Dr G's ADHD Chat

I named my book Strategic Parenting because being an ADHD parent requires that you be intentional and have a strategic focus, or you will get surprised and buried by all the things that you didn’t foresee and plan for. Parenting a neurotypical child is easier because you can take a tactical focus, that is, you can wait until a situation occurs before you have to react.

Raising an ADHD child can be stressful in a variety of ways. School is frequently an extremely emotional experience as your child is put in an environment that was not designed for his type of mind. He also has general difficulties dealing with frustration leading to temper tantrums. There are also problems caused by his/her difficulties with random memory. Parents wil tend to flock to either of t...

The role of the ADHD parent is way more complicated than that of the parent of a neurotypical child. In addition to the developmental issues of a neurotypical child, you have the issues caused by the problems created by a system that was not designed for an ADHD brain. In a system that values being able to sit quietly, pay attention for extended periods and wait for instructions, the ADHD brain is...

The holidays- Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah- can destroy the routines that maintain at least a partial equilibrium and balance in ADHD homes. The changes in diet, guests or being the guests, the disrupted sleep schedules and the travel can all disrupt routines. It is most important to keep all the routines as close to normal as possible. Sleep is absolutely the most important routine to mai...

Kin the last episode, we covered dealing with temper tantrums and early identification. Now we’ll discuss prevention. First you have to remember that we’re dealing with a neurological condition thought to be caused by low dopamine and norepinephrine. In this situation your ADHDer is uncomfortable and edgy and likely to tantrum. There are however, things you can do to make a full-blown tantrum less...

Of all the symptoms and behaviors that ADHD children display, the one that concerns most parents the most is the temper tantrum. Indeed when my ADHDers was young his temper tantrums were so extreme that I, as a junior clinical psychologist thought I was seeing early signs of bipolar disorder. Turns out that was not the case and my young man eventually grew out of them. Additionally I got better at...

ADHD parents tend to worry about everything else but themselves. They worry about their son’s tempered tantrums, their daughter’s bad grades, why the teachers don’t seem to understand ADHD and why none of them are following their child’s 504 plan, but they rarely think about the effect all this worry and stress is having on their health. In this show, Dr G will discuss the basics of stress managem...

ADHD parents and ADHDers know the struggle for growth, respect and advancement is sometimes long and hard. It is necessary for both parents and ADHDers to be resilient and patient, knowing that it is worth the effort, the energy and the emotional challenge to get to a successful result. One can’t back off or back down.

In this episode, Dr. G  reviews his observations of a conference he attended that was organized and developed by groups of people that are generally considered to be 70-80% ADHD.  As you might imagine, it was a very high energy, active event with lots of noise and movement. It had all the presentations in one large hall with close to 10 presentations all going on at the same time. The pr...

In this episode,  Dr. G  relates his experiences as a neurotypical who married into an undiagnosed neurodivergent family( pretty much everyone  was undiagnosed back in those days). The family members were all different  degrees of ADHD. Parents were particularly well educated - Mom was Phi Beta Kappa and Dad was a physician. One brother also became a doctor and the other brothe...

In the last 7 sessions we have covered executive functioning which is how we make plans and take action. This episode involves a short summary and brief description of cognitive abilities that constitute executive functioning. ADHDers routinely have difficulties with executive functioning. There are compensatory strategies that help ADHDers to cope with executive tasks.

Episode Summary: In this episode, Dr. G explores the challenge of inconsistency faced by individuals with ADHD. The discussion delves into how inconsistency can impact various aspects of life, including work, relationships, and personal goals. Listeners will gain practical strategies to enhance consistency and maintain steady progress in their daily lives. Expert insights are shared to help manage...

Episode Summary: In this episode, Dr. G addresses the issue of impulsivity in individuals with ADHD. The conversation explores how impulsivity affects various aspects of life, from decision-making to relationships. Practical strategies for managing impulsivity are discussed, along with expert insights into therapeutic approaches that can help individuals with ADHD achieve better self-control and r...

  Episode Summary: In this episode, Dr. G. deives into the challenges of organization and planning for individuals with ADHD. The discussion highlights the common difficulties faced in these areas and provides practical strategies to enhance organizational skills and effective planning. Expert advice is shared to help listeners manage their daily tasks and long-term goals more efficiently. Th...

  Episode Summary: In this episode, Dr. G discusses the role of emotional regulation in individuals with ADHD. The conversation focuses on the challenges that ADHD can present in managing emotions, and offers practical strategies for improving emotional regulation. Expert insights provide valuable guidance on coping mechanisms and therapies to support individuals with ADHD in achieving better...

  Episode Summary: In this episode, Dr. G explores the critical aspects of time sense and time awareness in individuals with ADHD. The discussion sheds light on how difficulties in these areas can affect daily routines and productivity. Listeners will gain practical tips and strategies to improve time management skills and enhance overall executive functioning. Thank you for tuning into this...

Episode Summary: In this episode, Dr. G examines the role of executive functioning and working memory in individuals with ADHD. The conversation focuses on the challenges that deficits in these areas can create in daily life. Practical strategies to enhance working memory and executive function are discussed, along with expert insights on effective management techniques for ADHD.   Thank you...

  Episode Summary: In this episode, Dr. G delves into the intricacies of executive functioning and its impact on individuals with ADHD. The discussion highlights key challenges faced in daily life, practical strategies to enhance executive functioning skills, and expert insights on managing ADHD effectively. Major Points: Understanding executive functioning and its role in ADHD. Common execut...

Episode Summary: In this episode, Dr. G explores the unique challenges faced by adults diagnosed with ADHD later in life. The discussion centers on the impact of ADHD on daily functioning and relationships. Listeners will gain valuable insights into practical strategies for fostering more flexible thinking and managing ADHD symptoms effectively. Major Points: Emotional and psychological effec...

  Episode Summary: In this episode, host Dr. G shares insights on living with ADHD diagnosed later in life. The discussion covers the impact of rigid thinking patterns on daily activities and relationships. Key strategies for managing these patterns and fostering flexibility are highlighted. Personal stories and expert advice offer a comprehensive view of navigating ADHD as an adult. Major Po...

  Overview: In this episode, the focus is on the impact of late diagnosis of ADHD, particularly on social interactions and relationships. The discussion covers the challenges faced by individuals diagnosed with ADHD later in life, how it affects their social life, and strategies for coping. Key Topics Discussed: Introduction to ADHD and Late Diagnosis: The episode begins with an overview of A...

  Overview: In this episode, we explore the impact of late diagnosis of ADHD on overall health. Our host discusses the physical, emotional, and mental health challenges faced by individuals diagnosed with ADHD later in life, sharing insights from personal experiences and expert opinions. Key Topics: Introduction Overview of the episode’s theme: the health implications of a late ADHD diagnosis...

In this episode, we delve into the intense emotional experiences associated with ADHD, focusing on feelings of alienation. Our host explores the underlying reasons for these emotions and shares personal stories and expert insights to help listeners understand and navigate these challenges. 1. **Introduction** - Brief overview of the episode’s theme: ADHD and extreme emotions. - Explanation of why...

ADHDers who are late diagnosed have a number of emotional difficulties because of growing up thinking the problems caused by ADHD were their fault. Thinking if you only tried harder or “just pay better attention" (my personal favorite—I had a teacher of a child diagnosed with ADHD actually write this in his report card), things in your life would improve, but also thinking it's your fault if they...

Probably the biggest difficulty growing up with ADHD untreated is what that does to an individual’s self-esteem. When you get 70 critical comments a day. When you’re trying to succeed in an educational system that wasn’t designed for your kind of brain. When you’re surrounded by people, particularly adults, who don’t understand ADHD. When you’re trying to survive in these circumstances, it is diff...