ADHD: Living and Learning Through Tragedy

Barbara's sons, Chris (left) and Greg (right)

by Barbara Mulloy-Robbins

Not long ago I attended a book fair. As an author, one of the more popular questions asked was, “What will I learn from your book?”  So, in greater detail, I am going to answer that question right here with this post. 

Readers will learn that ADHD is not some new excuse for a child’s misbehavior. This diagnosed brain disorder has been around for a long time. As much as ADHD can benefit a child’s creative thought process and abilities, as demonstrated by countless successful adults who had learned to use it to their advantage, there will always be the threat that the child will choose a far more slippery slope in order to cope with ADHD when they choose to self-medicate with alcohol and illicit drugs.

When I think about those who read my book, they will learn about the  path that my both my sons chose, as readers follow along with the actions I constantly took to try to help them. I did not stop trying.  Rehab didn’t help, and I eventually had to stop my co-dependent behavior. However, readers will also see another side of the coin; how I didn’t stop living my life and reaching for my goals and realizing my dreams, and managing to keep my faith throughout our lives.

Stigma and the Uphill Struggle

 by Barbara Mulloy-Robbins

I received a book review from Carol T. Maxfield, Ph.D., a clinical Neuropsychologist, and the first line she wrote is the subject of this blog post. Carol wrote, “It is rare that a mother who has lost her sons would be willing to share her devastations in a candid and truly genuine manner.”  

One of the driving forces behind my book, An Uphill Struggle, and this blog for that matter,  is to stamp out the stigma surrounding mental illness and chemical addiction; a stigma that is all too prevalent in society today. I truly felt writing as honestly about my situation as possible would help with that. If I shared my experience with the connection between ADD and Chemical ADDiction in the life and death of my two sons, perhaps others would feel more confident and fearless about sharing their own stories.

We need to get past the judgement, the labeling, and seriously get down to the business of understanding the damaging effects of untreated mental disorders. Eliminating the stigma has to begin with those who are directly affected. Today, the growing numbers of children with ADHD are at a higher risk to self-medicate as teenagers and adults, and, as a society, we have a real problem on our hands, especially if we are still mired in the stigma of mental Illness. 

If we can learn how to properly engage children with ADHD in the home and in school, we are giving them a fighting chance that they will not turn to drugs and alcohol to cope later on. Perhaps if parents and teachers were more aware of stories like mine, communities will act quicker both in planning and implementing, as well as funding new programs that better serve the growing population affected by ADHD.

Meditation for Anti- Aging and other Mental Health Headlines

CNN reporter, Jo Marchant asks; can meditation really slow aging?
Stress has something to do with this, and Nobel Prize winning professor, Elizabeth Blackburn is on it...Meditation for Anti Aging

Inmates with severe mental illness are getting closer to the Mental Illness Diversion Program, reports the Santa Monica Mirror...Proposal Gains Santa Monica Support

A coalition is forming in Syracuse in order to take on youth substance abuse, a problem that just isn't going away...Groups Come Together to Stop Youth Substance Abuse

Still don't fully understand what ADHD is? First, you need to imagine a Ferrari . Second, you need to read this Forbes.com article... How a Popular TV Doc Has Learned to Explain ADHD Simply

                                    

Helping Yourself

There is a statistic floating around in cyberspace saying the self help industry in the United States is a recession-proof industry raking in $11 billion dollars as recently as the year 2010.With all that money changing hands in the name of personal development, I can't help but think of those who need help, but do not have the financial resources to pay for sessions with a psychologist, or to visit a retreat/conference or even purchase a book from the local bookstore. People that are looking for any help that they can get, but just don't know where to turn. 

Mental Illness is at the root of so many problems, and if you are struggling, please know there are options out there, and you should not give up. With today's technology, it actually has become a little easier to help yourself through tough times. 

Before I get to some very helpful resources, I am going to remind everyone about some more traditional options. Dialing 211 on your telephone in most states, you'll be connected to resource information in your area, whether it be for food, shelter, healthcare, employment, or counseling to name a few. To find out if your state has 211 service, please click here.  Full website: 211 Us website link

Most every community has at least one church, and many churches provide a lot of support to those in need. Churches often have a variety of assistance programs, and access to counseling resources and worth looking into.

Depression: The Anti-Depression Skills Workbook

It's tough to make change in your life when you are afflicted with depression, one of the most common mental illnesses experienced. A friend of mine went through a very challenge time after the loss of a parent to cancer. After being a caregiver to the parent, and a long period of underemployment, my friend's financial resources were depleted, along with her ability to cope with practically every aspect of her life.

She sank into a deep depression. A self-care guide written and designed by university psychologists was recommended to her. The Anti-depressant Skills Workbook (ASW) helped her work through the depression and get her life back on track. She clung to that book for several months. She said the book is very simple to follow (it has to be when it comes to depression) and it taught her how to change the thinking process that comes with depression. Her spirit returned, life became sweet again and she hasn't looked back since.

The ASW is available in PDF for download to your computer (free). You can also read it on screen and print work sheet forms right from the web page, as needed (free). It can also be downloaded as an audio book (free). They will also mail a copy of the workbook ($15 plus shipping/taxes) . The workbook is available in several different languages.

Click here for the link to Anti Depressant Skills Workbook

7 Cups of Tea

One of the hardest things to do, for people in need, is to talk about their problems. When faced with opening up to a family member or a friend, many people chose to remain quiet because they fear being judged, punished or ridiculed about their problems. How can a person find someone that will be a compassionate listener in times of need and crisis?

Providing one has an Internet connection, there are people standing by, ready to listen at 7cupsoftea.com. Trained listeners are available via telephone or via online chat. It is all confidential and all conversations are permanently deleted afterwards. The point of 7 Cups of Tea is to offer unconditional support to those who are struggling. Listeners can be anyone; some are students, certified counselors from some of the site's partners, and some of them actually started out as members needed to talk in the first place. 7cups founder, Glen Moriarty is a psychologist, and he leads the team at a very sophisticated website that truly cares about helping people. It's worth a visit just to see what they are doing...

How 7 Cups of Tea works link

 There's An App for That...

Thanks to today's technology, help can only be a tap on your smart phone or tablet screen away with countless health and mental well being applications. There are so many self help apps out there from free to a few dollars, that it's impossible to mention them all. Because stress and anxiety appear to be at all time highs, I will mention this one, Breathe 2 Relax from Itunes (free); we all need to improve on our breathing habits to better manage stress.

Try doing a search on Itunes, or Amazon Kindle or Google Play  in the health categories for your specific needs, then read the customer reviews. 

 I believe it is now possible to obtain a government benefit, Lifeline smart phone, providing internet so you can use some of the above self help options. At the very least, a library card at your local library will give you access to computers and the Internet, plus many shelves of traditional self help books to browse. 

Remember, don't give up...you can get through it!

Presenting the New Cover/ Title for My Book !

Well...here it is! I've re-printed a second edition of my first book which is now available. I decided to refresh the cover art, as well as christening it with a new title: An Uphill Struggle: From ADHD to Chemical Addiction, A Mother's Story. Both the title and the new artwork really depict what a struggle ADHD is, particularly when combined with drug abuse/addiction.

I may have been ahead of my time, first releasing the book back in 2005.To read more on my reason's for re-printing, re-launching my book, and, this blog for that matter, please click here to be directed to an earlier blog post explaining it all.

I worked with a wonderful graphic designer, Michelle Reaney (Thunderpeep Designs). As I said earlier, she really nailed the cover. Above, you can see the concept she created, with the front and back covers sharing the "uphill struggle" image.

Below you'll see the  book cover concept laid out into a banner design for my re-designed website, barbarasreason.com.I am really happy with the results...thanks everyone, for letting me indulge!