Blog

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    ADD Foibles: Oops, Did I Misread That?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

    Ok, just for the record, I do not really follow sports and am not much of a spectator, unless I’m watching my daughter. So, why I am reading Sports business daily? Good question, thanks for asking. I am interested in the human interest side of sports. You know, like following the exploits of A-Rod and Madonna… In this case, it was the reporting about Major League players and their use of stimulants for AD/HD, as reported in this article that caught my attention. And you know, it is hard to catch my attention… As I was preparing to write this blog, I realized that I had misread the article. So then I decided that I was going to use the article, anyway. There is nothing…

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    Rx and College Students with AD/HD

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Treatment Options, Blog

    While engaging in my favorite morning ritual of drinking coffee, writing and listening to NPR, I heard this report, "More Students Turning Illegally To ‘Smart’ Drugs," on Morning Edition. I was not surprised to hear of the illegal use of Adderall and Ritalin by college students. I knew that this was occurring when I worked at Boston University. While I was not surprised, I was immediately concerned about how people would interpret this report, especially after hearing from a college senior with ADD, who had a monthly prescription for Adderall. He says that he rarely uses the 60 pills he gets each month, unless he needs to "pull an all-nighter." Instead, he says:"I usually just give it to my friends. I don’t really want to…

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    ADD – ADHD: Preventing Hard Drive Crashes

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Time Management, Blog

    At some point most of us have had to deal with a computer that is running too slowly. So, typically, we clean the hard drive in order for the computer to run faster and smother; the idea is to create extra free space. First, we analyze our hard drive, and then decide what items to keep and what items to delete. When you have AD/HD and your brain is full of information, like tasks and ideas, you may feel overwhelmed when faced with making these decisions when it comes to your life. When you do make these choices, though, you will be amazed at the extra free space. We all are faced with too many options. Thinking about today, I could: meet with clients, clean…

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    AD/HD: Staying Grounded…In Tough Times

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Blog

    The state of the economy has taken up quite a bit space in my head, lately. This seems reasonable, when, aside from Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, it is the hottest topic in the news, right? Specifically, I have been thinking about the connection between fear and the economy. Then I started pondering the relationship between fear, the economy and AD/HD. Whew… Clearly, the economy is in rough shape, as we slide deeper into a recession. While I was an economics major in college, there are resources far more credible than me to give an in depth commentary on the current state of the economy. Suffice it to say, as a result of the recession, many people are suffering because of the loss of jobs,…

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    ADD – ADHD: How Do You Motivate Yourself?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Organization, Blog

    I received the following question from a client this week. “Are you willing to share how you pull yourself out of those “can’t get anything done” spots?” I did my best to answer. What do you do? I’m sure that you can add to this list. Sometimes, I act “as if,” which comes from a Hebrew term I learned. That is I do one thing even if intellectually I’m thinking it does not matter. I set a minimum goal for the day, if I’m not feeling productive. For example, even if I am in a hole, I make sure that I take care of my active clients. It is not enough to keep a business going, but some days are just like that… Other times,…

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    ADD – AD/HD: Yes I Can!

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

    Today is Martin Luther King Day. It is a day when we not only remember the legacy of MLK, but it is also a day when we remember that there is still work to do to make this a truly just world. Tomorrow Barak Obama will be inanugrated as the first African American president. Yes, it is monumentally historic, but our collective work is not done, yet. Today and tomorrow are about hope, as much as they are about the results of a dream. While I am realistic about the challenges that we face as a nation, I am hopeful, though. I am hopeful because, regardless of the speed or results of the changes, we may once again be a country based on values that…

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    ADD – ADHD: Succeeding – With A Little Help From Our Friends

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Organization, Blog

    For people with ADHD, one of the key strategies used to reach goals is accountability to other people. If you have help, could you progress further on your goals than if you are only accountable to yourself? Use the following questions to help you decide. Do you do better when someone is working with you or just keeping you company? Would you be more likely to keep your commitments, if you tell a trusted person of your plans and ask them to check in with you as you progress? Is it helpful for you to talk about your plans aloud? If you are curious, try experimenting. Ask for help from someone who you think will be truly helpful and non judgmental. For people with ADHD…

  • ADD – ADHD: Don’t Make New Year’s Resolutions, Please.

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

    New Year’s resolutions do not work for most people; they especially do not work for those of us with AD/HD. It can set us up for failure, rather than success, when it is just wishful thinking, like: I’m going to exercise. I’m going to lose weight. I’m going to get a better job. If you are serious about making a change, create a goal. We need a process, a strategy that leads to a result. The goal is the end result, not the strategy. Here is how I am defining goal: 1. It is your own. You have made the decision that this is something you want, and are invested in achieving. Maintaining motivation to achieve a goal that is interesting is challenging enough when…

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    ADD – AD/HD and Work: Should I disclose

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD in the Workplace, Blog

    I was at a meeting where the discussion turned to whether or not people with AD/HD should disclose to people at work that they have AD/HD. I came away thinking that, well, it depends. Sorry, but this is an area that does not lend itself to easy answers. Using the following will help you as you consider your options. You do have a choice. Deciding whether to disclose:I may want to disclose because:I hope that the outcome of disclosing is:I will talk to people I trust and can discuss with me all of the potential implications of disclosing. These people are:If I am still not clear on the implication and have more questions, I may talk to: I have decided to disclose and this is…

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    Managing the Holidays – Thoughts About Thanksgiving

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, Blog

    Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the U.S. If you are celebrating, you may be looking forward to it as an opportunity to give thanks for all that you are grateful for in your life. At the same time, you may be feeling some trepidation because you are anticipating the potential for discord that can happen when families gather. Notice how you feel about spending the holiday with family and/or friends when you hold either thought, grateful or potential for discord. Just as it is your choice to hold either thought, it is your choice to set your own boundaries and take care of yourself. How does it feel to be grateful for what you have and be able to take care of yourself? Really, it is…