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Overcoming Heredity With Help

Q:

"My mom is bipolar and my father has ADD and depression as well as schizophrenia. I want to be a productive member of society. How can I help myself overcome this? Should I see a doctor who specializes in ADHD?"

Sandy Maynard
A:

Your local CHADD chapter will have a list of professionals who are AD/HD knowledgeable. Also check out ADDConsults.com for resources near you.

You are on the right track looking for someone who has experience working with ADHD individuals. That is paramount. Be sure to join a support group, so you do not feel alone in your struggles to succeed. It is important to have support and know that you have friends in your life that care about your success and understand your challenges.

You have a great attitude and certainly a tremendous desire to move beyond the limitations of your ADHD. Hold on tight to that desire and I am sure you will move forward. Take things one step at a time, continuing to meet each challenge one by one, and you will be surprised at how far you can go. Your attitude to do well already makes you a productive member of society in my book!

A pioneer in the field of coaching people with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Ms. Maynard was instrumental in the development of The National Attention Deficit Disorder Association's Coaching Guidelines and a founding board member for the Institute for the Advancement of AD/HD Coaching (IAAC). She is a certified Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and utilizes a holistic health and wellness approach with her clients. Ms. Maynard lives in Washington, DC where she operates Catalytic Coaching. Sandy lectures internationally and is a regular contributor to ADDitude magazine.

1 Comments:

  • Posted by ADD SUCCESS. Sleep, walk, meditate. - Jul 25 2008 @ 11:37 PM
    Mom bipolar, father ADD with depression
    I empathize. Though I don't know how old you are or which of these hereditary factors are affecting you yet, if at all -my gut says (I see I'm looking at my experience) get acquainted with ADD-- and others who have dealt with it (whether they knew it or not) successfully - and you will see that it need not be a 'problem' at all. (Finding the right job that fits your abilities can help! -Try school librarian :-) Depression will very likely become a problem IF you don't get enough sleep (take it from former super-woman) or if you withdraw socially from others (Sneaky). Schizophrenia I'm not as acquainted with personally (though I have a cousin who's been totally out of reach and on the streets- for years). As Dr Maynard said- Your good attitude will be of SUCH importance. Hang on to it. "Everybody gets something' to cope with in life. Especially these last years I've had terrific down periods 'that I don't 'own'. (I'm not depressed. My BODY is.) My depression is in a large part, physically caused. Always keeping this in mind has helped me immensely.
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