Comments on: Ty Pennington – ADHD Advocate http://www.addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/ A blog about Attention Deficit Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:12:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Anonymous http://www.addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/comment-page-1/#comment-326242 Anonymous Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:25:13 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/#comment-326242 It's great to suggest that we be "ADD/ADHD Advocates", but it's difficult to be an advocate when getting help for Adult ADD is so difficult. It is becomming tiresome visiting mental healthcare professionals year after year, using "talk therapy" and adderall, with no concrete help for methods of overcomming this problem. I can be very alert using adderall, but when I am working on a project that is "boring" or of little interest to me, I can STILL get lost for hours in my own thoughts, or on the Internet (like now). This is how I wound up becomming a "C" student in Highschool and College. My family rolls their eyes when I speak about ADD. My dad was only able to get through 2 years of college, and my brother didn't make it a semester. My sister, who also shows symptoms, has a son (16 years old) who was diagnosed, and she took him off medication. My mom, who absolutely has the symptoms, thinks that a "swift kick in the butt" is the answer. My wife, who has been very supportive, unfortunately is in the same boat as I am. No effective treatment or place to learn skills. I've visited 3 psychiatrists and 2 psychologists. So forgive me my skepticism, but I cannot help but feel that it's easier to keep "treating" or to become an "Advocate" than to come up with a solid set of skills that help to work towards a solution. It’s great to suggest that we be “ADD/ADHD Advocates”, but it’s difficult to be an advocate when getting help for Adult ADD is so difficult.

It is becomming tiresome visiting mental healthcare professionals year after year, using “talk therapy” and adderall, with no concrete help for methods of overcomming this problem.

I can be very alert using adderall, but when I am working on a project that is “boring” or of little interest to me, I can STILL get lost for hours in my own thoughts, or on the Internet (like now).

This is how I wound up becomming a “C” student in Highschool and College. My family rolls their eyes when I speak about ADD. My dad was only able to get through 2 years of college, and my brother didn’t make it a semester. My sister, who also shows symptoms, has a son (16 years old) who was diagnosed, and she took him off medication. My mom, who absolutely has the symptoms, thinks that a “swift kick in the butt” is the answer.

My wife, who has been very supportive, unfortunately is in the same boat as I am. No effective treatment or place to learn skills. I’ve visited 3 psychiatrists and 2 psychologists. So forgive me my skepticism, but I cannot help but feel that it’s easier to keep “treating” or to become an “Advocate” than to come up with a solid set of skills that help to work towards a solution.

]]> By: ADHD in Families | ADHD NEWSTODAY http://www.addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/comment-page-1/#comment-105473 ADHD in Families | ADHD NEWSTODAY Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:48:36 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/#comment-105473 [...] Ty Pennington – ADHD Advocate [...] [...] Ty Pennington – ADHD Advocate [...]

]]> By: ADHD in Families « ADHD NEWSTODAY http://www.addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/comment-page-1/#comment-105444 ADHD in Families « ADHD NEWSTODAY Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:29:11 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/#comment-105444 [...] Ty Pennington – ADHD Advocate [...] [...] Ty Pennington – ADHD Advocate [...]

]]> By: Susan Marinelli http://www.addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/comment-page-1/#comment-73377 Susan Marinelli Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:56:56 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/#comment-73377 I have a question. Is ADHD considered a medical condition or a psychiatric condition? I had always thought it was medical, but have been told it's psychiatric. Please let me know. Thanks. I have a question. Is ADHD considered a medical condition or a psychiatric condition? I had always thought it was medical, but have been told it’s psychiatric. Please let me know. Thanks.

]]> By: Lee Regan http://www.addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/comment-page-1/#comment-39117 Lee Regan Sat, 29 Sep 2007 03:35:15 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/#comment-39117 I would like to suggest a type of show - or event like the extreme makeover - but a make over for homes with ADD adults and /or children. My Brother, who is mildly ADD himself but doesn't acknowledge it - has two adopted boys ages 7 and 9 now who are extremely ADD/ADHD. Yes, They both are medicated. The issue is he and they need structure - he takes care of from getting them up to putting them to bed, he takes care of the house, his wife and pets, does the cooking and the grocery shopping as well as works full time , volunteers at his church and helps anyone he can. He needs help in having his house organized so it is not so much work. I visit once a year and see many things that can be done. I may bring up one or two ideas, but he just doesn't have the time and I feel anymore would only make him feel like he was being criticized. Heaven and I know he is a Saint. The towels are stacked 6 ft high from the floor... how are those two boys to get a towel without the whole stack coming down ? . unless everytime they want one someone has to get it for them. So there is my suggestion - a show were someone goes in and organizes a home affected by ADD. I would like to suggest a type of show – or event like the extreme makeover – but a make over for homes with ADD adults and /or children. My Brother, who is mildly ADD himself but doesn’t acknowledge it – has two adopted boys ages 7 and 9 now who are extremely ADD/ADHD. Yes, They both are medicated. The issue is
he and they need structure – he takes care of from getting them up to putting them to bed, he takes care of the house, his wife and pets, does the cooking and the grocery shopping as well as works full time , volunteers at his church and helps anyone he can. He needs help in having his house organized so it is not so much work. I visit once a year and see many things that can be done. I may bring up one or two ideas, but he just doesn’t have the time and I feel anymore would only make him feel like he was being criticized. Heaven and I know he is a Saint. The towels are stacked 6 ft high from the floor… how are those two boys to get a towel without the whole stack coming down ? . unless everytime they want one someone has to get it for them. So there is my suggestion – a show were someone goes in and organizes a home affected by ADD.

]]> By: Dr. Kenny Handelman http://www.addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/comment-page-1/#comment-7092 Dr. Kenny Handelman Sun, 17 Dec 2006 04:36:41 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/#comment-7092 Brendan, Thank you for sharing your thoughts. There is a tremendous amount of research showing that medication can help people with ADHD or ADD improve their lives signficantly. I suggest that you continue learning more about it - Ty Pennington is putting himself out there - to help many kids, teens and adults feel more comfortable to talk about their use of medicine for ADD or ADHD. I support Ty for being an advocate. Brendan,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
There is a tremendous amount of research showing that medication can help people with ADHD or ADD improve their lives signficantly.
I suggest that you continue learning more about it – Ty Pennington is putting himself out there – to help many kids, teens and adults feel more comfortable to talk about their use of medicine for ADD or ADHD.
I support Ty for being an advocate.

]]> By: Brendan http://www.addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/comment-page-1/#comment-6383 Brendan Fri, 15 Dec 2006 20:46:14 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/#comment-6383 I'm concerned. I've been doing research on AD\HD and I'm wondering how all of these professionals know for sure that lives are being saved by using amphetamines. Ty's story sounds to me like he was taking performance enhancing drugs in college to improve his grades. Something that should be frowned upon. Also, he may have turned out to be a good comedian if he'd just worked on his behavior instead of taking drugs to force him to listen to his mother; we're not fortune tellers. If slavery or segragation were still legal in the united states i'm sure there would be a lot more adults on amphetamines. I’m concerned. I’ve been doing research on AD\HD and I’m wondering how all of these professionals know for sure that lives are being saved by using amphetamines.

Ty’s story sounds to me like he was taking performance enhancing drugs in college to improve his grades. Something that should be frowned upon.

Also, he may have turned out to be a good comedian if he’d just worked on his behavior instead of taking drugs to force him to listen to his mother; we’re not fortune tellers.

If slavery or segragation were still legal in the united states i’m sure there would be a lot more adults on amphetamines.

]]> By: Dr. Kenny Handelman http://www.addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/comment-page-1/#comment-83 Dr. Kenny Handelman Tue, 19 Sep 2006 03:09:07 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/#comment-83 Hi Kurt, Regarding 6 types of ADHD, I believe that you are referring to<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=daniel%20amen&tag=adhdtelesemin-20&index=blended&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325" rel="nofollow">Dr. Amen</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=adhdtelesemin-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />'s work. Standard psychiatric diagnoses include the three types of ADHD - including the inattentive type, the hyperactive impulsive type and the combined type. Regarding diagnosis - really you need a professional to help out. In my experience, there are few family doctors who are comfortable diagnosing and treating, though they are out there. Even if you are able to 'self diagnose', you would need a doctor to write prescriptions. It is tricky if you don't have the insurance to get to a doctor (that's one of the reasons that I love our Canadian health care system), but you will need a proper diagnosis to go ahead and get treatment. Hi Kurt,
Regarding 6 types of ADHD, I believe that you are referring toDr. Amen‘s work.

Standard psychiatric diagnoses include the three types of ADHD – including the inattentive type, the hyperactive impulsive type and the combined type.

Regarding diagnosis – really you need a professional to help out. In my experience, there are few family doctors who are comfortable diagnosing and treating, though they are out there. Even if you are able to ‘self diagnose’, you would need a doctor to write prescriptions.

It is tricky if you don’t have the insurance to get to a doctor (that’s one of the reasons that I love our Canadian health care system), but you will need a proper diagnosis to go ahead and get treatment.

]]> By: kurt cashman http://www.addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/comment-page-1/#comment-80 kurt cashman Sat, 16 Sep 2006 17:09:57 +0000 http://addadhdblog.com/ty-pennington-adhd-advocate/#comment-80 Is there any list that match up ADHD traits, being that there is bascially 6 "types" of ADHD, with different types of medication that might work for them? I am a "multi-tasker" and exhibit traits that you had in your other blog. Become these symptoms of hyperactivity in adults: • Yes/ at least involve myself too much- Workaholic •Yes/ at times- Overscheduled/overwhelmed •When I'm on it's high intensity- Self-select very active job •Possibly- Constant activity leading to family tension •I am talkative, but to be descriptive- Talks excessively Become these symptoms of impulsivity in adults: •yes Low frustration tolerance •yes Quitting jobs •yes Ending relationships •yes Driving too fast •yes Losing temper •YES Addictive personality Is there anyway to self-diagnose and try out different medications? I don't really have the funds to go to a psychiatrist for help. Thanks, Kurt Is there any list that match up ADHD traits, being that there is bascially 6 “types” of ADHD, with different types of medication that might work for them? I am a “multi-tasker” and exhibit traits that you had in your other blog.

Become these symptoms of hyperactivity in adults:
• Yes/ at least involve myself too much- Workaholic
•Yes/ at times- Overscheduled/overwhelmed
•When I’m on it’s high intensity- Self-select very active job
•Possibly- Constant activity leading to family tension
•I am talkative, but to be descriptive- Talks excessively

Become these symptoms of impulsivity in adults:
•yes Low frustration tolerance
•yes Quitting jobs
•yes Ending relationships
•yes Driving too fast
•yes Losing temper
•YES Addictive personality

Is there anyway to self-diagnose and try out different medications? I don’t really have the funds to go to a psychiatrist for help.

Thanks, Kurt

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