Center of Attention
Newsletter of CHADD of Northern California
Also at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
6 January 2002

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

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

About the Newsletter
Calendar of Events
Feature Article: ADHD - Not Just For Kids Anymore
This Week: 4 ADHD Friendly Recipes
Please Tell Us

===== 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.

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

1/8/2002, Tues. 7-9pm - Marin
Couples and ADHD - Lisa Csaklos, MFT, Learn some practical ways to
improve your relationship. Lisa is a psychotherapist who has been
working with ADHD for more than 11 years. She has a private practice
in Kentfield and San Francisco. 415-460-9500.
Town Center Corte Madera Community Room, Corte Madera - Contact:
Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
1/9/2002, Wed. 7 - 9 pm - Alameda
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting,
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
============================
1/14/2002, Mon. 7 pm to 9 pm - Humboldt - Mendocino
Meeting,
Redway School Family Resource Center, Redway - Contact: Lori Vella:
707-247-3702
============================
1/15/2002, 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
============================
1/16/2002, Wed. Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm - Santa Clara
Mark Steinberg, PhD, How Biofeedback can lessen ADD
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Silicon Valley Warmline:
650-949-5472
============================
1/23/2002, Wed. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Clare Jones, PhD - The Ins and Outs of Educating the ADHD Student,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
1/23/2002, Wed. 9:30-11:30am - Marin
Support Group for Parents of Children / Teens with ADHD, Share your
concerns with a parent who really understands.
30 Catalpa Ave., Mill Valley - Contact: Victoria Vogel: 415-383-6048
============================
1/23/2002, Wed. 7:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Santa Clara
Kitty Petty ADD/LD Institute Meeting, The Differences between ADHD,
Depression and Anxiety - Emily Harris, PhD
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Kitty Petty ADD/LD
Institute: 650-329-9443

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

The following article was reproduced with permission from the ADHD
Consults website at www.ADDconsults.com, with kind permission from
Terry Matlen, MSW, ACSW.

ADHD: Not Just For Kids Anymore

Up until the mid 1980's, it was widely believed by physicians and
psychologists that ADHD was outgrown by the time a child hit
adolescence.

Surprise!

Though many clinicians still hold on to this belief, it is now
accepted by many in the medical community that childhood ADHD does
indeed continue into adulthood. As a matter of fact, the DSM-IV, the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, describes just
that.

Hyper Henry Hawkins in 4th grade, who was unable to sit still in Mrs.
Jones' homeroom, became Mr. Hawkins, who at age 35, is unable to sit
through business meetings. His legs kick under the table while his
eyes dart around at the different posters on the wall. The doodles on
his notepaper keep his fingers busy. And...he doesn't hear a word the
presenter is saying.

Yes, ADHD is alive and well, living in adult bodies.

It is estimated that between 3-5% of all children suffer from
attention deficit disorder. But what happens when these children grow
up? Some are lucky enough to have learned to compensate for their
poor attention span, impulsivity and distractibility by finding a
good career match. Others married spouses who have been able to help
structure their home lives.

And yet others are still struggling, trying to figure out why they
cannot seem to work up to their potential. Worse, many adults with
undiagnosed ADHD find themselves living a life of shame, poor self
esteem, and worse.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I MIGHT HAVE ADHD?

All adults have *some* symptoms of ADHD. Some of these are:
Distractibility
Impulsivity
Inattention
Difficulty staying on task
Having many projects going on at one time and rarely completing any of them
Irritability
Difficulty falling asleep and difficulty waking up
...but when an adult has a significant amount of symptoms that impair
his daily living, then he may indeed have attention deficit disorder.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE MANY ADHD SYMPTOMS?

Read, read...and read some more. ADHD can mimic other disorders, like
depression, anxiety, and some medical problems like hypothyroidism.
And ADHD can co-exist with other disorders. If after your reading you
still wonder if you may, indeed, have ADHD, then you may want to
consider going for an evaluation.

WHO SHOULD I GO TO FOR AN EVALUATION?

First, check with your medical doctor to make sure you aren't having
ADHD symptoms due to a medical problem. Talk to him/her about the
possibility of ADHD. Chances are, he may not know enough about it to
offer a diagnosis. Therefore, consider going to a mental health
clinician who has done extensive work with adult ADHD.

HOW DO I FIND AN ADHD EXPERT?

There are two major organizations that focus on ADHD.

National ADDA (National Attention Deficit Disorder Assoc.) can help
you get the information you need. Their focus is on supporting and
educating young adults, adults and families with ADHD.

CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD) is another excellent resource.
Both organizations can point you in the right direction for helping
you find an ADHD specialist. Also, consider contacting your closest
teaching hospital and see if they have an ADHD clinic. If not, check
with their department of psychology or psychiatry for names of
clinicians in your area.

OK, I'VE BEEN DIAGNOSED. NOW WHAT?

Find a support group! Read some more about this disorder! ADHD is
certainly not a death sentence. Treatment can be very successful.
Some people go
through a period of sadness, even depression, thinking about the
"lost years" of not knowing what it was that stopped them from moving
ahead in life. Others are ecstatic that they now have the answer to
what had been a roadblock for them.

For many, short term counseling is very helpful in putting things in
perspective. One may need to go through a process of grieving, even,
to get to the point of then moving ahead.

ADHD Coaching, too, is a wonderful way to help an ADHD adult get on
track with their daily lives.

Many benefit from medications that help a person to attend,
concentrate, and stay focused. Many of my clients, once treated for
their ADHD, are astounded that they can read an entire book for the
first time in their lives.

For all the Hyper Henrys in this world, there IS hope!

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

Here are 4 ADHD Friendly Recipes, also from www.ADHDconsults.com

Contributed by: Terry Matlen
---------------------------------
1. 15 Minute Turkey and Rice Dinner
Ready In: 15 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 tsp. each paprika and pepper
2 cups uncooked Minute White Rice
2 cups cooked turkey or chicken
2 cups cooked vegetables (carrots, green beans, peas)

Directions:
Mix soup, water, paprika and pepper in skillet. Heat to a boil.
Stir in rice, turkey and vegetables.
Cook over low heat 5 min. or until done.
---------------------------------
2. 5 Minute Burrito Wraps
Ready In: 15 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients:
1 can (11 1/4 ounces) Campbell's Condensed Fiesta
Chili Beef Soup
6 flour tortillas (8-inch)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Directions:
Spoon 2 tablespoons soup down center of each tortilla.
Top with cheese.
Fold tortilla around filling.
Place seam-side down on microwave-safe plate and microwave on High 2
minutes or until hot.
---------------------------------
3. Easy Tuna Dinner

Ready In: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
1 package (10 oz.) frozen peas
1-1/4 cups water
1 can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
1 can tuna (drained and flaked)
1 chicken bouillon cube
1/4 tsp. pepper
1-1/2 cup Minute rice

Directions:
Bring peas, water, soup, tuna, bouillon cube and pepper to full boil in a
large saucepan.
Stir in rice.
Cover; remove from heat.
Let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with fork.
---------------------------------
4. Easy Fettuccine Alfredo
Ready In: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:
8 ounces fettuccine
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup evaporated skim milk
1/3 cup fresh Parmesan cheese, shredded
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
juice from 1/2 of a lemon
dash ground black pepper
additional fresh parmesan cheese, shredded
fresh basil

Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; immediately return to
pan.
Add olive oil; toss to coat.
Add evaporated milk, 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, dried basil, lemon juice,
and pepper.
Cook over medium-high heat until bubbly, stirring constantly.
Top with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

===== 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.