I was born in Southern California to a family with its share of problems and troubles. My two siblings and I endured alcoholism, divorce, poverty, and unworkable thinking habits and communication styles. I became an avid reader in high school of self-help books. I started with Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People. I had always been very shy and socially inept, and I wanted to become more popular (especially with girls). After high school, I took a lot of personal-growth seminars and went to college and continued reading and all the while I tried to apply what I was learning. And you know what? Some of it worked!

I gradually changed many of my habits of thought. I became more confident in myself, less pessimistic, more persistent with my goals. I learned better ways to communicate and formed better relationships because of it. And I learned HOW to experience good moods more often.    

Back in 1990, I started writing a column for a startup newsletter called At Your Best. It was published by Rodale Press, the publishers of Men's Health, Prevention Magazine, and many others. Rodale sold their stylish, 6-page newsletter to businesses FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES. The newsletter had columns on relationships and time-management, and so on. Very practical stuff. And my column was about improving your attitude, getting along better with people, and enjoying work more. In a readers' survey, I was voted their favorite columnist.

The column ran for seven years, until At Your Best was no longer published. I had a huge collection of these articles and decided to publish them as a book and on the web.

I have tested every principle personally. I included in the book and on this web site only those principles that I found both effective AND relatively easy to apply.

One thing I learned from Dale Carnegie way back in high school is to summarize ideas into one short sentence. I do that for every chapter. It is much easier to remember and apply a principle that has been chiseled down into a short sentence. Please remember that. It is very important. As you explore these pages, you'll sometimes learn a new idea. Often you'll gain a new insight. When you do, try to boil it down into something easy to remember, and then remind yourself of it often enough to form a new mental or physical habit.

Enjoy your exploration.

Adam

next: Introduction

Contents in Essays on Psychology and Life Website:

Introduction
Understanding Voicelessness
Essays on Parenting
Essays on Relationships
Essays on Psychotherapy
Recommended Books

Introduction

• Essays on Psychology and Life Homepage
• About Me
• Richard Grossman, Ph.D. Curriculum Vitae

Understanding Voicelessness

• The Four Questions
• Six Questions About 'Voice' and 'Voicelessness'
• Voicelessness: Narcissism
• Voicelessness: Holiday Blues
• Depression and the Subtext of Family Life
• Adult Children of Narcissistic Parents: Is Love Enough?
• Little Voices
• Voicelessness: Depression
• Bill Clinton: A Case of Attention Deficit Disorder?
• Voicelessness: A Personal Account

Parenting

• Giving Your Child "Voice" Fundamental to a child's self-esteem and emotional well being is their sense of "voice." How do you ensure your child receives this lifelong gift?
• The Dance If you want to inoculate your child against depression and help build their self-esteem, you must learn how to dance.
• Do Parents Matter? The debate has been contentious and highly publicized. One critical issue has not been addressed.

• Voice Lessons: Littleton, Colorado (Guest column reprinted from the Brookline Tab, May 13, 1999 and excerpted in Massachusetts Psychologist, June, 1999) What can be learned about parenting from the Columbine High School tragedy?
• What is a Wookah? What does a child with "voice" sound like?
• Voicelessness: The Depressed Teenager Alienation and despair have reached epidemic proportions in high schools. How can you help your child?
• Voicelessness
• The Four Questions Who am I? Do I have any value? Why doesn't anyone see or hear me? Why should I live?
• Six Questions About "Voice" and "Voicelessness" What is "voice?" Why is it important?
• Voicelessness: Narcissism Narcissism is a misnomer. At their core narcissists don't love themselves -- in fact their self barely exists, and what part does exist is deemed worthless. All energy is devoted to inflating the self...
• Voicelessness: Holiday Blues If you become depressed at holiday time, you are not alone.
• Depression and the Subtext of Family Life In the psychology of children and adults, hidden messages rule.
• Adult Children of Narcissistic Parents: Is Love Enough? Important lessons about love and "voice" can be learned from the adult children of narcissistic parents...
• Little Voices Deprived of voice in childhood, some people shrink or twist themselves like a pretzel to fit others' worlds.
• Voicelessness: Depression Many chronically depressed people experienced childhood voicelessness. How does voicelessness affect adult depression?
• Bill Clinton: A Case of Attention Deficit Disorder? Unfortunately, Hillary did not get it quite right when she explained Bill's sexual escapades...
• Voicelessness: A Personal Account What happens when a dying parent values one small part of us and neglects the rest? (Invited talk: Contemporary Spiritual Experience, Brookline, MA, Sept, 2002).

Relationships

• Why Can't Some People Maintain Intimate Relationships? Many people retreat from close emotional contact, frustrating spouses and partners.Here's a look at the problem from the perspective of childhood "voicelessness."
• Why Do Some People Choose One Bad Relationship After Another? Psychoanalysts, citing Freud's "pleasure principle", have suggested masochism as the answer. Why else would people suffer the same pain and humiliation over and over again? Here's another explanation based upon the need to exist in other's eyes.
• Relationships: The Role of the Hidden Messages Hidden messages from childhood secretly affect adult relationships. Here's an example.
• Couples Counseling: Is Better Communication Enough? We've read it in all the popular magazines: better communication leads to a happier marriage. But is better communication enough?

Psychotherapy

• Psychotherapy and Humanism Life experience has taught me that humanism plays a critical role in the healing process.
• Psychotherapy: Truth or Revisionist History? Can a therapist uncover the truth about a client's past? Here's a case example based upon a mother's diary.
• A Person Appears in My Office What happens next? How does therapy begin?
• Psychotherapy in the Internet Age To "e" or not to "e", that is the question...
• So, You're Thinking About Becoming a Therapist? Learning about subtext is critical. Here's an exercise based upon Robert Frost's poem, "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening."
• Therapy on the High Seas: A Search for Self What happens when an adult child of a narcissistic family faces progressive heart failure? Consider this account of a man's struggle for physical and emotional survival.
• Dreams, Imagined Dreams--Failed Therapy Therapists can not only heal, they can hurt.
• Depression: Why See a Therapist if You Can Just Take a Pill? Sometimes medication is the easiest and most inexpensive answer for depression. But there are good reasons to consider therapy, even if you are on anti-depressants.
• Vulnerability: the roots of compassion Response to the 9-11 terrorist attack. September 27, 2001

Recommended Books

• The Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Reading List. Books recommended by Dr. Richard Grossman and Message Board members.

back to: Essays on Psychology and Life Homepage

Contents in Self-Help Stuff That Works Website:

Introduction
Immediate Relief of Negative Feelings
Self-Help Stuff That Works - The Book
Bonus Chapters
Bite-Size Self-Help That Works

Introduction

• Self-Help Stuff That Works Homepage
• About Me
• About the Author of Self-Help Stuff That Works
• Explore This Site
• Making Changes Stick

Negative Feelings

• Immediate Relief of Negative Feelings
• Angry: Argue With Yourself And Win!
• Bored at Work: Zoning Out, Bored at Home: Wasting Time... The Old Fashioned Way, Always Bored: The Ocelot Blues
• Tired: Be More Energetic
• Worried: Expect the Best
• Impatient: Having the Time
• Annoyed: Meanings and Feelings
• Frustrated: Positive Thinking - The Next Generation
• Discouraged: Just Keep Planting
• Stressed Out: Stress Control
• Insecure: Insecurity and How to Be More Self-Confident
• Depressed: Optimism
• Discontented: The Root of All Happiness and Contentment
• Relatives Upset Your: Attitudes and Kin
• Improve Performance: A Wiser Adviser
• Parenting Problems: Necessary Conflict
• Trouble Makers at Work: The Trouble with Troublemakers

Self-Help Stuff That Works - The Book

• Introduction
• How to Use This Book
• Comments by Readers
• Questions and Answers

Part One: Attitude

• Attitude - Table of Contents
• Optimism
• Optimism is Healthy
• A Wiser Advisor
• Honest Abe
• Master the Art of Making Meaning
• Brighter Future? Sounds Good!
• Adrift
• Maybe it's Good
• You CAN Change
• The Neutralizer
• Stress Control
• The Old Switcheroo
• Having the Time
• Think Positive Positively!
• The Uncertainty Principle
• Unpleasant Feelings
• The How of Tao
• Pillar of Strength
• Meanings and Feelings
• Expect the Best
• Fighting Spirit
• How to Improve Your Self-Esteem
• All in Your Head
• Think Strong
• Where to Tap
• A Simple Way to Change How You Feel
• We've Been Duped
• How to Like Yourself More
• Rx to Relax
• Interest is Life
• Positive Thinking: The Next Generation
• From Hope to Change
• Be All You Can Be
• Riches
• Adventure
• The Ocelot Blues
• Argue With Yourself and Win!
• Constitutional Right
• Why Ask Why?
• Science of Happiness
• A Slave to His Destiny
• Attitude Principles

Part Two: Work

• Work - Table of Contents
• Zoning Out
• Time Management Made Simple
• Envision it Done
• Use What You Get
• Do You Want to Give Up?
• As Good As Gold
• Law of Return
• Personality Counts
• R-e-s-p-e-c-t
• A Terrible Thing to Waste
• "I Don't Know What to Do With My Life"
• Sometimes You Shouldn't Listen
• Just Keep Planting
• Getting Paid to Meditate
• Be More Energetic
• Burn Your Own BTUs
• How to Earn More Money
• The Trouble With Troublemakers
• The Spirit of the Games
• A Lasting State of Feeling Great
• You Create Yourself
• Wasting Time the Old-Fashioned Way
• Taking Credit
• Make it Happen
• Forbidden Fruits
• Life is a Meditation
• Play the Game
• Self-Help
• Speedy Reading One Chunk at a Time
• Thousand Watt Bulb
• An Island of Order in a Sea of Chaos
• The Samurai Effect
• Unnatural Acts
• The Shortest Distance
• American Reading Ceremony
• Work is Good Therapy
• Work Principles

Part Three: People

• People - Table of Contents
• How to Avoid Feeling Socially Awkward
• Your Inner Guide to Self-Esteem
• Complaint Compunctions
• Here Comes the Judge
• The Power of Listening
• Confidence With People
• Attitudes and Kin
• Very Impressive
• Make Your Own Labels
• Danger
• How to Find a Lifemate
• Personal Propaganda
• Play Yourself Down
• The Conflict of Honesty
• E-Squared
• How You Measure Up
• Send a Blessing
• Personality Myth
• Suggestive Moves
• We're Family
• Mastery
• Is That Clear?
• To Zip or Not to Zip
• Take the Sting Out
• How to Be Close to Your Friends
• How to Have More Life in Your Time
• How to Melt Hard Feelings
• How to Get What You Want From Others
• Elicit Your Own Acknowledgement
• Self-Confidence
• The Power of a Poker Face
• TRUE Love
• Right Makes Might
• The Bad Apples
• Refuse to Flinch
• Forging Mettle
• People Principles
• Parting Shot
• Index

Bonus Chapters

• Bonus Chapters Homepage
• The Bad News About Bad News (and What You Can Do About It)
• A Friend in Deed
• Conversation on Optimism
• Thoughtical Illusions
• Interpretations

Bite-Size Help

• Bite-Size Self-Help That Works Homepage
• Why Failing to Lose Weight Is a Good Thing
• How Thinking Negatively Can Make You Feel Better
• How to Make People Like You For Five Cents
• How Being Irresponsible Can Improve Your Life
• How to Have More Time (and Less Stress)
• The Ancient Hindus Used the Same Technique as Modern Cognitive Science to End Human Misery
• Is There an Easy Way to Stop Feeling Angry or Annoyed?
• The Root of All Happiness And Contentment
• Why Optimism Is a Self-Fulfilling Prophesy
• How to Be Healthier Without Lifting a Finger
• How to Persist Without Willpower
• Invigorate Your Life In a Profound Way Using a Technique Developed In a Concentration Camp
• Why Pessimism Shuts Down Our Immune System
• What Was Abraham Lincoln's Religion?

back to: Self-Help Stuff That Works Homepage

Brookline, Massachusetts

Welcome! At this site you will find a growing collection of essays on various topics in psychology. Two themes run through these pages. First and foremost is the importance of "voice." I suggest first reading Giving Your Child "Voice" : The 3 Rules of Parenting to see what "voice" is, how we acquire it, and how it serves us. Before moving on to the essays on "voicelessness," take the time to ask yourself two questions: Did I receive "voice" as a child? And if you have children: am I giving them "voice"? Spend some time thinking about the role "voice" has played in the lives of those closest to you.

The second theme concerns the multi-layers of human communication. If we want to understand our own personal histories, we must look at both text and subtext and become expert in reading between the lines. Such knowledge gives us the opportunity to change our futures and our children's futures.

Some of these essays fall outside the "relationships" category. Still, I hope you will find them enjoyable and thought provoking.

Finally, I've enjoyed the many thoughtful comments people have sent. I look forward to hearing your "voice."

About the author: Dr. Grossman is a clinical psychologist and author of the Voicelessness and Emotional Survival web site.

next: About Me

Self-Therapy For People Who ENJOY Learning About Themselves

At least half of the letters I get are from people who want to change somebody else.

These letters usually start by listing the other person's faults. This is followed by a list of all the things the writer has done to try to make the person change. Then there are angry statements about how frustrating the whole process has been. And the letters usually close with something like this: "What else can I do, besides all I've already done, to make this person change?"

Sometimes I just want to write: "Give it up already! You can't make someone else change!"

But people who are so frustrated deserve a more complete answer.

HOW THEY GOT THE WAY THEY ARE

Let's start with an example we can use for our discussion. Let's talk about seventeen-year-old Sandra, who is extremely overweight.

How did she get to be so heavy? She ate too much.

This is about as far as most people go when they think someone should change. They look at the result and the one behavior they think caused it. And they insist that this one thing is all that needs to be changed.

NOT SO SIMPLE

In the real world there are many different causes for every effect.

What Sandra puts into her mouth is the most significant single cause. But there are many, many other causes
which, when added together, are far more important.

For example, all of the following might be reasons for Sandra being overweight:

Physical causes:
She eats too much.
Her genes.
Her health.
Her current size.

Emotional causes:
She eats to avoid anger, sadness and fear.
She eats when she's bored.
She eats when she's lonely.
She eats for the pain of feeling stuffed, to know she is "alive."

Relationship causes:
Her boyfriend also eats too much.
Her father always controlled her food.
Her mother is ashamed of her.
Siblings and friends make fun of her.

There are many causes for every effect and every cause can have many effects. Causation, especially when it comes to behavior, is always complex.

Life just isn't so simple.

Sandra's motivations are way too complicated for a few words or some clever strategy. Words and strategies won't work no matter how they are delivered.

WHY CAN'T THEY JUST SEE?

Another kind of statement I often hear is:

"But why can't she just see that if she lost the weight everything would be so much better for her?"

The answer is that she doesn't have enough reasons to believe that!

She may not even know yet what she does believe. But she knows that most of the time the pain of giving up her addiction seems to far outweigh the good results she knows she would get from the change.

She may even feel the need for it so much that if she knew it was killing her she wouldn't stop. (That's as serious as a delusion can be!)

BUT I CARE ABOUT HER

You care about her as much as you possibly can but you don't show it by trying to make her change.

If you think she isn't OK the way she is, she may not even be able to tell that you do care.

YOUR OWN SOLUTIONS

Think back to what you've done about your own biggest problems.

If you are doing well these days, you didn't get there by accepting the demands of the people closest to you
or by allowing them to manipulate you into what they thought was best.

You did it by finding a comfortable place to relax where you could have a calm conversation (maybe with yourself)
in which you unraveled the complexities of your own motivation.

And you knew, throughout the whole process, that what you did about it was entirely up to you. You knew you were in charge of your own life.

WHAT SHOULD OTHERS DO?

If they can accept the person the way they are, they should simply enjoy being with them.

If they can't accept the person, they should give them the distance they need.

SANDRA WAS ONLY AN EXAMPLE

Alcohol, approval, food, anxiety, depression, drugs, being verbally abusive... Whatever it is, we've all had our demons.

So notice how this topic applies to you. And be kind to yourself.

[Those letters I get are usually from people who are way too hard on themselves too.]

Enjoy Your Changes!

Everything here is designed to help you do just that!

next: Clear Communication

Are antipsychotics really effective in treating schizophrenia? And are the newer atypical antipsychotics better than the older ones? Here's the research.

Effectiveness of Antipsychotics in Treating Schizophrenia

A large number of studies have been done on the efficacy of typical antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics.

The American Psychiatric Association and the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommend antipsychotics for managing acute psychotic episodes and for preventing relapse. They state that response to any given antipsychotic can be variable so that trials of different medications may be necessary, and that lower doses are to be preferred where possible.

The prescribing of two or more antipsychotics at the same time for an individual is reported to be a frequent practice but not necessarily evidence-based.

Some doubts have been raised about the long-term effectiveness of antipsychotics because two large international World Health Organization studies found individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia tend to have better long-term outcomes in developing countries (where there is lower availability and use of antipsychotics) than in developed countries. The reasons for the differences are not clear, however, and various explanations have been suggested.

Some argue that the evidence for antipsychotics from withdrawal-relapse studies may be flawed because they do not take into account that antipsychotics may sensitize the brain and provoke psychosis if discontinued. Evidence from comparison studies indicates that at least some individuals recover from psychosis without taking antipsychotics and may do better than those that do take antipsychotics. Some argue that, overall, the evidence suggests that antipsychotics only help if they are used selectively and are gradually withdrawn as soon as possible.

Atypical vs Typical Antipsychotic Medications for Treatment of Schizophrenia

A phase 2 part of this study roughly replicated these findings. This phase consisted of a second randomization of the patients that discontinued taking the medication in the first phase. Olanzapine was again the only medication to stand out in the outcome measures, although the results did not always reach statistical significance, due in part to the decrease of power. Perphenazine again did not create more extrapyramidal effects.

A subsequent phase was conducted. This phase allowed clinicians to offer clozapine which was more effective at reducing medication drop-outs than other neuroleptic agents. However, the potential for clozapine to cause toxic side effects, including agranulocytosis, limits its usefulness.

Sources:

• American Psychiatric Association (2004) Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Schizophrenia. Second Edition.
• The Royal College of Psychiatrists & The British Psychological Society (2003). Schizophrenia. Full national clinical guideline on core interventions in primary and secondary care (PDF). London: Gaskell and the British Psychological Society.
• Patrick V, Levin E, Schleifer S. (2005) Antipsychotic polypharmacy: is there evidence for its use? J Psychiatr Pract. 2005 Jul;11(4):248-57.
• Jablensky A, Sartorius N, Ernberg G, Anker M, Korten A, Cooper J, Day R, Bertelsen A. "Schizophrenia: manifestations, incidence and course in different cultures. A World Health Organization ten-country study". Psychol Med Monogr Suppl 20: 1-97.
• Hopper K, Wanderling J (2000). Revisiting the developed versus developing country distinction in course and outcome in schizophrenia: results from ISoS, the WHO collaborative followup project. International Study of Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 26 (4), 835-46.
• Moncrieff J. (2006) Does antipsychotic withdrawal provoke psychosis? Review of the literature on rapid onset psychosis (supersensitivity psychosis) and withdrawal-related relapse. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica Jul;114(1):3-13.
• Harrow M, Jobe TH. (2007) Factors involved in outcome and recovery in schizophrenia patients not on antipsychotic medications: a 15-year multifollow-up study. J Nerv Ment Dis. May;195(5):406-14.
• Whitaker R. (2004) The case against antipsychotic drugs: a 50-year record of doing more harm than good. Med Hypotheses. 2004;62(1):5-13.
• Prien R, Levine J, Switalski R (1971). "Discontinuation of chemotherapy for chronic schizophrenics". Hosp Community Psychiatry 22 (1): 4-7.
• Lieberman J et al (2005). "Effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs in patients with chronic schizophrenia". N Engl J Med 353 (12): 1209-23. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa051688.
• Stroup T et al (2006). "Effectiveness of olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone in patients with chronic schizophrenia following discontinuation of a previous atypical antipsychotic". Am J Psychiatry 163 (4): 611-22. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.163.4.611.
• McEvoy J et al (2006). "Effectiveness of clozapine versus olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone in patients with chronic schizophrenia that did not respond to prior atypical antipsychotic treatment". Am J Psychiatry 163 (4): 600-10. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.163.4.600.

MUST HAVE Books on Alternative and Complimentary Medicine for Mental Health Issues. Mental Healing without Drugs

All HealthyPlace Mental Health TV Show Videos and Upcoming Shows.

back to: Alternative Mental Health Homepage or books on other topics

Certain medical conditions can mimic ADHD symptoms. Diet, drug interactions, an accumulation of heavy metals in the body can all lead to a misdiagnosis of ADHD.

Accurate diagnosis of ADHD in adults is challenging and requires attention to early development and symptoms of inattention, distractibility, impulsivity and emotional lability. Diagnosis is further complicated by the overlap between the symptoms of adult ADHD and the symptoms of other common psychiatric conditions such as depression and substance abuse.

Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is made using symptom checklist, rating scales, and mental status testing using the diagnosis criteria listed in the DSM-IV-TR.

Medical conditions that may mimic adult ADHD include hyperthyroidism, petit mal and partial complex seizures, hearing deficits, hepatic disease and lead toxicity.

Sleep apnea and drug interactions should be considered as possible causes of inattention and hyperactivity. Patients with a history of head injury may also have problems with attention, concentration and memory.

Essential fatty acids. A growing body of scientific literature is helping parents and doctors better understand the link between fatty acids and behavioral disorders such as ADHD. The ratio between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (such as arachidonic acid) seems especially important. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are omega-3 fatty acids found in flaxseed oil and cold water fish. In the typical Western diet, we tend to consume more omega-6 fatty acids relative to omega-3 fatty acids. The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids has been shown to influence the development of neurotransmitters and other chemicals that are essential for normal brain function. Increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to reduce the tendency toward hyperactivity among children with ADHD (Haag M 2003).

Hypoglycemia is characterized by low blood sugar concentrations. Hypoglycemia can reduce the glucose supply to brain, contributing to difficulty in concentrating, irritability, mood swings and fatigue. In a subgroup of people with ADD/ADHD, hypoglycemia may be a major contributing factor.

Heavy Metals and AD/HD

An accumulation of heavy metals in the body can contribute to behavioral disorders. Hair mineral analysis is a valuable resource used for testing for toxic mineral accumulation.

Sources:

Weiss, Margaret (2001). Adhd in Adulthood: A Guide to Current Theory, Diagnosis, and Treatment . Johns Hopkins University Press.

Goldstein, Sam; Ellison, Anne (2002). Clinicians' Guide to Adult ADHD: Assessment and Intervention . Academic Press.

next: Adult ADHD: Identification and Diagnos

Covering alternative treatments for ADHD - everything from dietary supplements to dietary interventions for ADHD plus behavior management techniques for children and students with ADHD.

• What Causes ADHD?
• Misdiagnosing ADHD
• Adult ADHD: Identification and Diagnosis
• Treatment of Adult ADHD
• The ADHD Diet
• Nutritional Treatments for ADHD
• Food, Diet and ADHD
• Dietary Interventions for ADHD Rejected by CHADD
• Hormones and Herbs for Treating ADHD
• Behavior Therapy for ADHD Children
• Behavioral Management for ADHD Children in the Classroom

next: What Causes ADHD?

I had "a feeling" with James, even before he was diagnosed with ADHD, that something was wrong.

As mothers, we instinctively know when something is not right with our child. I had these instincts with James and they became increasingly stronger by the time James turned 3-years old.

James was impulsive. He was constantly on the move. He preferred noisemaking to talking. He was destructive. He was impossible to potty train and he was consistently in trouble...in trouble with the neighbors, with family members and in daycare.

While my guts were telling me that something wasn't right with my child, family members were telling me I was nuts. James' father told me I didn't know how to control the child. Family members told me I need to be more harsh with discipline. My father told me I needed to beat my child. The pediatrician said I needed parenting classes.

A year later, things had not improved. Things had gotten worse. James had made the move into preschool and was failing. His "educated" and "professional" teachers labeled him "psychotic" and told me my son needed professional help.

At home, things were not good. The relationship between the children's father and I was deteriorating fast. The relationship became abusive. We disagreed over James. I felt there was something wrong, his Dad didn't. I wanted to take the child to the doctor, his dad refused to support me in that decision. The children fought with each other, their father fought with them, I fought with their father, I stopped visiting with my family and things were going to hell in a handcart and I was beginning to smother under a mountain of guilt.

By the time James turned 5, he was taking speech therapy lessons and beginning kindergarten. I didn't know it then, but I was about to receive the lessons that would take me down the path of becoming a Warrior.

next: Coaching Your ADHD Child
~ adhd library articles
~ all add/adhd articles