Blog

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    ADHD and Avoiding Negative Thinking Traps – Part 1

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

      What comes up for you when you hear the following common phrase, “don’t believe everything you think?” It is probably something along the lines of, “Yep, heard it before. Got it. Everything I think is not necessarily true.” But have you thought about the specific implications in your life of holding on to faulty thinking? As you read below, consider whether your negative thinking: Once you understand the ways you engage in faulty thinking, you can choose to work on changing the way you think, and be free of its grips. So, you don’t stay stuck! Cognitive Distortions and ADHD True, while the degree to which people engage in faulty thinking varies, everyone engages in this type of thinking at one time or another….

  • Named a Top ADHD Blog of the Year

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

    Believe it or not writing doesn’t come easy for me… At the same time, I also really like writing about topics of interest to adults with ADHD because I am able to: think through and organize my thoughts about various topics contribute to the ADHD community provide concrete strategies to help adults with ADHD leverage their strengths and manage their challenges continually learn about the ever changing landscape of ADHD get better at writing Being recognized for my writing by being named a Top ADHD Blog is not only a great honor, but it is also a good motivator, especially for those time when my mojo is just not quite there. So, thank you Healthline!

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    5 Tips You Need So ADHD Coaching Works for You

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Treatment Options, Blog

    If you decide to pursue ADHD Coaching as part of your holistic treatment plan for your ADHD, you can anticipate it will help you effectively manage your ADHD in many ways. Inevitably, though, you will also find it challenging at times to stick with it. At some point you might even question why you decided to do it! And you may even be tempted to quit coaching before you have reached your most intensive goals. These are common responses. After all making changes is not easy! It makes sense that you would have doubts in the course of your coaching journey. But, if you know in advance about the misgiving you might have along the way, you can be more prepared to address them in…

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    Conversations & ADHD Part 2: Is Your Anger In The Driver’s Seat?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, Blog

      In Conversations & ADHD Part 1: Do They Feel Like Battlefields?, I wrote about conversations that, while they may feel like they are full of conflict, may in fact just be exchanges of different ideas. But how about when there is genuine conflict between you and others? How do you maximize the chances of constructively engaging with them while: It is not easy for most people to stay engaged in a conversation while also trying to meet the above objectives when there is conflict. And for adults with ADHD, in part because of the reasons I outlined in Part 1, it can be especially hard. Do you want to “build your muscle” so you can better handle interactions where there is conflict? Anger Ahead…

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    Conversations & ADHD Part 1: Do They Feel Like Battlefields?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, Blog

    Can you think of a recent time when you were uncomfortable initiating a conversation or bringing up a subject because you thought there might be some sort disagreement? How did you feel and what did you do? For most people the answer is, “Well, sure, they are not my favorite kind of conversations, and sometimes I try to avoid them. But they are just part of life…” But for adults with ADHD the answer may be more along the lines of: “I try to avoid those at all costs because I just don’t handle conversations where there are a lot of disagreements very well. Sometimes I just don’t know what to say because the conversation seems like a game of ping-pong. And the ball just…

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    Adult ADHD and Money – Personal Finance Part 4

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

      In the previous posts in this series covering “Adult ADHD and Money – Personal Finance” I explored the topics of emotions, values and structures to manage your money. This last topic, spending, will likely garner the most interest because it is such a pervasive and insidious problem for many adults with ADHD. If you don’t have challenges with your spending, no need to read further. But, if you do, read on to explore some of the reasons your spending challenges may be related to your ADHD and the possible workarounds for those challenges. Get Organized “Out of sight out of mind” may be a familiar refrain for you, and may apply to your spending, as well as other aspects of your life. If you…

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    Adult ADHD and Money – Personal Finance Part 3

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

    Being able to follow through on your values as they relate to money, the topic of my last post, can be a challenge if you are an Adult with ADHD. So, it is particularly important that you have the right structures in place. Because structures are the bridge between your intentions and the finish line, and will make follow through on your financial goals easier. But I know that, even though ADHD may be the common denominator for those who are reading this article, the financial challenges are varied. Consequently, some of the challenges and suggested solutions apply to you and others don’t. My hope is that this article will serve as a starting point for you to dig deeper into those areas that are…

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    Adult ADHD and Money – Personal Finance Part 2

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

      Emotions and money was the subject of the last post. A suggestion. Read that one, Adult ADHD and Money – Personal Finance Part 1, if you have not already. Then, if managing your money with greater ease is one of your goals, the next step is getting clarity around your values as they relate to money. But maybe you are thinking, “I don’t need to read about emotions and values. What I need is “real help” getting a handle on my spending, budgeting, investing, saving and paying bills on time, etc. Real life money stuff… I get it. You want to cut to the chase… If you don’t already have a good enough handle on these money matters, you want to deal with them…

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    Adult ADHD and Money – Personal Finance Part 1

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

      For most people money or finances, along with relationships and career, is one of those hot-button topics. What comes to mind when you think about money? Stop reading for a moment, and take 30 seconds to write down all the words that come to mind. Any surprises? If you are interested in getting a handle on your finances, you may assume your challenges with finances are due to the same executive function challenges that impact other aspects of your life. And, in part, this is true, for sure. In fact, if you Google “ADHD and money,” you’ll find lots of articles on budgeting, planning, controlling spending – money management. This makes sense because these are the topics many adults with ADHD, and perhaps you,…

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    Change Your Brain and Manage Your Anger

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

    A couple of weeks ago I was driving through the Boston area during rush hour. I normally try to avoid driving in rush hour. But my parents were visiting, and we were going to my sister’s for dinner. We experienced what you would imagine happens during rush hour in any large urban area. Traffic moving at a snail’s pace… So, arriving at my sister’s 1½ hours after leaving home was not a surprise. And, when stuck in traffic I try to hold the perspective that it is what it is. And it is also a good time to listen to NPR. If my daughter is up for it, we might even have a conversation sparked by one of the shows. I’d say that is a…