ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis

Understand how ADHD shows up in adults and what to expect from the diagnostic process.

ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis | ADHD Tools & Strategies | Blog

ADHD and Making Mistakes – Now What?!
ByMarla Cummins December 29, 2011June 26, 2025 ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

You messed up… If you are playing a big game professionally, you will not get it right 100% of the time. When you push your limits you will inevitably hit some speed bumps along the way. This is true for everyone. And, as an Adult with ADHD, you may have particular challenges. But what do you do when you make a mistake? How do you move forward Interpreting Your Mistakes Do you view each mistake as a sign that you are a screw–up? Perhaps, you see each mistake as an affirmation of your inability to perform well in any realm. And, after each misstep, you proclaim some variation of, “I can’t do anything right.” Unfortunately, this is too common a perspective for many adults…

Read More ADHD and Making Mistakes – Now What?!
ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis | Blog

Do You Know When To Put Away Your Toolbox?
ByMarla Cummins June 29, 2011May 14, 2025 ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Blog

As I wrote about last week in The Power of Putting On The Brakes, sometimes I find myself so focused on what is in front of me, I forget to slow down. One of the downsides of going too fast is not being efficient and effective. But another downside is that I forget to live intentionally, in the moment. Yes, adults with ADHD have a tendency to live in the moment. There is now and not now. Often when this happens, though, it is unintentional. There is no planning or awareness of the consequences of living in the moment. True, if this is our primary way of being, we may not do the necessary planning to reach our goals. But if we are always…

Read More Do You Know When To Put Away Your Toolbox?
ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis | Blog

Learn + Practice + Support = Success
ByMarla Cummins June 3, 2011May 14, 2025 ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Blog

Over the last couple of weeks I have been sharing with you some of my thoughts while I am reading the book, Influencer: The Power To Change Anything by Kerry Patterson et al. It has helped me by reinforcing what I know from my work coaching adults with ADHD. Let’s look at Joe. (As I would never break my confidentiality with clients, Joe is not a real person, but a composite of my work over the years.) When Joe called me to find out more about ADD Coaching, I could tell that he was motivated to succeed in his business. I could hear it in his words and his tone. I could also “hear” the conversation he was having in his head. Maybe you recognize…

Read More Learn + Practice + Support = Success
ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis | ADHD Tools & Strategies | Blog

Are You Motivated? Answer These Questions To Find Out
ByMarla Cummins May 27, 2011May 14, 2025 ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

As I’ve written about in the past, both eating and exercising can be part of a holistic treatment plan for ADHD . Last week in my article, The Two Key Steps To Creating The Change You Want I shared with you a bit about my challenges with eating well. This is not the case with exercise, though. Over the last two years I have been able to consistently exercise. Though I have fallen off the wagon, of course, I have been able to resume within a short amount of time. I know that both are “good for me.” In both cases, I know the vital behaviors that that will give me the greatest leverage and allow me to persist. See last week’s article for more…

Read More Are You Motivated? Answer These Questions To Find Out
ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis | ADHD Time Management | ADHD Tools & Strategies | Blog

ADD – ADHD: Do You Know This Strategy to Prevent Overwhelm?
ByMarla Cummins March 3, 2011June 15, 2025 ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Time Management, ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

What Do You Want To Say “Yes” To? Being self employed and a single parent of a middle school age daughter, my life is full and can be overwhelming, sometimes. While I am certainly blessed to be a parent and to have my own business, I still find myself occasionally wanting to do more, and feeling like I “can’t.” There are times, lately, when I struggle with the “need” to say no to other opportunities. Then I remind myself that I could say “yes,” instead, if I made different choices. I remind myself that every choice has a cost. Recently, I’ve been feeling isolated in my business. So, I have been thinking of ways to connect with other people professionally. Like many with ADD –…

Read More ADD – ADHD: Do You Know This Strategy to Prevent Overwhelm?
ADHD Communication | ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis | ADHD Tools & Strategies | Blog

ADD and Anger: Is It Getting In Your Way?
ByMarla Cummins February 17, 2011May 14, 2025 ADHD Communication, ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

One of the hallmark symptoms of ADD is the struggle with managing emotions, such as anger. If you answer yes to the questions below, your anger may be getting in your way. Do you tend to wear your emotions on your sleeve, but would rather not? Do you go from 0-100 mph in a split second and wonder how you got there so fast? Do you become frustrated with others easily, and then regret it later? You are not alone What Is The Problem? Dr. Russell Barkley, a foremost authority on ADD and author of the book Taking Charge of Adult ADHD, notes the following: “It is not that the emotions they experience are inappropriate, but that those with ADHD are more likely to publicly…

Read More ADD and Anger: Is It Getting In Your Way?
ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis | ADHD Treatment Options | Blog

You Made The Changes… Now What?!
ByMarla Cummins February 10, 2011June 26, 2025 ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Treatment Options, Blog

In the article Understanding and Managing Your ADD: Change Can Happen…., I introduced the Six Stages of Change. I explored this model further in the article Managing Your ADD Takes Time and Planning. If you have not already, I suggest reading both of these before continuing. Stage 5 – Maintenance When you reach the Maintenance Stage, you have already put a great deal of emotional and mental energy into making the commitment to managing your ADD and have also put a plan into action. So, you are likely feeling pretty spent! Even if you had more energy, you may question doing more. “What more could I possibly need to do? I put the ‘pedal to the metal’; my plan is in action.” Yet, it is…

Read More You Made The Changes… Now What?!
ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis | ADHD Time Management | ADHD Tools & Strategies | Blog

ADD and The Disappearing Mojo: What Do You Do?!
ByMarla Cummins January 21, 2011May 14, 2025 ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Time Management, ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

I’ve been pondering, lately, how creating structures to help you follow through and complete important tasks can sometimes seem futile. When you have ADD, creating lists, setting deadlines, making schedules, and breaking down tasks into smaller steps is critical to your success. So, when you have these in place, it can seem absolutely maddening when it feels like you are still spinning your wheels on those days you just don’t have the energy. If this is the case for you, you may be missing a piece of the puzzle. Knowing Yourself I like my work. But sometimes, when I wake up, I have no motivation. Zip. Zero. Nada. Even though mornings are my supposed good time, I have acknowledged that I will have these days…

Read More ADD and The Disappearing Mojo: What Do You Do?!
ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis | ADHD Tools & Strategies | ADHD Treatment Options | Blog

ADD and Acceptance: Accelerating Your Progress
ByMarla Cummins January 14, 2011May 14, 2025 ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Tools & Strategies, ADHD Treatment Options, Blog

Recently, I was talking to someone about marketing my business. Below is an adapted version of our conversations and email communications. Me: I think that for business owners with ADD, they would be drawn to a biz coach who specializes in ADD and can help them focus on making more money. For many business owners with ADD, it is all of the executive functioning challenges (planning, prioritizing, making decision, organizing…) that are getting in their way of making money. Without the understanding of ADD, people may not get the support they need to implement strategies and build skills that will last. What do you think? J: The ADD is the process, you can use it; however it may be limiting and even people with ADD…

Read More ADD and Acceptance: Accelerating Your Progress
ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis | ADHD Tools & Strategies | Blog

Are You Ready to Face Your Fears?
ByMarla Cummins November 18, 2010May 14, 2025 ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

Everyone experiences times of peaks and valley. And, of course, we all hope that we can stay on the peak as long as possible. But, inevitably, there are times that we are going to stumble and down we go – to the valley. I’ve been there, in the valley, for a month. I don’t know when or exactly how I got here. Nor do I know exactly how I will climb out. And I don’t like it here! But I know that I will be in a better place, sometime. Hopefully, sooner rather than later. How do I know I will get to a better place? I only know this based on past experience. The beauty of getting older. However, I only know this intellectually,…

Read More Are You Ready to Face Your Fears?