Center of Attention
Newsletter of CHADD of Northern California
Also at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
5/13/2001

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

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

About the Newsletter
Please Tell Us
Feature Article
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 new step toward bringing the members closer together.

In this edition of the Center of Attention newsletter we have
included a letter from a AD/HD person with few economic resources as
our feature article. You can also read the newsletter and its
archives on our webpage: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter

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

We thank members for their responses to the Newsletter. In order to
give you the best newsletter, we need your feedback. Any comments,
suggestions, or criticisms will be greatly appreciated. Please tell
us what more would you like to see in the newsletter and how we can
improve it.

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

Also, please indicate if we can include your name in the newsletter,
in response to your suggestions.

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

Today's feature article is a letter that was forwarded to CHADD by
someone with limited resources who is concerned that his situation is
all too common. The writer is corresponding with an AD/HD doctors'
office. In order to maintain the anonymity and privacy of the writer,
we have edited the letter.

"I just received your letter outlining your office's services. When I
got the letter I was so excited, but my excitement turned to sadness
and disappointment when I got to the part where fees are involved.
I've been in this same exact spot time and time again where it seems
that only those individuals in our society that have money can afford
to get the help they need. Those that don't have money can only hope
and hold on for a miracle. I have no money right now, but this is
nothing new for me. I have been broke, going from one financial
crisis to another my whole entire adult life."

"I truly believe ADD has caused most, if not all, of my troubles. I
cannot hold a job. I am unable to manage my money. I withdraw and
isolate because I don't feel like I fit in anywhere. Some of the
words employers have used to describe me are: Disruptive,
confrontational, overly talkative, hostile, inappropriate behavior,
etc. It's not that I'm not smart enough, or responsible enough, or
that I don't try hard enough, because I give every ounce of effort
and strength that I can find within me to keep a job. I lose jobs
because I can't control my emotions, my conversations or my anger.
Ultimately, employers begin to fear for the safety and harmonious
relationships with their clients and co-workers, and I am asked to
leave."

"My IQ is probably relatively high. I am outgoing, articulate,
friendly, engaging, insightful, intuitive person, and I am generally
enjoyable to be around. Most of the time, that is. Since I lose jobs
on a regular basis, I am unable to make any plans for my life."

"A doctor diagnosed me with ADD back in 1994. I did not continue with
the treatment at that time, since my life was in a shambles and I did
not know which direction to take. Since that time I have continued
with the VA, receiving my meds for depression and more or less just
trying to hang on. Little has changed until the present time."

"I have spent 8 years or so in and around AA for an alcohol & drug
problem I used to have. I have been in dozens of churches, self-help
groups, multi-level marketing companies, different diets, and on and
on. I have borrowed money from every member of my family during
crises, which tend to happen on a regular basis. I have repeatedly
borrowed money from friends, but never the same ones, and sold
everything I owned to pay rent and survive. I have built it all back
up several times only to lose it all again and again. I don't know
for sure what has kept me from killing myself all these years."

"About a month ago a friend suggested I look into ADD, so I got on
the internet and found a veritable treasure trove of invaluable
information. The symptoms and case studies I've read are like reading
about my life. It's as if these writers and contributors knew me, but
of course they do not. I need help desperately, but I cannot at this
point afford it. It seems both ironic and sad to me that in order to
get help for ADD, I need to be able to stay employed long enough to
save up the money for treatment. And yet without the treatment, I
cannot hold a job. If this isn't a classic case of a 'Catch 22' I
don't know what is."

"To sum it all up, I don't know what my next step is going to be. I
have already joined CHADD and plan to get involved in meetings and
online discussion groups in the interim."

"If you know of any professionals in this field of study and
treatment that might be able to work with me for little or no money,
please let me know. I have no doubt in my mind that with the right
doctor, treatment plan, etc., I can and will someday be a valuable,
contributing member of society with a life that anyone could be proud
of."

Editor: We have a place on our web page for low fee or free services
for AD/HD and we are constantly trying to expand it. If you know of
any resources that might be helpful for others in financial stress,
please send them to us just by replying to this newsletter.

The web page is at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/PRL/lowfee.htm

== Calendar for the Next Four Weeks ==

5/15/2001, 7-9pm - Drop in Support Group, for Adults and Teens with
ADHD and Significant Others
Marin Community Mental Health, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
5/16/2001, Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm - 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
============================
5/21/2001, 7:30 - 9pm - San Francisco Adult Drop-In Support Group, If
you have questions about AD/HD, then this is where you should to
start.
CPMC California Campus, San Francisco - Contact: San Francisco
Warmline: 415-442-1944
============================
5/23/2001, 7-9pm - ADD and Your Medication - Dr. Richard Goldwasser,
CPMC Pacific Campus, San Francisco - Contact: San Francisco
Warmline: 415-442-1944
============================
5/23/2001, 9-10:30am - 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
============================
5/23/2001, 7:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Kitty Petty Institute Meeting -
"Ways You Can Enhance Your Socialization And Work-Place
Relationships,", Laura Hastings, MFT, has a private practice in Los
Altos where she conducts workshops for adults and small group
sessions for pre-teens, assisting them in ways to enjoy more
acceptable social interaction skills and behavior with renewed
confidence.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Kitty Petty Institute:
650-329-9443
============================
5/24/2001, 6-8:00 PM PST - Online - Barbara Ingersoll - ADHD and
Co-Morbid Disorders,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
5/24/2001, 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm - Yolo County Meeting, Speaker: Cass
Brown -- Coping Skills for Adults with ADHD.
There is a lending library for books and videos open at 7:15 pm
Woodland Library, Woodland - Contact: Yolo County CHADD: 530-750-3929
============================
6/6/2001, Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm - Speaker to be announced, "ADD and Nutrition"
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Santa Clara Warmline: 650-949-5472
============================
6/11/2001, 7-9pm - Ask the Doctor: Bipolar Disorders vs. AD/HD - Dr.
Po Wang, MD, Psychiatrist. Conjoint meeting with NAMI, DMDA and TARA.
, Learn about similarities and differences between bipolar disorder,
AD/HD, major depression and other disorders. Dr. Wang is doing
research at the Stanford University Bipolar Disorders Clinic. New
location and date this time only, in the conference room at Marin
General Hospital.
Marin General Hospital, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================