Frank South

http://www.franksouth.net

Frank South is an ADDitudeMag.com blogger (Better Late Than Never), a writer for stage (Pay Attention) and screen, an educator (Kids Talk Story), an ADHD adult, and the father to two ADHD adolescents.

I was diagnosed with ADHD (combined type, severe, with super-annoying comorbid conditions) at the age of forty-nine. A short time later my non-ADHD wife, Margaret, and I decided to ditch Hollywood and move with our two school-age ADHD kids, Harry and Coco, to Hawaii, where we’ve lived for nearly ten years. We’ve rebuilt a strange and happy life together focused on our family and making a living doing things we think are interesting and fulfilling.

Since we decided to invent and fund these things ourselves, we’re constantly teetering on the edge of financial oblivion, but it’s worth it. Besides being a stay-at-home dad with serious laundry and kitchen skills when I don’t forget to take my meds, I’m a writer, teacher and performer.

Back in the day, I wrote the one-act plays 2 by South that Robert Altman directed Off-Broadway and filmed for ABC Arts. I’m also known for writing, producing, and directing television shows such as Cagney and Lacy, Fame, Melrose Place and other network programs.

These days I write what I want to write, which is – no surprise – mostly about me. I performed my solo auto-biographical show, Pay Attention – ADHD in Hollywood, On the Rocks with a Twist, at the Santa Monica Playhouse this summer. If you’re curious, FrankSouth.net takes you to my site about the show as well as other appearances and things I’m doing.

As a teacher, I work part-time for my wife Margaret’s literacy education company Kids Talk Story. I specialize in “at risk” youth and teach the Creative Writing English Class in the Palama Settlement In-Community Treatment Program for adjudicated teens with local slam poet Travis T. The Kids Talk Story web site is filled with a bunch of inspiring and fun stories and pictures.

And I write this blog, Better Late Than Never – small-scale adventure stories about me, Coco and Harry, and Margaret – the patient “normal” person in our family, who, due to her insight, compassion, and evil sense of humor, has earned Honorary ADHD certification.

• A Hollywood Writer on Life with ADHD
  Frank South, who wrestled with attention deficit disorder since childhood, spills everything he’s learned about... more »
• The 10 Worst Therapists for ADHD Adults
  Finding a reliable and helpful psychiatrist or psychologist can help those living with attention deficit... Worst Docs for ADD Adults
• Nine Nurturing Tips for Parenting ADHD Kids
  Nine ways parents can create an encouraging environment to help their ADHD children grow into... Nurture Your ADHD Child»

• ADHD Is Real -- and We're Not Stupid or Lazy
  Hey, I have ADHD, I’m kinda crazy, but I’m no slacker -- I’m working here... more »
• Accused of Lying About Having ADHD
  A look at how people perceive -- and stereotype -- those with ADHD, and the... more »
• Explaining ADHD...To My Doctor, a Patient's Perspective
  When attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) hits close to home, a doctor turns to ADDitude's... more »
• ADHD, My Doctor, and Me: Two Dads Look For Answers
  Roles reverse when a doctor seeks his patient's advice about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD)... more »
• Uproot Anxiety: Why Do Things Have to Change?
  The ADD/ADHD in me isn't ready to move, can't accept change -- and certainly doesn't... more »
• In Search of a New Psychiatrist to Treat Adult ADHD: A Psycho-Phone-Therapist-Speed-Dating Challenge
  What qualities do you look for in a therapist to treat your attention deficit hyperactivity... more »
• When Family Stress Sends My ADHD and Anxiety Symptoms Into Overdrive
  On a recent visit to my parent's house, my father's alcoholism and other challenging family... Family stress and ADHD»
• ADHD Procrastination: Sometimes I Even Postpone Thinking About How I Really Feel
  Do you ever procrastinate processing your emotions? After a recent stressful visit with my family,... ADHD, procrastination, and family stress»
• Running on Empty: Part One
  I know I'm not to blame for my depression or my ADHD — it's just... Fighting off sleep to relive my failures »
• Notes from an ADHD Christmas Crash-Test Dummy
  I am crazy. That is not debatable. But what's so strange about wanting my daughter... Ho ho ho »
• Piece of My Heart: Letting My ADHD Son Make His Own Mistakes
  "What's wrong with you?!" I yell at my 23-year-old ADHD son after a thoughtless incident... It's my life! »
• That's It - No School for You!
  I let her down, believing my ADHD daughter had her school work under control because... Tomorrow's a new day »
• Digging Deep for Peace of Mind
  With every grunting swing of the pick, I dig a hole deeper to bury my... Peace and earth »
• Running on Empty: Part Two
  It took a family crisis to pull me out of the hole of depression —... Climbing up from the darkness »
• Career Day: I'm a Writer, and I Have ADHD
  "ADHD helps me write," I tell the preteen audience. "And writing helps me understand."... Writing my way through real life »
• Distraction Techniques & ADHD Empathy
  It makes sense that since I bang around in the same kind of ADHD brain... more »
• A Year to Forget: My ADHD Birthday
  In our ADHD household, even a 60th birthday is not sacred. Some things, it turns... more »
• ADHD Vs. My Big Trip
  In my mad rush to not panic over packing I’ve mucked up my packing list... more »
• ADHD Vs. My Big Trip, Part 2
  I feel a panic attack coming on. I stop tearing apart the house looking for... more »
• ADHD Vs. My Big Trip, Part 3
  I want to stop and appreciate my son and tell him how much he means... more »
• ADHD Vs. My Big Trip, Part 4
  In giving in to my frantic ADHD brain overload, I had lost my moorings -... more »
• Knocking Back My ADHD Panic Attack
  This ADHD hypo-manic alcoholic is going to mess-up big time. You just watch... more »
• My Own Worst Enemy
  Going 60 on the freeway is not a good place for a full-blown panic attack,... more »
• My Daughter's ADHD Insight
  Tonight, my daughter reminded me of what I've taught her - not to hide behind... more »
• The ADHD Fail-Safe Coat
  Screwing up and disappointing others is so much a part of the everyday ADHD life... more »
• The ADHD Book Worm
  Reading shuts off the noise for me, and opens a calm world inside my attention-deficit... more »
• Drinking Down the ADHD
  My ADHD son just turned 21 and promptly spent all of his birthday money on... more »
• My ADHD Drinking Delusions
  For me, drinking turned down the chattering voices and nerves of my ADHD and hypomania... more »
• Reading, Writing, and ADHD
  ADHD affects each of us differently in often small but profound ways. But the barriers... more »
• My Daughter and The ADHD Perfect Storm
  Kids with ADHD sometimes get so worn down with the immense effort it takes to... more »
• ADHD Supergirl
  Facing a tidal wave of impossibility, my daughter, unaware she was doing it, pulled out... more »
• Drink, Drugs, and My ADHD Son
  I was a twenty-one year-old kid once – but this isn’t about being a kid,... more »
• ADHD Dad Phones Home
  I keep bouncing from one bright and shiny thing to the next, blaming my creativity... more »
• My New ADHD Dance Partner
  Like most adults with attention deficit disorder, I do not welcome change... more »
• ADHD Dad and the New Therapist Two-Step
  Like many people with attention deficit disorder, I have developed an aversion to change... more »
• An ADHD Horror Show
  I could see what drew my son to 'Dexter,' a series about a guy who... more »
• A Deeper Look at Alcoholism and ADHD: Part 1
  The distracting ADHD noise in my head was the same whether I was a success... more »
• A Deeper Look at Alcoholism and ADHD: Part 2
  None of my ADHD behavior seemed all that strange to me. When I peeked out... more »
• A Deeper Look at Alcoholism and ADHD: Part 3
  Across the kitchen counter from me stood my wife, Margaret, and our two children. If... more »
• ADHD & Over-Compensating Disorder
  Early on, my ADHD and I caused such havoc and disappointment that I developed a... more »
• Man Overboard: The ADHD Cruise Ship Manifesto
  Each individual’s experience with ADHD - whether as the parent, spouse, or friend, or the... more »
• Me, the Cop, and ADHD
  When I was drinking, I could blame my memory lapses on blackouts. Now I have... more »
• ADHD and Money Deficit Disorder
  I try to give our family finances the care and attention they require, but if... more »
• ADHD Rage, Explained
  When my ADHD daughter yells and explodes out of frustration, I identify with her intensely... more »
• Writing: A Temporary Cure for ADHD
  I've realized that crafting honest writing cuts ADHD fear and self-pity off at the knees... more »
• ADHD -- Captured on Video!
  It’s hard enough banging around through life with an ADHD brain leaving little piles of... more »
• ADHD K.O.’s Dad
  The fight may never end, but ADHD or not, it’s the love we have for... more »
• Trick or Treat: An ADHD Wake-Up Call
  Had I insisted on dragging my family into my ADHD fantasy life only to have... more »
• Big Changes and ADHD Indecision Time
  The changes keep coming and my ADHD brain grabs each new change as positive evidence... more »
• An ADHD Thanksgiving
  Just as I was starting to feel like a scatterbrained, worthless, ADHD fraud again, I... more »
• ADHD Dad, Lost in the Supermarket
  Like a good ADHDer, I have a shopping list, but it never does me any... more »
• Seeing ADHD from the Non-ADHD Point of View
  After reading her words, I realized, on a whole different level, how hard our “normal”... more »
• ADHD Stories My Mom Never Told
  When I read my mother's poem now, I imagine her as a young woman trying... more »
• Under the ADHD Christmas Tree
  Our poor Christmas tree just couldn't stand up to my ADHD impulses... more »
• ADHD Fireworks
  My ADHD-self apparently doesn't like fireworks exploding around him – the loud noises trigger an... more »
• ADHD, My Son, and Me
  My son’s ADHD and my ADHD are very different in a lot of ways; but... more »
• ADHD and Middle School
  My ADHD daughter wants to get away from all the social pressure and craziness of... more »
• My ADHD Mind Doesn't Wander, it Plots
  This ADHD public speaker living with comorbid Bipolar 2 learns how to share what it's... more »
• Finding Peace in a Mad House Full of ADD Worrying
  Sometimes it seems that my attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) family dynamics consist of perpetual... more »
• The Stress of Moving Is Bringing out the Worst of My Anxiety and Procrastination
  …but, in the midst of all the chaos, I'm learning how to handle change, small... more »
• A Life in Transition: Trying to Find Calm and Structure
  Can I cope with moving across the country, getting the house organized, and my aging... The ADHD Dad On Moving His Family, Caring for His Aging Parents
• Can Adults with ADHD Grow Up?
  Between needing to be a mature father to my two children and a responsible son... What I Learned from My ADHD Teenage Daughter»
• Putting Adult ADHD Coping Skills to the Test
  Deep-breathing exercises, medication, and listening to relaxing music all help me manage my day-to-day struggles... Following my ADHD motto»
• Managing ADHD...In an Emergency
  Can I survive a family health crisis and cope with my own attention deficit without... Surviving a crisis as an adult with ADD/ADHD»
• My ADHD Doesn't Always Let Me Down
  Who says ADD/ADHD symptoms have to be disabilities? Having to learn to cope with my... Seeing the positives of ADHD symptoms»
• Confused Like Me
  My aging father's confusion and disorientation make us more alike than ever... Our symptoms are the same, but our conditions are not»
• Multitasking with ADHD: Parenting My ADHD Children and My Aging Parents, While Managing My Symptoms
  Adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) often do best when focusing on one thing... Balancing family responsibilities»
• Confused and Overcome with Bursts of Violence, It Sounds Like ADHD, But It's Not
  My father always stood by me as a misunderstood kid with ADHD, but now that... Sundown syndrome symptoms»
• Note to Self: Our Symptoms Do Not Define Us
  Spending time with my father before the holidays, I'm reminded that many people with illness... Bittersweet holiday memories for father and son»
• How Hyperfocus Helps in an Emergency
  My ADHD son called home after a car accident, unhurt but terrified. I rushed to... How to focus when it matters most»
• Why Does My ADHD Teenager Lie to Me?
  My 22-year-old ADHD son lied to me about being in an accident. When will he... Will my ADHD son ever grow up?»
• ADHD Discipline: Best Served Calm
  My son's recent accident -- and subsequent lying -- made me feel confused, angry, impulsive,... Keeping my cool for my ADHD kids' benefit»
• Am I Ready for My ADHD Son to Leave Home?
  My ADHD son is leaving the nest this month. I'm trying to keep my own... Battling anxiety as my ADHD child moves out»
• Opening Up About ADHD and Alcoholism
  An alcoholic ADHD friend recently reached out for help. Ten years sober, I offer my... Treating alcoholism and ADHD»
• ADHD Teens: Homeschool or High School?
  Under so much pressure to succeed socially and academically in a new school, can my... Can my ADHD daughter succeed in high school?»
• Can ADHD Teens Survive Mainstream High School?
  My ADHD teenage daughter is struggling in high school, trying to keep up with schoolwork... Dealing with ADHD in high school»
• Mainstreaming Special Needs Students: How ADHD and Non-ADHD Parents Can Help
  During my ADD/ADHD daughter's first year in mainstream high school after years in special ed,... Adjusting to mainstream school after special ed»
• Craving Alcohol, Years After Being Sober
  Stress, a death in the family, and my father's alcoholism trigger alcohol cravings -- a... Overcoming alcohol cravings»
• What I Have Learned From My ADHD Son
  My aging father's health has been getting worse, and my recent ADHD-fueled outburst has made... ADHD family dynamics»
• Is ADHD Family Life Messier or Richer?
  How I cope when attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) symptoms, family stress, and life's daily... ADHD family life»
• Sweet 16 and ADHD
  Just last week, Coco was a 6-year-old Brownie camping in our back yard. Now she's... more »