About Me

Tacoma, WA, United States
I was the Executive Director of the national non-profit organization, Attention Deficit Disorder Resources, (addresources.org), for 15 years. I am well prepared to provide you with excellent coaching. I graduated from the International Coach Academy, a coaching school certified by the Inter-national Coach Federation and I have a Master's Degree in Social Work. Over the past 15 years, I have talked with numerous people about their ADHD concerns and have attended or presented at a number of ADHD workshops and conferences. I have lived, and eventually thrived, with ADHD which was diagnosed when I was 49. I am married and have three adult sons, two with ADHD. I live in Tacoma, WA although born and raised in a small New England town. I was in the Peace Corps, toured China in 1983 when it first opened to the outside world, and seen much of the United Staes, especially our beautiful national parks. My interests, beyond helping people with ADHD achieve their full potential, are playing brain games on the computer, reading, travel, bicycling, skiing and hiking.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Too Many Irons in the First

How do you prevent overload in your life? Can you see it coming? Do you have a good idea of how many tasks you can be successfully juggling without coming apart at the seams? Do you realistically plan your time, and have a realistic idea how long planned tasks will take? Have you learned to be assertive in saying, "I'd love to, but I'll need to check my calendar first." What steps have you been taking to prevent ADHD overload?

One trick I have for getting things done is to tell someone else what I am planning to do. But , last month, I got in over my head, giving myself too much to do. I managed, but I was irritable, forgetful, and more disorganized. It took me several weeks to recover my good spirits and enthusiasm for life. Too many irons in the fire is not the way to live a good life. Let coaching help you learn to prevent burn out by not putting too many irons in the fire.

Make a free call to Cynthia now at 253-238-0729 to discuss whether coaching is appropriate for you.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Finding the Right Balance

Do you ever feel your life is like a see saw--either too busy and overwhelming or too flat with nothing going on.? You are either going full bore ahead, getting yourself burned out, or you are wasting hours watching TV because you are too exhausted to attempt anything else? While we love the excitment of having lots going on, we dread the ennui that sets in when not much is happening and we start to wonder, "Is this all life has to offer?" People with ADHD will go to drastic measures to prevent boredom.

Dr. Hallowell says that people with ADHD need to have their minds engaged to feel alive.
But having too many irons in the fire can make us overwhelmed and irritable. Having too few, makes life flat and dull. We can't tolerate that flat feeling so we swing between overload and under load, trying to find the right balance. Do you want help in creating balance in your life?

Make a free call to Cynthia now at 253-238-0729 to discuss whether coaching is appropriate for you.

Do You Ever Feel Like Shouting, "I Hate Having ADHD!"

Do you ever have a day or event that slaps you right in the face with your ADHD? You have gone to the airport, but left your suitcase at home. You showed up at court for a speeding ticket, but went on the wrong day. You didn't change your clothes before starting on a craft project and now have ruined your good clothing.

"Why, oh why," you cry "do I have to be impulsive, distractible, hyperactive? " An occasional feeling like this is normal and to be expected, but if ADHD traits are getting you down day in and day out, something needs to be done.

How do you create the silver linings in your clouds? How do you change your behaviors so that your sadness about having ADHD and your belief that it is really holding you back rarely enter your mind. What changes can you make in your life so that the positives far out weigh the negatives? Coaches work with ADHD clients on issues such as these.

Make a free call to Cynthia now at 253-238-0729 to see if coaching is appropriate for you.

The Shifting Focus of ADHD

The shifting focus of ADHD reminds me of the shifting sands on the beach—in constant motion. At an ADDA conference, John Ratey, M.D. said the inability of people with ADHD to maintain focus is a key factor in their not improving, even after getting medicine.

I think we sometimes shift focus because we have lost interest in what we are doing, and our focus gets attracted to something more interesting. However, other times, I think we are interested and committed to what we are doing—get called away to do something else—and then just forget to return to what we were earlier so focused on and committed to.

It has often been said that it takes 30 days of practice to acquire a new behavior—and that for those with ADHD—it can take 60! What can you do to maintain your focus on acquiring the new habits and behaviors you wish to have? Coaching will help you maintain focus.

Make a free call to Cynthia now at 253-238-0729 to discuss whether coaching is appropriate for you.