ADHD - An Executive Function Disorder?

 This Video:

Some key points that I took away, by the 7s:

1. ADHD is an executive function disorder rather than an intelligence disorder.
2. People with ADHD may know and often do know how to act. But there is a disconnect between what they know and executing that knowledge in the real world.
3. External and immediate consequences for actions are important in helping someone with ADHD recognize and address their own behavior. Disconnected consequences or results are not as useful.
4. Breaking large tasks up into smaller tasks is often helpful.
5. External reminders of what needs to be done is often helpful. (For me, checklists and visible clocks seem to be important.)
6. Executive function fatigue: The executive function mechanism in the body/brain takes energy that can be quickly used up. If not refilled or refreshed, the next activity that requires executive function decisions will be inhibited.
7. Breaks need to be restorative (e.g. 10 minutes of work, 3 minutes of rest.). Refilling the executive "gas tank" can include some of the following activities:

• Self statements of effectiveness. (e.g. "You got this.", or "I got this.")
• Take 10 minute breaks more often.
•  Rest the executive functions. Don't do anything that taxes that fuel tank.
• Visualize future rewards
• Physical Exercise
• Blood glucose in the frontal lobe (Sip lemonade/sugar/etc. sip, not gulp)

My Experience

At 42 years old, I found out that I likely have ADD. I tell you what...it's been a game changer.

I have often been told and felt that I was different. I seemed to see and experience life through a lens that didn't quite line up with what everyone else seemed to experience. I just thought it was my own uniqueness. And though I certainly have some of that, It seems that there were some other factors at play. In fact, looking back, I can see that many of the people that I tended to find connection and conversation easier with have also struggled with ADD/ADHD. Nearly all of my closest friends have. Here are a few questions that came up for me when I first found out that one of my friends struggled with ADHD and she didn't find out until she was a similar age.

How did this affect my life?

I'm still working that out. When I started taking the medication that I now take, the difference in my mental processes was so stark that I am still identifying behaviors or thought processes that were affected. I'm absolutely sure it affected my relationships. This video was eye opening for me in some of the ways ADD/ADHD might have affected me.

Why didn't I know I had ADD/ADHD?

That's a mixed bag. From what I gather, there's still a significant underdiagnoses issue with ADD/ADHD. When I became an adult, I had learned a lot of ways to live like everyone else. As a kid, I was "gifted". I guess it's a pretty common for people to be twice-exceptional. It's easier to miss other signs in these individuals.

Am I an expert?

Ummmmm....no. I'm sharing this as I learn. If you happen to be learning about ADD or ADHD, please give me a call or contact me. I'm sure I'll have that function set up on this blog at some point.

What the heck are executive functions?

That one is new to me. Above, in the first video, he mentions that he considers ADHD an executive function disorder. One of the tools he suggests is to take breaks to restore the executive function "fuel tank". That's a new term to me, so I looked it up. My search led me here, here, and here. There's plenty more.

For a fun infographic, go here.

How did you know that you struggled with ADD?

I took a few online analysis tests and then spoke with my physician. He helped me evaluate my needs and figure out steps to take. If you are wondering if you may have some struggles that could be addressed, you might try reading a few articles, watching a few videos, taking an online quiz, and talking to your doctor or mental health professional.

-I love you.-

-Give yourself permission to be okay with your day,

and let tomorrow be tomorrow.-

-Good luck.-

Love

It's February, the month of St. Valentines day. The month of love. Black History month. Presidents' Day. The month we remember that Bill Murray relived the same day over and over until he learned to be a good person. The month that's so good we have to limit the number of days so that we only get 29 every four years.

What are your feelings about February? About St. Valentines Day? About love?

Some suggest that love is one of the most important needs in life. Not what we have come to call romantic love, but the connection and connections we build with our family, close friends, and yes, our sweethearts. 

Connection is pretty amazing. Connecting positively with the people around you can help develop good mental health, gain strength to resist addiction or other forms of harmful behavior. In fact, I would go so far as to say that connection is essential to a full life.

Yes, even for introverts like me. 

Looking into the history of February and weird spelling, you may find other insights for yourself. And like most things in our world, it's a month that's got some history.

Whatever reason you love, hate, or meh this month, I recommend finding someone to connect with. Maybe you can share some obscure calendrical knowledge. 

-I love you.-

-Give yourself permission to be okay with your day,

and let tomorrow be tomorrow.-

-Good luck.-

May I Interrupt For a Moment?

 Language is a funny thing. When you hear the word, you may first think of the words you say, the grammar class you hated in school, the foreign language that you never quite mastered. Or Captain America's reminder to the Avengers to watch theirs.

One thing that fascinated me when learning about language is the use of pauses and interruptions. There seem to be at least two levels of culture in effect here. (Okay, there are probably at least a dozen more levels that I'm not mentioning, but I'm going to talk about two.) Let's talk about the culture of your nationality. For simplicity, we'll define that as the place where most people speak your language natively. And we're not even getting into accents or dialects.

The other culture that I'm going to mention is your family culture. The culture of those you grew up with. 

It's likely that each of these cultures has a (usually unspoken) rule about how to interrupt someone. What kind of space to give their words. Some cultures seem to nearly speak over each other taking no mind for what anyone else is saying. At least that's how it seems to me.

Other cultures give space to a speaker and their words, waiting until they are finished before proceeding to respond.

Sometimes family culture can clash with national culture. Sometimes the two cultures reinforce each other.

Where do you think you fall on the scale? Do you tend towards overlapping dialogue, or do you pull back to give space? What are the advantages of your style? Do you see any advantages to the opposing style?

Just a thought. 

-I love you.-

-Give yourself permission to be okay with your day,

and let tomorrow be tomorrow.-
-Good luck.-