I'm going to start writing more book reviews as I finish books and touch on the highlights and hopefully point out some interesting books for others to read. As my friends will quickly point out reading for me = audio books ;-)
Delivered from Distraction: Getting the most out of life with Attention Deficit Disorder by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. and John J. Ratey, M.D.
WARNING: I am not a doctor so never take my advice on anything, ever. Even when I claim to be quoting or summarizing someone else.
It is a very interesting book about living with ADD as a child or adult. I'm writing this summary to note the highlights and show some of the helpful tips in the book if you have trouble being distracted on a regular basis. I would recommend it for anyone interested in learning about ADD to help yourself or others in your life. It touches on lots of differences between ADD and related disorders/personality traits. It also touches on the importance of diet/exercise and feeling connected to others and society.
Foods to help treat ADD
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B12/Folic Acid
- Vitamin E/Selenium
- Blue Berries/Grape Seed Extract - anti-oxidants
- Super Blue Green Algae
- Lots of water
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Life Tips for the ADD'er
- Marry the right the person - someone who loves you for who you are
- Find the right job
- Keep a basket near the door for keeping car keys
- Don't expect perfection
- Attack piles of clutter slowly if needed
- Buy lots of waste baskets and trash cans
- Do what you are good at
- Pay attention to diet
- Find someone to encourage (coach) you to finish tasks/jobs
- Delegate
- Don't stop doing what worked before
- Don't repeat the same failed strategy
- Listen to others you trust - often
- Don't trust everyone
- Progressive Alarm Clock to slowly wakeup
- Watch a little mindless TV
- Get Exercise
- Learn to listen to books on tape while driving
- celebrate victories
- set up reminders, notes, calendars
- Put positive reminders where where you will see them
- get a figit toy
- know yourself
- Physical exercise
- Cerabeller stimulation - special exercises which stimulate the cerebellum
- Juggling
- Balancing on a balance board
- others ...
I was diagnosed (by 2 differnt doctors) w/ADHD when I was about 15. Here are some things that I have found helpful in my own struggles w/ADHD over the years (things that I have personally experienced):
ReplyDelete-Stay away from lots of sugar. It may TASTE really good, but all it does is aggravate ADD/ADHD, and make it REALLY hard to focus. (Not to mention sit still!)
-Avoid too much caffeine. This means sodas, coffee (my one true weakness), and even some teas. Again, it acts as an aggravator.
-Avoid too much stimulation.
-Eat lots of blueberries! ;)
-Learn the level of sugar, stimulation, and caffeine that you can personally handle; it will vary from person to person, depending on the severity of their ADD/ADHD and personality. If you find that NO level is good for you, GET RID OF IT!
-Don't get discouraged! ADD/ADHD is more common that you think, and there are many ways to treat it. While medication didn't work for me, it might for you. There are also (as "The Topher" pointed out) many natural things that you can do to treat it as well.
-Get a cheerleader; you would be amazed at how much easier it is when you have someone cheering you on the whole way!
-Don't think of yourself as weird; you're special! God created you, and he knew that you would have ADD before you were even born! He's not going to just let you go: He loves you FAR too much to do that! It's a challenge, yes, but that makes the victory over it all the more sweet!
so you know....i'm watching.....it's anonymous so you'll never find me!!!!! MU HA HA HAAAA!!!
ReplyDeletesincerely,
nathan