Blog

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    Is This Normal or Do I Have Undiagnosed ADHD?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Blog

      Below is an excerpt from a letter that I recently received (and was given permission to post) along with my response. I decided to include it here, as it is such a common question and might be of interest to you, too.   Hi Marla, I’ve really been identifying with everything you and your testimonials have been saying on your website, but I’ve never been diagnosed myself. For years as a university student I have constantly struggled with mastering my procrastination on assignments and study, and I’ve realised recently it seems to stem from this impulsivity, this tendency to immediately act on every thought I have. All the issues you are talking about that adults with ADHD have to deal with, I feel that…

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    ADHD and Limiting Beliefs – How to Counter Them

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

    We all have beliefs about how things should be. And after a while we come to believe that is just the way life is. What is most problematic is when we act based on beliefs that limit us from reaching our goals. I know from my own personal experience and work over the years with clients that, if left unchecked, there are certain beliefs that can hold adults with ADHD back from successfully reaching their potential. If you hold one or more of the beliefs listed below, you may decide that you are just not capable or “good enough.” But wait, it is not all gloom and doom! Luckily, there are ways to counter these mindsets so they do not get in the way of…

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    ADHD And Support You Can Afford

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Treatment Options, Blog

      While my hope is that every adult with ADHD who wants help can get support, I also know that investing in 1-1 ADHD Coaching can be too much of a reach for some. In part I know this from the emails I’ve received and conversations I’ve had with prospective clients who say or write something along the lines of: So, when I heard such a comment again recently, I thought about what I have done in situations where I get that queasy feeling in my gut just thinking about spending money for support, whether it is coaching, a class or a group. After all, I know I owe a great deal of my success to the help I’ve received from other professionals Just Do…

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    Entreprenuers with ADHD: Be Sucessful By Using Your ADHD

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD in the Workplace, Blog

      Thom Hartmann redefines ADD as “A Different Perception” and wrote in his book, The Edison Gene: ADHD and the Gift of the Hunter Child, that people with ADHD …may instead be our most creative individuals, our most extraordinary thinkers, our most brilliant inventors and pioneers. I think he is right! If you are an entrepreneur or independent professional and have ADHD, you are probably intimately familiar with your challenges. And you may blame your ADHD for many of these. But, do you know how your ADHD has helped you to be successful? What if you used your ADHD to propel you to succeed? If you are an entrepreneur, thinking of becoming one or just have an entrepreneurial approach to your life and / or…

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    ADHD Treatment: An Interactive Guide For Making Decisions

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Treatment Options, Blog

    You may think of medication when you think of treatment for ADHD. Most people do. But, if you have ADHD and want to manage it successfully so you can reach your goals, you should know that  medication alone will likely not be effective. That’s right. In order to effectively treat your ADHD, you need to create a holistic treatment plan . And what is that, you may be wondering. To answer that question I’ve created a free 43 page interactive PDF workbook, Treatment Options for ADHD Workbook:  A Guide to Exploring and Making Decisions About Treating Your ADHD. Best practices for using the  guide: Take your time. Follow your interest. You can skip around to different sections easily by clicking on the bookmarks. You can…

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    ADHD and Body Doubles – Someone By Your Side

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

    You have put aside the time to prepare for your taxes or some other task, but you can’t seem to get started. Or maybe you are knee-deep working on your project, and then, seemingly all of sudden, you get distracted. Happens. Think back to a recent time when you were working with someone side by side at work or home. What did you notice about your capacity to attend? For many adults with ADHD having someone with you as you work, also known as a Body Double, can be an effective strategy to help you start and stay on task. Key to employing this strategy effectively is knowing how and when to use a Body Double. Tax Time Scenario Taking tax prep as a timely…

  • ADHD and Initiation: Having Trouble Getting Started?

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

      One of the executive functions necessary to accomplish any goal is task initiation or, in other words, getting started. And since this is one of the common hurdles for many adults with ADHD, I often hear some version of the following when working with clients. “I know what I needed to do. I even had it on my task list. I just didn’t do it, again! Maybe I just don’t care enough. It must not be that important to me, if I keep on not doing it, right?” Sound familiar? Motivation When you can tap into the value a task has for you, getting started can be easier. So, as a first step, when you are struggling with getting started, simply ask yourself, “what…

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    A Guide To Being Present When You Have ADHD

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Time Management, Blog

    You have managed to follow through on your plans. You are doing work related tasks, spending time with your family, socializing with friends or… And in the middle of whatever you are doing, you have a thought: When these thoughts are going through your head, of course, you are not present to what you are trying to do. One of the biggest challenges for many adults with ADHD is to focus their attention on what they are doing right now. But if you want to be more present in different areas of your life, there are ways to do this. Does Being Present Matter? First, what are the advantages of being less distracted in the moment and more in the present? When you can focus…

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    ADHD and Waiting For Motivation

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

    Here is a conundrum. We know that getting started or initiating tasks, even those that hold some interest, is a challenge for many adults with ADHD. So, what do you do when you have a task to do and you are “just not feeling it”? When the task holds no interest for you in the moment it can feel almost impossible to try to push onward. Fortunately, there are some workarounds you can try to make it easier. Checking It Out First check in with yourself. Explore how procrastination may be playing a part and possible ways of addressing it. Also, consider whether part of your challenge is that you are working against your ADHD. If this is the case, maybe it is time to…

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    ADHD and Sleep: Are You Getting A Good Night’s Sleep?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Treatment Options, Blog

      When it comes to sleep and ADHD, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest a greater occurrence of sleep problems in adults with ADHD than the general population. We also know that lack of sleep can make your ADHD symptoms (challenges with focus and attention) worse. So, if you have sleep issues, it is important that you address them as part of a holistic treatment plan for your ADHD. Whatever your challenges with sleep they likely fall into one of four areas. Falling Asleep Like many with ADHD, you may be an avowed night owl; you get a second wind late at night. The official medical term is Delayed Sleep-Phase Syndrome. You may find yourself unable to shut of your mind, even though…