By way of quick introduction, I have not been diagnosed but am sure I have ADD. I live in Japan where it is very difficult to find diagnosis/treatment for ADHD in adults.

So I was very excited when I found someone who treats ADHD right here in my local area (Okinawa).

But... I have seen this guy's Website, and he has some very unorthodox views on ADHD. I guess it's what you could expect if you developed your views largely in a vacuum, because so little is known about it here in Japan.

As an example of what I mean, he divides ADHD into three "types":


Hyperactive
Self-rationalizing
Adult children (e.g. of an abusive father or alcoholic mother)
He thinks that most of the coexisting conditions of ADHD are when ADHDers are adult children, like a woman is OCD if she became a proxy mother in an abusive household...

So he seems a bit outside the mainstream of Western thought on this disorder, to say the least. But he is ADHD himself, and offers coaching, etc. He treats my neighbor's daughter for Asperger's, and they really like him.

So should I take a shot at being seen by him?

OMG!

Good Luck

Well, other people have their own theories about ADD/HD and I'm not sure we'd call them kooks.

After all it's still a pretty open field, so far!!

I get adult children part, actually that makes some sense to me, and I get the hyperactive part but not sure what is self rationalizing, unless it means you are "inattentive" type but not an adult child.

If it isnt' too costly....and he at least knows about adhd....and he IS on Okinawa....???

good luck!!!!!

Uminchu,

I found it difficult to find skilled ADHD remediation in Pennsylvania. I will say shrinks here are good at diagostics - just don't know what to do with it once they know what it is. I want to be fair. Money rules in the US. I think ADHD therapy takes more high priced doctors time than our mickey mousy HMO's are willing to pay. Basically I had to take the bull by the horns and do my own research then tell my family doctor how to treat me.

Western thought is environment has little to do with ADHD etiology. That is not to say an abusive father doesn't add woes or exascerbate an already bad biological disorder. So I can see merit in the adult children thing. I don't know what he means by self-rationalizing. Denial?

I certainly agree that most coexisting conditions are childhood related. I liken bad childhood experiences to viruses and spyware. They are not up there starring at you on the monitor - the conscious mind. But they sure do affect performance. Let's face it, software is almost always the problem when a computer crashes. Bad childhood experiences are the viruses and spyware of the brain.

I did, however, waste a day trying to find a bug I thought I must have wrote when all along it was a DIMM that blew. So software is not always to blame either. I am certain ADHD is biological at its roots. I think I tried everything. Nothing works, except the meds. That is not to say I haven't found work arounds. Hate to admit this to a fellow geek, but its kind of like this bug in accounting software I wrote for my wife - Access based. She said everytime I do this that Debug box pops up. I looked at it and said don't do that. She has been happy since.

Give the guy a shot. I don't even want to think about the dough I blew on vitamins and other ineffective ADHD remedies. Just the cost of doing business.

Bob

Well, other people have their own theories about ADD/HD and I'm not sure we'd call them kooks. Well OK, kook was probably not the best choice of terms. Unorthodox, then. :)


I get adult children part, actually that makes some sense to me, and I get the hyperactive part but not sure what is self rationalizing, unless it means you are "inattentive" type but not an adult child. The "self-rationalizing" ones are the "I don't have a problem, the world has a problem" types. One manifestation of this is narcissism.

Meanwhile, adult children tend to have very low self esteem, and are very afraid to let their weaknesses show. If they tell the truth, their mother/father/husband/wife/children will not love them any more.

He has a section on "how the world sees them, how they see themselves, and why they act that way."

Here is my translation for one of them

<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="3" width="100%"> <tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="10%">General behavior


</td> <td width="31%"> What others see
Selfish, self-centered, and uncooperative. Will bend over backwards for strangers but fail to do minimally expected things for their family. Sometimes they may say horrible things to their children or treat them unfairly. They don't understand others' feelings.

</td> <td width="33%"> How they see themselves
They will not do something they don't agree with. They don't get caught up with preconceived notions, and feel themselves to be rational, placing emphasis on what is necessary and fairness. Except when they are hyperfocusing, they are almost never get emotional. They blurt out whatever they are thinking, without thinking of how the other person will take it. They are often "kind to everyone."

</td><td width="25%">Why
It is because they do not understand situational contexts. They don't do it out of malice, but in normal situations it is often taken as malicious (especially from family members with strong ties)
</td></tr></tbody> </table>

Well, you could give him a try -- sometimes what we call things aren't as important as addressing the problem itself. Since your neighbors think highly of him, it might be worth a shot. Just keep a big of skepticism handy. You can always not go back if it doesn't feel helpful.

Sorry there aren't more skilled psychologist available in Japan. Sometimes just talking with another person wrestling with ADHD can be validating in and of itself.

Scattered

Unless those are evidenced based, they are merely theoretical constructs at best.

The main thing tho is the rapport and whether or not he can help.

I wish you luck and hope it goes well.

Well, you could give him a try -- sometimes what we call things aren't as important as addressing the problem itself. Since your neighbors think highly of him, it might be worth a shot. Just keep a big of skepticism handy. You can always not go back if it doesn't feel helpful.
You're right, thanks. The worst thing that could happen is I lose a few hours of my time.

I found this article about psychiatry in Japan http://kto.co.jp/new/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=34

It contains a link to The International Mental Health Professionals of Japan. There is one therapist in Tokyo (Deborah Montgomery) who lists Add as a specialty.
http://www.imhpj.org/

Good Luck,
Mike

I found this article about psychiatry in Japan http://kto.co.jp/new/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=34

It contains a link to The International Mental Health Professionals of Japan. There is one therapist in Tokyo (Deborah Montgomery) who lists Add as a specialty.
http://www.imhpj.org/
Thanks a lot, Mike.

I am aware of a few psychs in Tokyo, but going to Tokyo for treatment is roughly equivalent to flying from Hawaii to Los Angeles for treatment. In other words, OK for a diagnosis but not so great for frequent theraphy sessions.

Before finding out about this doctor, my plan was to visit one of the Tokyo clinics on my next trip to the mainland (October). It would be nice to be able to see someone locally, though.

Uminchu,

Thanks for the lesson. I didn't realize this board would accept HTML tags. I'll bet it won't take a script tag. :D

<table width="400" border="1">
<tr>
<td width="100">Uminchu</td>
<td width="200">Teaches ADHD Bob</td>
<td width="100">A new trick</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3"><div align="center">Cool</div></td>
</tr>
</table>

Hi Uminchi


The definitions given by you "kook" descibe my non diagnosed ADD partner as if they were written about her specifically.

The definitions given by you "kook" descibe my non diagnosed ADD partner as if they were written about her specifically.
I have retracted the "kook" comment. Now he's just unorthodox. :)

Some of the things he says seem pretty on base. Some leave me scratching my head to say the least, like his three categories of ADHD, or his claim that ADHD people can only hyperfocus for short periods of time, while Aspies can do so for prolonged periods.

Anyway, I'm going to email him and see if I can get it from the horse's mouth.

Thanks a lot, Mike.

I am aware of a few psychs in Tokyo, but going to Tokyo for treatment is roughly equivalent to flying from Hawaii to Los Angeles for treatment.
I didn't realize they were that far away from each other on the map they're only an inch apart.

I didn't realize they were that far away from each other on the map they're only an inch apart.
Now you sound like my son. :D

It's about 3 hours by plane, then an hour by train to central Tokyo (Tokyo's air access is completely hosed).

Perhaps even more significant, round-trip airfare is around US $500. Sometimes you can get a super-saver for around $300.