See in ADHD

After identifying the Emotional Distress Syndrome (EDS) associated with ADHD, James Ochoa developed a resource that helps. With his book, Focused Forward: Navigating the Storms of Adult ADHD, you too, can navigate the storms of your emotional realm. As he explains, "Navigating is very different from managing...navigators explore the world!"

So, whether you are trying to manage getting through your day or off discovering shiny new things, this book has tools that can help you as you inevitably weather your storms.

JAMES' AWESOME QUOTE:

“I have a way to connect people back to themselves ... a way that's really powerful.”

Emotional Distress Syndrome

"The Emotional Distress Syndrome (EDS), identified and coined by James Ochoa, is the cumulative effect of the neurological processing differences and behavioral challenges associated with ADHD. It’s a chronic state of emotional stress directly related to the struggle to live life with ADHD, a stress that breaks down emotional tolerance, stamina and the ability to maintain a strong sense of well being and spiritual health. The chronic, lifelong nature of ADHD–related stress can increase to such a level that it becomes a syndrome akin to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

As with other ADHD symptoms, there’s good news and bad news, and you have choices to make:

It won’t disappear on its own. One way or another, you’ll have to manage your emotional distress for the rest of your life.

If you choose not to manage the emotional distress, the EDS will continue to erode your sense of emotional, mental and physical well-being.

But don’t despair–the Emotional Distress Syndrome can be navigated.

You are not broken.

You can live a full, interesting, potential-reaching life."

Buy via Amazon or www.jamesochoa.com

"In Focused Forward: Navigating the Storms of Adult ADHD, author and self proclaimed “ADHD-er” James M. Ochoa, LPC goes beyond the management and scheduling techniques most ADHD books focus on to deal with what really holds so many ADHD-ers back—the emotional fallout of ADHD. He helps readers identify, manage and alleviate symptoms of a PTSD-like condition he calls the Emotional Distress Syndrome, with practical, proven advice including:

Understanding the link between ADHD and emotional distress

What Emotional Distress Syndrome (“EDS”) feels like

How to construct an Emotional Safe Place

How to recruit your own Mental Support Group

Eight essential tools to help you cope

And more...

With wisdom, humor, and plenty of (sometimes painful) empathy, Focused Forward will help adults with ADHD move past the pain and shame toward a future full of possibility, balance and joy."

~ Jennie | Show notes: https://awesound.com/@SeeinADHD/043-the-emotional-distress-syndrome-in-adhd-2?auid=aEelxHAc

ADHD Coaches do collaborate together on projects from time to time. Brett Thornhill is my friend and colleague with whom I coproduce a podcast called The ADD Couple. Please do check it out if you want to hear two ADHD Coaches talk about all things ADHD.

BRETT'S AWESOME QUOTE:

“It troubles me when I hear people either completely rail against medication or to say it's the savior and be all and end all.”

ADHD Medication Controversy

Brett Thornhill isn't one to stir the pot and create controversy but he's happy to call the kettle black. About a week ago I had posted a piece from The New York Post written by Peter Shankman, who I've had on the show before and am a huge fan of his. The article, Stop Drugging ADHD Kids - and start teaching them to use their gifts, can be found here.

This prompted a response from Brett that I felt was share worthy:

"There is much in the underlying theme of this article that I agree with in principle, but not in isolation and not in its entirety. The myth that ADHD medication suppresses the ability of otherwise creative geniuses is a gross and misleading overstatement and minimizes many of the severe negative impacts experienced by some individuals with ADHD who have challenges just getting through their day. If a person is taking a stimulant, or non-stimulant medication, as part of the treatment strategy for their ADHD and it is flattening their personality or killing their creativity, it is very likely that they are either taking the wrong medication or wrong dosage for them.

The measured response is to explore other options rather than abandoning the idea of medical treatment entirely. Extreme blanket statements against medication like we see here ignores the biological nature of the condition and only serves to propagate the negative stereotypes that surround it. The right medication, taken appropriately, under the right circumstances and in the correct dosage can just as easily unlock the tremendous creativity and other abilities that lie within an individual with ADHD, but is being blocked by, what in some case, can be severe executive function challenges.

A well thought out and tested individual approach is a better option than the demonization, or super-power enabling attributes all too regularly applied to ADHD medication. It can be a very effective PART of an overall treatment strategy... Full Stop! To come down so hard on one side or the other of the issue does not serve the ADHD community well, in my opinion. In fact, it only serves to muddy the waters between well-serving discussions that need to be had regarding denial of legitimacy, over or mis diagnosis and effective multi-modal treatment strategies.Tell us below how you incorporate play into your day!"

~ Jennie | Show notes: https://awesound.com/@SeeinADHD/042-the-adhd-medication-controversy-rages-on-2?auid=aEelxHAc

Dr. Kirsten Milliken was already knowledgeable about ADHD as a psychologist working with clients as well as having it herself. So, imagine her surprise, while later attending coach training classes, that she'd stumble upon one of her own personal values, which would transform her life. Play.

KIRSTEN'S AWESOME QUOTE:

"Play isn't an activity, it's an attitude, and you can approach

any task with a playful attitude.”

Play & ADHD

Play helps with brain development and skill development. Be sure to read Dr. Milliken's book and discover for yourself how having a playful mindset can help you in managing your ADHD and direct your efforts in a way that positively enhances your life.

"Play is the pathway to being an ADHD superstar! Consider all of the famous people who have ADHD- Einstein, Adam Levine, Michael Phelps, Jim Carey, Malcomb Forbes and Shane Victorino, to name a few. All known for being playful in their own way. If you are an adult with ADHD, this book is your prescription to play. This book focuses on how developing a more playful mindset and habit of engaging in playful activities can actually help you to manage symptoms and excel with ADHD. It’s likely that you were never encouraged to play to meet your potential, much less to have fun in an effort to be more creative, happy, energetic, and productive. After a lifetime of being urged to "stop goofing off" and to "take things more seriously," Dr. Milliken offers scientific evidence that play is actually what you need to better manage your difficulties with attention. ADHD is a serious problem. But your approach to it doesn’t have to be. PlayDHD: Permission to Play...A Prescription for Adults with ADHD is written for adults with ADHD as well as for those who just want to remember how to play more. This is one book you will actually be able to say you read all the way through! With scientific evidence, humorous anecdotes, playful activities, short passages, and color graphics, this book captures and holds the attention of even the most unfocused mind."

~ Jennie | Show notes: https://awesound.com/@SeeinADHD/041-play-helps-adhd-management-according-to-res-2?auid=aEelxHAc

Alan Brown is an ADHD coach and brain hacks and productivity master. From overcoming drug addiction to mega-success in corporate advertising, to giving a Ted Talk and creating his own brand at CrusherTV, Alan is proof that ADHD doesn't have to stand in your way of doing anything you want to do in life. He's also a very funny guy, so I'm sure you'll enjoy listening to him as much as I do.

I'm not only a fan of his, I'm in his membership community and recommend you join as well, visit www.CrusherTV for details. I'm also incorporating many of his Crusher stategies into my coaching practice and so have arranged the following discount:

ALAN'S AWESOME QUOTE:

"I'm always managing emotions with mindfulness.”

ADHD Brain Hacks

ADD Crusher™ videos and tools are alternative ADHD solutions recommended by ADHD coaches the world over to help teens and adults escape the overwhelm and live to their potential. Get the free eBook, 5 Things You’re Doing Every Day that Make Your ADHD Worse!, and use coupon code SEEINADHD15 to save 15% off any purchase at ADDCrusher.com.

If you like this episode please let Alan know on Twitter or FB and be sure to leave your rating and review at iTunes.

| Show notes: https://awesound.com/@SeeinADHD/040-adhd-brain-hacks?auid=aEelxHAc

Coach Rick, a certified professional coach and behavioral therapist, helps those who struggle with ADHD, addictions, and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) through support groups and organizations. What makes his voice especially powerful is that he has personally dealt with all three.

He's no stranger to bad days but he's learned to never take a temporary situation and make a permanent solution. In fact, he chooses to look for and find positives in everything.

COACH RICK'S AWESOME QUOTE:

“I may have some bad times, some bad situations, but ... I try to pull positives out every day.”

ADHD & TBI Support Groups Help

It was after Rick started sharing his story about having unmanaged ADHD, resulting in self-medicating (with alcohol and drugs, resulting in addictions) which contributed to an accident, resulting in a traumatic brain injury, that the healing power of community and support helped him heal.

He runs six different online support groups in hopes that they will, in turn, help others in the same way.

~ Jennie | Show notes: https://awesound.com/@SeeinADHD/039-adhd-and-tbi-support-groups-help?auid=aEelxHAc

Have you ever wanted to be just like everyone else? Then got to thinking, "Who am I, anyway?" So, you start to figure it out by getting some ADHD info and slowly digesting what you need to know.

That is a part of Mark Wilson's story but not nearly all of it.

If you're curious what it's like to live in Alaska, enjoy shooting pictures and wild animals, tune in.

MARK'S AWESOME QUOTE:

"I'm unique ... I'm not broken at all."

ADHD Info

Mark Wilson is the creator of My ADHD.Info, an online resource he's created to help others who, like him, have at some point felt they were broken.

Writing about his ADHD has helped him tremendously. He's also out to help businesses create win-win situations with their employees who have ADHD. He's identified some problems in workplace environments, and with the way his mind works, he'll no doubt offer some creative out-of-the-box solutions.

~ Jennie | Show notes: https://awesound.com/@SeeinADHD/038-adhd-info-gets-personal-2?auid=aEelxHAc

Ellis Berkowitz, LCSW has been working with kids and adults with ADHD for the last 24 years. His practice is located at Elm Center Counseling & Consultation Services in York, Pennsylvania.

As a professional in the field, you'd expect him to know the ins and outs about ADHD, but he really knows it intimately as he has it himself.

He shares with us what it was like to be diagnosed at age 36 and his stance on treatment options.

ELLIS' AWESOME QUOTE:

"People who are diagnosed they don't have to suffer and struggle there's treatment out there."

Pro ADHD Medication

Ellis is not one with a wishy-washy approach to medication. He is resolute, medicate first and then add behavioral strategies as needed. Quite a different approach to many who do it the other way around.

His reasoning is sound. With ADHD affecting working memory and executive functioning, clients who are on medication will remember the skills learned after pills, not before.

~ Jennie | Show notes: https://awesound.com/@SeeinADHD/037-the-adhd-pro-who-is-pro-adhd-medication-2?auid=aEelxHAc

It's estimated that of all of the people that have ADHD, 85% of them are undiagnosed. My guest today may be one of those people, but we don't know. What we do know is, that for him, living life uncontained is better than boredom.

Aaron 'Static' Render is the host of the podcast, Uncontained. Listen, as he has discussions with entertainers such as actors, musicians, and comedians who share their stories and advice for other entertainers getting started in show business.

AARON'S AWESOME QUOTE:

“I feel alright with it ... I'd rather have that than boredom."

Aaron has been in the radio industry for seven years, which prompted him to create his own show. He wants to influence others to live despite what society says, to help motivate them and himself through networking and learning from others who have much to share.

Aaron has many talents including voiceover work and standup comedy. Today he shares a little of his impressionistic humor imitating Christopher Walken, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Seinfeld, and yes...even Mickey Mouse!

Be sure to check him out, but be forewarned, his podcast's episode's contain some explicit content.

~ Jennie | Show notes: https://awesound.com/@SeeinADHD/036-living-life-uncontained-is-better-than-bore?auid=aEelxHAc

Awhile back, me and my friend, Eric Willhelm, were talking about our busy lives and he mused, "Doesn't everyone have ADHD?" That started me thinking about how probably lots of people wonder and are questioning ADHD as the issue. So, I asked him to come on the show with me and talk about it.

In this episode, we explore this question and talk out loud the process of answering the questions found on the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist.

ERIC'S AWESOME QUOTE:

Questioning ADHD

How do you feel when you hear, "Doesn't everybody have ADHD?" It's a question often considered insulting by people with ADHD; after all, the answer is obviously no and it belittles the diagnosis, insinuating that ADHD isn't real.

But is it always intended to deny ADHD's legitimacy? What if the person asking the question believes it's real because even his own son has it?

What does it mean if you don't fit neatly into the box of ADHD or non-ADHD? Listen and find out.

~ Jennie | Show notes: https://awesound.com/@SeeinADHD/035-questioning-adhd-as-the-issue?auid=aEelxHAc

Have you wondered what childhood with ADHD is like? If you don't have it yourself, I recommend Tom Nardone's book, Chasing Kites, to help you gain perspective. In his memoir, beginning with Kindergarten, he takes you through his childhood explaining how he came to title the book.

In this episode, Tom catches us up on all things Nardone. You see, he didn't just write Chasing Kites. He also, along with his beautiful wife, Yvonne, produces a podcast aptly named, The Tom Nardone show.

TOM'S AWESOME QUOTE:

“You know I'm in love with the sound of my own voice. So, if there's ... people willing to sit and listen to me, I will tear the roof off the place!”

Chasing Kites

As his newly appointed talent agent, I encourage you to reach out to Tom, invite him to come speak at your school or workplace. He'll sign copies of his book and expand on his life's details, which make a compelling and poignant story.

The truth is, growing up with undiagnosed ADHD has some challenges that aren't fixed with more discipline or shame-inducing rhetoric. Actually, these things can make life really hard.

How Tom has come out on the other side, living to tell the tale, will have you alternately laughing and crying, but ultimately, I hope, rethinking your strategies for dealing with children who display ADHD traits and tendencies.

I also encourage you to listen to his show. Especially, if you aren't a reader. Don't worry, neither is Tom. So his podcast is just the thing to get your dose of Nardone humor and humanity.

~ Jennie | Show notes: https://awesound.com/@SeeinADHD/034-chasing-kites-in-childhood-with-adhd?auid=aEelxHAc