A Splintered Mind

Today’s mailbag is from Holly who writes for advice concerning her grandson. Sometimes I get letters from people who aren’t pitching their latest seminar, book series, and ADHD mouth rinse in one. Sometimes real people with real problems write to me, and I do my best to help. I may not be an expert, but I sure love sharing my opinion. You may have noticed. ⁂ I have been looking at your site and reading your posts for a little while now. I was excited to find it because I am raising my grandson, now 10, who has been diagnosed with ADHD, most likely a coping mechanism (as I understand it) for what caused his PTSD age 9 months to a little over 5. He is getting closer to the point where addressing encroachment from his past will be something he’s ready and able to do. I wonder if you struggled with ADHD when you were a kid, and if you did, what helped? We use some medication; fortunately his doctor is pretty conservative and my boy primarily uses it only on school ...

My fifteen year old daughter, the Leprechaun, has ADHD. She can't be medicated for it because she inherited my dangerous hypersensivities to medications. My Leprechaun may be like me and also have the comorbid condition of Depression. As a parent my heart aches to help her. I wish there was a safe, magical pill that would fix everything for her. Instead, I teach her the coping strategies that I have learned so that she can live a life in control of her mental health. Does getting bored depress you? Today she confided in me that when she gets bored she becomes depressed. I let her know that I understood how she felt because I struggled with boredom, too. If anything could be blamed for our flighty attention, it is our aversion to boredom. I don't know about you, but boredom for me is painful. I mentally—and even physically!—squirm and experience great discomfort. The moment boredom begins to encroach on my thoughts, my mind flings its focus far and wide for stimulation. I have ...

Sometimes writing here is about achievements and sometimes it is about struggle. I wanted to write about struggle today because it will help me not be discouraged or depressed. This entire process is exhausting me, which you will understand why in a moment, but I feel strongly to share my experience with you and the one trick that made it all possible. Maybe this trick will help you a little bit, too. I'm going to quote my social media posts from earlier today and the replies I recieved. The non-Twitter posts are from Facebook. 12:28pm: I woke up paralyzed about 30 minutes ago. I can move my eyes in my mouth and my right hand and arm. So making the best of it. Fortunately, Siri can transcribe book, but she's prone to mistakes and I can't correct. Yes, Siri is doing awesome. This is all part of my tic disorder. Happens from time to time, but I'm surprised that I can move my arm and do as much as I can also I am surprised that this is lasting so long. I had hoped th...

As I walked to church the other day, the sky was almost like Spring. The clouds had the right color and consistency. The weather was not quite balmy, but still a warmish 57°F. The breeze was comfortable, too, though filled with the presence of Winter. Unfortunately, the color of the sky was a reminder that Mother Nature was not ready to change her outfit into something less thermal. The blue was just a bit too dark to be Spring, more Indigo than Blue Lake. Unlike last year, I was ambulatory and more than able to go out for a walk. Even though I have a shockingly low immunity system, I've already started regular walks since the weather is slowly crawling out of the 40s now that the day is lengthening. Walking is where I process a lot of what troubles my heart. I can talk out loud and dissemble that I'm on the phone when near people. This past Sunday was no different. Whenever idling cars at traffic lights were within earshot I simply put my hand up to my earpiece and nodd...

Shadow & Snow Light Dusting Stubborn Winter Leaves Something Was Wrong It was a lonely Tuesday night just past midnight, and I was feeling down. My kids had left to be with their mother for two weeks, and I was still sick with a virus. The five days of sickness had put me behind in my freelance assignments which was causing a wee bit of stress. I was run down and miserable. Depression had crept in and switched out all the artwork on my walls with sad, big eyed kittens sitting in cold, dark puddles. Then I noticed the time and realized that I needed a change. For years I've followed a system to help me manage my moods . Stave off depression before it happens? Whoops. Know that I'm depressed? Oh, is that why there's a black cloud over my head? Ask myself if I have a reason to be depressed? Yes, quite a few. Develop the desire to not be depressed? Yes, already! I've spent too much time feeling sad. So How Do You Fight Off Depression? I mad...