Introduction: ADD Isn't Just For Kids Anymore! XVII --
Chapter 1 From the Porch to the Printed Page: A Reader's Guide to Understanding This Book 1 --
Who Should Read This Book --
Diagnosis Isn't a Do-It-Yourself Enterprise --
Chapter 2 Understanding the Disorder That Makes Us Feel Lazy, Stupid or Crazy 5 --
About Definitions and Descriptions --
Big Three: Inattention, Impulsivity, Hyperactivity --
Not Just for Boys Anymore --
Chapter 3 Impact of Growing Up with ADD 29 --
Abilities and Disabilities --
Chapter 4 How Are We Different? 46 --
Locking In/Blocking Out --
Emotional Roller Coasters --
Bottomless Pit of Needs --
Activity Levels in Flux --
Intractable Time Tyrant --
Action/Inaction Imbalance --
Reaction Time Irregularity --
Miniscule Mental Fuel Tanks --
Undependable Memory/Learning Systems --
Impaired Social Skills' Control Centers --
Chapter 5 Not So Fine Art of Coping 80 --
Bad is Better Than Stupid --
Emotional Incontinence --
Chapter 6 I Know...I Think...I have Add: What Do I Do Now? 106 --
Savvy Mental Health Consumer --
Why and How of the Diagnostic Evaluation --
After the Diagnosis--You Are Worth All the Work It Will Take to Recover --
Self-Discovery and the Grief Process: Shock of Recognition; Anger-Why Me?; Denial-Not Me!; Bargaining-It Can All Be Fixed; Depression-Reality Sinks In; Acceptance-Out of the Depths! --
Chapter 7 About Balance, Toyotas, Porsches, Circus High Wires, and the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous 124 --
Finely Tuned and In Need of Sensitive Handling --
How-To's of Achieving Balance: The 12 Step Framework --
A One Rat Study: Analyzing Strengths and Weaknesses --
Constructing a Personalized Safety Net for Your High Wire Act --
Chapter 8 Interfacing In Action: Groups and Friendships 147 --
Art and Science of Communication --
Hazard: Social Slippery Spots --
Act I, Group Interactions: Mental Gymnastics; Running Out of Gas; Cruise Controls Set on Mega-Speed --
Survival Tips: Group Interactions --
Act II, One to One Encounters: Working At Not Working So Hard, Negative Self-Talk --
Survival Tips: Friendships --
Effective Communication --
Chapter 9 Interfacing in Action: Getting Along on the Job 174 --
A Variation on the Theme of Interfacing --
Act III, Getting Along At Work: Complex Interrelationships, Office Politics, Written and Unwritten Rules --
Survival Tips: On the Job --
High Tech Communication, or Don't Fax Yourself Out of State! --
Work Related Stress: Noise, Doors and Telephones --
What Do You Want to Do When You Grow Up? --
Are You Failing On the Job or Is Your Job Failing You? --
Chapter 10 Interfacing In Action: In The Dating Game and The Family 194 --
High Stake Relationships --
Act IV, The Dating Game: Intensity; Insatiability; the Walking Wounded; The Prince Charming Trap --
Survival Tips: Intimate Relationships --
Act V, Scene I, Marriage and Child Rearing: Meet the Bakers, 1 Plus 1 Is More Than Two, Parenting and the ADD Dimension --
Survival Tips: "Planned Parenting" --
Act V, Scene II, Chaos on the Cul-de-Sac: Boundary Issues and Invisible Circles --
Survival Tips: Emotional Living Space --
Chapter 11 From Mealtime Mania to Outing Ordeals: How-To's of Decreasing Discord 218 --
Scenes From the Kitchen Table and ADD Family Fun --
Family Life Through the Eyes of Tom, Jan, Amy, Zachary and Jennifer --
Combustible Mix of ADD Temperaments --
Survival Tips: Reducing the Chaos and Turning Down the Volume --
Survival Tips: From Chaos to Peaceful Co-Existence --
Chapter 12 Principles of Government: Family Style 229 --
Poised for Defense or Attack --
Establishing a Shared Government --
Principles and Rules of Conduct for Family Meetings --
Equal Opportunity Participation: Problem-Solving, Bargaining, Negotiation, Contracting --
Guarding Against Expectations of Perfection --
Chapter 13 Dynamics of ADD in Organization: Mechanics and Methods 244 --
Life is Difficult for the Organizationally Impaired --
Creating Order: Where Do You Start? --
Designing a Clearing Out and Storing System --
Home Office Management: the Peace of Mind Payoff --
Practical Tools for Mess Management --
Paper Pile Management and Its Cardinal Rules --
To Do's and Paper Pile Mismanagement --
Time Management: Taming the Time Monster --
Chapter 14 Dynamics of ADD in Memory: Mechanics and Methods 278 --
Memory and Learning: You Can't Have One Without the Other --
How Are Your Memories? --
How Do You Learn: What's Your Learning Style? --
Memory Tune-Up Techniques --
Learning Disabilities and ADD --
Chapter 15 Crutches, Ladders and the Decision to Seek Professional Help 304 --
About Crutches, Ladders and Assumptions --
Are You Ready to Ask for Help? --
Alternative and Mainstream Therapies: What's the Difference? --
Value and Limitations of Research --
Becoming Your Own Case Manager --
To Be... or Not To Be Medicated --
Issue of Substance Abuse --
Chapter 16 Medicine and Medicine Management 324 --
A Trial and Error Process --
How and Why of Medicine --
Benefits, Action, Side Effects, Dose Levels: Stimulant Medications; Tricyclic Antidepressants; Miscellaneous and Newer Drugs --
Medicine: A Starting Place, Not the Final Destination --
Chapter 17 Therapy and More Therapy 350 --
Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy --
Speech and Language Therapy --
Educational Remediation --
Psychodynamic Psychotherapies --
Miscellaneous Therapies --
Social Skills Training --
Assertiveness Training --
Alternative Therapy: Yoga; Massage; Brain Massage and Virtual Reality (!); Progressive Muscle Relaxation --
Transcendental Meditation --
Natural Childbirth Techniques --
Chapter 18 From Obstacle to Opportunity 381 --
If You Could Push a Button and Not Have ADD Anymore, Would You Push It? --
About Joy, Hope and Possibilities --
ADD and the Specialized Brain --
ABilities Within Disabilities: The ADD Advantage --
Finding Your Niche: Better Late Than Never --
ADD is More Than a Disorder: It Is Also An ADDed Dimension! --
Epilogue: Imagine a World Without ADD 411.
