Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder

by Edward M. Hallowell

1. Consider joining or starting a support group. 2. Try to get rid of the negativity that has infested your system. 3. Make copious use of external structure: lists, reminders, files, daily rituals, and the like. 4. When it comes to paperwork, use the principle of O.H.I.O.: Only Handle It Once. 5. Make deadlines. 6. Do what you are good at, instead of spending all your time trying to get good at what you’re bad at. 7. Understand mood changes and ways to manage these. 8. Expect depression after success. 9. Learn how to advocate for yourself. Adults with ADD are so used to being criticized that they are often unnecessarily defensive in putting their own case forward. 10. Learn to joke with yourself and others about your various symptoms. If you can learn to be relaxed enough about the whole syndrome to be able to joke about it, others will forgive you much more easily.