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Post by Little Owl on May 4, 2012 20:37:17 GMT
You wrote: Anyone else have a creative side but have a difficult time finishing anything?
Yes – 59 A4 wallets each containing material for say 5-20 articles I want to write on my website; 5* A4 Wine boxes each containing about 8 log books with even more ideas; and a door covered with notes.
What can I do? My brain flows when I am bored, doing something routine (which doesn’t help my being able to do that something), when I am not hyperfocussed or I am coming out of a session of hyperfocus. It’s a nightmare.
What I used to do to get through work and academics was to hyperfocus for long periods of time (I’m one of those with ADHD who can do that). By this route, I would complete jobs and create a barrier to the flood of ideas my mind creates.
With a family, multi-tasking is the game; a game at which I am sorely hampered through ADD. There is rarely enough time to have a good run at a task i.e. invoke hyperfocus thus there is little completion. Procrastination plays a part here too.
It is only through steel will that I get myself to get any adherence to my list of “jobs that I will do” and block my urges to do something about the next idea. Even if I am successful i.e. publish a coherent article, I find it devilishly difficult to stop the mind flow.
On the positive side, without that mind flow (or hyperactive brain) there would not be 59 wallets nor 40 log books of material! The door would look prettier too.
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Post by Little Owl on May 4, 2012 20:07:42 GMT
Oh this is interesting.
In one of the books I have read since diagnosis I remember the author reporting the results of a doctor friend. This doctor kept records of the “other” problems reported by his patients with mental health problems or maybe simply stress. His results were unpublished but the list was interesting; the one that struck me was “Ear Ache” (who would have thought it.)
I can’t remember for the life of me where I read this and can’t find the bit I read without rereading all the books. It’s driving me nuts because that means I could be having an ADHD memory failure and leading you astray. I also can’t remember if the book was about ADHD or not.
The point is I am plagued with intermittent ear ache, which starts as irritation and flares up with stress. I don’t know whether the stress is as a result of increased ADHD problems or the other way round.
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Post by Little Owl on May 4, 2012 19:48:36 GMT
This is a post about my practical experience with coaching. CBT (general) - I wouldn’t have missed these though would have preferred them to be tailored towards my specific ADD symptom profile.
- CBT kicked started, not a recovery, but the foundations of improved handling of the depression side of my bipolar II and which in turn helped me start to educate myself about ADHD.
- Hard work. I have sympathy with the views of kakema. I was given and did (through desperation) the written and logging homework.
- The real benefits, as with anything you have to learn, started to emerge once I had started to use CBT techniques “on-the-fly” so to speak.
Coaching (general)Useless. Coaching with a specialist ADHD coach. She had ADHDExcellent, she helped me break through some things that were stopping me move forward. I would be with her now if it weren’t so far to travel. Coaching with a specialist ADHD, PTSD and hypnotherapy coach.Mixed results. I am thinking I know more about ADHD than the coach but I found some aspects interesting specifically the guilt cycle and creating barriers Couples coaching with a specialist ADHD coach.Very good but completely undermined by the fact my partner and I never did the homework. I was keen but for some reason he did not seem enthusiastic. It takes two to do the homework which in turn requires that you both carve the time and energy out of the busy days. That was our stumbling block. To sum up:In my experience success depends on the skill of the coach, how much you put into it and the soft side i.e. whether you actually get on. I have a suspicion that some coaches will say they are specialist in ADHD coaching but are not so it is important to select carefully e.g. make sure you “interview” them to determine, experience and knowledge – don’t be timid about this. If you have the wherewithal to do this, ask someone who loves you to do it. In severe depression, when in most need, I was not emotionally capable of doing this and had no one to act on my behalf. Coaching (and CBT) for that matter is supposed to be a short term therapy. Adult ADHD is a chronic condition which comes into play in daily life and when life throws you a blinder e.g. children are born, you lose your job, you move in with a new partner.... Each of these can throw your coping mechanisms. So if you find yourself floundering with a new situation you may want to have a few booster sessions.
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Post by Little Owl on May 4, 2012 19:00:41 GMT
A couple of highlights w.r.t your question from the book:
“Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Adult ADHD” by J. Russell Ramsay & Anthony L. Rostain (2008) Chapter 3 - Research evidence for CBT and medications; Section – ADHD Coaching.
“Coaches provide timely reminders and feedback to their clients, often by phone or e-mail, in addition to face-to-face meetings, and the regular accountability seems to be helpful for many adults with ADHD.”
With respect to two studies gathering evidence of the potential benefits of ADHD coaching, Swartz et al. (2005) with 1 student and Allsopp, Minskoff, and Bolt (2005) with 46 subjects.... “Taken together, these two limited coaching studies suggest that ADHD coaching, particularly for college students, may be helpful, particularly for managing the academic demands. The benefits of coaching for vocational functioning and for managing the demands of daily life remain untested. However, although there is not sufficient empirical evidence with which to recommend ADHD coaching (Golstein, 2005), it appears to be a potentially useful adjunctive intervention worthy of further research.
Another point that comes across is that people tend benefit most from specialist coaching or CBT if it is combined with medication.
Ramsay & Rostain agree with phoenix in that coaching and CBT are not the same, though clearly in this book they are showing CBT practitioners how to tailor their sessions to help the specific issues that often rear their head when treating clients with ADD. What was interesting was that some of the things they talk about are things phoenix lists as coaching techniques.
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Post by Little Owl on Feb 1, 2012 12:09:04 GMT
If you look on the internet, people with mental health disorders are saying they had to pay between £500-£2,000 for travel insurance. Huge money.
Anyway, I have just had the delight of going through the process myself as we intend to go to Vietnam around Easter. My particular problems are ADHD and comorbid bipolar II (manic-depressive disorder). Here are the results:
As a family we have good quality annual travel insurance from UK Insurance PLC. It is an add on to a the flag ship current account from Natwest Bank.
For those who are worried about lots of forms and doctors appointments and the like, rest assured. They asked only 3 questions and my answers in brackets.
1. Have you ever been hospitalised involuntarily? (No) 2. Have you had a drug free period in the last 3 years? (No) 3. Have you ever had a holiday cancelled as a result of your condition? (No)
I think they are looking for stability and adherence to whatever your doctor prescribes as a drug regime.
ADHD in adults (don’t know about children) is not recognised as condition and so I presume has no effect on the insurance premiums they would quote.
The additional premium, which we paid, was £80 per annum. Good value considering the quotes above. In addition, given the quality of the insurance, if I do go manic, forget my pills, have my bag (and pills) stolen etc then we have the backup of a fast network to get my pills to me.
I’m on Lamotrigine, trust me I can feel if I haven’t taken my pills in the morning by the afternoon. So fast action is a serious consideration.
There are specialist travel companies who deal with mental health issues listed on the MIND site.
Anyway, I’m not going to go manic; just enjoy the holiday. At least that’s the positive self talk I’ve got to keep in my head.
There is a more emotional depressing aspect to this, which I think is difficult for “normal” people to understand. That is, because my head is not right, I cause the family money and problems that other do not face. Hey, that’s just another guilt trip I face as I have to live with ADHD and bipolar.
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Post by Little Owl on Aug 19, 2011 8:03:19 GMT
Hi Kameelan,
I'm sorry. I clearly came across as condescending and did not mean to do so. I missed your joke as clutter busting was and continues to be a painful issue for me; I cry rather than smile. Please let me try to explain my habit comment better.
I am a hoarder by nature, finding it difficult to let go of things. Something I believe to be one of my ADHD symptoms. Sorting the backlog of stuff I have accumulated was and continues to be a massive task. It is not only backbreaking, time consuming work it is an emotional issue each time I "get rid of" things to which I feel attached. Not only that, those around me find it much easier to clutter bust and it makes me feel inadequate.
To keep on top of my piles I have to change and control my nature i.e. my habits. The only reasonI have attempted this is through reading Sari Solden's book and one called "You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!" by Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo (2006). Together these ADHD friendly books gave me some hope that I may be able to clutter bust. I hoped to pass on my experience.
Like you, I'm not by nature a habitual personality. ADHD makes me impulsive and distracted; rarely doing things the same way every time. As a result of undiagnosed ADHD I have developed the comorbid condition of bipolar II. This exacerbates any problem or task, and my ADHD. Impulsivity and distraction are far from helpful when I am trying to clutter bust a backlog; and just as importantly they interfere with my ability to maintain my clutter busting "systems".
Once again, my apologies for coming across in an insensitive way.
Regards, Little Owl
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Post by Little Owl on Aug 5, 2011 10:27:04 GMT
I recently received this from ADDISS in their July ADHD newsletter. It may well be of interest to those of us with hoarding problems. ADHD and Hoarding THE AWARD WINNING MAKERS OF THE CHOIR AND GARROW’S LAW, ARE MAKING A DOCUMENTARY. SERIES ABOUT HOARDING. WE ARE LOOKING FOR CURRENT SUFFERERS TO GET IN TOUCH. Twenty Twenty Television have been commissioned to make a four part documentary series, telling the untold story of what it’s like to suffer from Hoarding. Our series will take a very therapeutic approach, following a group of sufferers on a unique treatment programme: a combination of group therapy, one-on-one treatments, and specialist de-cluttering services. We want to show how Hoarding affects real lives, and to explore the complexities and extent of this often misunderstood condition. We are now looking for people to take part in the series. We understand how important trust is when it comes to sharing your story, and that it is often extremely difficult for people who Hoard to open up their homes – but we hope that by bringing together a therapeutic approach, with support from specialist cleaning teams, we might start you on a road to recovery. We are not offering a cure, but what we are offering is an intensive, personalised course of treatment with an aim to improve hoarding behaviour. We’re keen to speak to people who work full or part time, care for a family, are married or in a relationship, who have an active social life, but who also hoard. Maybe you keep it a secret from colleagues and friends; or maybe you’re living with a hoarding partner and don’t know what to do. If you think you could help highlight the reality of life for sufferers, or you’d just like to find more out about the project, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Rachel Harris on: 0207 424 7720 OR rachelharris@twentytwenty.tv If you’d like to know more about Twenty Twenty Television, please go to our website which has details of all the programmes we make www.twentytwenty.tv
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Post by Little Owl on Jul 31, 2011 14:24:07 GMT
I have been reading "The Optimistic Child" by Martin E.P.Seligman, pH.D. He is a serious psychologist and the book appears to be rated well by experts. In it he says a little about whether TV and computer games harm your child. Even "normal" adults are concerned about this issue. As an ADHD adult prone to co-morbid anxiety and depression, such issues worry me highly.
Also, I know ADHD adults can get "addicted" to the adrenaline rush provided by computer games. In depression, being a couch potato can be a problem.
Martin Seligman (not surprisingly) talks about raising children to be optimistic so that they can learn skills that fight depression. Depression is an oft found co--morbid condition which complicates both the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD adults.
He says TV is bad for children. I guess it's okay in small doses, whatever small may be. Martin Seligman does not touch on the issue of how much TV is okay.
What knocked me down with a feather was that he said interactive computer games were OK, even for a baby. Again, he did not say how much computer you should let your child to play. I restrict video games so that my children also do other games; I don't want to encourage addiction in later life so learning to enjoy non-computer games is as well is important.
Martin Seligman's reasoning was this...
To be optimistic, a child must learn he has some "mastery" or control of things that happen in life. Not everything, but many things. Otherwise he learn to feel helpless; feeling helpless and therefore hopeless is bad news. "Mastery" means if he does something, a result will occur. It does not mean that the result will be good, just that his actions will have an effect. Some Computer games teach and give practice in "mastery"
If a baby is playing a baby game, he learns hitting the keyboard (use an old keyboard) will bring up a picture or make the computer makes a sound that amuses him. He learns that he is master of the computer game.
An older child learns on say "Club Penguin" Say that If he plays the penguin games, wins and saves his virtual money then he can "buy things" for his penguin's igloo. Club Penguin is a safe game as it is run by Disney and thus I trust it to be well monitored against the creeps out there. Computer games are fun, require work to get good at them and are often frustrating; as is life. Again "mastery" is taught because the child is in "charge" of his penguin's actions.
Shoot 'em up games for even older children also practice "mastery" as he has to works at his gaming skills or he will keep losing.
Anyway, I'm going to be a little more relaxed about the PS3. I don't know what I am going to do about restriction the TV, but with Martin Seligman's advice in mind I'm certainly going to think about it.
How do you restrict the TV? How much time do you let your own children have on the TV and video games? How do you restrict the video game time? Any other advice or comments?
Regards Little Owl
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Post by Little Owl on Jul 31, 2011 14:14:16 GMT
I would like to draw your attention to a channel 4 programme called Truly Madly Deeply (49mins). Unfortunately it is no longer available available on 4od or channel 4 on demand. It was suitable for over 16s.
The program or documentary features “Stars in the Sky”, the first dating agency for adults with learning difficulties, and their clients.
Clients with various disorders are interviewed – epilepsy, hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, aspergers, memory problems and depression. They talk about their ###uality, dating, love, loss and their dating experience with the agency.
The agency demonstrates sensible chaperoning policies and the chaperone (also interviewed) was in my opinion knowledgeable, diplomatic, sensitive and understanding when “on duty” with the clients.
The programme has more depth than the “blurb” suggests…. The Blurb…. “Micky is 19 and like most boys his age he wants to have ### and meet 'a nice tall, blonde girl with big #####'. But his full-on ADHD behaviour does not go down too well with the ladies… “
The program was not applicable to me, but I thought the knowledge of the dating agency may be of use to someone who has a child with ADHD.
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Post by Little Owl on Jul 31, 2011 13:55:21 GMT
Hi kameelan,
By habit, I mean something you do regularly rather than do the job once and never touch it again. I have to keep on top of clutter busting and now its something I do almost automatically. Unless it is a big mess to sort out, then I get sort of stuck.
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Post by Little Owl on Jul 31, 2011 13:23:00 GMT
Clutter busting is very important to my being able to handle ADHD.
Clutter is tackled practically in the ADHD book by Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo (2006). You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!. New York: Scribener. I found their ideas fantastic, my only advice is do one one small suggestion at a time and stick with it until it becomes habit. I didn't do that and my enthusiasm caused problems at home.
For sympathy and how clutter links into ADHD try Sari Solden MS, LMFT (2005). Women with Attention Deficit Disorder. I can't remember but she may also give some helpful ideas.
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