I found a book at Barnes and Noble, Living with ADD A Workbook for Adults with Attenetion Deficit Disorder. by M. Susan Roberts and Gerald J. Jansen.

Does anyone out there have a problem with always assuming the worse or trying to think in a positive way many times? I am currently seeing a psychologist and they are retesting me for everything. I know the medication works though :cool:

Welcome!!

Heh heh, too many thoughts in that post and I don't see the connections.... I need a little more explanation what you are asking please...

Kind of like automatic thoughts. Hmmmm.....Cognitive Behavior Theropy.

Hmm yeah... I know what you mean about the automatic thoughts... the book talks about that in a helpful way?

Why are they re-testing you?

To see if I have anything else, the one doctor I went to when my psychiatrist was out of town thought I was bipolar II, but when my doctor came back into town she said I was no where near what he was talking about. My psychiatrist has me on 80 mg of strattera, 2mg of ativan, and 10 mg of lexapro. They wanted me to go back to therapy because they said I was dealing with severe depression, low self esteem, etc. Once I go back to work (trying to find work has been very difficult) and school starts back up I think I will be alright. I have been trying to stay active as much as possible to help get everything back to normal with me. The book talks about ways to ask yourself... wheres the evidence at, do they really mean that, ask them to reclearify what they are trying to say...Does that make sense?

Sounds useful!

> The book talks about ways to ask yourself...
> wheres the evidence at

I just read an article last night about the ADHD gurus up at Harvard researching the benefits of a CBT-type training program for adults with ADHD. The article is at home (and I'm at work now). I'll re-read it (because of COURSE I can't remember it!) :p and let you know what it says about those types of thoughts.

Welcome to the Forums!!! :D

smooch

Sounds like me to a T. Right now I'm dealing with the loss of my father, a diagnosis of ADD for my daughter and an uncle who is in the hospital for the umteenth time who is too stubborn to spend the money to go into assisted living or get full time help. The last time he was hospitalized was a nightmare. He has no children and my aunt died 5 years ago. He now expects us to continually be his nurses. I'm so down about it it's beginning to affect my health. Thank goodness for my anti-depressant and counciling. I seem to be seeing everything in the negative at the moment. I know I'll eventually feel better but it's so hard with everything happening in my life right now. How much more can a family go through? So to go on an on. The book sounds like just what I need. Dee

My therapist was introducing me to CBT to redirect the automatic negative thinking. I jumped into it with great zeal, and then nothing - I just stopped. I think my pattern of attending/nonattending to the CBT was one of the indicators to her that I might be ADD. I visit her again Thursday (first time since the diagnosis), and ask her where we go from here. Does CBT work with ADD? Too many acronyms to work :confused: :D

Has anyone tried CBT with ADD? If so, what were/are your experiences? Susan

Yeah people keep saying CBT is ADHD-freindly.

'K~~I promise I'll post the stuff on CBT from the article today!! :D

smoo

Does anyone out there have a problem with always assuming the worse or trying to think in a positive way many times?
To me this sounds like anxiety more than ADD. But the two conditions like to keep each other company from what I have read/heard. I guess it partly depends on what types of things you have trouble thinking about positively. It could be emotional reactions to other ADD related things or it could be that there is an anxiety diorder present.

I'm not expert though :rolleyes:

I promise I'll post the stuff on CBT from the article today!! :D
looking forward to that!
:D

Source citation (in accordance (except for a hanging indent) with the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association('s) style requirements, no less! See what I'm learning in grad school??? :p )

Safren, S. A., Sprich, S. Chulvick, S, & Otto, M. W. (2004). Psychosocial treatments for adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 27, 349-360.

I thought a Q&A format might be the best way to dish out the scoop....

What's the purpose of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for adults with ADHD (addults)?

**to supplement treatment with meds (aka, pharmacotherapy)

**to "provide patients with concrete strategies and skills for coping with associated functional impairment," including, but not limited to, "underachievement, unemployment or underemployment, economic problems, and relationship difficulties"

In other words, undergoing CBT as an addult provides the opportunity to learn specific actions we can perform to deal with the problem areas listed above.

For whom is CBT designed?

**adults diagnosed with ADHD who, despite pharmacotherapy, still wrestle with "core symptoms" of ADHD, causing significant impairment in day-to-day living

**addults who are considered "nonresponders," which includes (a) those who cannot tolerate the meds as well as (b) those who can tolerate the meds, but their symptoms are still not reduced enough

The deficits/symptoms associated with ADHD have been shown to be of a neurobiological nature. What are examples of neurobiological deficits?

**"chronic cognitive [thought/thinking] and behavioral impairments" such as impaired "attention, inhibition, and self-regulation"

****Example: "poor school and work performance" (e.g., "problems with organization and planning of work or school goals, deficient sustained attention to reading and paperwork [only if it's boring to us], procrastination, poor time management, and impulsive decision making")

****Example: "impaired interpersonal skills" (e.g., "problems with friendships, poor follow-through on commitments, poor listening skills, and difficulty with intimate relationships")

****Example: "other behavior problems such as poor financial management, trouble organizing one's home, or a chaotic routine"

PART TWO to follow shortly!

(continued from PART ONE post)

How would CBT be tailored to me specifically?

**the therapist will assess the addult's unique symptomology and related/resultant difficulties

**next, "the role of dysfunctional cognitive (thought) processes [with regard] to work or academic demands" will be assessed and brought to the attention (snicker!) of the addult

At this point, I'm just going to try to explain, as simply as possible, how dysfunctional thought patterns mess with us.

1. Our "chronic patterns of procrastination and disorganization" are thought to be reinforced by our own "negative cognitions" (thoughts) (i.e., "I can't...don't want to fail again....")

2. Negative thoughts lead to "negative affects" (feelings like "guilt, anxiety, anger, sadness")

3. Negative feelings lead to avoidance behaviors ("procrastination and [purposeful] distraction" ("Hmm...wonder what the Big Brother 5 folks are up to..."). Avoidance behaviors include "avoidance of planning or thinking about outstanding demands." (Ok, I'll think about it after I finish doing the dishes...and mopping...and doing laundry....")

4. Here's the kicker: Those habitual avoidance behaviors can backfire on us, making us avoid using strategies (such as "step-by-step problem solving" approaches) that could actually help lessen our symptoms and their resultant difficulties. [Anyone want to borrow my gun for foot-target practice? Just kidding! I don't own a gun! :p ]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, smooch. But what exactly IS this CBT stuff?

Specifically, CBT involves two means of attacking problem thoughts and behaviors.

1. Cognitive attack: The addult learns about the specific negative thought patterns that have resulted from past "frustrations and failures." Knowledge is power, so the next step is to learn how to adjust those negative thought patterns, which usually start yapping in connection with "avoidance of goal-related demands." ("I get so worked up...I'm just gonna fail anyway--AGAIN.")

NOTE**Repeating these negative thought patterns puts us at risk for developing "mood...and relationship...disturbances." AHA!!!!

2. Behavioral attack: The addult learns about and practices (in the safety of the therapist's office at first) specific, action-oriented strategies to address problem areas.

NOTE**We're notorious (due to our impatience and impulsivity, I suppose) for pursuing "quick fixes" with little or no effort required on our part. It often happens, though, that those quick fixes end up breaking something...yet another failure in our eyes! :eek:

PART THREE to come!

Sorry 'bout the delay...so many projects, so little time...LOL!! :D

smooch

PART THREE to come![/COLOR]

:eek:

Part Three is L-O-O-O-O-NG overdue, eh? Expect it tomorrow! :D

Ok...ADDer here.... Life is so unpredictable....

Expect Part III soon... :o

If it's any consolation I have been really enjoying your recommendation of "Journeys Through ADDulthood" by Sari Solden. It cut's
pretty close to the bone. :) I'm all over it.

Oh.. and no pressure but there are millions of your fans awaiting through sleepless nights filled with anxious anticipation for your
next instalment. Please hurry. :D

Cheers! Ian.