Books like Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood

Although I have always joked with my students that I must be borderline ADD, I would never have diagnosed myself as actually suffering from the disorder. I even fostered a child with ADHD, diagnosed and medicated, such that I was aware of the problem, but never thought that I really had the condition. Even when I started reading Driven to Distraction, I was reading it to become more familiar with what someone else was going through (actually, what several people I know and care about were going through) than reading it for myself. One of those people had said, "I think you have ADD yourself" and gave me this book. But I still thought I was reading for someone else.Yet, as I read the case studies, I began to think this psychiatrist had been "reading my mail." I was brought to tears on several occasions as the patients expressed feelings with which I had lived my entire life and accused themselves of the same psychological crimes that I had accused myself of whenever I stopped long enough to evaluate my life. They perceived themselves as lazy, undisciplined, irresponsible, and undependable--all charges leveled against myself by myself, all charges that occasionally lay me mentally low into nasty, inexplicable depression. Even at those low points, I blamed myself. I accused myself of self-indulgence and diagnosed myself as lacking in spiritual faith.And then, I read this list:Diagnostic Criteria for Adult ADD1) sense of underachievement2) difficulty getting organized3) chronic procrastination4) too many projects – trouble with follow-through (p. 73)5) saying what one thinks without self-censorship 6) frequent search for high stimulation 7) intolerance of boredom8) easy distractibility, focus problems9) often creative, intelligent 10) trouble with PROCESS – established procedures (p. 74)11) impatient, low tolerance for frustration (p. 75)12) impulsive, both verbally and actively13) worries needlessly14) insecure15) mood swings16) restlessness (p. 75)17) tendency toward addictive behavior (p. 76)18) chronic self-esteem problems19) inaccurate self-observation20) family history of ADD. I had to answer "Yes" to 19 of the 20.A few pages later, he described a successful, but unhappy professional as having a study littered with piles. Had he been peeking at my study and my basement work space? “So many adults with ADD have piles, little mess-piles, big mess-piles, piles everywhere. They are like a by-product of the brain’s work.” (p. 80) Yet a few pages later was a description of a minister who described a cloud—a feeling that her personal world was about to collapse “Sort of like a cartoon character who’s run out over the cliff and his legs are still pumping, but he’s only standing on air and he’s about to fall a long, long way down. … I ascribe my success to the grace of God, but I’m still left with this feeling that it could all be taken away.” (p. 83) How often have I been there?I always feel like I've wasted opportunities, blown chances, irresponsibly cadged together inadequate work just before deadlines, and more. I've always blamed myself. And now, I realize that there is a reason. In fact, not only is there a reason, but there is much that can be done about it. The best part of this book is that it isn't trying to pre-diagnose people and pre-dispose them toward medication. Most of the book is about what can be done without medication. That's a relief to me. Approaching 61, I realize that it's probably too late for me to do more than live with the problem. However, it was also nice to realize that some of what I've done that works for me is what this psychiatrist (who also suffers from the disorder) recommends.1) Support group2) Rid self of negativity (largely self-imposed) (p. 98)3) Use lists, reminders, files, rituals as structure4) Use O.H.I.O. (only handle it once) for paperwork 5) Make deadlines6) Do what you’re good at, instead of spending all of your time trying to get good at what you’re bad at7) Understand mood changes and how to manage8) EXPECT depression after success9) Learn to advocate for yourself10) Learn to joke with yourself and others about your symptoms (p. 99)[NOTE: This is the short list. He offers 50 tips on pp. 245-253 from which I've chosen other methods to work with my problem.]I also appreciate his quick mnemonic of tips for coaches/therapists working with ADD sufferers:Tips for the Coach:H – Help – Ask the person you are coaching, what kind of help do you need?O – Obligations – Ask specifically what obligations are upcoming and what the person is doing to prepare for them (If you don’t ask, the individual may forget to tell you.)P – Plans – Ask about ongoing plans. It is very helpful to remind people with ADD of their goals.E – Encouragement – The most fun part of the coach’s job is to be affirmative in this battle against chaos and negativity (p. 227). He also notes that the coach/therapist may have to act as a “distraction censor” (p. 230).This book is informative, helpful, and, for me, timely. I look forward to reading his updated version, Deliverance from Distraction and implementing some of these ideas.