Zoe Kessler's Blog, page 5

7 Dirty Little ADHD Secrets

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I’ve read a lot of books written about ADHD by people who don’t have ADHD. Like other groups, it’s amazing what we talk about when it’s just us.

Some might see me as a traitor, giving away these dirty little secrets, but somebody’s got to do it. Besides, so far they’re just my hypotheses. I’d love to see some research to back up my observations.

The one thing that’s not a secret is that the more we understand ADHD, the better we’ll be able to help ourselves and hel...

10 Questions That Will Transform Your Life with ADHD

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When I was little, asking questions often got me into trouble. I had questions about everything. Apparently this was annoying to teachers, parents, and random strangers. I still want to know everything about everything, but I’m learning to make that work for me in a practical sense.

Ironically, asking questions has also become an integral part of my ADHD treatment. Here are 10 key questions that, if you get into the habit of asking them at the right time, might...

My First ADHD Coaching Experience!

ADHD Whiteboard To Do List

Coaching is said to be one of the most beneficial non-pharmaceutical approaches to treating ADHD. While I know of countless ADHD coaches, I can’t think of one person I know who has one.

I am therefore offering myself up as a guinea pig.

Expectations

I’m not quite sure what I expect from coaching (which, when I think about it, is probably an indication that I need one). I’m thinking it will be something along the lines of paying someone to nag me, not unlike when my mom...

An Off-ADHD-Meds Update

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I’ve been off ADHD stimulant medication since about March 17. I must have the luck ‘o the Irish because (with the notable exception of the owl incident) I think things are going pretty well.

Some of you have expressed an interest in my progress (or lack thereof) and I’ve promised updates. Here’s the latest.

Physical

I’ve noticed a few physical changes, especially in sleep and energy levels.

Sleep

I was surprised to find that within a day or two of discontinuing my med...

Things You Know and Might Not Know About ADHD

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Sure, you’ve been reading ADHD blogs, and you’ve got your subscription to ADDitude Magazine. You’re a webinar junkie and you’ve been using ADD Crusher’s instructional videos to crush your ADHD. You’ve read the ADHD classics and all the latest, including ADHD According to Zoë – The Real Deal on Relationships, Finding Your Focus & Finding Your Keys.

But do you really know as much as you think you do about ADHD?

Let’s find out.

You probably know: The Diagnostic and Sta...

Defining Success When You Have ADHD

Zoë summits the mountain with ADHD! ( Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada)

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”

- Maya Angelou

Before I knew about ADHD, I often felt like a failure. Instead of summiting the mountain, I was more likely to fly into it (flying without an air traffic controller will do that to you).

After my diagnosis, I understood that I was working with a different brain and a highly sensitive nervous system. I also realized that the popularized noti...

ADHD and Procrastiphobia

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Recently, I discovered that I’ve developed Procrastiphobia, a neurotic fear of procrastination. (Don’t look up Procrastiphobia; I made it up. Sometimes I have to do that to fully capture the ADHD experience. I know you get it, just like you got Form-O-Phobia, blurtacious, and NSL.)

But back to the dilemma at hand: fear of procrastination.

Given the fact that procrastination was the nemesis that led to my ADHD diagnosis, it’s not unreasonable that I would fear its destr...

Three Strikes, You’re Out

I thought it was time for an update about my experiment with going off ADHD medication. Yesterday, I confessed about caving in to the temptation to touch a dead screech owl’s beak and talons to see what they felt like (smooth and bone-like, if you’re wondering).

As far as I was concerned, the Screech Owl Incident was one strike against my non-medicated ADHD status.

This afternoon, I received a second strike. That’s when I came up with the “Three Strikes, You’re Out” rule for my ADHD medication...

Don’t Kiss the Cat

Zoë and Sunshine, 1991

There are two kinds of people: those who will kiss their cat on the cheek or their dog on the lips and those who won’t. I once had a vet who kissed her dogs on the lips. She’s lived to tell the tale.

Don’t kiss the cat

As most of you know, I recently made the decision to go off my ADHD medication. I’ve been hypervigilant in monitoring what changes occur in my decision-making, relationships, and ability to find my keys.

I’ve noticed some differences but I’m happy to say not...

Unhappy April Fool’s Day

Tim via Compfight

I’ve been racking my brains trying to figure out why I can’t think of an April Fool’s Day post. I love writing humor, why would this be so hard?

This morning on Twitter one of my wise and wonderful Twitter peeps pointed out the obvious: her ADHD son has been dreading April Fool’s Day for weeks. Aha!

April Fool’s Day with ADHD is no joke.

How can you get creative and have fun with a day that scares the hell out of you? Writer’s block was inevitable.

I’ve long felt like a sourpuss...