Coping Skills and Strategies for Successfully Living with ADD

?We were not made for this world.? We adapted over thousands of years to a world of high physical activity outdoors. Now we have mental stimulation, complexity, and relatively sedentary lifestyles. As a result, a large amount of energy is being stored up within us that doesn’t get used. This can cause stress symptoms. Practicing healthy stress management is especially important for the ADD person since they are more stress prone.
Being physically active as part of daily routine is essential to good stress management. Eating healthy foods, with adequate proteins and avoiding excess carbohydrates is also important.
Sleeping regularly 7-8 hours is probably the single most important health habit to practice. Developing and maintaining supportive relationships is also high on the list of stress reducers.
Cognitive/behavioral therapy for ADD is limited by the fact that people who are ADD usually know what to do, they just can’t do it! Russell Barkley, a specialist in ADD research, refers to this as a “disorder of intention.” He says what the ADD person needs is assistance at the point of performance. Having a spouse, parent, co-worker, etc., that can help organize and prioritize for the ADD person is helpful.
Time management is “the curse” of the ADD person. Most are “near-sighted” about time and how to use it effectively. Rather than a therapist, the ADD person usually benefits the most from having a person that serves as a “Coach.” The aid of a “Coach” can help turn chaos and stress into a well functioning, productive life.