2012 Burnett Lecture Part 1 Keynote Speaker: Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D.

As somebody who has ADHD (Please start using the correct acronym.) I feel it is my obligation to make it absolutely clear to everyone that there is nothing beneficial about ADHD. If we are successful with ADHD, then we would only be more successful if we didnt have ADHD. [VIDEO]

It sounds to me like you may have ADHD. Dr. Russell Barkley mentions in one of his speeches[1] that frequent prompts are one effective way to keep someone with ADHD accountable and on track. You may want to watch this shorter version[2] and see if you recognize yourself (that's doesn't proof anything of course, but it's a start). [1]: [VIDEO] [2]: [LINK]

> The way I describe it to most people is very simple. If you give a ADD/ADHD child Ritalin, Adderol, etc, they will calm down. You give those drugs to a normal child and they get super hyperactive. No they don't, ~25% won't feel anything. Most will become more focused. Methylphenidate and Methamphetamine /sound/ the same, but the former is better at "stimulating" certain brain structures : ) > Inversely, you give most people a stimulant such as caffeine and their heart beat increases and they perk up. I've always been very careful about coffee in the morning or teas as it is very much a calming downer. Sometimes I will drink a coffee to really calm my (always thinking too much) brain and let me focus, but can't do it if I'm the least bit tired as I'll be more inclined to doze off mid day. Yeah, the "ADHD people react oppositely to stimulants" stuff is folklore. Go drink a quad shot latte and tell me caffeine actually makes you tired. > I'm happy to see more actual science that shows this is a real thing, not something made up by an impatient child or child who had lots of trouble paying attention in school. Brain scans are fun, but cognitive psychology is where the real work gets done: [VIDEO]

> Every child I know diagnosed with ADHD had parents who didn't want to deal with them You must not know many parents then. Parents I know that have children with ADHD recognize their children are struggling beyond simple hyperactivity. These are children that are markedly behind their peers in childhood milestones regardless of their family upbringing, education, and socio-economic status. These are children that have a deficiency in the executive function of their brains where hyperactivity is one of many symptoms, and is not even necessarily the most worrying. These are children that struggle with simple tasks that other children do not. Parents of these children are no less loving, caring, or capable than parents without ADHD children. Parents should not be shamed for using effective medications (like MDH) so their children can have positive outcomes in their development and adult-life. > What we really need is a strong emphasis on family development, courses built around it and support groups ADHD is generally a disorder that you are born with. No amount of family development can prevent the disease. Educate yourself by watching this: [VIDEO]