Reddit reviews Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder

Delivered From Distraction

For those of you who want to read the book but can't because you have ADD, I present the intro to the first chapter of the updated book, Delivered From Distraction:

(Y'see, Hallowell (the author) has ADD himself and he knows most of us won't be able to get through the book.)

Chapter 1: The Skinny on ADD -- Read this if you can't read the whole book

Most people who have ADD don't read books all the way through. It's not because they don't want to; it's because reading entire books is very difficult -- sort of like singing an entire song in just one breath.

We want to make this book accessible to people who don't read books all the way through. For those people, our most dear and treasured brothers and sisters in ADD, we offer this first chapter, set off from the rest of the book. Reading this will give you a good idea of what ADD is all about. If you want to learn more, ask someone who loves you to read the whole book and tell you about it. Or you can listen to it on a tape or CD.

We offer this chapter in the ADD-friendly format of Q&A. You can get the skinny on ADD in these thirty questions and answers. For more detail and research-based answers, you can refer to the chapters of particular interest.

For those blessed readers who intend to read the entire book, some of what's in this Q&A will appear again, but some of it won't, so you too should read this section.

Q&A Section follows

The first chapter is highly recommended reading, then you can cherry-pick the rest of the book.

Things that can throw normal people off a little (like too little sleep, poor nutrition, major life stress) can absolutely demolish your ability to function when you have ADHD.

If you can, help keep him on a routine that ensures he's getting healthy meals and adequate sleep. The sleep, in particular, can be an enormous battle, but it'll pay off in spades. (We use melatonin around here, but it's a good idea to try behavioral approaches and talk to his doctor, first)

Next step- learn everything you can about how his mind works. The book Delivered from Distraction is a great starting point for understanding ADHD, but also pay close attention to any patterns in his behavior and watch for potential triggers.

And if you really really want to help him, love him, love him, love him. He needs a buddy and advocate he can rely on, come what may.

http://www.amazon.com/Delivered-Distraction-Getting-Attention-Disorder/dp/034544230X

Normal path:

• 1. Teacher says you are misbehaving
     
     
• 2. "Expert" tells you, "you have ADHD"
     
     
• 3. You take medication, probably adderrall or Ritalin
     
     
• 4. You tell people, teachers, yourself, "I just have ADD, I'm special, it's not my fault, I need drugs." You still don't really understand the issue. There may be another diagnosis or complicating factors that have built up over times, your self esteem and self image may have suffered.
     
     Better:
     
     
• 1. Get this book:
     http://www.amazon.com/Delivered-Distraction-Getting-Attention-Disorder/dp/034544230X
     
     
• 2. Try to find a good or at least competent therapist (25% are competent, only 10% are good). Even someone close who understands ADHD very well will work. Your goal is to understand ADHD really well.
     
     
     
• 3. Find out who else has it (if you have ADHD, most of your friends/family members probably do too) and try to help them with it.
     
     Best:
     
     
• 1. Collect underpants
     
     
• 2)...
  
  
• 3. Profit!!

This could be part of it. If you're comfortable with it, try delaying it like I do. I'm really curious if it will work for someone else. I feel like the initial effects often make me focus too narrowly on the wrong things if I'm not already being productive.

If you don't have the willpower to get out of bed and shower then something is up whether you know it or not. Remember you don't want to be dependent on your meds to do things. You aren't being prescribed stimulants (assuming since you implied they wake you up) to treat your sleepiness, even though I'm sure we're all guilty from time to time. A helping hand, not a crutch is a good and safe way to view them.

Delivered From Distraction is my absolute favorite book on ADHD. It's incredibly revealing, heartbreaking, and inspiring all at the same time and I feel like I learned more about ADHD in that book than the entirety of my previous knowledge through school, wikipedia, random info searching sprees, etc. Keep in mind, it is one thing to read a book and another to apply it's knowledge. Applying the knowledge is the hard part with ADHD.

Instead of focusing on the negatives of ADHD you might try seeing if you have the positives of it. People with ADHD tend to understand things faster than those without, as long as the person's attention is actually on the subject and hasn't run off already before the instructor adds more to it. You might try reading this book, http://www.amazon.com/Delivered-Distraction-Getting-Attention-Disorder/dp/034544230X

I found this book pretty helpful. However, it is not a replacement for actual treatment. Many pediatricians treat ADHD, but it's not their primary focus. Unfortunately, it's way too common that they simply prescribe medication and hope for the best. I'd suggest looking around your area for doctors who specialize in treating ADHD. Look around until you find one with whom you're comfortable and whose treatment is effective for you.