making progress. Your thoughts and actions are flowing.

Negative hyperfocus is what I call being in the stick. It's really about an inability to shift focus, and the frustration that results. You want to finish a task or make progress but your frustration in the situation has you feeling unable to move on. You become determined to do what you set out to do at any cost. (Perfectionism often causes negative hyperfocus.) In this state, you often skip meals, forget appointments, lose track of time, and keep telling yourself, "Just two move minutes. I've got to get this." But it's never just two more minutes. Your thoughts and actions are stuck.

Negative hyperfocus is very difficult to break out of. It takes a lot of awareness and a healthy dose of  rationalizing self-talk. Forcing yourself to get unstuck by stopping and de-stressing is essential. It helps to remember that in that stressed out and frantic state, the things you actually accomplish are often inferior. Operating from a calm and centered place is sure to produce better results than operating from a stressed and frantic place.

So the next time you find yourself hyperfocusing, stop and check in with yourself to determine if you're fantastically flowing, or stressfully sticking. 

Want more tips on managing hyperfocus? Then order a copy of my new book, Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide to Adult ADD!

Last Chance to Buy My New Book at a Discount!

Only two days remain in the presale for Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide to Adult ADD! Be sure to reserve your copy of the book before midnight EST on Saturday September 22.

The book will be available on Amazon next week, and you'll also be able to order it through your local bookstore. However, you'll save about 30% when you buy it directly from us on presale at the Odd One Out website.

From the Odd One Out back cover:

In her new book, Odd One Out: The Maverick’s Guide to Adult ADD, Jennifer Koretsky explores the ways in which adult ADD can be both challenging and rewarding, and reveals why this difference offers a remarkable advantage.

Developed through her own personal experience as an adult with ADD and her years as a professional ADD coach, Jennifer has isolated The Five Essential Skills for Managing Adult ADD, and she shows you exactly how to build and implement these skills in your own life. Inside, you’ll follow a roadmap to success as you learn how to:

• Break the overwhelm-burnout cycle
• Put yourself first in order to care for those around you
• Work with your attention inconsistencies
• Be more organized by doing less work
• Get a handle on time management
• Create a vision and a plan for your life 
• Embrace and enhance your maverick nature

Reserve your copy today at www.odd-one-out.net!

 

Britney Ordered to Get Coaching

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline went to court this week to review the custody arrangement of their two children. As part of the judge's ruling, Britney must attend parenting classes, see a counselor, and meet with a parenting coach once a week.

Can I just say, Wow!?! Talk about great PR! The value of coaching has not only been recognized, but valued, by a the legal system. What a great step forward for coaches and coachees everywhere!

I wish Britney the best of luck and hope she takes advantage of this huge support network to get herself back on track.

Just 3 more days to buy Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide to Adult ADD at the presale discount! Order now and save a few bucks!

Arrr, It's National AD/HD Awareness Day!

Ahoy, Maties!

Today be National AD/HD Awareness Day. 'tis the day we all do our small part to be educatin' the landlubbers about AD/HD.

Aye, today also be International Talk Like a Pirate Day, and I can't resist havin' a bit o' fun.

Awareness Day and Talk Like a Pirate Day - 'tis the perfect match fer us, me thinks! So go be dispellin' some AD/HD myths with the scallywags while ye be entertainin' 'em with yer pirate speak.

Be proud o' yerselves today, buccanneers! Yo ho ho!

A Quick Way to Dump the Shoulds

Before diving into the excerpt about 'ADDjusting Your Attitude' for ADD Management by dumping the shoulds in your life, I wanted to let you know that we are wrapping up preproduction on the book. This means that the presale discount will only be available until this Saturday, September 22.

Until midnight Eastern time on Saturday, you can reserve your copy of Odd One Out for just $16.95, which includes shipping to the US.                      

Trust me when I tell you that this is the best price you will find on the book. Amazon will be selling it for a much higher price, as will your local bookstore. Buying it directly from us, especially on presale, is your best bet!

So don't wait - reserve your copy today!                      

                                                 

$16.95
Includes Shipping & Handling in the US! 

For discounted shipping to Canada, please order here.                                                                       

For discounted shipping to all other countries, please order here.

(You can except your copy to ship on or before September 30.)                     

An Excerpt from  Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide to Adult ADD             

Dump the "Shoulds"

From Chapter 5: ADDjust Your Attitude                      

If you count the number of times you say the word “should”  to yourself in one day, you’ll be amazed.

The word “should” often puts undue pressure on you to conform to standards that probably aren’t even your own. The next time you catch yourself thinking about something that you should do, ask yourself if that should is a need, a want, or guilt.                      

Let’s break down one particular example: I should clean my closet.               

I need to clean my closet. You threw all your tax receipts in your closet somewhere  and your taxes are due! You need to clean  your closet to find those receipts and file your taxes on time. Make a plan to get it done.            

I want to clean my closet. Your closet is a mess and it’s driving you crazy! You can never seem to find what you’re looking for and you’re ready to change that. You want to clean your closet to make your  life easier. When you’re ready, make a plan. Have some  fun with it.          

I’m guilting myself about cleaning the closet. Your closet doesn’t really bother you so much. It’s not the neatest closet, but you can find what you’re looking for and it suits you fine. But…you just visited your friend and her closet is spotless and super organized. You feel guilty because  your closet isn’t as nice as her closet. Get over it and move on.

The vast majority of “shoulds” are really just useless  guilt. The guilt results when you compare yourself to others and feel like you  don’t measure up. It serves no useful purpose. It doesn’t help you get things done. Instead, it knocks your self-esteem and decreases your motivation.                      

Remember, mavericks make their own rules! It doesn’t matter if your lifestyle or systems work for other people, they only need to work for you...

Book Presale Ends this Saturday             

If you found this excerpt useful and want to learn more about 'ADDjusting your Attitude' and other solutions for ADD management, then don't forget to  reserve your copy of Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide to Adult ADD before this Saturday to save!

                     

ADD, Chiropractics and CranioSacral Therapy

Posted by Sharon Howell, ADD Management Group Coach

I have recently had requests from what I would call non-traditional practitioners contact me to talk about what they can do for people with ADD. I have listened to them with an open mind and wanted to share what they have told me.

The Chiropractor I talked to practices family chiropractics and I was very impressed that proper nutrition was high on his list of important helping measures. Next, he discussed with me the fact that he has had much success with improving focus in children who have had neck manipulation. I am not, of course, an expert in relating this information, but he discussed the fact that often these children (those whose parents complain of lack of focus) are holding their shoulders up tight and their neck rigid. He explains that no one can concentrate or focus in that position and that manipulation improves this posture and focus in the children he has worked with. I suggested that the release or relaxation in the back of the neck might help to improve the flow of dopamine to the brain (or in other words, the poor neck-spine positioning might be a cause of the blockage.) He stated that that this could be a possibility, but that there is no real way to know. He just knows that the children he works with have improved there ability to focus.

I also spoke with a woman who practices CranioSacral therapy. This therapy works on the theory that an imbalance or restriction in the CraniorSacral system (which consists of membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord) could potentially cause any number of sensory, motor or neurological problems. CranioSacral Therapy gently detects and corrects problems and encourages natural healing.

I do not recommend or reject either of these practices, but wanted to share the information with anyone who might care to research it further. I am doing further research into both of these practices myself and will keep you informed if there is any progress. If anyone has any additional information or opinions to share, please do.

             

Animal Instinct

It's come to my attention that I don't post a lot of personal pictures on the blog. The truth is that I'm a little camera shy! I'm not terribly photogenic - although Michael Polito really brought out the best in me in the shots he took for the book! (He took the pic on the top left.)

Since this blog is personal and professional reflections on adult ADD, I suppose that perhaps a picture here and there wouldn't kill me. So here's one of me and Punky on a recent hike. Look how happy this dog is in the woods!

Punky is a 9-year old lab mix, although we're frequently asked if she's a puppy. We take really good care of her. I adopted her when she was 8 weeks old. I was 22, and had only moved out of my parent's house 3 weeks prior. So in my mind I've never really been on my own; I've always had Punky. In fact, I often joke that Punky and I were together for 3 years...and then we got Erin.

Dogs and other pets are wonderful when it comes to ADD management. When I feel stressed out and overwhelmed, I often take a small break to spend time with Punky and Rascal. Getting love and kisses is great if they're in the mood. Otherwise, we might go in the backyard for a quick game of fetch or take a 20-minute walk around the neighborhood. It helps me destress, and the extra exercise always benefits the dogs. Plus, who can be stressed out when surrounded by happy dogs?

Don't underestimate the power of animals when it comes to managing your stress, and your ADD!

My new book, Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide to Adult ADD is still available at a presale discount. Reserve your copy today!