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April 1, 2015

Attention Talk News

In This Issue . . .

Ever heard the saying, "Together we stand; divided we fall"? Well, that's more important now than ever when we think of CHADD's (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) critical role in advocating for the ADHD community. In our feature article below, Jeff Copper gives us insight into the work CHADD does behind the scenes to facilitate regulations and gain accommodations for those with ADD/ADHD. But CHADD's help doesn't come free and easy. It's hard work; it takes money; and now, CHADD needs our help. Read the article and learn how you can play a big role in the One of 15 Million campaign.

This past month brought some great interviews on Attention Talk Radio -- Dr. Ari Tuckman, SOAR's John Willson, Yvonne Nardone, and Dr. David Goodman -- on some quite unusual topics, ranging from victims, heroes, and villains to sex between the sheets! Here's the lineup, so enjoy!

Does ADHD impact your libido? As we learned from Dr. Ari Tuckman in our interview, titled "ADHD and Sex Between the Sheets: What Do We Know?" we don't know but are trying to find out.

What seminal moment helped shape who you are? John Willson thinks most individuals resonate with adversarial and situational experiences. If this is true, do you see value in purposefully putting yourself in a challenging experience? Check out our interview, titled ADHD Gateway Adventure Program: A Type of GAP Year."

In our interview titled "Being a Wife with ADHD Married to a Husband with ADHD," Yvonne Nardone gives us ADHD Couples Tip #1: Having separate bedrooms makes you look forward to sex and intimacy! Does that surprise you?

In "ADHD and Advocacy: Victims, Villains, and Heroes," Dr. David Goodman explains how every good story has a villain, a victim, and a hero. The context of the story can manipulate your view, especially on topics like ADHD. Do you notice the anatomy of a story manipulating your attention?

And Attention Talk Video brought these new ideas to share with you:

Got ADHD? What is your personal record for starting something over? Watch Jeff Copper's "ADHD Insight Impact of Distractions on Executive Functioning" and learn more.

A gap year can be great for those with ADHD. Must a person work? Or is there an alternative that will help develop life skills to move forward? John Willson of SOAR says yes! Learn more in our interview titled "ADHD Tip: Take a GAP Year between High School and College."

Jeff Copper shared his thoughts "Procrastination Struggles #2" and asked the question: Do you procrastinate when you learn something new? Jeff says he does. What about you?

Blue light, melatonin, and sleep onset... are they related? You bet, says Dr. David Nowell in his interview titled, "ADHD Tips: What You Don't Know about Screen Time." Manage them and you might sleep better. Is there any truth to this?

In another location video, Jeff Copper asks whether it's a good idea for those with ADHD to quit their day jobs and pursue a career in thought juggling. Jeff recommends against it. Check the video, "ADHD and Working Memory."

Are you attending to the right thing? If you haven't done it yet, download our new a-Book (the "a" is for attention), "Identify YOUR Top Five Hurdles to Managing ADD/ADHD." It has tips Jeff has learned from doing over 300 interviews with ADHD experts. Let your friends know about it, too! They can download it here: www.attentiontalknetwork.com

Feature Article

Brought to you by Time Timer

Why a Strong CHADD is a Strong ADHD Community

by Jeff Copper

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) is a national nonprofit organization that has played a vital role in making a difference in the ADHD community since 1987. While most people know CHADD for providing resources and information on ADHD, most people don't realize the work CHADD does behind the scenes advocating on behalf of the ADHD community.

For instance, CHADD makes it their mission to be a voice for those with ADHD on Capitol Hill where they work with regulatory agencies to define statutes that affect the ADHD community. Further, CHADD addresses agencies such as the Drug Enforcement agency (DEA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from time to time, lobbying to relax medication production restrictions given to pharmaceutical companies that often produce ADHD medication shortages.

In short, without CHADD, those impacted by ADHD would have more day-to-day challenges and not be able to get many need accommodations. Until recently, CHADD has been successful in advocating for the ADHD community with revenue generated from membership, advertising revenues, grants and donations, and attendance at their annual conference. But with membership enrollment down and fewer and fewer donations coming in, CHADD is encountering a real financial setback. Without appropriate funds, CHADD will be more limited in their ability to advocate effectively for the ADHD community .

As an ADHD coach and someone who sees firsthand the benefits of the work CHADD does, I am asking you to take part in the One of 15 Million campaign (#Onein15M) to help CHADD raise awareness and funds to keep their mission alive to improve the lives of people affected by ADHD. It has never been so important as it is right now for the ADHD community to join together as one unified voice. Together, we can make a difference, so join in the power by not being just one of 15 million, but instead stand strong as one with 15 million.

Click here to take a stand with CHADD.

Audio News

Brought to you by CHADD

Recent Radio Shows in Our Archives

(Just click the title link)

ADHD and Sex: Between the Sheets, What Do We Know?

What do we know about the sex lives of couples where one partner has ADHD and the other doesn't? In this episode of Attention Talk Radio we interview Dr. Ari Tuckman (www.adultadhdbook.com) and discuss what we do know, what we don't know, and what Dr. Tuckman is trying to find out. We'll also be making a call to action to you, our listeners, to participate in an anonymous survey on this topic. If you are impacted by ADHD and interested in this topic, you'll have to tune in!

ADHD Gateway Adventure Program, a Type of GAP Year

Does your teen have the life skills, maturity, and decision-making ability to make it in college and survive? Just because they graduated high school with a diploma doesn't mean they're ready. All too often, those with ADHD need more time to mature and develop life skills. Question is... what are the options? A GAP year! In this episode of Attention Talk Radio, we interview John Willson of SOAR, Inc., (www.soarnc.org) about a certain type of GAP year - the Gateway Adventure program. John talks about structure, the merits, and the hands on learning those in transition can gain from such a program. He also discusses the basics and resources to help make a decision if a GAP year is for you. If you're a teen or a parent of a teen with ADHD concerned that college might be coming too fast, this is a show you won't want to miss.

Being a Wife with ADHD Married to a Husband with ADHD

Ladies, does your stud muffin have ADHD? How do you live with him and his ADHD, help him manage himself and his ADHD, and then love him and his ADHD, all the while managing your own ADHD? In this episode we interview Yvonne Nardone, an ADHD spouse and huge supporter of her ADHD husband (www.adhdpeople.net)! If you're in an ADHD relationship where both of you have ADHD, you won't want to miss this insightful show!

ADHD and Advocacy: Victims, Villains, and Heroes

Does the media perpetuate ADHD stigma or inform society about the reality of ADHD? Or is it about the story and the fundamentals of storytelling to paint the victims as villains and heroes? In this episode of Attention Talk Radio, we interview Dr. David Goodman (www.addadult.com) on the topic to enlighten, educate, and empower you to fight against the misrepresentation of ADHD by the media. If you have or are impacted by ADHD or if you just want to learn how journalists write a slanted story, this is a show you won't want to miss!

Be sure to visit the Attention Talk News website

at www.attentiontalknews.com.

Attention Talk Network... Your ADHD information Source!

Video News

Brought to you by
ADD Coach Academy Find a Coach

ADHD Insight: Impact of Distractions on Executive Functioning
What is it like for a person with ADHD when their executive functioning brain is being taxed and it is a distraction? It's like starting the task all over. In this video ADHD coach Jeff Copper (www.digcoaching.com) uses a computer as a metaphor to understand what happens when those with ADHD get distracted while engaged in an activity that requires their executive functioning brain. Then he offers a context to manage such situations.

ADHD Tip: Take a Gap Year between High School and College
Should those with ADHD go straight to college or should they consider a GAP year? In this interview we talk to John Willson of S.O.A.R. (www.soarnc.org) about what a GAP year is, as well as experiential learning, the advantages of such programs and taking a year for those with executive functioning issues. This interview is packed with insight.

ADHD Tips: Procrastination Struggles #2
Procrastination is a huge issue for those with ADD or ADHD. In this video, ADHD coach Jeff Copper (www.digcoaching.com) shares his insight on what to pay attention to in order to move past procrastination. If you struggle with procrastination or if those procrastination tips on the web are not helping, then you'll want to watch this video.

ADHD Tips: What You Don't Know about Screen Time

Screen time isn't a bad thing... unless a person has difficulty with self-regulation... like maybe a person with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder! In this episode we interview Dr. David Nowell (www.drnowell.com) on ADHD, screen time tips, and its impact on sleep! If you struggle to sleep, find out why in this insightful interview.

ADHD and Working Memory

Those with ADHD struggle with working memory, holding multiple thoughts in mind while organizing and sequencing them. In this video, ADHD coach Jeff Copper (www.digcoaching.com) has a simple working memory exercise that will enable you to witness your working memory and understand why those with ADHD need to externalize things to minimize the need to use working memory.

Other Stuff

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Editor's Note

Jeff Copper, Editor

About the Editor

Our intention is to share audio, video, and printed content to capture your interest and perhaps inspire you to pay attention to something differently. Enjoy.