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“Laugh Therapy”: ADD – AD/HD

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

I love to laugh. People who know me can attest to the fact my laugh can be, well, loud. Laughing is healthy, as long as it isn’t done to avoid a serious issue or to demean someone else. It certainly is a great way to reduce stress. So, go ahead and laugh at yourself, humorous ideas and life’s absurdities, but, please, do not laugh at other people. Having ADD, I have many opportunities to laugh at myself, and I take full advantage of them. Here is part of a recent conversation between my daughter and me: G: What are we going to do on my day off from school? Marla: What day off? G: Tomorrow… Marla: Really, you don’t have school tomorrow? G: Remember… Marla:…

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ADD – ADHD: A Gift or A Disability?

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Blog

Is ADHD a gift or a disability? This question has been the topic of many discussions in the ADHD community. Before I address this question, in typical ADHD fashion, I want to address a related question that I find more interesting. What feelings and actions follow when you have you have the thoughts: ADHD is a disability or ADHD is a gift? If you are empowered to meet the challenges of having ADHD by either of these thoughts, then, by all means, stand firm in your beliefs. If having either of these thoughts encourages you to draw on your strengths in order to meet your goals, then, please, incorporate them into your belief system. My hope is that, whatever belief you decide to hold, you…

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Increase Your Chances of Follow Through 8 Fold

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Time Management, Blog

I see the word PROCRASTINATION flashing in bright lights when I hear comments, likeI hope to do my paper tomorrow. I’m thinking about finishing my report. My plan is to start painting the garage. I need to do call Mr. Smith. Then it is time to “tease out the details” by providing the answers to questions, such as: What are the specifics steps to accomplish this task? How long will it take you? When are you going to do each step? What do you need to do to prepare? Who is going to hold you accountable? I know that there is a greater chance of actually doing the task, if there is a concrete plan and accountability. In the article, “Procrastinating Again? How to Kick the Habit,” the…

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Should I Disclose That I Have ADHD To My Employer?

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, ADHD in the Workplace, Blog

In my last blog entry I wrote about making the decision of whether to disclose to your boss and/or colleagues that you have ADHD. In this article, I am looking at an alternative to disclosing. Of course, you may apply these suggestions to disclosing to anyone, such as teachers/professors, friends and extended family members. Rather than disclosing, you may be able to have a conversation in order to accomplish any or all of the following objectives: create a better environment for yourself enhance your relationships be a team player advance your standing in school or career give the impression of being skilled in school or in your job Delivering The Message The key factor is the manner in which the message is delivered. When deciding…

One Surefire Way To Reduce Stress When You Have ADHD
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One Surefire Way To Reduce Stress When You Have ADHD

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Time Management, Blog

  I know the stress of having a plate that is overflowing, especially when you have ADHD. Sometimes, when this happens, our instinct is to go faster and do more. Alternatively, we can become so overwhelmed that we just give up, as we become involved in activities that distract us from working toward our goals. While we know that doing nothing is not productive (unless we really need a rest- that is another story), we don’t always recognize that trying to do more and go faster, without planning, can also be counter-productive. If you are going so fast that you do not have a complete list of what needs to be done in order of priority with deadlines, how do you know that you will…

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What Is ADD Coaching?

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Treatment Options, Blog

What is ADD Coaching? I hear this question all the time. As the field of ADD Coaching is relatively new, many people, understandably, do not know about it. When I was a teacher no one ever asked: “Marla, what is teaching?” Like most of us, they assumed that they knew what the work of a teacher entails. Whether that is accurate or not would make for an interesting conversation. I won’t digress here, though. So, now, as an ADD Coach, I welcome these conversations about my work. It is an opportunity to share my perspective of ADD Coaching, and how this perspective informs my practice. Just like teachers, ADD Coaches describe the service that they provide in different ways. Here is how I have come…

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ADHD and Strategies To Stop Procrastinating

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Time Management, Blog

Before you read this article, you may want to read values and procrastination, and then reasons for procrastinating. After reading these articles, and doing the accompanying exercise, you will be able to identify: the tasks that are important to you. the reasons why you are procrastinating. Now for the sixty-four thousand dollar question: How do I Stop Procrastinating? As I always tell my clients, you may need to experiment a little before you find the right strategy for you. So, please, experiment. See what works, and what does not work. Strategies 1. Sometimes when you are overwhelmed you feel like you should go faster and do more. You may be a whirlwind of activity and still be procrastinating. But what you really need to do is STOP and BREATHE…

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ADHD and Procrastination: Why Do I Procrastinate?

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Time Management, Blog

  Before you read this article, I suggest you read my previous post on procrastination and values. In that post, I asked you to consider whether completing a task is important to you or not. If the end result of the task has no value for you, I suggested that, rather than worry about procrastination, you should make the choice to put it aside. In this post, I am delving into the reasons that you may have for putting off tasks, which are important to you, are truly in sync with your values. That is, I am assuming that you do value the outcome, but are still procrastinating. My hope is that once you have identified what is important to you and the reasons that you delay those tasks, which will help you…

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ADHD and Procrastinating: Should I Do This?

ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, ADHD Time Management, Blog

Procrastination is a complex topic. It is not just about managing your time better. First, I want to look at the connection between values and procrastination. I have come to understand procrastination through my own experience with it, as well as through conversations I have had with my clients. While it is certainly not a habit endemic only to people with ADHD, as we all put off doing things, it is certainly prevalent among adults with ADHD. For some, procrastination causes little concern. For others, procrastination can prevent them from reaching their dreams, like graduating from college or working in their chosen career. Want or Should The first step in addressing procrastination is being able to distinguish between those tasks that you want to do and those…

ADHD and Managing Interruptions
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ADHD and Managing Interruptions

ByMarla Cummins ADHD in the Workplace, ADHD Time Management, Blog

  On many occasions, my clients ask me how to manage interruptions when they are trying to do work, either in a home office or in a work place. As staying on task for adults with ADHD is often challenging, having outside interruptions can prove to be “the straw that breaks the camel’s back.” There are strategies to handle this, though. Making A Choice Does it seem rude to you not to talk to someone when they come to your office or cube? If it does, you may knowingly or unknowingly be holding one or more the following assumptions.  “I have no choice in the matter.” “If I tell someone that I am busy, whatever I say will be rude.” “Since I allow people to…