VOLUME 6, NO. 6                                                                          June 28, 2001

NJ ADD/ADHD ADULT NEWSLETTER

ADD ADULT SELF HELP SUPPORT GROUP

FOR ADD/ADHD ADULTS

AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

MEETING: THE NEXT MEETING OF THE ADD ADULT SELF HELP SUPPORT GROUP WILL BE ON JUNE 28, 2001 AT 7:30 PM AT MONMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER, ROOM 114 STEINAM HOUSEMAN, LONG BRANCH, NJ.  GO TO THE RECEPTION DESK IN THE MAIN LOBBY AND GET DIRECTIONS.  THE TOPIC WILL BE:  ADD SELF-CARE.

AD/HD MARRIAGE SURVIVAL.   IN AN ARTICLE BY ARTHUR ROBIN, Ph.D., "CAN YOUR MARRIAGE SURVIVE AD/HD", ATTENTION  MAGAZINE,  2001, 7(6): 7-12, SEVEN STEPS TO SURVIVAL WERE IDENTIFIED: 1) RECOGNIZING WHEN IT IS THE ADD THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM IN YOUR MARRIAGE; 2) WHEN THE ADD EVENT OCCURS, DEAL WITH IT RATHER THAN DENY IT; 3) PLAN AHEAD TO DEAL WITH THE ADD EVENTS; 4) TOGETHER WITH YOUR SPOUSE, WORK ON IDENTIFYING THE EFFECTS OF MEDICATION AND WAYS TO MAXIMIZE ITS EFFECTIVENESS.  (IF YOU ARE NOT ON MEDICATION, SHARE WITH YOUR SPOUSE THE STRATEGIES YOU ARE USING TO MANAGE THE ADD AND TOGETHER FINE TUNE THE EFFECTIVENESS); 5) KEEP COMMUNICATION OPEN; 6) PUTTING SPICE, EXCITEMENT, ROMANCE AND INTIMACY INTO THE MARRIAGE WILL KEEP THE ADDer AND SPOUSE ATTENTIVE; 7) PRACTICE FORGIVENESS AND LEAVE GRUDGES BEHIND. 

COMMENT: MANY ADDers WILL SAY THAT THESE STEPS ARE INTERESTING AND USEFUL AT TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM IS TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THEM WHEN YOU ARE IN EMOTIONAL GRIDLOCK.  MY ADVICE TO ALL IS: PLAN ON DATING YOUR SPOUSE ON A WEEKLY BASIS FOR THE REST OF YOUR MARRIED LIFE.  THIS MEANS LEAVING PROBLEMS (INCLUDING CHILDREN) BEHIND DURING THE DATE.  REMEMBER HOW GOOD YOUR DATES WERE WHEN YOU WERE COURTING YOUR SPOUSE. 

MEDICATION ISSUE:  IN A COMMENTARY BY PETER BREGGIN, MD, CONFIRMING THE HAZARDS OF STIMULANT DRUG TREATMENT, ETHIICAL HUMAN SCIENCES AND SERVICES, 2000, 2(3)203-204, HE ADVISED THAT ADVERSE EVENTS DO SOMETIMES HAPPEN WHEN ADDers ARE ON STIMULANT MEDICATIONS.  THE ADVERSE EVENTS, INCLUDING SIDE EFFECTS, MUST BE CONSIDERED SERIOUSLY AND DISCUSSED WITH YOUR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.  INCREASING OR DECREASING THE MEDICATION CAN IMPROVE, WORSEN OR MASK A PROBLEM.  Dr.BREGGIN POINTS OUT THAT SOME OF THE MEDICATIONS MAY ACTUALLY CAUSE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS.  FOR EXAMPLE IN A STUDY OF THE FIVE YEAR LONG TERM EFFECTS OF STIMULANT MEDICATION IN THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, 1999,44: 811-813, IT WAS FOUND THAT PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS WERE REPORTED IN 9% OF THE CHILDREN ON METHYLPHENIDATE (RITALIN).  THE SYMPTOMS CEASED AS SOON AS THE MEDICATION WAS STOPPED.  TOO OFTEN WHEN PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS EMERGE A SECOND PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION IS PRESCRIBED WITHOUT CHECKING TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WAS A SIDE EFFECT FROM THE FIRST MEDICATION.  REMEMBER THAT COUNSELING, MAINTAINING EXERCISE, HEALTHY LIVING AND EATING, AND SELF CARE CAN GO A LONG WAY TOWARD HELPING TO MANAGE ADD.

                                                                                PEACE!!!

                                                                        Bob