All Things Frugal in Treating Adult ADHD

"Any tips for those on a budget? I don't have health insurance and stimulant medications for adult attention deficit disorder are expensive. I can't eat out just because I'm 'too frazzled to cook'—and I definitely can't afford to hire a coach!"

Tips to manage your symptomsof ADHD -- and save on the cost of hiring a professional coach and organizer.

Paying for services to help you with your adult attention deficit disorder can be expensive, indeed. In terms of treatment, there are many programs that can connect you with free or low-cost meds.

The discount often varies by program, type of medication, and the state where you live. Start your search at the SelectCare Benefits Network (scbn.org) or the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (pparx.org).

Instead of hiring a coach or a professional organizer, seek help from family and friends. Try bartering services. Maybe you’re a good baker, and you can make an organized friend a batch of brownies while she sorts through and files a pile of your papers.

Going out to eat when you are too frazzled to cook isn’t the only option, either. The next night you can’t face the stove, have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a side of sliced tomatoes and cucumbers and a glass of low-fat milk for an easy and nutritious meal. More: 6 Ways to Simplify the Kitchen and Save Time

Get some free, real-life advice (and support, which is invaluable) by connecting with other ADDers. You can search for a CHADD chapter near you, for an in-person support group, or join an online message board, like the one hosted by ADDitude at additudemag.com/adhdforums.

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 Sandpiper - Mar 11 2009 @ 10:49 AM
Budget woes?
We just started using Mint.com to help keep track of our finances, its FREE and has features like email reminders when payments are due or balances are low. (AND NO this isn't an ad, I don't work for them, etc.....) I just REALLY liked having a reminder that a payment was due, or I'd be dinged with a late fee. The budget feature forces you to look at just where those $$$ are going, and I suspect it will be a real blessing next year at tax time. I'm trusting my son who's extremely computer wise when he says it's secure. He's a computer geek in a very security conscious environment. It's also intuitive enough and quick enough to attract those of us who love the computer (a computer program that's GOOD for you, my, my...) so I actually enjoy using it. I'd recommend at least looking at it if budgeting isn't one of your strong points or you've had to pay late fees. Nothing like having the computer be your free financial coach. Barb

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