Center of Attention
Newsletter of CHADD of Northern California
Also at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
16 September 2001

CHADD Works to Improve the Lives of People with
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder through Education, Advocacy,
and Support

===== Special Announcement =====

CHADD of Northern California has a new toll free phone number.

You have previously been able to leave a message for us at our
Oakland number: 510-291-2950. Now you can do that toll free at
888-759-9758! You can leave any sort of message.

Remember that most of your questions will get answered more quickly
if you look on the web, at www.chaddnorcal.org. And this number does
not have an announcement on it that you can listen too. But it is a
new convenience for people to leave a question that the web doesn't
answer.

Please try to leave your phone number twice, at the beginning and end
of your message, so we can be sure we can get back to you. We are all
volunteers and sometimes it may take a day or two, but if you don't
get a call back, try calling again.

We hope that this will make it easier for you to get in touch with
your CHADD organization.

===== In This Issue =====

About the Newsletter
Feature Article: Tips on the management of adult ADD - Part 3.
This Week
Friday Folder
Please Tell Us
Calendar of Events

===== About the Newsletter =====

The Center of Attention is CHADD of Northern California's bi-weekly
newsletter. The newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with
CHADD of Northern California's activities and updates in the field.
It's a step toward bringing the members closer together.

===== Feature Article ======

The following article was published in ADDvisor newsletter in July
1999. We are grateful to Alan Graham and Bill Benninger of ADDvisor
for permitting us to publish this article in our newsletter.

"ADDvisorTM is your link to trustworthy, reliable information about
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). If you would like to
participate in any of our calls or our other programs, or would
simply like more information, including times and fees, call us at:
1-866-ADDvisor. Or you can email Alan Graham at Alan@... or
Bill Benninger at Bill@.... We will give you the information
you request."

TIPS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ADULT ADD - PART 3

This month we list the third of four categories of management tips
for adults with ADHD created by Edward Hallowell, MD and John Ratey,
MD. The four categories are: 1)insight and education; 2)performance
management; 3)mood management; and 4)interpersonal life. This month
we will share the suggestions for mood management.

1. Have structured "blow-out" time.

Set aside time every week to just "let go" safely. Pick an activity
that you enjoy and let loose without getting into trouble.

2. Recharge your batteries

This is related to the above tip. On a daily basis, take some time
out to recharge your batteries: take a nap, a bath or watch TV.
Designate this time as special so as to make it guilt free.

3. Choose "good" helpful addictions

Such as exercise. Many ADHD adults get hooked on something. Make it
something positive.

4. Understand mood changes

Rather than trying to figure out why you are in a bad mood or look
for someone to blame, focus on learning to tolerate a bad mood. You
know it will pass and by developing strategies, you can help it pass
more quickly. Doing something different, such as getting involved in
some new activity can help.

5. Recognize the ADHD mood cycle.

a. something 'startles' your psychological system, a change, a
transition, a disappointment or even success. It can be quite trivial.

b. This startle is followed by a 'mini-panic' with a sudden loss of
perspective. The world has been turned on its end.

c. You try to deal with this by obsessing over some part of the
situation for hours, sometimes days or weeks.

6. Plan scenarios to deal with the inevitable 'blahs.'

Have a list of friends you can call. Have some videos that can
distract you. Have some access to exercise. Rehearse some pep talks
for yourself. These are the ADD blues. They will pass, you will be
okay.

7. Expect depression after success.

People with ADD often feel depressed after a big success. This is
because the high stimulus of the challenge or preparation is over.
The stimulus is gone and so depressed feelings emerge.

8. Learn symbols, slogans, sayings

These are short hand ways to label slip-ups, mistakes or mood swings.
Such as, "Oops, there goes my ADHD again." This is not an excuse but
rather a way to avoid obsessing over your unconscious desire to
sabotage yourself.

9. Use 'time-outs' as with children

When you are feeling overwhelmed or upset, give yourself a time out.
Go away. Calm down.

10. Learn to advocate for yourself

Learn to get off the defensive and be appropriately assertive for
what you need to be successful.

11. Avoid premature closure of a project, a conflict, a deal, or a
conversation.

Don't "cut to the chase" too soon, even though you might want to.

12. Try to let the successful moment last.

Remember it. Train yourself to consciously and deliberately do this
because you can easily forget your successes.

13. Remember that ADD usually includes a tendency to overfocus or
hyperfocus at time.

This can be used constructively or destructively. Be aware of its
destructive use: the tendency to obsess over some problem that you
cannot let go.

14. Exercise vigorously and regularly

Schedule this into your life and stick to it. It helps work off
excess energy and aggression in a positive way. It stimulates the
hormonal and neurochemical system in a most therapeutic way and
soothes and calms the body. Make it fun so you will stick with it
over your lifetime.

======== This Week ==========

To: All persons and groups who might know of useful resources on
ADD/HD and Aging

Mission: Creation of a Resource Paper listing sources of information
on the subject of ADD/HD and Aging to be made available to interested
parties in hopes of stimulating interest and research on the subject.

Re: Request for data relevant to ADD/HD and the Aging Process.

The mission is to help people with ADD/HD to understand what they can
expect to have happen to them as they age. A secondary goal is to
help non ADD/HD people who acquire symptoms as part of the aging
process, to develop skills in dealing with them. Perhaps they can
learn from those who were born with ADD/HD and make use of the
programs and medications developed to assist them. I believe it would
be helpful to all if a resource document were to be made available to
assist those who would like to devote more attention to and create a
better understanding of the problems of ADD/HD and aging.

Consequently, I am looking for published information on how people
with congenital ADD/HD age:

Do ADD/HD people lose symptoms with age or do they get worse? What
symptoms seem to be most affected?
Do they lose some of the control they may have developed over the years?
At what age does deterioration begin to become noticeable?
What medications seem to aggravate symptoms?
Are there some diseases of aging that appear more frequently among
aging ADD/HD people?
If so, what are they?

I am also pursuing information on the aging process itself.

If you have resources you can share, please contact me. I will be
happy to reciprocate by sending a copy of the resource paper when
it's completed. Thanks for your help.

Background:

In 1959, while still in college, I was diagnosed with Minimal Brain
Dysfunction. In addition to the dyslexia, poor memory and recall and
hyperactivity, I was also dreadfully allergic to certain pollens,
foods and odors. Consequently, in 1970 I met with Dr. Ben Feingold of
Kaiser-Permanente and discussed his allergy research with hyperactive
children. During that conversation I pointed out
that hyperactive children grow up to become hyperactive adults - you
don't outgrow it; it doesn't go away, you just learn to cope with it.
He seemed surprised and commented that he knew of nothing published
on Adult Hyperactivity. A while later he wrote to me and requested
permission to quote me in his book, which I granted. Since then Adult
ADD/HD has emerged as an area of focused study. Now it's time to
focus on ADD/HD and aging.

Here we are, more than 30 years later, and I'm still (at age 63)
probing the depths of ADD/HD and allergies. Adults with ADD/HD become
Seniors and most haven't outgrown it. For some, it gets worse. For
others, the old methods of controlling symptoms lose their
effectiveness. In my case, a prescribed Thyroid drug (Levothroid) set
off symptoms to such a degree that I had to return to the use of
amphetamines.

I'd like to encourage professionals who deal with - as well as those
who live with - ADD/HD to take a close look at the aging process and
how it affects us.

I hope you'll take the time to jot down some published resources on
ADD/HD and aging that you know of and send them to me. You can
e-mail, phone, FAX or US mail. I will acknowledge receipt of info and
keep you posted on progress.

Thanks for your help.

Del Goetz

P. O. Box 309, Mill Valley, CA 94942
e-mail: delgoetz@...; Ph: 415-388-8493; FAX: 415-388-9600

======== Friday Folder ==========

CHADD National Office
Division of Public Policy
Stephen Spector, J.D., Director of Public Policy
Lydia Farnham, Administrative Assistant
stephen_spector@... and lydia_farnham@...
09/07/2001
Legislative Activities
SECRETARY PAGE SENDS LETTER TO CONGRESS

The Administration is pushing for completion of action including a
Hill session next week with the First Lady. You can continue to make
calls to members of the Conference Committee. The August 15th
National Call-In Day was a big help. See VAN below.

Concerning IDEA Discipline, Secretary Page has written to the
Conferees and asked that Discipline be considered as part of the IDEA
Reauthorization beginning next year. Hopefully, they will listen to
him.

Family Opportunity Act of 2001 - S.321/H.R.600 - The weekly meetings
of House and Senate staff leaders and representatives of advocacy
organizations begins again next week (September 12th).

Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2001-S.543: - As I reported
in the August 3rd, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
(HELP) Committee approved Senators Domenici and Wellstone's bill by a
vote of 21 to 0. The small business exemption was raised from 25
employees to 50 employee, which is the amount in the current expiring
limited parity act and also the amount in the House bill. Since the
current law expires at the end of September, there needs to be a vote
quickly and then House action.

Other Activities

CHADD signed onto several letters this week on a wide variety of subjects.

o We joined mental health organizations in urging the Senate
leadership to schedule a vote on the Mental Health Parity bill - S.543
o We joined special education organizations in requesting that a
Hearing scheduled for next Wednesday be postponed. The Hearing is on
the over-representation of minorities in special education. We asked
that the hearing be deferred until the Education Conference is
completed because of the importance of the issue.
o We joined the members of the Public Sector Group in two letters to
the mental health agency of HHS concerning the involvement of
stakeholders and other concerns with the Mental Health Block Grant
program.

Last week, Mary Durheim and I attended the Department of Education's
first Learning Disabilities summit. Also in attendance was Dr. Jack
Naglieri of George Mason University, a new member of CHADD's
Professional Advisory Board. The Summit was opened by an address by
Secretary Rod Page and Assistant Secretary Bob Pasternack stayed for
the two day meeting and attended some of the presentations. Research
Papers were presented on a wide range of LD topics. There was
discussion of ADHD in several of the sessions that Mary and I
attended. Two common themes were that LD is real and the lack of
evidence that the various formulas used by different states, the
Federal regulations and local school divisions has validity in
identifying who is LD and/or who will benefit from intervention.

This summit was only a first step in looking at the scientific basis
before trying to refine the program. The 9 papers are all available
on the web at www.air.org/ldsummit .

We have received initial indication that a series of IDEA Hearings
will be held throughout the country this fall. I do not believe that
all of the dates and location are firm, but early warning is better
than late warning! Here is what I have so far: Three meetings are set
under the heading "Improving America's Schools for October 16th in
Mobile, AL, November 15th in Reno, NV and December 19th in San
Antonio, TX.

In addition there is planning for four others: October 10th in
Denver, CO; November 1st in Minneapolis, MN; November 5th in
Providence, RI; and December 6th in Washington, DC. STAY TUNED ON
THIS!

VAN Activities
I continue to receive notice of e-mails that are sent using our
Legislative Action Center. In addition, I want to thank those of you
who wrote letters about the IDEA discipline amendments and sent me. I
received several from Indiana, which is a state that I am responsible
for. Thanks.

I also received word that the National Call-In day was so successful
in Georgia that Congressman Johnny Isakson arranged for a Town
Meeting. Apparently, his phone stayed busy all day.

===== Please Tell Us! =====

We thank members for their responses to the Newsletter. Any comments,
suggestions, or criticisms will be greatly appreciated. Please
continue to help us make this newsletter more beneficial to you all.

We also invite readers to share their experiences with us and other
members. Please feel free to write to us about anything that you
would like to see published.

You can e-mail your comments to us at CHADD_Dimples@....
Simply replying to this e-mail will also send your message to the
right place.

======== Calendar of Events ==========

9/18/2001, Tues. 7-9pm - Marin
Drop in Support Group, for Adults and Teens with ADHD and Significant Others
Marin Community Mental Health, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
9/19/2001, Wed. 7-9 pm - Contra Costa
Walnut Creek Adult Topical Meeting - Finding The Right Job , Ongoing,
confidential support groups for Adults with ADHD
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
9/19/2001, Wed. Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm - Santa Clara
Palo Alto Adult, Parent and Spouse Support Groups, Separate
peer-facilitated groups let you share struggles and strategies with
each other. Includes video.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Santa Clara Warmline: 650-949-5472
============================
9/19/2001, Wed. 7 - 9 pm - Alameda
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting, (Note that this group is usually
on the second Wednesday but this meeting is on the third Wednesday.)
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
============================
9/25/2001, Tues. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Marlene Snyder - From School Discipline to Juvenile Justice--What Works,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
9/26/2001, Wed. 7-9pm - San Francisco
An Open Discussion and Dialogue about AD/HD, Ron Lewis, MD.
CPMC Pacific Campus, San Francisco - Contact: San Francisco Warmline:
415-442-1944
============================
9/26/2001, Wed. 9-10:30am - Marin
Support Group for Parents of Children / Teens with ADHD, Share your
concerns with a parent who really understands.
10 Glen Drive, Mill Valley - Contact: Mary Jo Sorensen: 415-388-8817
============================
10/3/2001, Wed. Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm - Santa Clara
Palo Alto Educational Meeting - Medications for ADHD, Dr. Robert
Verhoogan, Pediatrician
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Santa Clara Warmline: 650-949-5472
============================
10/3/2001, Wed. 7-9 pm - Contra Costa
Walnut Creek Adult Topical Meeting - Developing Good Social Skills,
Ongoing, confidential support groups for Adults with ADHD
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
10/3/2001, Wed. 7:30pm - San Francisco
Women's ADD Support Group, Please Call Lynn to confirm times and
locations before attending.
CPMC Davies Campus, San Francisco - Contact: Lynn: 415-621-1078
============================
10/6/2001, Sat. 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m - San Francisco
Dr. Susan Brady - "Not Balanced Instruction, Informed Instruction",
Sponsored by the International Dyslexia Association
UCSF Conference Center, Laurel Heights, San Francisco - Contact:
International Dyslexia Association: 650-328-7667 or www.interdys.org
============================
10/9/2001, Tues. 7-9pm - Marin
Ask the Doctor: Dr. Isaac Silberman, Neurologist & Psychiatrist,
Author of "Is It ADD?: A Guide for Parents", and in practice more
than 40 years seeing children, teens and adults, Dr. Silberman does
extensive diagnostic workups for underlying medical,neurological,
hormonal, immune & other problems. His focus is on the integration of
educational, medical and psychosocial programs.
Town Center Corte Madera Community Room, Corte Madera - Contact:
Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
10/10/2001, Wed. 7 - 9 pm - Sonoma
The Floor Plan of the ADD Dream House: Evaluating Signs of Success
and Signs of Trouble. , Pam LeBlanc, MA, Parent Educator
Kaiser Hospital Building, Santa Rosa - Contact: Thora Lares: 707-765-4863
============================
10/10/2001, Wed. 7 - 9 pm - Alameda
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting,
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
============================
10/13/2001, Sat. 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Santa Clara
Choices, Changes & Challenges: Improving Work, Home and School
Interpersonal Relationships, The Kitty Petty ADD/LD Institute Sixth
Annual Symposium
Foothill Christian Center, Los Altos - Contact: Kitty Petty ADD/LD
Institute: 650-329-9443
www.kpinst.org
============================
10/16/2001, Tues. 7-9pm - Marin
Drop in Support Group, for Adults and Teens with ADHD and Significant Others
Marin Community Mental Health, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
10/17/2001, Wed. Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm - Santa Clara
Palo Alto Adult, Parent and Spouse Support Groups, Separate
peer-facilitated groups let you share struggles and strategies with
each other. Includes video.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Santa Clara Warmline: 650-949-5472
============================
10/18/2001, through 10/20/01 REGISTER NOW!
Communicating the Science of AD/HD: From Fiction to Fact, CHADD
Thirteenth Annual Conference on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder
Anaheim Marriot, Anaheim, CA - Contact: See Website:
www.chadd.org/conference.htm