Smart but Stuck: Emotions in Teens and Adults with ADHD

Smart but Stuck is the first book to explain and illustrate the crucial role of emotions in the daily functioning of those living with ADHD. Drawing on the latest research findings, the book describes strategies and treatments for getting "unstuck" to move on to a more rewarding and productive life.

Current diagnostic criteria for ADHD do not explicitly include problems with emotions, but many with ADHD have much difficulty with recognising, responding to, and managing their emotionsboth positive and negative. This book explains why many with ADHD struggle so much with emotions and what can be done about it.

Smart but Stuck offers a series of true stories about intelligent teens and adults who had got "stuck" in failures at school, work, or in getting along with friends and family because of their ADHD. It shows how they got unstuck by dealing with ups and downs of emotions they didnt know they had.

In this book you will meet and get to know a number of teens and adults including:

• Sue, who earned high grades until middle school, then lost motivation for schoolwork and became disorganised and oppositional in 9th grade, frustrating teachers and family while losing hope for herself.

• Mike, a college student who was put on academic probation. His dad always told him hes smart but just lazy, and now hes starting to believe it.

• Steve, a computer programmer whose ADHD struggles have led to him losing his job; and his wife. He's good at programming computers, but not at programming himself.

• Sarah, who's had trouble keeping track of things and getting work done since she hit menopause. She's puzzled, since she never had such a hard time when she was younger.

Table of Contents

The Author

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. ADHD and the emotional brain
• A new understanding of ADHD and emotions;
• why emotions can be so troubling in the lives of those with ADHD;
• how the ADHDbrain processes emotions differently;
• the influences of temperament and experiences on emotions and motivations.
2. Eric
• I'm in a great university where I want to do well, but I just cant get myself motivated to do the work. I did really well in high school; now my grades have tanked. I've been spending too much time hanging out with my girlfriend and smoking weed. I've tried some ADHD medicines, but they make me too jittery.
• 20-year-old university student
3. Karen
• My parents always taught me that I have an obligation to behave and achieve in ways that would not bring shame on my family. When I failed out of college, they helped me prepare to try again. I wanted very much to do it, but on that critical day when I was supposed to start the last two courses I needed to get readmitted, I was too afraid to walk in the classroom door.
• 22-year-old university student
4. Martin
• I'm in Mensa, but I earned no credits in my first two years at college I was too baked to get myself to class. Now I'm doing well in a few courses where the professors are really interesting, but I can't get started on writing papers and often skip class. . . .With my miserable academic record, what's the use in my trying to graduate?
• 23-year-old university student
5. Sarah
• I've been married twenty-five years, have three great kids, and had a decent career as a journalist, but I just got fired because I couldn't prioritize and keep up with my work. Since menopause I've had trouble keeping track of things and getting work done. I've always had some trouble with these things, but its recently been getting worse.
• 50-year-old homemaker and mother
6. Mike
• My dad always said that I'm smart but just lazy; maybe he's right. I got put on academic probation, and now I have to drop out. I'm always spacing out and cant get myself started on anything until the last minute. I tried my friend's ADHD medicine and it helped a lot, but my dad doesn't want me getting evaluated for ADHD because he says the meds are like steroids.
• 21-year-old university student
7. Lisa
• Other kids don't seem to get my jokes and aren't interested in who I am. I try to make friends, but no one ever calls me back when I call them. I try to talk with my parents about it, but my dad doesn't understand kids and my moms always yelling at me. ADHD meds help me get schoolwork done, but they don't help with social stuff.
• 15-year-old high school student
8. Steve
• My wife divorced me three months ago, and then a month later I got fired from my job - both because of my ADHD! Meds help some, but not enough. I get stuck doing some things and don't get around to doing what's really important. I procrastinate, and everything takes me way too long. I'm good at programming computers, but not at programming myself.
• 32-year-old computer programmer
9. Sue
• Until I got into middle school, I always got really good grades and never got into trouble. Now everybody thinks I'm hopeless just because I dress Goth and don't do much homework. My parents and teachers all look down on me just because of the friends I hang out with. They don't really know me or my friends!
• 14-year-old high school student
10. Matt
• When I was in high school, I had friends. When I got to college, I didn't know anyone and was too shy to make friends. I just kept to myself and almost never left my room except to go to class or get meals. I got pretty depressed, and after a while my sleep got messed up. I've stopped going to some of my classes.
• 18-year-old college student
11. Lois
• I teach special education, so I've taught a lot of kids with ADHD, but never realized I have it. I have trouble organizing my stuff and finishing paperwork on time, and sometimes I'm forgetful. I got through college and I've been teaching for ten years, but over the past year I've had a 'harder time, and those ADHD problems are getting worse - especially since difficulties at home began.
• 37-year-old school teacher
12. James
• If I don't finish four papers this month, I'm going to be put on probation at school. I just cant get myself to finish. I've had this problem for a long time, but now its worse than ever before. I've done the research for most of my papers, but I cant get myself past the first paragraph in any one of them. I'm stuck!
• 20-year-old college student
13. Getting Unstuck
• How do the emotions of these teens and adults affect their education, work, family interactions, and social relationships?
• What treatments are useful for helping people with ADHD get unstuck from these difficulties?
• What can family members, friends, teachers, clinicians, and counselors do to help?

Questions for Discussion

Notes and Additional Reading

Index

"Clearly written, rich in detail, and full of helpful advice, this book will be beneficial to anyone with ADHD and to those who struggle to live with, understand, and help them."
- Russell A. Barkley, PhD, clinical professor, Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina; author, Taking Charge of ADHD and Taking Charge of Adult ADHD

"This book, reflecting Dr. BrownÕs 35 years of clinical practice combined with the latest findings from affective neuroscience, is a must-read for anyone who is interested in ADHD."
- James J. Gross, PhD, professor, psychology, Stanford University; editor, Handbook of Emotion Regulation

"Dr. Brown introduces a forgotten piece in the life of those suffering from ADHDÑthe role of emotions."
- Luis Augusto Rohde, MD, PhD, president, World Federation of ADHD; professor,psychiatry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.