Taking Charge of Adult ADHD

by Barkley, Russell A.; Benton, Christine M.

• ISBN13: 9781606233382
• ISBN10: 1606233386
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-07-22
• Publisher: The Guilford Press

Summary

For adults with ADHD, problems with attention, planning, problem solving, and controlling emotions can make daily life an uphill battle. Fortunately, effective help is out there. No one is a better guide to how to get the best careand what sufferers can do for themselves than renowned ADHD researcher clinician Russell A. Barkley. Dr. Barkley provides step by step strategies for managing symptoms and reducing their harmful impact. Readers get hands on self assessment tools and skills building exercises, plus clear answers to frequently asked questions about medications and other treatments. Specific techniques are presented for overcoming challenges in critical areas where people with the disorder often struggle work, finances, relationships, and more. Finally, an authoritative one-stop resource for adults with ADHD who are ready to take back their lives.

"Dr. Barkley’s advice to individuals who have ADHD or think they might represents a remarkable blend of science and practicality. This book offers a lifeline to adults with ADHD and their families."-Michael Gordon, PhD, Director, ADHD Program, Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Upstate Medical University

"Consider this book the Rosetta Stone of adult ADHD. No one but Dr. Barkley could translate the sophisticated grasp of ADHD for which he is well known into lay terms and solid strategies. Comprehensive, immensely practical, highly readable, and wholly compassionate, Taking Charge of Adult ADHD is the definitive guide for adults with ADHD and the people who care about them."-Gina Pera, author of Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.?

"This book will surely become a classic. If you are an adult with ADHD, Dr. Barkley can help you make sense of your lifelong struggles and develop a clear road map for overcoming them. Stories and examples from others facing the same challenges bring Dr. Barkley's ideas to life. I will certainly recommend this easy to read yet scientifically based book to everyone who comes through our adult ADHD clinic."-J. Russell Ramsay, PhD, Codirector, Adult ADHD Treatment and Research Program, University of Pennsylvania

“Barkley debunks common myths about medications and co-occurring disorders and offers straightforward advice on how to improve quality of life….Verdict: This is a comprehensive and scientifically based yet comprehensible manual for understanding and managing adult ADHD. With this information, adults with ADHD or those close to them can be informed consumers of available treatment options, behavioral strategies, and supplemental support resources.”-Library Journal

Author Biography

Russell A. Barkley, PhD, is internationally known for his career-long research into ADHD and his efforts to educate professionals and the public. He is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina and Research Professor of Psychiatry at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University at Syracuse. The recipient of awards from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association, among other honors, Dr. Barkley has published widely on ADHD and related disorders. His website is www.russellbarkley.org.

 

Christine M. Benton is a Chicago-based writer and editor.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. vii
Introduction	p. 1
To Get Started, get Evaluated
Is It Possible That you have ADHD?	p. 5
Can you Handle the Problem on Your Own?	p. 13
Where can you go to Get Help?	p. 18
What do you need for the Evaluation?	p. 21
What will the Evaluation Tell you?	p. 26
Change your Mindset: know and own your ADHD
Know your ADHD	p. 45
Resisting Impulses: The First Step in Self-control	p. 57
Self-Control: How to Get What You Want	p. 63
Executive Functions: the Abilities That Make Up Self-Controlà and More	p. 68
The Nature of ADHD and How you can Master It	p. 90
Own your ADHD	p. 95
Change your Brain: Medications for Mastering ADHD
Why it Makes Sense to Try Medication	p. 109
The Stimulants	p. 117
The Nonstimulants	p. 131
What to Expect from Treatment	p. 137
Change your Life: Everyday Rules for Success
Rule 1: Stop the Action!	p. 151
Rule 2: See the Pastàand Then the Future	p. 156
Rule 3: Say the Pastàand Then the Future	p. 159
Rule 4: Externalize Key Information	p. 163
Rule 5: Feel the Future	p. 170
Rule 6: Break it Downàand Make it Matter	p. 176
Rule 7: Make Problems External, Physical, and Manual	p. 182
Rule 8: Have a Sense of Humor!	p. 187
Change your Situation: Mastering ADHD in Specific Areas of your Life
Education	p. 193
Work	p. 204
Money	p. 219
Relationships	p. 228
Driving, Health, and Lifestyle Risks	p. 239
Other Mental and Emotional Problems	p. 253
Drugs and Crime	p. 260
Appendix: A Closer Look at ADHD Symptoms	p. 269
Resources	p. 277
Index	p. 286
About the Authors	p. 294
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