I have had a tendency to forget things are cooking or forget to check them or the like for a very long time now. My attention span is just not that great and when I'm cooking I usually am doing several things at once. When I first bought this house the oven was not in good shape and heated more than it was supposed to, so forgetting things was really dangerous. To counteract this I always set the kitchen timer to go off every 5 minutes (or whatever) to remind me to go to the kitchen.
I've been doing this for so long now that I am noticing I have learned a new skill. Every time I think it's time to go check something in the kitchen I get there and there are 5 seconds left on the timer.
If therapy ever doesn't work out I can be a clock.
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Hi, Just Me--
Thank you for commenting over at MWDB on the post on PPD and PPP. And thank you for your blog. I read not only the post you cited but the entire thing. I'm so sorry to hear that you've not been well lately. You're in my thoughts. I hope you can keep up the blog, as much as you're able. You have great things to offer.
I would agree Just Me :)
Hi, came across this article that I think works well with your blog.
the adhd podcaster
the adhd podcaster
Children with ADHD
There is a perplexing state of affairs in today's society, there lies a strong correlation between the affluence of a society and the amount of disease that is present. There is also another correlation that troubles many a people and that is with affluence comes disease at an Earlier age.
Working with children and the parents of these children I often get asked the question, 'Why are Children with ADHD on the increase?'
The answer as you shall find is one that is both interesting and challenging.
Children of today are really no more different from the children of yesterday in terms of genetic makeup. However, if you examine the issue more closely you will tend to find that many children today have been given labels. For example, 'Oh, those are children with ADHD' or 'Those are the children who can't sit still.' Or 'That is the kid that always gets into trouble.'
These labels are not only destructive but also become a self fulfilling prophecy as it is repeated adnauseum.
So as a 21st century parent or a parent with a child with ADHD or a parent with children with ADHD, what knowledge framework do you need to equip yourself with to ensure your children live out their true potential?
Here is a quick reference list for thinking about ADHD
� ADHD is a source of great frustration because it is misunderstood
� ADHD medications are a great short term time buying device and should be avoided long term
� The above point goes for any sort of drug consumption. Think about it for a minute. Unless you have a biochemical deficiency in your body like Type 1 diabetes where your body fails to produce enough insulin or any at all, why would you take an external drug? A body that is in balance is totally healthy. It is only when the body is out of balance that dis-ease symptoms start to creep up.
� ADHD is a biochemical imbalance of the mind and body.
� The Head of Psychiatry in Harvard states that drugs for ADHD simply mask the effects of ADHD. It does not cure ADHD. This is an important point because a cure implies never to have to take the medication. This means that once you start on medication you will have to be on it for the rest of your life i.e. you have medically acquired a dependency for a biochemical imbalance. That is like stuffing all your rubbish (problematic behaviors) into a closet (medication) where no one can see it. But if you continue to stuff more rubbish into that closet, one day you will not have enough space and need to do one of two things. You either empty the rubbish (the natural conclusion) or you get a bigger closet (i.e. change to stronger medication to control the symptoms). The choice is obvious but sometimes when you don't have the necessary tools to deal with ADHD you tend to think the bigger closet is the only option.
� ADHD children are super sensitive to the emotions around them. Often they pick up emotional cues from their parents without realizing. Many parents come home frustrated or annoyed from work, the child with ADHD picks this up and starts to 'cause trouble' by becoming restless. Parents frustration increase because they just want some peace and quiet. They get angry which in turn is picked up by the child who then intensifies their activity. Things get way out of hand and some sort of punishment is handed down to the child who has no idea what just happened. The cycle repeats itself every so often.
� Our brains are wired emotionally. Positive praise is interpreted as an analytical/thinking exercise. Negative criticism including scolding, name calling, physical punishment all go directly to the emotional brain of children with ADHD. This means in order to ensure you get your message across in the most optimal way, you need to learn how to communicate with your ADHD children the way they like to be communicated with.
� Every negative comment requires 16 positive comments to neutralize the emotion. Save yourself the frustration and agitation by practicing positive communication.
The list is by no means complete. In dealing with children with ADHD there are a certain set of behavioural principles to follow. I will detail these steps in the coming weeks. I'll also build on the list as you continue to learn about what appears to be a mystical disorder known as 'Children with ADHD'
There are similarities, and ADHD is certainly another disease which has become incredibly popular as drug treatments have become more and more available.
However, it's important to note the differences as well. It is reasonable to choose not to treat ADHD with medications in a lot of cases. Bipolar disorder is 15-20% fatal when untreated. Behavioral approaches help those with bipolar disorder manage the disorder, but very few people (probably only those with a mild form) can manage without meds. Bipolar IS an established chemical imbalance, and taking meds for it is just like taking meds for diabetes. In fact that is an analogy used to the point of becoming boring.
My opposition is more towards diagnoses like ADHD and bipolar becoming popular. We ALL have tendencies toward each disorder, and just because treatment is available does not mean that more people should be treated. I believe that the harsh treatments should be reserved for those truly ill, and that the diagnosis also should be reserved for the severe cases. Those with milder versions should have a diagnosis of another name. I get about 4 migraines each year, spaced well apart and lasting for a day. Annoying, but not a big deal in any way. To me, treating those 4 migraines as if I had frequent and horrible migraines is overdoing it, and I believe we tend to do this with certain low level forms of mental disorders.
For that matter, I qualify for an ADHD diagnosis. I even take meds to help with this. I refused the diagnosis though because I did not have ADHD symptoms before I had bipolar symptoms, and having that label along with the one I've got doesn't mean anything. But even then, I have an overlap of my "normal" bipolar symptoms into another area and in theory qualify for whole new types of treatment.
Thanks for commenting!
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