Just when you were getting comfortable with the thought that you or a loved one might have ADD, here’s something that’s likely to catch you off guard: there is such a thing known as pseudo-ADD, or an Add type illness born out of the society in which we live!

Think about symptoms of ADD and then think about what characteristics seem to be prevalent in our culture?

§ Moving fast as a definition of a “go getter” – a.k.a., the “fast track”

§ The need for high stimulation

§ Speed and creativity

§ Taking chances

§ Ignoring the status quo

§ Bucking authority

§ Doing it your way

If you look at it this way, you could say almost everyone you know has ADD to some extent. Don’t you often juggle several things at once? Do you get overwhelmed at times by all of the stimulation around you? Do you often have trouble paying attention? Can you become “addicted” to a computer game so much so that you can’t tear yourself away? Do you have real ADD or a pseudo-ADD?

Did you know that ADD more frequently occurs in the American population than it is in other countries? Some say we over-diagnose ADD. Other experts seem to think we may lump similar looking syndromes into this one category of ADD. Yet, no matter how you look at it, ADD is more prevalent here.

One hypothesis for the number of diagnoses made in the USA is born out of our genes as well as societal factors. Our founding fathers had to somewhat adventurous and dismissive of authority. Who else would want to strike out and see if they could discover another land? It was a risky venture wasn’t it? Hmmm – did they have ADD?

Think about those who created all of those inventions that we rely upon so heavily today? Think about Albert Einstein or Benjamin Franklin. Both were highly intelligent, curious, and creative. They both craved stimulation and they were willing to take risks. In addition, neither wanted to do things like everyone else. We’ll never know if they had ADD, but it makes you wonder.

So does America have ADD more often than other countries? Or are we over-using the label? It is fair to say that it is easy to use the ADD label when one is trying to describe and categorize another’s behavior.

Before you go and diagnose yourself, or you determine that you’re just another American who is too busy, look at the differences between true ADD and pseudo-ADD.

Pseudo-ADD

1. Everyone gets overwhelmed, impatient, and anxious sometimes.
2. It is normal to become focused on an activity that causes you to ignore what you should be doing sometimes.
3. Likewise, it is normal to experience moodiness from time to time sometimes.
4. After being busy for a long period, it is difficult to relax sometimes.
5. You will fail to finish obligations/projects when you have too many in front of you sometimes.

You are probably getting what I’m trying to say here. The difference between someone with pseudo-ADD and real ADD has to do with the duration, intensity, and interference capability of the symptoms.

Real ADD

1. Real ADDers have a long history of symptoms and complaints.
2. Real ADDers experience symptoms more often than not – in other words, they are rarely symptom free.
3. Real ADDers experience the symptoms at a much higher intensity than those with pseudo-ADD.
4. Real ADDers find that their untreated symptoms interfere significantly with their day-to-day lives.

It’s important to refrain from looking at everyone and saying, “You are so _____ – you must have ADD.” While all of us will probably “look” ADD from time to time, it’s not possible that all of us actually have it! When you attempt to diagnose yourself, you are your own worst critic. It’s easy to become overly critical and believe that you must have a problem. This is why a professional opinion is so critical.

If you truly believe that you or your loved one may have ADD, seek help immediately. Be honest and forthcoming about your concerns. If you have ADD, then you can start treating it the minute you get home. And if you are merely a pseudo-ADD, then you can earn how to make the most out of your symptoms so that they help rather than cause you trouble!

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here Pseudo versus Real ADD

This is the story of a friend of mine name Theresa. This audio focuses on children, but the same principles apply to adults.

http://3stepsfiles.s3.amazonaws.com/audio/Theresa-Bio-Chat.mp3

Download .mp3  click here

For Detailed information on the Liquid Vitamins Go Here

Please leave your comments below  :-)

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here Theresa’s ADD ADHD Story

Why ADD People Fail in Life

Chances are…   if you have been “diagnosed” with ADD-ADHD
you are doomed to failure.

That’s right, you have a serious handicap that is very difficult
or impossible to overcome.

Have fallen for this Lie?

I know that most people who have struggled with ADD-ADHD
fall for this lie…. at least for a little while until they cast off
the “stigma” of ADD-ADHD in their own minds.

Let me explain.

Self image is the single most important factor in determining
your success in life.

Poor  self image = failure in life

Positive self image = success in life

Don’t allow Doctors or teachers to form a negative self-image!

Fact: ADD-ADHD people are often the MOST gifted people on
the planet.

We often have “superman-like” abilities that the average person
will never understand.

——————————————————-
Michael Phelps
——————————————————-

Michael Phelps did not allow his ADD-ADHD to bring him down.

He did not wallow in his own self pitty.

He did not believe the lie…. that he is somehow handicapped by
this so-called “disorder”

——————————————————-
Guard Your Self-Image!
——————————————————-

Parents!  Please hear me on this!

Do not let your child think that they have a disorder!

The act of going to the Doctor and getting a diagnosis
can set your child’s self image into the gutter.

1st of all.  Your Doctor only have one option for your
ADD…

you guessed it.

Drugs.

Taking drugs on a daily basis for ADD….

Is that good or bad for the self-image (or your health)???

Think about it.

When you get a declaration from someone in a position
of authority saying…

“Yep-  you got it!  You got it bad!”  (normally after a 5 minute
conversation)

That will stick with you or your child for a very long time
unless you are very careful to guard the self-image like
it is a fragile egg.

——————————————————-
What can You do?
——————————————————-

1.  Don’t go to the Doctor for this until you have exhausted all the
“natural” remedies out there.

2.  Make a conscious effort to not refer to your so-called ADD as
a handicap

3.  Recognize that you have tendencies to not-be-able to focus in
certain situations (usually boring people talking about boring stuff)

4.  Implement proven techniques and tactics that can turn your
“ADD” into your very own special superpowers.

5.  Read my favorite book on this subject it Psycho Cybernetics by
Maxwell Maltz

I highly recommend that you pick up a copy TODAY!

Jon Bennett

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here Why ADD People Fail in Life

Two of the most alarming health trends of the last two decades are the rise in obesity (with almost a third of Americans being classed as clinically obese) and the increasing numbers of people being diagnosed with ADHD.

These two matters may not be entirely unrelated. Weight problems can in most cases be traced back to two factors namely unhealthy diets and lack of physical activity.

The careful management of both of these factors can play a significant role in the alleviation of the symptoms of ADHD.

If you have been part of the ‘3 Steps’ network for a while you will be well aware of the emphasis that I place on a healthy and balanced diet as your first line of defense when it comes to dealing with ADHD.

The purpose of this article is to focus on the second factor mentioned above namely physical activity.

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here Physical Activity: A Vital Key to Battling ADD/ADHD (1)

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here Focus Tip – Use Headphones for ADD ADHD

If you have ADD/ADHD, or you love someone who has it, then you are familiar firsthand how the emotions can be all over the place. While you may never be bored with your ever-changing emotional landscape, it also creates a tremendous amount of stress.

By nature, people with Add are born with a temperament that is often intense and very emotional. We react strongly to our environment, and often, we overreact. On the other hand, when the emotions become so overwhelming that we can’t handle them, we may stuff them down. That doesn’t work either because eventually, that stuff comes out, and it usually isn’t pretty!

Your emotions are your emotions – they make up who you are. But there are ways to get a hold of them such that you manage them well while enjoying the human experience of feeling.

Examine your current methods of coping with emotions. Are you expressive about your feelings or do you keep them to yourself? If you don’t know your coping style, pay attention to your emotions and identify them as you feel them. Then watch how you respond to them.

Next, pay very close to your feelings of anger. Adults with ADD often have problems dealing with rage and anger. In fact, we can even become “addicted” to anger because it releases the “feel good” chemicals, neurotransmitters. Just like that runner’s high you’ve heard about, we can get a “buzz” of good feeling. Some call it an adrenaline rush. Whatever you call it, your anger needs to be handled appropriately so that your expression of it will be productive, not destructive.

We ADDers have a tendency to be impulsive and sometimes, we miss those social cues that tell us to behave in certain ways. Thus we end up doing something silly, inappropriate, or just downright stupid! Our typical response to having done these things is to become defensive. Instead, own up to it and move on. It’s much easier than trying to offer a plausible explanation for something you’ve done that didn’t make any sense!

Depending on how we dealt with our ADD as children, there’s a good likelihood that our self-esteem has taken major hits along the way. As adults, this can seriously affect our relationships with others as well as how we do just about everything. If this is you, get busy building a new, more healthy self-esteem. Focus on your strengths. Be grateful for the “good stuff” there is to having ADD.

Many adults with ADD resort to medicating themselves with alcohol or drugs. They will tell you that these substances are the only ways they can “shut off” their brains and get their emotions to lessen. It simply is NOT true! While you may feel a temporary escape for what you feel are uncontrollable feelings, the key word here is temporary. The buzz or the high wears off, and typically, your emotions will feel even stronger and more unmanageable than before. Then you have to use more and more of the substance to get any relief. Don’t get caught in this trap because it is a hard one to dig yourself out of at some point.

ADD adults are prone to depression. If you combine the self-esteem issues, problems with managing emotions, and the energy it takes to keep your ADD brain under control, then you are a sitting duck for having depressive symptoms. Therapy can really help with this as the depression brought on from ADD is typically one that responds well to talking about it and finding alternative ways to deal with your feelings.

ADD and your emotions do not have to ruin your life. You are merely going to have to do more work to keep things under control than the rest of the world. On the other hand, having ADD can be a good thing. Instead of punishing yourself for the ways your ADD hurts you, try focusing on the good things ADD has brought into your life. We are way cooler than we give ourselves credit for!

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here Adults and the ADD Emotional Rollercoaster

[spoiler] Hi, Jon Bennett here with 3 Steps to Conquering ADD‑ADHD. And often I get the question, why are you against ADD drugs? And, some people would get upset because we teach natural methods and they feel like that we’re anti‑ADD drug. Well, it’s not necessarily that simple. Number one, we don’t condemn anybody that takes ADD drugs, that’s their choice.

In my case, when I was growing up, when I was younger, my brother was diagnosed with ADD. My parents didn’t have a choice, really. There was no, nobody out there talking about how ADD could be eliminated with natural methods.

For 10 years now, I’ve been teaching people how to do just that. And it’s not stuff that I made up, this is scientific evidence out there that I just collected. It’s been extremely effective.

So, there’s a lot of negative consequences of taking ADD drugs, and I experienced that personally. That’s why I feel so strongly about this, is that, there are side effects, serious side effects, not only physically, but emotionally. And, that just go along with the ADD drugs.

Pressures from peers to sell them the drugs, there’s abuse that goes with them. Physical side effects, just, I mean, there’s a litany of reasons why I feel, bottom line is that we’re not against it, but we want people to understand that there really is another way.

There’s some other things you can try before you just jump in with both feet into ADD drugs. And what’s sad is that, when you go to the doctor, if you don’t do much research on your own, if you’re just the type to kind of go to the doctor, and just assume, you’re going to find yourself taking ADD drugs right away, because that is the only way that our medical community knows how to deal with this condition.

And what’s interesting, too, is that it’s a self‑fulfilling prophecy, because it’s a very vague diagnosis, it’s all based on characteristics. And it’s typically a test that you take that, they ask you some questions. And on any given day, every single person in America could be considered ADD‑ADHD if you look at the criteria.

So, that’s really the reason why our kids these days are being over medicated, in terms of this condition.

And what we teach at 3 Steps to Conquering ADD is that there’s scientific evidence showing that a lot of the reason why we cannot focus at times is because we lack good nutrition. And there’s a lot of reasons why we lack good nutrition, it goes into our modern diets, and how we get our foods these days. And I go into great detail into all of these things I’m talking about in my book, “3 Steps to Conquering ADD.”

But, bottom line of it is really this that we tend to lack certain vitamins and nutrients, everybody does. And, because of this lack of vitamins and nutrients, it makes it difficult for us to focus at times.

In my book, “The 17 Secret ADD Vitamins” I go through 17 different vitamins that, and minerals and nutrients that have been proven to help you focus. And that, if you lack them, it makes it very difficult to focus.

So, basically, I wanted to address this issue that, you know, why are you so anti‑drug? It’s not anti‑drug, if you decide that you want and need to take the ADD drugs, that’s fine. But, what we’re here to do is to show people, “Hey, that’s not your only choice. That’s not your only choice. There’s other things you can do.” It doesn’t make you a bad person if you’re taking ADD drugs, I don’t think that. I have friends that are on ADD drugs. It’s not like that at all.

But what it is, is “Hey, you know, let’s not put a bandaid on the real problem here.” There is underlying causes of this state. You can address it, it may take a little bit of effort, but when you’re talking about getting these vitamins and nutrients, they’re supplementation. I mean, take you two minutes a day to take a high quality absorbable vitamin and cover your bases. And then making some smart healthy choices in terms of what you eat will go a long way.

And it’s very simple, it’s very common sense, but it’s not very common common sense, because you’re not going to hear it unless you go looking for it. And, you know, it’s, we’ve been working very hard over the past 10 years to build this awareness about natural ADD solutions. And, it’s still hard to find.

Other countries are catching on much more quickly. If you look at Australia, they’ve even put laws into place against medication of ADD, ADHD.

But I hope this has addressed that question, why are you so anti‑ADD drug, and I’m not. There’s just a lot that goes with it, that the person that doesn’t do their full researches is not understanding, so buyer beware.

And, hope this was helpful, I’ve got a ton of free resources on our website at 3stepsadd.com. Hope you check it out, and I’ll see you around. Thank you. [/spoiler]

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here 3 Steps NOT Anti ADD ADHD Drug but Pro-Natural

Hi guys, Jon Bennett here.

I found this video on the web that I thought you might find it interesting.

Please leave your comments below!

Transcript:
Dr. Lyon: I believe that attention deficit disorder should be treated like a lot of other conditions that the doctors treat. For instance if you have high cholesterol, what are doctors supposed to do. We are admonished in every textbook, every authority, we are told that if you diagnosed high cholesterol for a patient, you should work with that patient through nutritional counseling and dietary advice and lifestyle counseling for several months or say six months before you even consider medication.

Karen Friedman: I didn’t have Brian diagnosed with ADHD until he was in the fifth grade and that led of course to prescriptions. And when those prescriptions didn’t work, that led to more prescriptions and the more prescriptions he got, the more frustrated that we all got. He couldn’t get better, he couldn’t help himself, he got angry and the angrier he got, the more violent he got.

Dr. Gary Null: Each morning in the United States between six and seven million children are given a prescription medication before they can go to school. Many of them are taking Ritalin or other amphetamines.

Doctor: More and more aspects of human behavior, human distress, just general unhappiness is becoming medicalized, is being made into diseases. This culture has grown in parallel with the growth of the pharmaceuticals industry and its investment in psychotropic drugs; that is drugs that affect the psyche, the mind, the brain.

Dr. Gary Null: By far, the majority of psychiatry prescriptions for children are given for attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Dr. Robert Erickson: One of the alarming concerns I have both as a parent and as a physician is that there is much misdiagnosis and over prescription of medication and inappropriate prescription of medication changing these children’s lives forever for the worse.

Doctor: Every drug is a foreign chemical, every drug is a potential poison. I have been consulted in no less than 10 cases of cardiac deaths due to psychotropic medications. The psychostimulants, methylphenidate and the amphetamines are known to cause high blood pressure, known to cause cardiac arrhythmias including cardiac arrest and cardiac death. Matthew Smith from just outside of Detroit had been on Ritalin for approximately five years. His parents had wanted to take him off of medication because of recurrent chest pain and shortness of breath, but they were coerced to keep him on the medication.

Lawrence Smith: We were told that if we did not follow up with their evaluation of ADHD and take him to the pediatrician and get him on Ritalin, that Child Protective Services could charge us for educational and emotional neglect.

Doctor: At age 13, while riding his skateboard, he suddenly keeled over and was dead. The county medical examiner said there was no doubt in that case that the chronic administration of Ritalin was the cause of death.

Lawrence Smith: On the death certificate, it says that he died from the use of methylphenidate, Ritalin.

Doctor: Ritalin, for the purposes of classification by the Drug Enforcement Administration, is a Schedule II drug, on the same list as cocaine.

Dr. Peter Breggin: The Drug Enforcement Administration puts special regulations over how many prescriptions a doctor can write and how a doctor is to write the prescriptions and keep track of the drug. It even means the DEA can come raid your office if they get the impression that you are giving out too much of this drug. This is not an ordinary drug.

Dr. Lyon: It is really not that revolutionary an idea. If you look at the scientific [inaudible 03:47] considered normal. But, with attention deficit disorder, the focus is make the diagnosis carefully and then prescribe the treatment. And most of the time, the treatment needs just a prescription. It isn’t any combination of treatments. It is a medication. And that’s really what I am trying to change and try to raise awareness about is that in fact there are other things that we can find, underlying this that are causes of this. We could deal with this from more of a cause-oriented approach without having to jump quickly into using medication.

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here ADHD Shocking Truths

You will recall that last week’s article focused on some of the reasons why the holiday period can sometimes be very frustrating for people dealing with ADD/ADHD (either in themselves or their children). It obviously goes without saying that most people would prefer not to have their experience of what is supposed to be one of the happiest times of the year ‘challenged’ in this way. With this week’s article I would therefore like to move beyond simply describing the problem towards pointing out some ways in which it can be effectively addressed. So here, without further ado, are the top ways of conquering ADD/ADHD throughout the holidays:

Provide a food ‘safe haven’ at home: Christmastime is often seen as a time of excess as we move from one party and event (with food at the center) to the other. This is made worse, from the perspective of a person dealing with ADD/ADHD) by the fact that many of the foods served at these events are almost guaranteed to aggravate the condition. One response would be to make sure that you avoid all Christmas parties and similar ‘end of year’ events but this is obviously not a very realistic, or even desirable, goal. I would therefore like to suggest that you make an extra effort to ensure that your breakfast nook and/or dining room table at home serve as a ‘safe haven’ from all the food excess swirling around you. Your efforts in this regard will probably not completely offset wrong food choices arising from holiday excess but it will at least act as something of a counterweight.

Make sure that there are alternatives available: If you will be doing a lot of entertaining at home it would be a great idea to take a long hard look at your menus for the festivities. Do you plan to serve lots of food that are high in calories and/or score very high on the GI scale? If so, I strongly recommend that you make sure that there are alternatives available so that those dealing with ADD/ADHD will not be forced to make choices that can harm their chances of having truly happy holidays. Providing healthier alternatives will obviously lead to more work but the payoffs could more than make up for the extra effort that will be required.

Forewarned is forearmed: If you are dealing with ADD/ADHD yourself you are probably well aware of the way in which the holidays can have a negative effect on people with the condition; especially since you probably experienced some of these effects on a first hand basis. But what about kids who see the holiday season only in terms of fun and goodies!? If the child in question has ADD/ADHD it might be a great idea to have a bit of an age appropriate chat beforehand (without turning into the Grinch of course!). Focus on why the holidays can become rather unpleasant if certain ground rules are not adhered to. Some kids may indeed regard you as the Grinch reincarnate, but who knows, maybe some of your parental advice will hit the mark!

Have a few quiet words with ‘key players’: Christmas is the time of the year when a variety of significant people in the lives of your children feel that they are entitled to do a little (or a lot!) of spoiling. This is, of course, a natural (some would say noble!) impulse but as the parent of a child with ADD/ADHD you will need to make sure that it gets channeled in the right directions. Having a few quiet words with the people wanting to do the spoiling (read ‘grandparents’ in most cases!) to remind them that does not necessarily have to equate with lots of sugar, chemicals, colorants and artificial flavors. You will obviously have to be careful in how you approach this conversation since you most probably a) do not want to hurt the feelings of the ‘spoilees’ and b) certainly do not want to label your kids in their eyes. It is, however, in many cases a conversation that will have to take place if you value a peaceful family-building Christmas.

What all of these tips have in common is that they remind us that when it comes to ADD/ADHD and nutrition it is never a good idea to simply ‘go with the flow’. As I have pointed out repeatedly: Making informed and proactive choices is half the game in dealing with the condition. This is especially true during the holidays when we are almost actively encouraged to go the other way. This problem extends beyond the area of nutrition, the next article will focus on some general (non-nutrition related) tips for how to survive and thrive through the holidays with ADD/ADHD.

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here Truly Happy Holidays (Even with ADD/ADHD) – Part 2

In past articles we have been looking at the way in which a Low GI diet can counteract some of the effects of ADD-ADHD by releasing energy into the bloodstream in a controlled and consistent way. With this week’s article we are going to take a step back in order to emphasize why doing your best to ‘power up your brain’ in the most effective way is so vitally important. In a nutshell this comes down to the fact that nutrition has a direct effect on brain function. Simply put: What you eat plays a key role in how well you think!

There has always been anecdotal and pre-scientific evidence of the role that nutrition plays in keeping our thought processes up and running. People of all generations knew that you feel contented and ‘at peace’ after a good meal and frazzled and irritable when you are hungry. Exploration of the human brain over the past few decades meant that we can now begin to understand exactly why this is the case.

The first thing that is very important to note is that the brain is by far the most energy dependant part of the human body. It accounts for just 2% of average body mass but it is typically responsible for about 20% of all energy use. This means that the changes or deficiencies in nutrition are bound to affect the brain, as the prime energy user of the body, in some way. However the link between the brain and nutrition not only revolves around quantity (although getting enough energy to the brain is of vital importance) but also around quality. The energy and nutritional substances that eventually reach the brain should ideally correspond with the brain’s very specific needs. This is especially important when it comes to the role of neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals whose primary function is to transmit, strengthen and control the transmission of signals (also known as impulses) between neurons (nerve cells). This means that neurotransmitters play their primary role within the brain itself, since they represent the core component of both the brain and the spinal cord. As such their proper functioning (or not) can influence things as diverse as mood, sleeping patterns and cognitive processes.
Since neurotransmitters are made up out of complex chemicals the body needs the right chemical ‘building blocks’ (e.g. vitamins and minerals) to construct them with. The amount of food we eat, and what it contains, is therefore of prime importance. Consider the following:

• Deficiencies in certain basic nutritional building blocks (through an unbalanced diet or through not eating enough) can cause the body to make use of substandard neurotransmitters. Leading eventually to sub optimal brain function.

• Excess amounts of certain chemicals (e.g. through the presence of toxins derived from pesticides) can severely interfere with the production and functioning of certain neurotransmitters.

The bottom line is that it is possible for our diets to have a significant impact on the way our nervous systems operate. This even to the point where deficiencies and/or excesses of certain chemical and vitamins can lead to nerve damage, loss of memory, limiting of cognitive function and problem solving capabilities, and impairment of the brain’s behavior control centers. When you consider this fact next to the obvious needs of the brain for a reliable and consistent energy supply it becomes clear why proper nutrition is of such vital importance in addressing the effects of ADD-ADHD.

Many of the symptoms of the ADD-ADHD can be traced back directly to impaired brain function. It makes perfect sense therefore to try to get to the bottom of why the brain is not functioning as it should in a person with ADD-ADHD. There could obviously be serious neurological reasons for this but this should perhaps not be the first place where we need to go looking. It would instead be prudent to first ask whether the impulsive behavior and lack of focus so often associated with ADD-ADHD cannot perhaps be traced back to the neurons inside the brain not getting everything they need to fire properly (both in terms of quantity and quality).

Over the next few weeks we will delve a little deeper into the link between nutrition and proper brain function. Attention will also continually be called to the implications of what is being discussed for dealing with ADD-ADHD. Some of the specific things that we will be looking at are: the effects of different food types on brain function, the sources of the best ‘brain foods’, and (returning to the overall Low GI theme) how understanding the Glycemic Index can help you to ‘do the best for your brain’!

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here Powering up the Nerve Centre: Nutrition and the Brain

You have collected info, processed what to do about it, organized, and reviewed. Now we are ready to turn to the last step in mastering your workflow – Doing! Since you have done the proper pre-planning in the first four steps, you are now ready to take care of things efficiently and quickly.

If you are like most of us, you will have a large list of actions that you are not doing at the moment. So how do you figure out what to do and what not to do, and feel good about your choices?

The answer is at once simple and complex – trust your gut/intuition. If you have worked through the first four steps, then you can use your gut along with your thought processes to make good decisions. The author, David Allen, came up with three models that will help in your decision-making process. And while you won’t be given any answers, you will be able to frame your options more intelligently and practically.

The Four-Criteria Model for Choosing Actions in the Moment

You are sitting at your desk at 9:00 AM trying to figure out how you will choose what to do. There are four criteria you can apply.

1. Context: While some actions can be done anywhere (phone calls, drafting a letter, etc.), there are others that require a specific location (sitting at your computer, etc.). This is the first factor in deciding what you can do now.
2. Time Available: When do you have to do something, or how much time will it take to do it? If you have an action that will require 30 minutes, but you have a meeting in 15 minutes, you won’t be able to do that particular action now.
3. Energy Available: Are you tired? Some actions require more mental and physical effort than others.
4. Priority: Given your responses to the first three criteria, what action will give you the best payoff? This is where your “gut” comes in to play. You have to learn to trust your judgment right now!

The Threefold Model for Evaluating Daily Work

When you are busy getting things done, there are 3 different kinds of activities that you can be engaged in.

1. Doing Predefined Work: This means you are working from your “Next Actions” list. This is the stuff you previously determined need to be done.
2. Doing Work as It Shows Up: We’ve all been there – things pop up without any warning. It’s up to you to decide if you really need to attend to them at that moment or if you can put them off.
3. Defining Your Work: This means you need to clear up your in-basket, emails, voice mails, and breaking down your new projects into actionable steps. You will be defining things that need to be done at some point, but not right now. You are adding to your lists so that they are complete and your ADD brain is free from distractions.

The Six-Level Model for Reviewing Your Own Work

In order to know what your priorities are, you have to know what you must work on. This model helps you decide what your priorities need to be. Allen uses an aerospace analogy.

• 50,000+ feet: Life
• 40,000 feet: 3-5 year vision
• 30,000 feet: 1-2 year goals
• 20,000 feet: Areas of responsibility
• 10,000 feet: Current Projects
• Runway: Current Actions

Runway: Current Actions – This is the entire list of accumulated actions you need to take – calls, errands, emails, social activities, etc. This makes up for a ton of hours, about 300-500 hours worth, if you stopped and began doing everything now.

10,000 Feet: Current Projects - There are probably about 30-100 things you have to do. Most of these things are short-term activities but need to be done now.

20,000 Feet: Areas of Responsibility – Most of the projects or actions that you need to take are because you have certain responsibilities. Your job holds different responsibilities than those of your family, your personal life, etc. Listing and knowing these responsibilities helps you determine what to do now versus later.

30,000 Feet: 1-2 Year Goals – These are things that you either want to do or to get rid of to accomplish your goals.

40,000 Feet: 3-5 Year Vision - These are your even more long-term goals that have the possibility of changing what it is you need to do now.

50,000 Feet: Life – This is your “big picture” view of what you want your life to be like, to stand for, what you ultimately want to accomplish.

Neither of these models is better than the other. It is purely a matter of your choosing what works best for you. It is also a choice of what makes the most sense to you and to your gut.

Now you have the entire plan for getting your ADD brain and life organized and running smoothly. Get out there and get going!

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here ADD and Becoming Productive – Part 5

One of the first mistakes people make with ADD-ADHD is to assume that it is a disease or a condition like diabetes.

This leads you down a very scary path.

Before you make this assumption consider this.There at least 50 other conditions that mimic ADD-ADHD symptoms.

You may be displaying ADD-ADHD symptoms because of something you lack in your diet.

OR

More likely you may be displaying ADD-ADHD symptoms because you are not getting enough of a certain vitamin or mineral.

What if you tend to burn off more of the needed vitamin/mineral than the average person?

Think of yourself as a Sport Utility Vehicle…. a Yellow Hummer

Now imagine that most other people are blue ford sedans.

Do you require more gas to go the same distance as the ford sedan?

Of course you do!!!

Does this make you inferior?

Absolutely NOT!

Imagine now that you require high grade gas to run optimally.

What if you put the cheaper 87 grade gas in your tank?

That’s right you will sputter and jerk around, but you will still run.

With “3 Steps To Conquering ADD-ADHD” you can at least rest easy knowing that you are giving your body the right building blocks to function optimally.

If you give your brain and body the right “stuff” your ADD-ADHD symptoms will likely just “go away”

This has worked for thousands of people all over the world.

I am sure it can work for you too.

Jon Bennett

Author, “3 Steps To Conquering ADD-ADHD”

http://3StepsADD.com

ps- ADD drugs only mask the true problem. they are a destructive band-aid that should be avoided at all costs and used
ONLY after all other techniques have been exhausted.

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here Avoid Bad Gas For Your Tank [ADD Brain]

I have know the story of Matthew Smith for over 5 years
now, and every time I hear the story I am motivated
to continue to do my best to help ADD ADHD families.

There are too many people blindly following the advice
their well-intentioned Doctors and taking these
dangerous medications.

If you are taking medication for ADD ADHD like Adderall,
Ritalin, Concerta, Strattera, or the new Vyvanse, please
reconsider and explore your options.

It has been scientifically proven that natural methods not
only work, they are more effective and actually treat the
cause of the ADD-ADHD.

Drugs only act as a band-aid to the true problem.

Visit http://3stepsadd.com to learn more about how
to eliminate your ADD ADHD naturally.

Have a Blessed Day!
Jon Bennett
ps – Mr. Smith metioned the product neu-be-calm.  More
information can be found @ http://neu-be-calm.com

http://3stepsadd.com

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here The Matthew Smith Story

Shocking New Research

We are all familiar with the so-called ‘placebo effect’. This is where someone begins to feel significantly better after receiving ‘fake’ medication (usually a sugar pill or a tablet with no active pharmacological ingredients). The existence of the placebo effect amply demonstrates that the belief that a condition is being treated can sometimes be as powerful as the treatment itself.

Significant new research (published in the Journal of Development & Behavioral Pediatrics) points to the widespread occurrence of the placebo effect when it comes to ADD/ADHD medication.

This should perhaps be expected as the effect has been shown to occur with just about any kind of medication imaginable. What makes the findings surprising however is that the placebo effect did not occur in the ADD/ADHD patients themselves but in their caregivers!

In other words, the belief that a child is being medicated was sometimes enough for parents or teachers to significantly modify their attitudes to, and expectations of, that child.

The study was conducted by pediatric psychologists from the University of Buffalo and found that, when caregivers believed that children were receiving ADD/ADHD medication (e.g. Ritalin and Adderall) they would view them more favorably and treat them more positively – whether medication was actually involved or not!

The lead author of the review Dr. Daniel A Waschbusch summarized their rather alarming findings as follows: “”The act of administering medication, or thinking a child has received medication, may induce positive expectancies in parents and teachers about the effects of that medication, which may, in turn, influence how parents and teachers evaluate and behave toward children with ADHD.

We speculate that the perception that a child is receiving ADHD medication may bring about a shift in attitude in a teacher or caregiver.

They may have a more positive view of the child, which could create a better relationship. They may praise the child more, which may induce better behavior.”

The findings of this research project is a damning indictment of the well documented ‘rush to medicate’ whenever there is the slightest suspicion that ADD/ADHD might be involved.

The pressure to do so often comes from teachers who explicitly and implicitly signal that little Johnny will have a much tougher time in class if Ritalin is not added to the mix as soon as possible. Parents are often so intimidated by this stance that they meekly accept the ‘recommendation’ to go and see a medical professional that can be relied on to supply the ‘correct’ diagnosis and treatment. This is the exact path that thousands of young people take every year: A path that leads to unnecessary exposure to very dangerous chemicals and an accompanying label classifying the child as ‘difficult’.

The suggestion, implicit in the research quoted above, that positive outcomes can be achieved by some focused attention and high expectations is a rare and welcome nod in the direction of plain old fashioned common sense.

As a society we need to be reminded that it is a fallacy to believe that every problem can be solved by medicating it away.

It is my belief that parents should educate and equip themselves to deal with the pressure to ‘diagnose and medicate’ that they will perhaps have to deal with. This preparation should focus at being ready with answers and arguments on both the side effects and the effectiveness of ADD/ADHD medication.

Side Effects: The evidence that ADD/ADHD medication can have some pretty nasty unintended consequences is mounting by the day. Medicines like Ritalin, Strattera and Adderall have been implicated in everything from suicidal thoughts to increased susceptibility to addiction.

The fact is that you are dealing with powerful mind-altering chemicals: A fact that should not be obscured by comforting advertising copy and the glib reassurances of those who benefit financially (or otherwise) from their distribution.

Effectiveness: The research quoted above is another nail in the coffin of the ‘defense’ that the perceived dangers of the products are obscured by the fact that they are so effective in improving attention. This is a very difficult assertion to prove when it comes to long term use of products like Ritalin.

Could it, further, be the case that all that is really needed are some lifestyle modifications (as suggested in the ‘3 Steps ADD’ Program) and a more positive engagement with the child?

If the answer to this question is ‘yes’ (as I believe it is) it would perhaps leave pharmaceutical companies with radically reduced profit margins.

This is, however, a negligible price to pay for giving our kids back the privilege of living their lives without unnecessary ‘chemical crutches’!

• The full article, entitled, Are There Placebo Effects in the Medication Treatment of Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? Can be found on the website of the Journal of Development & Behavioral Pediatrics
• A shorter discussion of be accessed on Science Daily.

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here ADD ADHD Drugs and the Placebo Effect

There’s hardly a person out there who hasn’t used caffeine, and who from time to time, has had too much of it.  The result?  Often people report feeling jittery, nervous, and hyperactive when they have used too much.  That’s because caffeine acts just like an amphetamine!  For others who use too much, they report feeling energized and focused.  So if caffeine can act just like an amphetamine, can it be taken to treat ADHD symptoms?  The answers are mixed.

A number of studies have been conducted to answer this question and the results are not conclusive in one direction or the other.  Some studies argue that the intake of caffeine caused ADHDers to be less impulsive, agressive, more focused, and to have increased hand-to-eye coordination.  When parents and teachers were polled, they believed caffeine was just as effective as taking Ritalin.  Still other studies have proven that the combination of Ritalin and caffeine gave the best benefit.

So, you might be thinking these results don’t seem all that bad.  But consider this.  No one reacts to caffeine in the exact manner as the next person.  You can’t predict who may benefit and who may be harmed by giving caffeine.  In fact, many researchers average the scores of ADHD kids on tests that look at concentration and hyperactivity.  When these scores get averaged, it makes the overall benefits look nonexistent or minimal.  But it doesn’t take into consideration the kids who are severely effected.

The amount of caffeine ingested when you have ADHD will make a difference in how you react, and it appears that the more you take, the worse you become!  Let’s also remember that the amount of caffeine you use is also related to insomina and addiction to caffeine!  This can’t be a good thing!

A low does of caffeine is thought to be about 158-160 milligrams.  Look at the following list and see how quickly you can reach that level.

- Coke has 23 mgs. in 8 ounces

- Diet Coke has 31 mgs. in 8 ounces

- Brewed tea has 20-35 mgs. while instant tea has 10-30 mgs. in 8 ounces

- Chocolate milk has 5 mgs in 8 ounces

- Semi-sweet chocolate (think chocolate chip cookies) has 5-35 mgs. in 1 ounce

If you are a normal adult, you probably drink several caffeinated beverages a day, so it doesn’t take long before you have overdone it.  For children that threshold is even lower.  No one is saying you must give caffeine up.  But if you or your child suffer from ADHD, you cannot ignore that caffeine may have profound effects on your symptoms.  Just because you believe it actually minimizes the bad symptoms, and maximizes the good, the balance of how much caffeine is the perfect dose will change from day to day.  So don’t let yourself be fooled into thinking caffeine is a safe alternative to treat ADHD symptoms.

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here Does Caffeine REALLY Affect ADHD?

This just goes to show that ADD ADHD diagnoses and treatment is not as simple as some Doctors make it sound.

Even the Doctors and so-called ADD experts are stumped when asked the simple question,

“Please describe a typical ADHD child”

It begs the question, “If ADD ADHD is so difficult to diagnose, then how are 1 in 10 kids taking drugs for ADD ADHD?”

[display_podcast]

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here Even Doctors Can’t Describe ADD ADHD

Spikes, rushes, controlled release… These are all terms that are associated with the release of sugars into the bloodstream following the digestion of different kinds of foods. For some people a discussion of these effects may be mildly interesting but for those who are faced with ADD/ADHD it is of vital importance.

This is why studying Glycemic Index and the way that it can influence moods, behavior and general wellbeing should be a top priority for those who are investigating ways of overcoming ADD/ADHD.

Last week we had an introductory look at how knowing the GI values of different foods can help us to lose weight, and can also improve our general and emotional health.

This week we will focus on how GI values are determined and measured. This information will clearly show that a) The Glycemic Index is not just some kind of faddish concept like so many ‘miracle diets’ out there but that it is built on solid scientific facts and testing, and b) That it is possible to control, to a great degree, the release of sugars into the blood stream by paying careful attention to what you eat.

Interestingly enough GI values cannot be determined by simply looking at the composition of certain foodstuffs. The main reason for this that the human digestive system is very complex and often respond in different ways to seemingly similar foods. This means that GI values can only be accurately determined in trials using live human guinea pigs! The most common way in which this is done is the following:

• 10 Volunteers are asked to eat a portion of food containing 50 grams of carbohydrates that are readily digestible (also known as ‘available carbohydrates’). This means that the portions that they will be asked to eat can vary from relatively small for food with lots of carbohydrates (like pasta), to very large for foods with low amounts of carbohydrates (like carrots).

• The participants in the study will then be asked to submit to a finger-prick every 15 minutes over a two hour period (Don’t feel too sorry for them, they are normally very well compensated for their troubles!) and the sugar content in the blood that is drawn will then be analyzed.

*The data gained from the blood analysis will then be used to construct a ‘glucose response curve’ for every person over the two hour period. This curve will reflect the level of glucose in that person’s blood over that time.
*The same ten people will be asked to come back on another occasion where they will take part in the ‘control leg’ of the test by consuming a portion of pure glucose sugar (the ‘control food’ used as a reference point for determining GI values) with the same amount of carbohydrates as the food that is being evaluated. Blood sugar samples will again be taken and a glucose response curve drawn up for each person.

*As a last step the scientists will then average out the sugar response curves for all ten people in both tests. The GI value for the test food will then be determined by contrasting the average blood sugar response to the test food to the average response to pure glucose. The value is normally plotted on a sliding scale from 1 – 100.

The remainder of this module is available inside the “3 Steps To Conquering ADD” Member’s Only Area.

For more information visit http://3StepsADD.com

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here How Glycemic Index Values are Measured [ADD ADHD]

Hopefully by now, you have tried the first three steps to getting your flow of work organized and assembled in such a way that you do not feel so overwhelmed. After the first three steps – collecting, processing, and organizing – comes the fourth of five steps in mastering workflow.

The “review” phase of mastering workflow is an important one for the ADD person. You need to be able to take a look at all of your outstanding projects and any loopholes you may have on a weekly basis. Yes, it’s true – this only needs to be done on a weekly basis. Remember you are trying to stay organized, and you need not waste time on a daily basis on reviewing your “To Do’s!”

So what do you review and when? I am assuming that you have already set up your organizational system as I suggested. If you did, then you should have a “Projects” list, a calendar, a list of “Next Actions,” and a “Waiting” list. These items will need to be checked daily for the most part. Okay, now you are ready to review!

The one thing you will review the most often is your calendar. This gives you a perfect overview of what absolutely must be done “today.” Now this does not mean that those things that must be accomplished today are the “most important.” They are merely things that have to happen today. Check them off as you do them – this will serve as a visual reminder that you are done and will spur you ahead to the next “have to do” item for that day.

Once you have checked your calendar, you will probably want to go over your “Next Actions” lists (i.e., “at home” list; “errands” list; “meeting planning” list, etc.). These lists contain the stuff you could do today if you have time or the desire.

You can review your “Projects” list and “Actions” list daily if you want, but you may find you don’t need to as often. Most people with ADD who know they have issues with organization tend to check theirs more frequently as this will cut down on unnecessary worrying.

Don’t forget that the ADD brain needs to stay uncluttered and focused. You can’t do that if you have all of these lists running rampant in your head! Even if you don’t review all of your lists daily, you must, I repeat, you must do so weekly at a minimum. If you don’t, then your organizational system will break down quickly.

The easiest way to incorporate checking on your stuff that needs to be done is to pick a certain time of the day to do so. Some people prefer to go over everything the first thing in the morning to get an idea of what the day looks like. Others review the night before. It’s purely a matter of preference. However, I have found that people with ADD have a hard time winding down at night anyway, so you might not want to review your next day’s lists then. If you think it will keep you awake while your brain goes over and over something, then your organizational system has failed you! The key is to be able to
turn it over” to your system and let your mind be clear.

In terms of your weekly review, make sure you do the following things:

§ Gather and process all your “stuff

§ Review your system

§ Update your lists as needed

§ Make sure you are as current and complete as possible

Most people do not have a thorough system for managing workflow so they live with a sense that something “needs” to be done, but they can’t quite put their fingers on what it is! Think about how you feel before you leave on a vacation. Most of us have a tendency to want to clean off our desks, finish what is needed to be completed, and know what you are facing upon your return.

Your “review” phase of managing workflow lets you do the same thing, but on a much more frequent basis. It leaves you feeling ready for the next challenge, without all of the anticipation that having an overloaded ADD brain can bring! This system works – but only until you have used it, repeated using it, and see the results will you believe me. So get going and get organized!

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here ADD and Becoming Productive – Part 4

Fraudulent Over-promotion of the diagnosis of ADD-ADHD… in Collusion to boost drug sales

This is a very interesting article that pretty much sums up many of the problems with ADD-ADHD in the USA.

It seems that big drug companies will go to any length to score big profits.
Creating “ADD Support Groups” like CHADD to shamelessly promote their deadly drugs in the form of “education”.

Interesting… huh?

Ritalin is old news now… now the drug of choice is Adderall, and it is even worse than ritalin!

Nestor Sosa spent three years and $40,000 fighting to get his son off Ritalin.
Ritalin, an amphetamine-like drug used to treat ADD, or attention deficit disorder, is prescribed to an estimated 4 million American schoolchildren each year.

But Sosa thought his son shouldn’t be among them. The boys mother and school both felt Ritalin, which helps some kids to concentrate, would assist the youngster in overcoming some of his learning difficulties.

Sosa, of Chatsworth, Calif., believes his son, now 14, never had ADD. He thinks the boy was a victim of a trend in this country to diagnose normal juvenile behavior as a disease.

ADD is like a catchall, says Sosa, who took his ex-wife to court over their sons Ritalin use.

Nobody could give me a straight answer and nobody could define ADD. Sosas conflict with well-meaning doctors and educators reflects a growing controversy about whether ADD and its variant, attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder, are being over-diagnosed causing children to be drugged for no reason.

Conspiracy to Over-Diagnose?

In fact, a class-action lawsuit against Ritalin manufacturer Novartis, the American Psychiatric Association and the parents group Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder alleges the company fraudulently overpromoted the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD in collusion with the two organizations to boost drug sales.

The action, filed in a state court in Brownsville, Texas, in May, seeks unspecified damages against Novartis, charging, among other things, that the Basel, Switzerland-based company failed to adequately warn the public of Ritalins impact on childrens cardio-vascular and nervous systems.

Several hundred Texas parents have signed on as plaintiffs, but are not discussing the case with the press.

Sosa is not involved in the lawsuit.

The suit alleges that the American Psychiatric Association has expanded the definition of ADD/ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV, the handbook of psychiatric diseases, over time so that more and more children would fall into this category.

Additionally, it claims the drug company encourages the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD and its treatment with Ritalin by economically supporting both CHADD and the psychiatric association…..

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here Fraudulent Over-promotion of ADD ADHD

Just to review, there are five stages involved in the mastering of your workflow:

- Collecting

- Processing

- Organizing

- Reviewing

- Doing

We have reached the third stage in the process: organizing your “stuff.” If you

have been “working” this program, then you will now have nonactionable and actionable items. You will take these two groups and use the categories below to make up a total system for organizing.

Nonactionable Items Actionable Items

Trash List of projects

Incubation Tools Storage/files for project plans & materials

Reference Storage Calendar

List of reminders of next actions

List of reminders of things you’re waiting for

All of the organizational categories have to be physically contained somehow. A list merely refers to some sort of reviewable reminders. An example would be a list of “To Do” and “Projects List.”

An incubation tool is a file, list, etc., of things that “someday” or “might be” actionable, but not now. It is information that you don’t necessarily want to throw away because it “might” be important later. It can also be a reminder to do something in the future, such as: “After January 1, set up doctors’ appointments for the coming year.” You can probably see where the word “incubating” is appropriate here. This is a particularly good tool for the ADDer since we can become quite scattered and not remember things that need to be done at a later time.

Reference storage is pretty self-explanatory. It contains files, letters, etc., that you can retrieve when required, but no real action is necessary.

A project list is really any desired result that requires more than one action step. So it really isn’t about the total project, but rather it should include all of the steps that you’ll be taking to complete it. The author recommends doing this so that you will have “markers” along the way to remind you there are more left to complete.

Don’t worry that your list isn’t prioritized or has no order to it at all. Remember, we are trying to “empty” the ADD brain onto this list so that you have an idea about what needs to be done.

Storage/Files for project plans and materials is where you keep all the reference materials for your projects. If you are used to keeping computerized files, then I would suggest keeping all of your files that way. If you keep physical files, keep all physical files. It becomes confusing to keep files in different places and in various manners. Also, try to keep your folders out of your sight. The ADD brain has a hard enough time trying to stay on task. It is easy to become distracted by things sitting on your desk. Not seeing them constantly will help you to remain focused.

The Next action category is an important one. This is where you will list every action that needs to be taken “next” on each project. You need not track things that must be done in less than 2-3 minutes. What does need to be listed is every action that needs to be taken and when it should be taken.

A calendar is where you might rack a lot of the “next action” items. There are only three things that go on this calendar:

• Time-specific actions: appointments such as a meeting, lunch planning session, etc.
• Day-specific actions: things that need to be done on a certain day, but not at a certain time such as the completion of a report or the purchase of airline tickets, etc.
• Day-specific information: this is the information you may need to know that doesn’t necessarily require action – information such as directions to the beach, or the name of the new babysitter coming that night

What this does is help you eliminate those “To Do” lists that you may have scribbled everywhere on your calendar. You are streamlining your system and your ADHD brain will thank you!

The Next actions list is where your action reminders go. These are all of the “over 2-3 minute” tasks that you cannot delegate. For example, “call the Jones about dinner on Friday,” or “get with Sarah to brainstorm ideas for sales meeting” are action reminders.

What if you have too many action reminders? Break them into smaller sub-categories such as “calls,” or “errands.”

So get to work – streamline your workflow – and you will begin to see almost immediate results! And you know how anyone with ADHD hates to wait!

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here ADD and Becoming Productive – Part 3

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here I am Just a Child

This video will help you understand how important it is for you to keep your brain from starving.

ADD drugs like Adderall, Vyvance, Concerta, and Ritalin (and many others) artificially manipulate these chemicals.

This acts as a band-aid to the true “cause” of the ADD ADHD symptoms.

Check it out and please leave me your comments

Jon Bennett

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here 5 Brain Chemicals ADD ADHD People Lack

Hi,   Jon Bennett here with “3 Steps To
Conquering ADD-ADHD.

I am writing to you today to discuss one
“easy” thing you can do to improve your
Focus/Happy level every day!

1. Did you know that there are over 51 common
conditions that mimick ADD-ADHD symptoms?

…things like allergies and low blood sugar.

One of the biggest cuplrits causing ADD symptoms
is “Low Blood Sugar”

Low blood sugar normally occurs because of a spike
in blood sugar followed by a “crash”

This happens most often when we consume soft drinks
or anything high in refined sugars like sugary cereal.

On page 92 of my book “3 Steps To Conquering ADD”
we discuss the importance of protein for breakfast.

It is actually important for evey meal… but you make
a huge impact on you focus by adding more protein
to you breakfast right away.

Why?

Think of protein as the opposite of refined sugars.

Protein will help you feel full longer and maintain
steady blood sugar levels.

This will help you or your child avoid the mid-
morning “crash”.

Protein is labeled as a  “low glycemic” index food.

BTW (by the way) if you begin to follow any of the
“low glycemic” diets out there you will see huge
improvements in your calm and focus.

There are only a couple more “things” discussed
in my book that IF you do…

you WILL eliminate / cure your
ADD symptoms.

I encourage you to pick up your copy now and
begin a more focused, happy, fulfilled life!

Have a blessed day

Jon Bennett

http://3stepsadd.com

ps -  We have just finished the 6th edition and we are
running a special on the site now for a limited time.

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here Protein for ADD

Transcript: [spoiler]back at 7:43. this morning on “today investigates” the potentially dangerous drug being abused by college students. “today” correspondent amy robach is here with a hidden camera investigation.

we warn our children about the dangers of drugs and drinking, especially as they go to college but a different kind of drug is an epidemic on campuses and we found students were taking it not to get high but to get better grades. we are inside the library at one of america’s top universities where right here in the stacks –
how much?

a drug deal is about to go down.

i can sell four today.

the drug for sale, one of the most popular with college kids nationwide. the attention deficit pill adderall .

it’s highly addictive. when you play with addictive substances you get burned.
for years it’s been prescribed as the go-to drug for kids with adhd, increasing attention span and focus by boosting dopamine levels in the brain. our investigation found many college students are abusinging adderall buying and taking it illegally without a prescription.

when i’m an adderall and i’m looking at the textbook. i forget everything else around me.

it’s given me the boost to work nonstop for ten hours a day.
jenny and mike, not their real names, are college students at the top of their class, thanks, they say, to adderall , better known as campus as the smart drug or study buddies. one university found over half of the seniors took it to increase their grades.

baseball players take steroids to be the best. students take adderall .
it’s an academic steroid?

steroids for school.

and students say it is a necessity to handle the load of papers, exams and cram sessions.

if everyone else is doing it, why shouldn’t i get the advantage?

of all your friends, no one has expressed feared like, yikes, this isn’t my prescription, maybe i shouldn’t take it?

no. they want to do well in school.

getting it without a prescription is a felony. we found scoring a stash is as easy as a trip to the school library . we sent a “today” show intern to the library.
do you know anyone that’s here that has adderall ?

it took her less than 30 seconds to find a student selling it.
how much?

$5.

watch as he takes us to show her the pills. we said we were out of cash so she gave us a free tutorial on how to get our own prescription.

i guarantee you with half the symptoms you can google. it’s in their interest to prescribe it to you because you have to go back once a month, check in and give them money.

i went to a doctor and told them i couldn’t focus. by the end i walked out with a prescription.

it was that easy?

incredibly easy, yeah.

experts say getting good grades with adderall may not be as easy as they think.
does it make kids smarter?

no.

dr. walcott is from the national institute on drug abuse . she said it stimulates areas of the brain to help focus and stay awake.

in some instances this type of drug can hurt you. for example, when people want to do creative or i imaginative thinking.

creative writing , essays, painting could be negatively impacted by taking it?
this is correct.

in some kids adderall can have a dark side . it’s a schedule ii narcotic as dangerous as cocaine or meth.

for all intents and purposes it’s speed. you are putting something in your brain to make you think you’re okay when you’re not. next thing you know you’ll be spinning out of control.

that’s what happened to ali , a college freshman , an honor student struggling to keep up with school. a friend gave her am adderall .

you become dependent. you use it one night to study for a test like i did. next thing you know you’re using it every night to study.

within weeks ali was addicted, buying and taking several pills a day with devastating side effects . mood swings, insomnia, panic attacks and depression. soon her grades began to slip.

it snuck up on me. i went from being on an academic scholarship to being on academic probation within six months to being asked to withdraw from the university after a year because of adderall .

now in recovery, ali said her family had no idea. experts worry parents may look the other way, as long as their kids do well in school.

it’s like a don’t ask, don’t tell thing. they don’t want to know. they’re paying for the report card.

if they get the desired results, don’t tell me how you did it.

don’t tell me how you did it.

experts say 1 in 10 kid wills become addicted and side effects include psychosis, stroke and even death. never take it unless it is prescribed by a doctor. the risks aren’t worth it.

and kids that learned how to fake the symptoms and get the prescription is a wake-up call for doctors as well. at least reputable ones.

drug experts say the drug has been overprescribed and that’s contributing to the epidemic and the fact that students feel they are taking a vitamin. they think it’s safe. parents need to get involved and say this is dangerous, don’t do it.
amy, thank you so much.

At colleges across America, students are becoming addicted to a popular prescription drug — not because they’re trying to get high, but because they hope to get smarter. The drug, Adderall, is normally prescribed for kids with attention deficit disorder. But some college kids are taking the medication because it helps them focus and pull all-nighters.
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One ‘A’ student at one of the nation’s top tier colleges explained the appeal of the pills kids call “study buddies.”
“When I’m on Adderall and I’m looking at the textbook I can forget about everything else around me,” she told NBC News’ Amy Robach, in a report aired on TODAY. “I figured if everyone else is doing it, why shouldn’t I get the advantage?”
Another student, “Mike,” who asked that his real name be withheld, elaborated. “It’s given me the boost to work non-stop for 10 hours a day,” he explained. “Baseball players take steroids to be the best and students take Adderall to be the best. It’s steroids for school.”
Related: Statement from Shire regarding Adderall abuse
Parents accustomed to warning their kids about the dangers of alcohol and stimulants like cocaine may have been caught off guard by the growing prevalence of prescription medication use among college students trying score good grades. While Adderall is considered safe when taken as prescribed by a doctor, experts say it can be very addictive.
“It’s a highly addictive substance and when you play with addictive substances, you ultimately get burned,” Stephen Odom, a drug abuse counselor at Sober Living by the Sea, told Robach. “For all intents and purposes, Adderall is speed. You’re putting something in your body that’s gonna make you think you’re OK when you’re not. And the next thing you know, you’re gonna be spinning out of control.”
That’s what happened to a freshman honor student named Aly. Struggling to keep up with her schoolwork, she gratefully took the “smart pill” offered by a friend. Within weeks she became addicted, buying several pills a day.
“You become dependent on it, because you’ll use it one night to study for a test like I did and the next thing you know, you’re using it every night to study for a test,” she told Robach.
Soon Aly was suffering all sorts of unexpected effects: mood swings, insomnia, panic attacks, depression. Her grades spiraled down. It all took a toll on her.
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“It snuck up on me,” she told Robach. “I went from being on an academic scholarship at a great university to being on academic probation within six months, to being asked to withdraw from that university after a year. All because of Adderall.”
Addiction isn’t the only possible fallout from “smart pills.” While they can help students focus for hours on end, they can get in the way of other cognitive skills.
“In some instances these types of drugs can hurt you,” said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “For example, when people want to do creative or imaginative things.”
The same drugs that can improve focus can inhibit flights of imagination, which may make it more difficult to write creatively, Volkow explained to Robach.
So, just how big of a problem is this?
As part of a hidden camera investigation, a TODAY intern visited the library at one of the nation’s top colleges, and it didn’t take long to score some pills.
Just 30 seconds after walking into the library, the intern hit pay dirt with one of the students.
“Do you know anyone here that I could get Adderall from?” the intern asked.
“Yeah, me,” the student replied.
“How much for a pill?” the intern asked.

The intern said she didn’t have that much cash on hand and the student suggested an alternative method for scoring Adderall: feign symptoms and get a legitimate – and legal – prescription.
“I guarantee you have half the symptoms,” the student said. “Google ADD specialists. It’s in their interest to prescribe it to you because you have to go back to them once a month and check in and give them some money.”
That’s exactly what “Mike” did.
“I went to a doctor and told them I couldn’t focus,” he told Robach. “And by the end, I walked out with a prescription. It was incredibly easy.”
Robach wondered how his parents felt about his getting a prescription to boost his grades.
“It’s like a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ kind of thing,” he said. “They don’t wanna know. They’re paying for that report card.” [/spoiler]

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here ADD ADHD Smart Drug Epidemic

We began this series by introducing you to author David Allen’s book that addresses stress-free productivity. As you recall, there are five stages of mastering your flow of work:

Collect

Process

Organize

Review

Do

This article will focus on the second stage – Process.

Remember that your goal is to “empty” your brain of these things you must do if you want to decrease your level of stress.

In order to do that, you must identify and collect those things that are on your mind and then make a plan about how you will handle them.

Why is there so much stuff in your brain? Simple.

You have not determined what you ultimately want the outcome to be.

You have not determined what the very next physical action should be that will move you toward completion.

You have no system for keeping reminders of what needs to be done, when, how, etc.

There are three basic requirements for managing your tasks if you want to be stress-free rather than frazzled, exhausted, and overwhelmed!

If it is on your mind, then you can’t clear your mind. This is where the “collect” stage comes from. You take what’s on your mind and collect into various categories that you will address at some point.

In order to complete a task, you need to clarify what it is you must do.
Once you’ve got the decisions made about your plan of action, you will need to develop a system of reminders that you can view on a regular basis

– this makes up stage 2 – organize!

The first step in organizing your “stuff” is the ask yourself a simple question:

What do you need to do about each email, voice-mail, memo, or self-generated ideas that are collected?

The answer to this will form the basis for how you organize your work.

So rather than throwing all of your emails, for example, into a pile, you will organize your emails based on the action you have determined to take on each one. Here’s how you do it.

Let’s say your basket of emails is full. Take those emails and use as practice to learn the process for organizing.

1. What is It?

Stupid question? Not at all! What is the email about? Is it a company memo sent via email about the change in dress code?

Maybe it’s an email that outlines the process for using the company insurance. Take the time to look at each one so that you know what it is.

2. Is it Actionable?

Obviously, there are two answers: Yes or No

If no action is required, you’ve got three choices about how to handle that email.

• Throw it in the trash
  *No action is needed now, but might need it later (incubate)
• This is useful info that you may need for later (reference)

If action is required, you’ll have to determine two things about each item.

*What “project” or outcome have you committed to?
* What’s the next action required?

If it’s about a project, you can start a “Projects” list where it will serve as a reminder that action is required.

The next action” is the very next physical, visible activity that needs to be done in order to move toward completion.

3. Do It, Delegate It, or Defer It.

Once you have decided what action needs to be taken, you have three options.

*Do It: If your action can be done in less than two minutes, then do it as soon as you make your decision to act.
*Delegate It: If your “action” will take longer than two minutes, ask yourself if you really have to be the one to do it? If someone else can just as easily take the action, delegate it right away.
*Defer It: If it may take longer than two minutes, but you are the one who must do the action, you can defer acting upon it until later.

You can put it on your calendar with a specific due date or you can determine that you will do it as soon as you can.

You are well on your way to getting a handle on your workflow if you begin using the first two stages. Next time, we will look at organizing your results!

By Jon Bennett Original post can be found here ADD and Becoming Productive – Part 2