Adult ADHD

  • Here is a Method That is Helping ADHD Adults Initiate Easier

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

    If you are like many Adults with ADHD, you may be in the habit of relying on your sense of urgency to get into action. And sometimes it works — stuff eventually gets done when your back is up against the wall. But, even when it does work, it can come at a cost, right? When you often wait until the last moment to do a task you might: lose sleep. get sick often. be perpetually stressed. not eat well. experience more conflict in your relationships. And what happens when you just can’t muster enough urgency to get into action?! Then you are really stuck, especially if this is your go to strategy. And you probably get frustrated, wondering, “How could this be happening?! I…

  • 8 Techniques to Combat Procrastination When You Have ADHD

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

    If you are reading this article, it is because you were enticed by the prospect of learning how to stop procrastinating. Like many people I work with you’ve tried seemly everything under the sun to follow through, to little avail. So, at this point, you may assume that, left to your own devices, you are going to continue this way. And what you really need is someone to watch over you to make sure you follow through, right? If this is what you are thinking, I think you are wrong, sort of… Sure, accountability can be an important piece of the puzzle in addressing procrastination. But, when it comes right down to it, Adults with ADHD usually don’t want someone standing over them, telling them…

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    Wonder How Your Procrastination is Related to Your ADHD?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Time Management, Blog

    If you are like most Adults with ADHD, I bet procrastination ranks right up there in the top 3 behaviors you would like to change. While I’m not much of a betting person, I can be confident of this because I hear concerns, such as the ones below, all the time: Sound familiar? If these statements ring true for you, I would also wager that in most instances you are also well aware of the stakes involved. And that probably makes your procrastination even more maddening for you… Good news. Even if you are a diehard procrastinator now, you can change this. Are you in? The first step is figuring out the reasons for your procrastination. Yes, I know this will not immediately solve your…

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    Adult ADHD and Handling Rejection

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

    As I was reading “Rejection Proof- How I Beat Fear and Became Invincible Through 100 Days of Rejection” by Jia Jiang I knew I wanted to write an article about rejection and ADHD. But I also knew this would not be an easy topic to write about. I wondered, “How would I write an article that really speaks to the range of Adults with ADHD who deal with rejection?” Like many other self-help books, Jiang’s advice seems sensible, straightforward and somewhat simple to implement. Yet, like many other ideas you’ve tried to put into practice after reading a self-help book, you would likely not have an easy time putting his ideas into operation in your own life and getting the results you want. While it…

  • Work With Your ADHD – Hand Off Your Tasks

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

    One of the best ways to both work with your ADHD and be productive is not do certain tasks that, yes, definitely need to get done. And I’m not suggesting you drop or defer them, which certainly are options. I’m only suggesting you do not do them. You are probably wondering, “How is that possibly a good idea, Marla?!” Hang with me for a bit and let’s find out… Your ADHD and Should Statements Sure, everyone makes mistakes. But, if you are like many other adults with ADHD, you may feel like you often miss the mark. And, as a result of a life time of perceived mistakes, you might feel a sense of shame. So, in an effort to prove yourself and counter this…

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    ADHD and Communication 101 – Listening

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, Blog

    It might seem listening should be easy. After all it seems like a pretty passive activity, right? But in reality fully processing and understanding what somebody is saying to you isn’t always easy, especially for Adults with ADHD. Sometimes it is… hard… really hard. Sure, if you don’t care much about what the person is saying, you could get away with, “Uh ah, right, yes, sure…” And be on your way. But what about those times when you do care and/or you need to remember and use the information the person is providing? You need to be able to actively listen. If you struggle with being able to do this now, you can strengthen this muscle so you can flex it when you want. ADHD…

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    ADHD and How to Use the Right Tools for a Super Human Memory

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

     As an adult with ADHD you likely experience some sort of short and long term memory challenges. So, you may find yourself at times saying: Your brain is great for thinking and creating. But it is not what you want to rely on for remembering anything you need to recall at a specific time and place. The great news is that with the right combination of tools you can rely much less on your memory. Remembering the Hard Landscape of Your Life Yes, I know. You have been using a calendar for a long time. But you still may be making some common mistakes that get in the way of using it as efficiently as possible. You need to be able to trust that your…

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    ADHD and Avoiding Negative Thinking Traps – Part 2

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

      If you already read Part 1, you learned about 3 different types of faulty thinking and different ways your ADHD may be related to these thought patterns. In this continuation of the series we’ll look at the hypothetical case of Amir’s negative thinking traps, as well as methods he can use to address his faulty thinking. As you read about Amir, consider whether you have similar thought patterns. And hopefully, as you become curious about how your thinking about events and situations in your own life can lead you down one path or another, you will choose to manage these thoughts with one or more the suggestions below. Check out Amir’s thinking, first. Overgeneralizing When you overgeneralize you decide one bad event or situation…

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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 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…