Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder

by Edward M. Hallowell

SYNOPSIS OF TREATMENT OF ADD 1. Diagnosis: The first step in treatment is making the diagnosis. Often this carries with it considerable relief as the individual feels, “At last there’s a name for it!” The therapy begins with the diagnosis. 2. Education: The more one can learn about ADD, the more successful the therapy will be. A thorough understanding of what ADD is allows you to better understand where ADD affects your life and what to do about it. It also allows you to take the key step of explaining it to other people. 3. Structuring: Structure refers to the external limits and controls people with ADD so urgently need. Such concrete, practical tools as lists, reminders, simple filing systems, appointment books, goals, daily planning, and the like can greatly reduce the inner chaos of an ADD life and improve productivity as well as one’s sense of control. 4. Coaching and/or Psychotherapy: The person with ADD will greatly benefit from having a “coach,” someone standing on the sidelines with a whistle around his neck calling out encouragement, instructions, and reminders, and in general helping to keep things going on task. People with ADD thrive with this sort of structured encouragement, and they feel lost without it. Group therapy can provide this most excellently. Traditional psychotherapy may also be indicated if depression, problems with self-esteem, or other internal problems exist. 5. Medication: There are several medications that can help correct many of the symp...