From the Bookshelf of La Crescent Public Library…

[close] From the brains behind the social media account @ADHD_Love, comes the book Dirty Laundry: Why adults with ADHD are so ashamed and what we can do to help. Neurotypical (non-ADHD) Richard Pink and his neurodivergent (ADHD) wife Roxanne Emery share how they navigate Rox's ADHD diagnosis from their different perspectives. Rox shares stories of what life was like before her diagnosis, explaining how much shame she felt before she could put labels on what was happening in her mind. Rich shares stories of his feelings and reactions to Rox's actions before her ADHD diagnosis, and how his perspective has shifted now that he understands what's going on in Rox's head.

Part memoir, part guidebook, great for neurotypicals trying to understand the neurodivergents in their lives, and for ADHDers to understand they're not alone in their experiences and feelings. They tackle the feelings of shame that come up from a lot of different ADHD symptoms, from task-avoidance ("I know this thing has to get done, why can't I just do it?") to time-blindness (losing track of time, running late, underestimating how much time it takes you to get where you're going).

~ Emily