Books > You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?! >

Excerpts

Table Of Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword by Larry B. Silver, M.D.

Introduction: ADD Isn't Just For Kids Anymore!

Chapter 1
From the Porch to the Printed Page: A Reader's Guide to Understanding This Book
How To Read This Book
Who Should Read This Book
Diagnosis Isn't a Do-It-Yourself Enterprise

Chapter 2
Understanding the Disorder That Makes Us Feel Lazy, Stupid or Crazy
About Definitions and Descriptions
The Big Three: Inattention, Impulsivity, Hyperactivity
But Why?
How Common Is It?
Not Just for Boys Anymore

Chapter 3
The Impact of Growing Up with ADD
Ages and Stages
The Cycle of Disapproval
Abilities and Disabilities

Chapter 4
How Are We Different?
One Channel Operation
Locking In/Blocking Out
I Hate Details
Defective Filter
Touchy Touchability
Emotional Roller Coasters
Intense INTENSITY
The IDP Dynamic
Bottomless Pit of Needs
Supersonic Brains
Activity Levels in Flux
Thrill Seekers
Intractable Time Tyrant
Space Struggles
Action/Inaction Imbalance
Reaction Time Irregularity
Miniscule Mental Fuel Tanks
Undependable Memory/Learning Systems
Impaired Social Skills' Control Centers

Chapter 5
The Not So Fine Art of Coping
Bad is Better Than Stupid
The Perfectionist
The Blamer
Who Cares?
Manipulation
Withdrawal
Chip On the Shoulder
Take Me or Leave Me
It Ain't So
Helplessness
Controller
Peter Pan Syndrome
Space Cadet
The Party Animal
Emotional Incontinence
The Blabber
The Bulldozer

Chapter 6
I KNOW...I THINK...I HAVE ADD: WHAT DO I DO NOW?
The Savvy Mental Health Consumer
The Why and How of the Diagnostic Evaluation
After the Diagnosis -- You Are Worth All the Work It Will Take to Recover
Self-Discovery and the Grief Process: Shock of Recognition; Anger -- Why Me?; Denial -- Not Me!; Bargaining -- It Can All Be Fixed; Depression -- Reality Sinks In; Acceptance -- Out of the Depths!

Chapter 7
About Balance, Toyotas,® Porsches,® Circus High Wires, and the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
Finely Tuned and In Need of Sensitive Handling
How-To's of Achieving Balance: The 12 Step Framework
A One Rat Study: Analyzing Strengths and Weaknesses
Constructing a Personalized Safety Net for Your High Wire Act

Chapter 8
Interfacing In Action: Groups and Friendships
The Art and Science of Communication
Hazard: Social Slippery Spots
Act I, Group Interactions: Mental Gymnastics; Running Out of Gas; Cruise Controls Set on Mega-Speed
Survival Tips: Group Interactions
Act II, One to One Encounters: Working At Not Working So Hard, Negative Self-Talk
Survival Tips: Friendships
Effective Communication

Chapter 9
Interfacing in Action: Getting Along on the Job
A Variation on the Theme of Interfacing
Act III, Getting Along At Work: Complex Interrelationships, Office Politics, Written and Unwritten Rules
Survival Tips: On the Job
High Tech Communication, or Don't Fax Yourself Out of State!
Work Related Stress: Noise, Doors and Telephones
Foot in Mouth Disease
What Do You Want to Do When You Grow Up?
Are You Failing On the Job or Is Your Job Failing You?

Chapter 10
Interfacing In Action: In The Dating Game and The Family
High Stake Relationships
Act IV, The Dating Game: Intensity; Insatiability; the Walking Wounded; The Prince Charming Trap
Survival Tips: Intimate Relationships
Act V, Scene I, Marriage and Child Rearing: Meet the Bakers, 1 Plus 1 Is More Than Two, Parenting and the ADD Dimension
Survival Tips: "Planned Parenting"
Act V, Scene II, Chaos on the Cul-de-Sac: Boundary Issues and Invisible Circles
Family Therapy
Survival Tips: Emotional Living Space

Chapter 11
From Mealtime Mania to Outing Ordeals: How-To's of Decreasing Discord
Scenes From the Kitchen Table and ADD Family Fun
Family Life Through the Eyes of Tom, Jan, Amy, Zachary and Jennifer
Combustible Mix of ADD Temperaments
Survival Tips: Reducing the Chaos and Turning Down the Volume
Survival Tips: From Chaos to Peaceful Co-Existence

Chapter 12
Principles of Government: Family Style
Poised for Defense or Attack
Establishing a Shared Government
Principles and Rules of Conduct for Family Meetings
Equal Opportunity Participation: Problem-Solving, Bargaining, Negotiation, Contracting
Guarding Against Expectations of Perfection

Chapter 13
Dynamics of ADD in Organization: Mechanics and Methods
Life is Difficult for the Organizationally Impaired
Creating Order: Where Do You Start?
Designing a Clearing Out and Storing System
Home Office Management: the Peace of Mind Payoff
Practical Tools for Mess Management
Paper Pile Management and Its Cardinal Rules
To Do's and Paper Pile Mismanagement
Time Management: Taming the Time Monster

Chapter 14
Dynamics of ADD in Memory: Mechanics and Methods
The Memory Chain
Memory and Learning: You Can't Have One Without the Other
How Are Your Memories?
How Do You Learn: What's Your Learning Style?
Memory Tune-Up Techniques
Learning Tips
Learning Disabilities and ADD

Chapter 15
Crutches, Ladders and the Decision to Seek Professional Help
About Crutches, Ladders and Assumptions
Are You Ready to Ask for Help?
Alternative and Mainstream Therapies: What's the Difference?
The Value and Limitations of Research
Becoming Your Own Case Manager
To Be...or Not To Be Medicated
The Issue of Substance Abuse

Chapter 16
Medicine and Medicine Management
A Trial and Error Process
The How and Why of Medicine
Benefits, Action, Side Effects, Dose Levels: Stimulant Medications; Tricyclic Antidepressants; Miscellaneous and Newer Drugs
Self-Medications
Medicine: A Starting Place, Not the Final Destination

Chapter 17
Therapy and More Therapy
Therapy Dilemma
Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy
Speech and Language Therapy
Educational Remediation
Psychodynamic Psychotherapies
Miscellaneous Therapies
Family Therapy
Social Skills Training
Sensory Integration
Psychoeducation
Support Groups
Assertiveness Training
Alternative Therapy: Yoga; Massage; Brain Massage and Virtual Reality (!); Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Visualization
Transcendental Meditation
Natural Childbirth Techniques
Diet Therapy
EEG Biofeedback

Chapter 18
From Obstacle to Opportunity
If You Could Push a Button and Not Have ADD Anymore, Would You Push It?
About Joy, Hope and Possibilities
ADD and the Specialized Brain
Abilities Within Disabilities: The ADD Advantage
Success Stories
What Is Success?
Finding Your Niche: Better Late Than Never
The Bright Outlook for Us
ADD is More Than a Disorder: It Is Also An ADDed Dimension!

Epilogue:
Imagine a World Without ADD

References

Appendix A
Suggested Reading List

Appendix B
Resource List

Index