I am really excited to share this news with you. Starting this coming Friday, your ADHD newsletter is taking on a new format. In addition to the layout changes of the newsletter, the content has been completely redone too. It is now more "user friendly" with specific sections - some just like you might find in some of your favorite magazines.
As a bonus to the newsletter content, I am going to be offering a FREE follow-up teleseminar on the "Topic Of The Month."
This month's topic: Attitude!
The purpose of the call will be to answer any questions related to the content of the newsletter.
To sign up in advance, just enter your name and e-mail address, below. You can also ask your most pressing question about your child's attitude and ADHD.
I know you haven't seen the newsletter just yet - but I wanted to offer my valued readers and regular subscribers plenty of time to sign up.
You'll get your first all new "Symptom Free Ezine" this coming Friday afternoon.
Sign up today and ensure your space on the call.
Rory F. Stern, PsyD
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Sneak Peak - Teleseminar Coming Soon
Monday, February 4, 2008
Emotional & Physically Exhausted - ADHD
Well, here goes another "video" message. I am really enjoying this new technology and being able to connect with you via different mediums.
Anyway - Today I wanted to talk to you just very briefly about emotional and physical exhaustion.
After focusing my energy and resources on the "big game," I crashed this morning and did not have enough energy to focus on what I needed to do at home and at work. I was too "burnt out" from exerting and spending too much energy focused on the big game.
Check out the video message - I think the message speaks for itself.
As always, you are encouraged to post comments and questions below. You are also more than welcome to contact me directly.
See you soon!
Rory F. Stern, PsyD
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Testing Out Video On Blog
I am finally trying video out today!
I have been thinking about trying "video" out for so long, and somehow I have always managed to stay clear of it. Well not today! While out on a walk with my wife today, I decided that today was the day.
Today I was going to take the plunge and get a video up on the Internet... no matter what it took.
And you know what? I had a blast doing this!
Please take a minute to listen to this message, and let me know what you think.
I really would love to hear your thoughts on next week's "Newsletter" topic, as well as your thoughts about what I have to say about "The Perfect Season!"
Rory
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Super Bowl, Superstars, & ADHD
It's no surprise that most of the modern world (global community) will be tuned into the same one television program tonight.
Heck, you might even be one of the millions (if not billions) of people watching tomorrow night's NFL Super Bowl extravaganza.
I know I will be glued to my television set tomorrow afternoon and evening. Living outside of Boston, I have a very strong interest in watching history as my local team strives for a "perfect record" (not perfection, but a perfect record).
On top of that, I absolutely have to watch the commercials. I live for Super Bowl commercials. It's the one time of year advertisers compete like crazy to get your attention.
Reasons to watch the Super Bowl:
You see - while millions and millions will be glued to their televisions tomorrow night, many of us will be doing it for different reasons.
And the same is real for people struggling with ADHD:
The above list takes the very same idea of who watches the Super Bowl, and why, with the hope to show you that ADHD means different things to many people.
While we might all agree that ADHD affects the brain and how people are able to function, individuals with ADHD all experience their symptoms differently and might even go about managing them differently.
But the real lesson here is that you might see your ADHD differently than the next person.
And that's ok!
PS - I mentioned something about a perfect record:
Oh yea - and let's not forget that in tomorrow's Super Bowl - the New England Patriots are pursuing a "perfect season." Notice, they are not a perfect team - just good enough to be going for a perfect record.
The difference:
The perfect record is a result of fighting, working hard, determination, and persistence. They never gave up. But they did make mistakes!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Man Of Science Or Faith?
LOST Returns Tonight - Will You Be Watching?
For those of you who are avid followers and fans of the television show LOST, tonight marks the long-anticipated return of one of television's most exciting shows.
While watching Wednesday's repeat of the 3rd Season Finale - I was reminded of two very different approaches to viewing the mysteries of the Island!
Science Versus Faith
Both men are noted leaders of the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 - and yet both could not be more different in how they lead others and inspire those who look up to them.
So what type of man or woman are you?
When it comes to ADHD - Do you follow science / medicine or do you believe in faith?
Thursday, January 24, 2008
More About "The Truth Behind ADHD"
When I started writing this blog - I had a pretty good sense of what I wanted to talk about, and where I wanted to go.
It all started with the idea that there are many truths behind ADHD. It doesn't matter whether you are a parent, spouse, partner, child, or sibling of someone who has ADHD - there is a great deal of misinformation.
The TRUTH Behind ADHD started with the idea that there is more to ADHD than just what is on the surface. Not only do we have to struggle with symptoms, consider treatment with medication, but we also have to consider every other area of life that is impacted by ADHD:
- Relationships
- Family
- Work
- School
- Groups
- Self-esteem
- Media influence
- Society
- And much, much more...
The point is this - ADHD affects so much more than the individual person who is diagnosed with the disorder.
Heck - let's not even call it a disorder. I downright hate that term. ADHD is a grouping of symptoms that can either help you or hurt you.
Help - learn how to manage and use your personal strengths to find success.
Hurt - use ADHD as an excuse and do nothing.
This all leads to the original "truth" I posted about when I started writing. The original truth relates to finding the root cause of our underlying problems.
ADHD is not it folks - there is always something more... Some other stress in our lives... Some other source of discomfort...
And we cannot forget those.
The "new" Truth is that you are surrounded by too much information about ADHD. You are provided with information that leaves you:
Well, no more.
The Truth Behind ADHD will make sure you get the right information, from the right sources. And even then - we are going to question everything.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Oops - I Skipped Over Chapter 2
I don't know how I did it - but it looks like I skipped right over reviewing Chapter 2 for you all. Oops!
I am so glad I caught this, because Chapter 2 has some great content.
Chapter 2:
"Parenting Doesn't Cause ADHD - Genes Do."
Dr. Monastra reviews and dispels some of the major myths around parenting as a cause of ADHD. Well, as you might be wondering - parenting or parenting style does NOT cause ADHD.
Instead, it is our genetics that we pass down which is said to be responsible for ADHD.
Much of the remainder of Chapter 2 is spent talking about the very scientific, technical aspects of what is believed to cause ADHD. There are some interesting points in there - but when you are looking to help your child, this is NOT the part of the chapter that does it. However, I cannot stress enough the importance of digesting this information so you can understand what we believe causes ADHD.
Perhaps the most useful part of Chapter is towards the end, where Dr. Monastra discusses effective treatment. In his opinion (and I agree), effective treatment includes a combination of techniques.
This can include medication (but NOT always), along with therapy, education, social skills classes, parenting classes (to learn strategies to help your child), and the development of a communication channel with school professionals to better assist your child with his or her learning habits or struggles.
Well - that's it. I must say there were some really GREAT strategies mixed with some very powerful content. Just watch out for the technical part, and focus on getting a general idea of how our bodies work and this relationship with ADHD.
In closing, I want to add that this content is reviewed from Dr. Monastra's book, "Parenting Children With ADHD." Like in previous posts, I have pulled out what I have found to be useful and important. However, there could be incredible information that I overlooked which might pertain to your individual situation.
Disclaimer:
That said, I always want to share that I added the part about medication not always being necessary. Remember folks, medication can and does make a difference with many children struggling with ADHD. And - as always, please do not make any changes without first speaking with your treating physician, psychiatrist, therapist, or other direct care professional.
