Product Description

Written in response to common questions posed by adults with ADD in the author's clinical practice - and for all adults with ADD, as well as those who care about them - this book is designed as a clear and practical guide for day-to-day life. The author's perspective is one of compassionate realism as she answers specific questions related to understanding and accommodating ADD whether making daily decisions or larger life choices. No matter where one is in the scenario - curious about ADD, just diagnosed, experiencing particular problems, considering major changes - her are effective strategies to help the person anticipate and negotiate the challenges that come with the condition. The question-and-answer format provides easy access to information. Do I have ADD? What are the symptoms? Would I be taking medication? How can I manage the condition? How do I explain ADD to the significant people in my life? Why can't my spouse understand me? Is this the right job for me? Are there techniques to increase my memory? Can I go back to college and do well? Does ADD affect men and women differently? What should I consider when choosing a doctor or therapist? Will my insurance cover treatment? This is just a small sample of the types of issues addressed. These pages are filled with important tools and tactics for self-care and success - and the personal stories at the end of the book reinforce how and why these approaches work. The resources list and references indicate sources of further support.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #328585 in Books
• Published on: 1996-04-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Book Info
Chesapeake Psychological Services, Bethesda, MD. Consumer health guide on Attention Deficit Disorder for laypersons diagnosed with ADD. Discusses common concerns and questions, including causes, diagnosis, treatments, strategies, and accommodations.

Customer Reviews

There are better resources out there
As an adult with ADD myself, I have read a lot of the books that are out there, especially the ones that are about practical ways of dealing with the situation (I refuse to call it a "condition," like some kind of disease). This one was disappointing. I envy the earlier reviewers who found this book helpful--apparently they saw something in here that I did not. For example, for me, most traditional ways of getting organized, such as using day-runners or electronic schedulers, simply don't work--I leave them behind, and I forget to enter information into them, and then I feel terrible about my disorganization. (I currently have about 5 dusty, outdated dayrunners in a box, adding to the clutter--and the guilt.) Then when I read the section about relationships in this book, I ended up feeling kind of uneasy. There is a bit of an unspoken message that anyone who puts up with ADDers is a virtuous and worthy soul (i.e. a martyr). Years ago I worked in the social services field, running a program for mentally retarded folks with behavior management problems, and somehow the tone of this book is very reminiscent of the tone the social workers used when talking to our clients--a little too simplistic, a little too patient, a little too patronizing. Maybe I just respond much better to books written by people who have ADD themselves than to ones written by social workers or psychologists, or to books that steer clear of value judgments, even unspoken ones. I would recommend "View From The Cliff," "Healing ADD," "Conquering Chronic Disorganization," and even "The Kitchen Sink Papers" as offering much more practical information on dealing with the difficulties ADD can create in life, and that recognize that people with ADD don't like being "managed." We just want concrete ways to adapt our style of doing things to cope with the demands our current society makes.

Disappointing
This book seemed like a bunch of pamphlets strung together. Nadeau introduces a number of relevant topics, but they are all addressed superfically. While this book may have been an important contribution to education for ADD adults when it was written in 1996, more thorough and up-to-date introductory information is now available on the web. I think readers would be better served by other, more recent and more in-depth books.

The best after your diagnosis
This was the first book I read when I first thought I might have ADD, and it's the best for that point in learning about what you're dealing with and how to deal with it. Clear, concise, insightful. She definitely knows her stuff and how to get it across.