ADHD Center for Success

As if the ADHD adult doesn’t have enough stress to contend with, consider the potential added stresses of the holiday season. For some, the holiday season is both joyous and stimulating. Yet others of us may already be struggling to manage our current pre-holiday “To Do” list.

So consider the potential additional challenges for the ADHD adult faced with tending to the seasonal tasks of holiday shopping and contending with the hoards of ‘friendly” shoppers. But wait! There’s more: Don’t forget the gift wrapping and possible looming deadlines for shipping. Do I hear the sounds of stress and rising blood pressure?  

Here are some hints to support you:  

Plan:  There is a well know adage that say’s, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail”. 

1. Take time to put your “To DO” list on paper. Get it out of your head!
2. Create a time line using a calendar. What’s due by when?
3. Prioritize your list. What’s most important and most urgent?
4.  At the end of each day – review your ‘TO DO’ List and cross out all those tasks that you managed to complete for the day.
5. Next, add those additional tasks that you completed that were not on the original TO DO list and cross those off as well.
6. I know it sounds redundant but be sure to make a new ‘TO Do” list every day.

Be Gentle to Yourself. I recently heard someone say, “It’s hard to move forward while you’re kicking yourself in the butt”. Be gentle with yourself. Do the best you can and be aware to not judge yourself if you didn’t complete as much as you had intended.

Take time to enjoy the holiday season.

1. Spend quality time with friends
2. Take time to exercise regularly. It’s good for your body and reduces stress.
3. Eat healthy and mindfully …slow down.
4. Speaking of slowing down, try meditation, yoga, deep and gently breathing and relaxation.

Celebrate your successes and your holiday season.

 ~ May your holiday season be filled with joy, happiness and gentleness.  

Thanksgiving Greetings

Eliminate Time-Draining E-mail Habits 

If you are feeling overburdened and stressed at work, your online habits may be partly to blame. Poor e-mail management often is a sign—or the cause—of other time management woes. A top culprit: mismanaging incoming messages.

Marsha Egan, president of The Egan Group, a success-coaching firm, offers a self-management program that teaches you how to eliminate time draining e-mail habits and boost your productivity. First, Egan says, you need to alter your perception of e-mail: Stop viewing the act of checking e-mail as a task in itself; come to see e-mail as merely a task delivery system. Then adopt these habits:

• Empty your inbox every time you check it.
• Live by the two-minute rule. If you can handle any incoming message in two minutes or less, do so immediately. That could mean replying to, forwarding or simply deleting a message.
• Use a filing system. Create action folders and use them temporarily to file e-mail messages that will take longer than two minutes to respond to. Treat those messages as items on your daily to-do list.
• Control incoming messages—instead of letting them control you. Change your “send and receive” e-mail function from “Automatic” to “Every two hours.”

Source: Success Magazine July/August 2007

 There are many possible reasons for putting off until tomorrow what you intended to do today. It is only once you know why you are doing it that you can figure out what to do about it.

Source: “The Organized Life: Secrets of an Expert Organizer” by Stephanie Denton

More info re ADHD medication shortages.

I just received an email from ADDiva Linda Roggli. I cannot verify the following information but Linda is a trusted Coaching colleague. I’ve listed her note without editing…

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If you’ve been watching the news or if you’ve visited your local pharmacy lately you’re probably aware of the current nationwide prescription drug shortage.

In The News – Raleigh, N.C. — Although President Barack Obama ordered federal officials Monday to help reduce shortages of critical drugs as much as possible, pharmacists are still advising patients to plan ahead on filling prescriptions.

The executive order calls for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to speed up its safety reviews and push drug companies to better communicate on supplies.

Hospitals and pharmacies nationwide said supplies of more than 200 drugs to treat everything from attention-deficit disorder to cancer and to protect patients during surgery are limited.

“The level of shortage is the worst in history right now,” READ MORE

More on…“Current Drug Shortages”

Locate available med’s -I received the following resource for a pharmacy locator phone number that goes to Shire Customer Service and is supposed to be able to help individuals find a pharmacy that has your ADHD medication on hand.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — New survey results reveal that Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) impacts aspects of work and school for adults and children living with the condition. The survey also shows that many people with ADHD have been diagnosed with, or suspect presence of, other health conditions including anxiety, depression and sleep disorders. ADHD, which affects more than 13 million Americans, is a genetic, neurobiological disorder that results in challenges with attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. The ADHD Awareness Coalition conducted the survey with the goal of increasing awareness and understanding of the disorder during ADHD Awareness Week, observed on October 16-22. They add that people with ADHD can live fulfilling lives with proper management of ADHD symptoms. Facts about ADHD, survey details and other related information is available at www.ADHDAwarenessWeek.org.

“The theme for ADHD Awareness Week this year is ‘Get the Facts,’ because our goal is to ensure that every person in America understands that ADHD is a real brain disorder with real consequences,” said Ruth Hughes, CEO of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), a member of the ADHD Awareness Coalition. “We know that undiagnosed and/or untreated ADHD can have a tremendous negative impact on individuals with the disorder, as well as their families, friends and colleagues. The purpose of ADHD Awareness Week has always been to help the public and policy makers understand that the key to improving the lives of those individuals is education and awareness.”  Read More

ADHD is Real: ADHD Awareness Program

ADHD can have a significant impact on adult relationships, work and careers, finances and more. Coach Rudy will offer a lively and informative presentation at Malaprop’s Bookstore about understanding Adult ADHD. There will be a Q&A following the program.

When: Wednesday, October 26, 2011, 7 – 8:30pm

Where: Malaprops Bookstore, 55 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801

Cost: Free

Details: www.ADHDasheville.com

Many of you have heard me rave about the ADHD based documentary – “ADHD & Loving It”.

Attend a special showing of the Award Winning Documentary

“ADHD & Loving It” 

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct 19  [7-8:30pm]

WHERE: Carolina Cinemas, mezzanine level (1640 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville)

**The program is free but seating is limited**

Description: This acclaimed film chronicles the life and diagnosis of Comedian Patrick McKenna as he learns the facts about ADD from experts including medical researchers, psychiatrists, psychologists, professors, and award-winning authors. Along the way Patrick reveals how his life as a husband and father are affected by ADD. A ground-breaking film that blends humor, hope, and science to dispels the myths about a controversial disorder. Seating is limited to 60 people. Call to reserve seating 828-681-7100.

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“ADHD & Loving It” was SO popularly successful that the creators built a NEW interactive website based on the video documentary. The new site contains more extensive information and new video content.

It may be helpful to read this before jumping onto the site. Upon arriving at the site you will be greeted by a video introduction by  comedian and actor Patrick McKenna.

Following the introduction you can CLICK on the next tab – “What is ADD”. Here’s you’ll be greeted by another brief video introduction. BEFORE moving to the next tab – be sure to click on the various options below the tab – i.e. “The History of ADD”.

OR…  you can proceed to the next tab = “Diagnosis” and so on…

The new site is: TotallyADD.com

I think you’ll enjoy the new site once you become comfortable with it. The content is very good and fresh.

Enjoy…

~CoachRudy – Asheville, NC