Following on last month's Crusher blog on the benefits of ADHD coaching, figured a good next step was to drill down a bit into just how to pick the right coach or coaching program for YOU. After all, there are said to be some 1,000 ADHD coaches in the US and Canada alone, any of whom could potentially work with you locally or remotely.

Remind Me. Why Is ADHD Coaching a Good Idea?

If you're serious about pursuing alternative strategies to crush your ADD so that it's no longer running your life; if you really want to better understand the behaviors that have held you back; if you want to be more effective at work or school or parenting or just in everyday life...then an ADHD coach is worth at least looking into.

Ultimately, the right coach can:

1. Help you create positive new habits

2. Help you discover various paths toward success, and...

3. Be there as an accountability buddy

OK, I'm Curious. What's Next?

Do some searching for qualified ADD coaches online. There are a bunch of directories to be found with a simple search for, um, 'ADHD coach directory'. Of the sites that'll pop up look for trusted organizations like...

• ADDCA (ADD Coach Academy)
• ACO (ADHD Coaches Organization)
• ADDA (Attention Deficit Disorder Association)
• ADD Consults
• ADD Resources

Also, check out these Crusher-approved coaches. They're great coaches from many states across the country – but remember that coaches can work with you from anywhere on the planet.

Scour a couple of these directories to get a sense of the range of offerings. You'll find some coaches specialize – for instance, in students, or teens, or parents/families, or executives, etc. Of course make note of their credentials, as some are more seasoned than others (although a newly minted coach could end up being perfect for you, so don't let that be the only criterion). Then identify a few that "speak to you" – you like their tone, approach, etc.

OK, I'm Ready to "Interview" a Few

Once you've identified a handful you think you might like, give them a call or shoot an email with some questions, like...

• What's your relationship to ADHD and what got you into coaching?
• How many clients do you currently work with?
• How will we work together (e.g., frequency and method of sessions)?
• How will we define progress or success?
• What is your overall coaching philosophy?

Don't make a commitment right then and there – make sure you've spoken to all of your short-listers, then marinate on it for a day or two. As you do, consider the pricing for each coach in the context of the comfort- and confidence-level you have after your 'interviews'. This is important, because you don't want to nickel-and-dime such an important decision. The results you get from the right coaching relationship will easily outweigh the dollar costs of the sessions.

And Don't Forget About Group ADHD Coaching

Especially if out-of-pocket costs are a key criterion for you, group coaching can be an affordable, yet still effective, path. Here are two coaches who use the ADD Crusher™ curriculum in a group program at very affordable rates.

• Beth Main at www.ADHDSolutions.net

• Andrew Pebley at www.AndrewPebley.com

Indeed, a great coaching relationship can help you grow, mitigate miseries and even develop your ADHD gifts. Make it happen -- take action if you're so inclined!

If this blog post was of even modest interest to you...then you'll go freakin' crazy for ADD Crusher™ Videos & Tools. Give them a look-see. Try 'em. No like? Money back, guaranteed.

Want some more free tips? Get the FREE eBook: 5 Things You're Doing Every Day that Make Your ADHD WORSE!! Get it here.

This entry was posted on February 28, 2013 at 11:37 PM and has received 506 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

In my series of #CrusherTips on Twitter, I recently tweeted, "Hire an #ADHD coach. Even if 4 a few sessions, u can make huge strides," and got quite a few re-tweets on it. I think a lot of ADHD adults would LOVE to try a coach but, as I'll outline in a moment, barriers get in their way. I'll help crush those barriers, but first let's outline what ADHD coaching is all about, and why it's more and more mainstream for those seeking alternative ADHD treatments.

What's It All About, Coachie?

You've no doubt heard of career coaching, executive coaching and maybe even life coaching. Why would an executive need coaching? Why would anyone need coaching on "life"? Well, for one, neither careers nor specific jobs nor life come with an instructional textbook, yet the more you know about the possibilities in your career/job/life, the more likely you can be more successful and fulfilled.

But secondly, even if you had the textbook (i.e., a pretty good fix on what you want and how to get it), think about the difference between just reading a college textbook, vs. having a star professor walk you through it. The combination of expertise, objectivity and partnership from that third party can be the difference between doing so-so...and totally CRUSHING IT.

ADHD coaching is similar to other coaching branches, in that...

· It's based on a partnership between you and your coach...

· Coaching sessions might focus on a particular issue or problem you're having, and...

· The coach will offer objective insights and perhaps a range of different approaches to tackle the problem.

Ultimately, a good coach can help you create positive new habits, help you discover various paths toward success, and be there as an accountability buddy.

If It's a Great ADD Alternative Remedy, Why Isn't Everybody Doing It?

Several reasons. And not necessarily valid ones. Here are five Barriers to ADHD Coaching – each one CRUSHED:

1. General Awareness: "I wasn't aware there was such a thing as an ADHD coach." See above. CRUSHED.

2. Qualified Awareness: "I wasn't aware of the benefits of ADHD coaching." See above. El CRUSHISIMO.

3. D.I.Y. Syndrome: "I know about ADHD coaching and the supposed benefits – but I can do this myself." Ya, how's that workin' so far? OK, even if you're in pretty good stead, don't you want to kick life into a higher gear? Yours to CRUSH.

4. Cost: "It's probably too expensive." OK, there's definitely bucks involved, but see Group Coaching, below. Le CRUSHETTE.

5. Procrastination: "I'm in, baby!! But, um, just haven't gotten around to reaching out to a coach yet. But I will, soon!" See below! And put it on autho-CRUSH.

OK, I've done my job. Now you do yours. Hit these links to take action if you're so inclined.

Crusher-Approved Coaches: Here's a link to great coaches from many different states across the country – but know that coaches can work with you from anywhere on the planet. www.ADDCrusher.com/Resources

Affordable Group Coaching: There are two great coaches that actually use the ADD Crusher™ curriculum to coach in a group setting at very affordable rates. Both groups are starting a new session SOON!

• Beth Main at www.ADHDSolutions.net

• Andrew Pebley at www.AndrewPebley.com

ADD Coaches Academy: If you REALLY want to get serious, you can take a basic course – or learn to be a coach yourself!! www.ADDCA.com

If this blog post was of even modest interest to you...then you'll go freakin' crazy forADD Crusher™ Videos & Tools. Give them a look-see. Try 'em. No like? Money back, guaranteed.

Want some more free tips? Get the FREE eBook: 5 Things You're Doing Every Day that Make Your ADHD WORSE!! Get it here.

This entry was posted on January 8, 2013 at 11:48 PM and has received 553 views. There are currently 1 comments. Print this entry.

Creativity and problem-solving have a path, or window, into and out of your brain. That window is quietness of the mind. Hmmmm. Sound impossible for our ADHD tribe? It's not.

Mental fatigue is caused far less by work than by worry, frutration and resentment, as Napolean Hill once said. And creativity and problem-solving are locked out when the mind spins – especially on negatives. Today, Crusher outlines the benefits of what happens when you...Shut-up-a-you-mind.

Realities of the Noisy ADHD Brain

Here's a fact: 90% of the chatter running through your brain – your thoughts – is useless BS. Seriously. If you stop and have an objective listen, you'll find that your mind churns with fatiguing, often ego-based blather providing no value, no solutions. This recognition alone is a huge ADD crusher.

We waste most mental energy judging people and things. Even the seemingly innocuous kind – "Ick, those shoes!" "Geez that guy's disproportionate." "I'm prettier than her, right?" When you hear a judgment, shut it off. Make that a habit and you'll free up gads of mental energy. A mind above judgment is an overwhelm-crusher.

Shut It Up to Power It Up

Question: Which is easier - doing 30 push-ups at once, or doing 20, resting for, oh, 30 seconds, and then the final 10? It's a no-brainer, right? Just that little break allows you to do 50% more push-ups with relative ease. And your mind works just like your muscles.

If you could quiet your mind for just 30 seconds – better yet, a minute or two -- you'd feel reinvigorated, better able to take on a tough task. It's like resting your brain muscle before lifting the mental weight again. And it's easier than you think...

A Simple Form of Meditation as ADD Natural Remedy

A tranquil mind brings great power and focus. And a key is MEDITATION. No, not the kind where you moan, "auuummmmm" with a shaved head and unclipped toenails. Meditation in the sense of identifying mental BS – as described earlier -- as it enters your mind, gently brushing it aside...and replacing it with some mental quietness. Indeed, tough tasks become candy when quiet focus is ours. Using this simplest version of meditation is a powerful natural ADD remedy. And the benefits will quickly accrue if you can practice it enough to make it a habit:

· More focus when you need it.

· More creativity and better problem-solving abilities.

· Reduced stress and frustration (they disappear when your mind is quiet!).

· More mental energy on-demand, as well as overall stamina.

Give it a try. Here's a video snippet from Video I, Way 3. A future blog will share some more meditation tips and benefits. But you have to first promise that you'll...Shut-up-a-you-mind!!

If this blog post was of even modest interest to you...then you'll go freakin' crazy for ADD Crusher™ Videos & Tools. Give them a look-see. Try 'em. No like? Money back.

Want some more free tips? Get the FREE eBook: 5 Things You're Doing Every Day that Make Your ADHD WORSE!! Get it here.

This entry was posted on January 5, 2013 at 3:15 PM and has received 706 views. There are currently 3 comments. Print this entry.

Well, by now we're all likely back at school and certainly back at work – even if work is that brutal job of running a household...with ADHD and maybe even an ADHD kid or two. On the Crusher Facebook page, we recently posted a series of Back2School/Back2Work ADD alternative treatment tips, and thought it would be nice to summarize them here as the official month of BTS/W comes to a close. Heeeeeeere they are...

BTS/W Tip#1 : Remember that SUGAR SUCKS and to FEED YOUR BRAIN RIGHT!! Diet is your foundation throughout the day – if you are eating crap, it'll be a longer, crappier day at the office or on campus. Here's a free snippet from Video I/Way 1 on YouTube, with more on ADD diet.

BTS/W Tip #2 : When your mind becomes worn engaging study or tough task, pick up and move somewhere else. To another room. Another chair. Or to a coffee shop. The movement gets blood back to your brain...the brief break rests your brain muscles...and the new environment gives you a psychological fresh start. Of all the ADD alternative treatments I've tried, the power of this simple change has surprised me the most.

BTS/W Tip #3 : Consider getting a coach. Even if you only do a handful of sessions, you can make huge strides with a great coach's counsel. And many oppys for GROUP coaching, making it very affordable. Here's a list of great ADHD coaches.

BTS/W Tip #4 : Start a new policy of dismissing interruptions by LABELLING them as such, and clearly identifying the task at hand as "What I'm Doing NOW". Use this trick, whether in the office, in the study hall or around the house – and productivity will SOAR! Here's alink to a short section of Video II Way 8 on YouTube.

BTS/W Tip #5 : Don't make your ADHD worse than it needs to be!!! There's a bunch of stuff you're probably doing every day that will make school/work tougher. Ain't NO need fa dat!!! Get the free e-Book, "5 Things You're Doing Every Day that Make Your ADHD Worse" at www.ADDCrusher.com ASAP!

BTS/W Tip #6 : Keep your workspace visually clean. Clutter is not only a reminder of your many un-done to-do's, it affects your ability to focus on the task at hand. Keep a basket or box nearby to store miscellany. Make the surface of your desk like a clear blue sky. While not one of my favorite ADD alternative treatments to execute, once the cleaning is complete, I'm quite relieved and eager to focus.

BTS/W Tip #7 : Know your strong and weak times. If your best mental firepower is in the morning, focus on tough stuff then, and don't squander that power on BS. Likewise, don't try to engage tough tasks in your weak times – you'll just make yourself NUTS! Better explained via video – another snippet on YouTube with this ADHD time management tip.

BTS/W Tip #8 : Start a pattern of Pattern Interrupt. To remember a task to be done the next day, upset an existing pattern – tape the shopping list to the front door...move the broken piece of furniture in front of your bedroom door...put your toothbrush next to your car keys and you will NOT forget to go to the dentist.

BTS/W Tip #9 : Get more sleeeeeeeeep! We ADDers gotta strike a healthy relationship with sleep, cuz the less sleep we get, the weaker our brain and the more our ADHD runs the show. So...

· No sugar/caffeine after 5pm

· No media less than an hour b4 bed

· Protein snack a couple hours before bed

· Consistent pre-bedtime ritual to signal your body/mind, it's time...to wind...down.

BTS/W Tip #10 : Work hard!! Elbert Hubbard famously said, "Folks who never do any more than they get paid for, never get paid for any more than they do." And if the quote doesn't give you a lift, try this motivational video.

I'm not a big proponent of Top 10 Lists of ADD alternative treatment tips – because they tend to get read but not put into action, since you're getting 10 things thrown at you at once. My suggestion is to bite off just ONE of these and make it happen. Then come back for more.

If this blog post was of even modest interest to you...then you'll go freakin' crazy for ADD Crusher™ Videos & Tools. Give them a look-see. Try 'em. No like? Money back.

This entry was posted on September 23, 2012 at 11:31 PM and has received 522 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

In last week's blog, I shared some interesting bits on meds that I theretofore just plain didn't know. Hope some of the facts flipped on a light bulb of insight for some readers, too. Now, I enter into an area where I DO know a good deal, cuz it's been a driving force behind my own mess-to-success story since the day of my adult ADHD diagnosis: alternative ADHD treatments.

First a statement: Medication is a potentially powerful part of an ADD-crushing plan. Crusher doesn't take sides in the meds-are-good vs. meds-are-evil debate. I believe every ADHD adult should deploy every tool at their disposal – so long as it works and doesn't somehow screw with your wellbeing or your health. And those tools should DEFINITELY extend BEYOND medication. As they say, "Pills don't teach skills!"

Top 5 Alternative ADHD Treatments and Solutions I Use

So with that, here's a list of the non-medication alternative ADHD treatments that help me most on a day-to-day basis. And importantly, most of this stuff is FREEEEEEEE. It's not an exhaustive list, but it's a good overview, with some links to additional info:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) : For those not familiar with the term, 'cognitive' refers to how we think about things...'behavioral' is how that thinking translates into our actions...and 'therapy' is the addressing of those thoughts and related behaviors. Now, CBT needn't involve an actual therapist, though it can – and sometimes should. But I've made tremendous productivity, wellbeing and happiness advances by "treating" myself. One big way I did this was to change the way I view my 'failures' and successes. Negative self-talk is deadly when it comes to undercutting our potential success – and worse, depression and anxiety are greatly influenced by our negative perceptions. (I teach steps to a new mindset in Video II, Way 9: Score Your Successes.)

2. Mindfulness : Related to CBT is simply being mindful. This is a broad area of alternative ADHD solutions, but the primary focus of mindfulness for me is knowing what stuff is whirling around in your noggin, recognizing your thoughts' meaning and relevance, and ultimately, being able to prioritize those thoughts (also, see the quote below). I've blogged on this at Jennifer Koretsky's ADDManagement.com. And if you've any doubts about the power of simply being more mindful of your thoughts and related emotions, ask Google about neuroplasticity. This is the ability of the brain to change based on what you're paying attention to – how the brain actually PHYSICALLY changes and adapts to alter certain brain deficits.

3. Meditation : Don't be put off by this woo-woo word. (Is woo-woo a word? It is now folks.) Anyway, I meditate throughout the day – not by sitting on a bed of nails and murmuring, but by simply quieting my mind – which is EASY once you are MINDFUL of what's inside it (see above!). I call it "Shut-up-a-you-mind. And it can power up your mind in just a few minutes. More about that on the Crusher YouTube channel and in Video I, Way 2.

4. Coaching : I've had a few sessions with ADHD coaches as well as executive coaches and business coaches. Each and every time, I got more than my money's worth. And now, group coaching is sprouting up more and more, making coaching more accessible and affordable. Give it a try. Here's a link to my faves. Is there a better way to stay on top of alternative ADHD treatments than having a coach and support staff remind you of them on a weekly basis?

5. Proper Diet, Exercise and Sleep : OK, I know – "Booooorrriiiiing". But I gotta beat a dead horse here, cuz you've probably heard my mantra that "If you're eating a donut for breakfast, your kicking your own ass down the street!" These three things are the most POWERFUL and FUNDAMENTAL of all, in my view. The YouTube channel and Video I, Way 1: Feed Your Brain have the basics on this topic, as does this link on ADD diet tips.

A Note on Supplements as Natural ADHD Remedy

This is where things get tricky. I won't go into any detail here other than to say two things. First, the only supplements I use are four that are research-based no-BS brain helpers, easily remembered as ZIMB6. Zinc, Iron, Magnesium and B6. Get some quality supplements and take 'em every day in keeping with the recommended daily allowances. Second thing on supplements is: Beware any claims that sound too good to be true. Research the crap out of supplements, herbals, etc., that 9 times out of 10, are...crap.

There are many other alternative ADHD treatments, remedies and solutions, but these are my mainstays. I'll write some more down the road about others, some of which I've yet to try, like neurofeedback.

'Til then, Attention Talk Radio's archive has a great interview with Russell Ramsay on this very topic. In fact, there's probably an interview on each one of these individual alternative remedies! Check it out – it will round out and fill in the above for sure.

-Crusher

This entry was posted on August 21, 2012 at 2:00 AM and has received 728 views. There are currently 1 comments. Print this entry.

On the ADD Crusher™ Facebook page, we often see flurries of questions and qualms about medical treatment for ADD. I've always shied away from commenting too much on such posts, because, as I say right up front in the Crusher videos, I ain't no doctor or expert on anything other than the strategies that have taken me from mess to success. (Although I learn more good/useful stuff, including more alternative ADHD strategies, every day.)

On meds, I prefer to defer to folks like ADHD Coach Laurie Dupar who, as a former psychiatric nurse, can school you real good on meds – and does so in some of her presentations. Another reliable source is Dr. Charles Parker. I saw part of Parker's presentation at the ADHD Coaches Organization conference in March (where Laurie also made a great presentation), and you only have to see this guy talking for a few minutes to know he's a guy to listen to and learn from.

So when I found an archived interview with him on Attention Talk Radio (yes, it's been my go-to source for meaty blog topics lately), I had to listen, in hopes I might at least get a few pointers I could pass along to the Crusher Facebook fans. Well, he certainly delivered.

In an interview themed, "Pay attention to meds for paying attention", first thing he points out is that meds have to go through the body to get to the mind. Hmmm. Hadn't really thought about that. Anyway, as a result, what's going on with the body impacts how well your meds are gonna work. Here are a few interesting topic areas that will help you steer a smarter course with your (or your loved one's) meds regimen...

Immune System & Food Allergies: If you're allergic to milk, eggs or gluten, your bowel can become inflamed. By far the most common allergen is milk – but it's not always an acute thing. It's often chronic and asymptomatic, so you don't know it's going on. But that inflammation can interfere with the delivery of your meds to your brain.

Your Liver: you can have an otherwise healthy liver in terms of acute pathology – but a "constipated" one that has a chronic foul-up, thus affecting the absorption of med chemicals. Any treatment for ADD will be impeded when the liver doesn't function properly.

Your Diet: Neurotransmitters, which are what we're fixing when we take meds, are products of amino acids and proteins – and have a short half-life. So if your digestive process isn't right, you're not making the micro-nutrients that produce the neurotransmitters. And just as I teach in Video I, Way 1: Feed Your Brain, Parker says you gotta get the protein – escpecially in the morning.

Exercise and Metabolism: These two are related, because an increase in activity can affect metabolic rate – and you can burn through your meds' effective window more quickly as a result of a significant increase in activity. So a kid (or adult) who takes up a new sport that increases physical activity, may find that meds become less effective – and have no idea why!

Side Effects: These are the window into whether you're using the med correctly. If you're getting side effects – these are markers that are telling you that you need to change what you're doing!!!

Also know that different meds have different windows of effectiveness. Vyvanse is a different kind of med than Ritalin, for instance, so it has a different onset and 'shut-off'. Even a kid, Parker says, should be a "partner" in this arrangment, and parents can help kids to keep aware of the effective windows throughout the day.

And lastly – and this I tell EVERYONE, cuz I know it from personal experience -- each person is different and metabolizes stimulants differently. All too often, ADDers get the diagnosis, take the medication, have a bad experience, then give up. All the aforementioned in TESTIMONY to this view! Whichever treatment for ADD your doctor recommended intially, there's most likely another that could work better for your body.

You need to pay attention to how your meds are working. If something feels out of whack, go back to your doc and tell him/her in as much detail as possible what you're experiencing, because you (or your child) deserves to get correct results from meds. So if you go get a prescription and it doesn't work as you'd hoped or there's some problem – TELL YOUR DOCTOR and DON'T WRITE OFF MEDS. It's trial and error. Keep trying!!

Next week, I'll probably talk about NON-medication treatment for ADD, because that's the next ATR archived interview I'm looking forward to listening to, and I'm pretty sure it'll yield a useful, informative blog...

-Crusher

This entry was posted on August 15, 2012 at 3:40 AM and has received 835 views. There are currently 2 comments. Print this entry.

A while back I wrote a blog on the sad lack of ADHD awareness both around the world and even here in the U.S. The lack of awareness obviously makes things worse for ADD sufferers and those around them. But I failed to capture in that blog a major segment of society that gets a triple-whammy from low awareness: girls and women. Let me explain why it's a three-fer...

Whammy #1: General Lack of Awareness and Diagnosis

We are – or should be – aware of the many costs of general ADHD ignorance. Higher medical costs, criminal system costs (ADHD women AND men are very disproportionately represented among prison populations, which I blogged about back in March), lost business productivity, etc. Not to mention the personal misery and underachievement that accompany un-diagnosed and un-treated ADD/ADHD. That's a whammy for both genders. But...

Whammy #2: The Under-Diagnosis of Girls vs Boys

Even in advanced Western nations where we're supposedly enlightened about ADHD, the stereotype of the ADD kid as a bouncing-off-the-walls boy is the dominant perception. Girls, less likely to be of the hyperactive type, are more likely to fall through the cracks in their critical school years. It's also surmised that girls try harder at school and may have better grades, further masking their condition.

As a result, boys are diagnosed between three and nine times as much as girls. Some research suggests that even when teachers recognize symptoms of ADHD in girls, it doesn't get reported as much as for boys. So as awful as under-diagnosis is for everyone, it's whacking our daughters and sisters harder.

Whammy #3: The Uniquely Ugly Outcomes for Girls and Women

Being a male who just barely avoided major bodily harm, dodged the long arm of the law on many occasions and probably cheated death once or twice, I know first hand the uglier possibilites of undiagnosed ADD. For everyone, it's associated with lower levels of education, slower career advancement, more smoking and alcohol/substance abuse, etc. But here comes the icing on the triple-whammy cake (if you can call it icing): ADHD women and girls face some uniquely ugly statistics that men don't face...

• Unplanned pregnancy: Impulsive ADHD women are seven times more likely to become pregnant
• A high incidence of eating disorders and obesity

· With a higher divorce rate among ADHD adults, women usually end up on the shorter end of the economic stick when that happens – and typically maintain single-parent care of the affected kids.

It's Getting (a Little) Better, Thanks to Some Champions

ADD writer/blogger Zoë Kessler has done a great service to her gender by often blogging and vlogging on this issue (and I thank her for some of the stats reported above). But one woman, Dr. Patricia Quinn, has made a laser-focused mission of helping girls and women – with a range of websites, books and support organizations I encourage you to explore by Googling her name. Or, to quickly learn more about girls'/women's issues, a great primer is her archived interview on Attention Talk Radio back in December 2011. Give it a listen, and give some thought to how we can help undo this triple injustice to our mothers, sisters and daughters...and all AHDH women.

-Crusher

Image: NCPA

This entry was posted on August 6, 2012 at 8:57 PM and has received 1327 views. There are currently 3 comments. Print this entry.

Any ADDer worth his or her salt has heard of neurotransmitters – and has at least some inkling of what they do. And most of us might even be able to name one or two of the key neurotransmitters that come into play in our ADHD brains. But I bet few of us could describe their unique functions – let alone know any alternative ADHD solutions built around them. One ADHD expert, coach Linda Roggli, a.k.a. the ADDiva, found this lack of full awareness so common among her clients that she took to giving them nicknames for easier remembering. (Check out her interview on Attention Talk Radio if you want to hear her neat trick – and a great interview.)

In today's Crusher Blog, I'll do a quick summary of the neurotransmitters we should keep track of, and offer a few alternative solutions so that when you put your chosen natural cures for ADD into action, you'll understand better what's going on and be more likely to stick to your plan.

The Three Neurotransmitters the ADHD Adult Needs to Befriend

There are three neurotransmitters of importance to the adult with ADHD. Here they are with brief explanation of their role:

1. Norepinephrine is a stress hormone that, in its role as a neurotransmitter, affects key parts of the brain associated with attention and response, among other things. As such, it plays a key role in the ADHD brain. Some medications, Strattera for one, is designed to help with norepenephrine levels.

2. Serotonin is found primarily in the gastrointestinal tract (yep, your gut) and the central nervous system – and is widely believed to contribute to one's feeling of happiness and well-being. And it's also related to tryptophan, that chemical that in certain foods helps us with sleep.

3. Dopamine is the All-Star of neurotransmitters, if you ask me. It's responsible for motivation (or reward-based behavior), though that can be for good or for not-so-good purposes. As you may know, dopamine's the thing that some drugs jacks up and makes you seek more of in addiction. But if its powers are harnessed for good – such as I describe in Video I, Way 2: Get a Nagging Desire – it can chage your life on both a daily and long-term basis. Dopamine also has a key role in working memory, attention and congnitive function – hence, the All-Star player among the three.

Find Your Own Natural Cures for ADD by Understanding and Leveraging Your Neurotransmitters

Now, as I've said many times before, awareness alone can be a powerful alternative ADHD solution. So knowing about these powerful agents in our minds is great. But we can go beyond the awareness to putting these three guys to work for us. Here are a few ways:

Exercise ...Harvard psychiatrist John Ratey puts it simply: "Exercise stimulates a brain chemical that acts like Miracle-Gro for the brain." When you exercise you're giving your brain a jump-start. When your blood gets pumping your brain releases important chemicals that help crush your ADD. Exercise increases the neurotransmitter chemicals regulating the attention system. And regular exercise also helps improve our mood and our attitude. Get at least 20 minutes of cardio -- running, brisk walking, cycling – if you really want to feel a difference. Exercise is one of the best natural cures for ADD, because it stimulates the health-promoting chemicals our bodies produce naturally.

Diet ...Protein triggers alertness-inducing neurotransmitters that help you focus. Get quality protein from fish, lean meat, beans, dairy and protein drinks or powders.

Diet can affect serotonin levels, and certain serotonin-boosting foods that may help in this effort are dates, bananas and papayas.

And as mentioned, serotonin's helpful in sleep: If you have a protein snack – like cottage cheese – a couple hours before bed, the L-tryptophan helps your melatonin and serotonin production.

Self-Motivation ...Dr. Russell Barkley tells us that we ADDers are weak in the frontolimbic circuit, which is the center of self-motivation, "where you think about your goals, and it actually motivates you." He says that WE seem to LACK the ability to engage in a self-disciplined, persistent course toward our goals – unless there's some looming threat or other incentive. But we can confound that handicap by having strong desires that trigger dopamine production via emotion. As mentioned above, Nagging Desires can fuel that emotion. Watch a snippet of what I mean.

Our ADHD tribe has unique brain wiring, and a unique relationship therefore with these and other neurotranmitters. But a tribe we are, and together we can figure out some ofthe best natural cures for ADD. The more we understand our bodies' particular chemistry, the better our treatments will work. Like so many unlikely ADD heroes, these chemicals can truly be alternative remedies for our adult ADHD. Know 'em. Put 'em to work for you!!!

-Crusher

This entry was posted on July 31, 2012 at 9:39 PM and has received 1428 views. There are currently 2 comments. Print this entry.

Executive Function – "EF" – is quite the fashionable phrase the last few years. But what does it really mean, and what does it mean in terms of natural ADHD treatment strategies or to better understanding ourselves?

Fact is, as Dr. Russell Barkley recently pointed out in an interview on Attention Talk Radio, there've been too many definitions floating around out there, and no definitive one. But his new book seeks to wrap this matter up in a neater bow for us ADDers.

Executive Function: 6 Tools for ADHD Success

He breaks down EF into six 'mind tools' that together make for a kind of Swiss Army knife for the ADDer. They go a little something like this:

1. Self-Restraint: Ability to inhibit your automatic actions/reactions.

2. Self-Awareness: Ability to monitor yourself and what you're doing.

3. Hindsight Informing Foresight: Ability to visualize past imagery and make better-informed choices.

4. Self-Speech: Ability to talk to yourself privately with instructions.

5. Self-Regulation of Emotions: Ability to control your emotional state, a natural ADHD treatment that requires practice! Take it from me!

6. Problem-Solving: Ability to play with ideas in your mind to create constructive solutions.

For me, each one of these is a juicy box of possible topics to riff on – cuz each conjures one or more ADHD alternative treatment strategies that are either somehow expressed in the ADD Crusher™ videos, or that I've begun writing/developing for future Crusher™ videos. So if I were to let loose on all of these, I'd write a freakin' book. I'll spare both of us and, for now, just talk about Self-Restraint and how understanding it can be put to work for us.

If self-restraint is the opposite of impulsiveness, then we ADDers reaaallly suck at it. Even a cursory look at the role of impulsivity in the ADDer's life explains much of the pain in our often tortured existence.

· It's the unintentially offending remark that alienates a friend or acquaintance.

· It's the poorly considered – or the NOT-AT-ALL considered – purchase of something we don't need...and the financial woes that result.

· It's the walking out of the house without our keys...or phone...or child.

The Pause That Refreshes

These are all areas where a PAUSE could be enough self-restraint to mitigate the bad results. Yes, the pause is the thing. If you could pause to first consider the impact of your words, you'd have the opportunity to edit them. If you could pause to first consider how stupid buying that motorcycle is right now, you might recall that you just bought one last week. If you could pause to inventory your important personal items, tasks, family members, etc. In other words, you could change the course of what follows.

This raises two questions. One, if I'm inherently impulsive, how the @#$%$ am I supposed to remember to pause?!? And two, even if it occurs to me to pause, what do I do in that pause to make things any better?

How to Cause the Pause

We're gonna need an external cue that reminds us at the appropriate time to pause – or at least to be ready to pause. And here's the cue: entrance/exit. If you were able to associate the idea of entrance and/or exit with preparedness to pause, you'd be much more likely to do so and reap the benefits of self-restraint. And by this I mean both literal and figurative entrances/exits. To wit:

· When you enter a room full of people or enter into a conversation or argument, this is your cue to pause and be prepared to exercise self-restraint.

· When you enter a store or enter an e-commerce website, this is your cue to pause and ask yourself if you're about to make an impulsive purchase.

· When you exit your house, that doorway is your cue to pause and pat down your body to be sure you have everything you need; and when you exit your car, before you slam that locked door or trunk lid shut, pause to make sure your keys are firmly in your hand.

Awareness of how exective function plays into life's successes and failures is one of the natural ADHD treatments utilized by the great coaches.

Stop...Feel...Go!

And you can see in the above examples the answer to the second pause-related question – i.e, once you've caused the pause, you need to execute what I call Stop/Feel/Go. You stop your motion to feel your emotions, feel your surroundings or literally feel your pockets/keys/phone – and only then permit yourself to go forth.

I've been doing and teaching this for years – but listening to Barkley made me realize this is absolutely foundational to strong Executive Function. Thanks, Dr. Barkley!

-Crusher

This entry was posted on July 15, 2012 at 2:00 AM and has received 743 views. There are currently 4 comments. Print this entry.

Crusher believes that ADHD is best crushed with a range of treatments and solutions – which can be medication(s), alternative ADHD treatments,natural remedies, diet and lifestyle changes, ADHD coaching, mindfulness, neuro-therapy, etc., or some combination of all of these. If there is one thing I've learned battling this condition for the past 13 years, there is no one best alternative ADHD treatment for all.

In trying to get smarter on the whole megillah and perhaps learn of some emerging new adult ADHD treatment options, I listened to two archived Attention Talk Radio interviews with Dr. Russell Ramsay, a prominent psychologist at UPenn. While he and interviewer Jeff Copper covered the gamut of treatment options, one theme kept popping up in my ADD brain: the power of AWARENESS – and the realization that if you did nothing but improve your awareness of various realities, you'd be into at least 3^rd gear in your crush-mobile.

ADHD Treatment STARTS with Correct Diagnosis

It occurred to me that the first thing that happens on the road to effective ADHD treatment is the not-so-bitty bit of awareness – that you have ADD/ADHD! What a life-changer THAT is, huh? Although, according to Ramsay, an often-overlooked issue is CORRECT diagnosis. Often, mis-diagnosis of ADHD stems from the patient instead (or also) suffering from panic attacks, depression, a life situation or additional condition that complicates the matter. "All that glitters is not gold – and all that's inattentive is not ADHD," as he says.

The Most Underestimated Alternative ADHD Treatment is AWARENESS

Beyond this big one, there are scores of additional areas of awareness that can power you forward. And as I thought of the range of these, it occurred to me that basic self-awareness plus a dash of knowledge could be the single most underestimated form of ADHD treatment for us adults with ADD. Let's dig in...

· Start with awareness of ADD/ADHD's inner workings, its nature, co-morbidities, etc. The more you understand it, but more you can crush it.

· Awareness of the options available to you in terms of treatment and resources. There are countless!

· Awareness of what you're lousy at and what you're good at. (Check out the ATR interview with Wilma Fellman, which I recently blogged about.)

· Awareness of why you did what you did in your past (see my recent interview on Attention Talk Radio). There are great lessons to be had from even the darkest ADHD past.

Now, this modest blog post can't possibly TEACH all the facets of awareness, but I'll get some more mental wheels turning and further support the commanding importance of awareness as a powerful alternative ADHD treatment with some pointed questions...

· Are you aware that what you put in your body could be screwing you up? Crusher talks about this in Video I Way 1 – cuz it's so foundational!! (There's a preview on YouTube.)

· Are you aware that the constant, uncontrolled dialogue in your head is NOT a mandatory part of your existence – that you can quiet that thing down in order to power it up? Both Ramsay and Crusher™ videos (Way 3) address this powerful alternative ADHD treatment.

· How aware are you of the reality of time? Sure, you know you're always late, always under-estimate the amount of time required to finish something or to get somewhere, etc. But is your awareness at a level that you can compensate for it?

· Are you keenly aware of the reasons for your procrastination? Having that knowledge can unlock the door to action (as taught in ADD Crusher™ Video II, Way 7).

· I could go on, but I'm aware that a blog shouldn't get much beyond 700 words...

But lastly, are you aware of the unlimited possibilities that become available to you when you make the effort – whether alone or with a coach – to gain more understanding about yourself, to form positive habits and to believe in yourself? Ah, there's your icing in this cake of CRUSH!

-Crusher

Image: McGary Bowen

This entry was posted on July 9, 2012 at 4:08 PM and has received 417 views. There are currently 1 comments. Print this entry.