Accessories

ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life
This book is a gift to adults with ADD. I have only read 2 chapters and it has already made a big difference in my life. As I read, I recognize myself on each page and then I get suggestions on how to better cope with different issues and situations.If nothing else, this book has given me hope. I strongly recommend it to any adult with ADD. It is a great tool.

These people know how ADD brains work
This book addresses the challenges that adults with ADD face every single Day. There is a section in each chapter called: Is this your history? It is if you:
1. Find that forgetfulness and lack of planning add to your daily stress;
2. Resort to making an impulsive decision just to get it over with;
3. Allow people or circumstances decide for you;
4. Let escape activities interfere with your responsibilities;
5. Tend to hyperfocus and lose track of time;
6. Live in crises, reacting to circumstances;
7. Thinks that everything is a "A" in your priority list;
8. Rarely step back to consider what really matters;
9. Have difficult to remember and follow future tasks;
10. Has a cluttered house, bedroom, or office.
You will find yourself in the stories related in this book and will find solutions for your problems. I did not give five stars because I do not agree with some "Level Three Solutions-Help from Professionals", but the book is good.

Authors speak from experience
These ladies clearly know first hand what it's like to live with ADD by any name. Their approach to the problem is easy to understand and effective in that it teaches you how to work within the limitations of this condition and play to it's positives. A very useful and practical approach.

Not that impressive or helpful
Too many books read like the author just copied articles on a subject and crammed them into a so-called book. This was one of those. There just wasn't any helpful information in it and I thought it was a waste of money.

Solutions, Not Just Analysis!
I've not read the entire book yet, but I already know this book will change my life. (No, it isn't a cure all. We all know there isn't one, though we secretly wish one could be found.)

I just finished reading Chapter 5, "ADD Decision Dilemmas". This chapter wonderfully describes problems I've always classified as "procrastination", but really aren't. I'm 40+ now and being introspective, I've really figured out some of my behavior patterns and partial reasoning for it, but this book really nails it. Not only will this book help you identify those behaviors earlier, it provides suggestions that will help you deal with it!

Being the typical ADDer, I couldn't just read the book cover to cover. I've been skipping around (and this book is wonderfully arranged so that you can). I loved the suggestion about having a few files with labels like "I can't believe I haven't called about this!" and other file titles determined by your reaction to the task. (Chapter 17, Fear of Filing) How lovely! I've started countless piles of "things I need to take care of, and soon", that end up just being shoved in with other junk so I can clear a space... Well, now I've got a new plan for that. I'm going to order the "filing crate on wheels" or similar, also from the book, so that I can create files like "take care of this or I'm screwed". Of course, I still have to work on getting to the 'taking care of it' part. But with better organization, the rest should be easier. I'm sure I'll find a good suggestion or two in the book.

I disagree to some extent with the reviewer that rated the book 3 stars because so many of the suggestions involve others. It is true, there are a lot of suggestions involving others. That isn't the book's weakness; That is just a fact of ADD and of life. Lets face it, having more people around to help us deal and remember is simply handy (especially if they don't also have ADD.) I'm single and live alone. Lots of these suggestions can be adapted. You can make use of helpful people that don't live with you. My sister visits from out of town from time to time, I have friends at work that are understanding, etc. Some suggestions may even be adaptable to remote interactions - telephone conversations and emails. As I read the book, I try to think of how these ideas could be adapted. Don't get me wrong, if another version came out with more suggestions targeted toward singles, I'd buy it again!

Bottom line - if you've struggled with organization/disorganization, get this book! Especially if other organizational books haven't helped you. After all, ADD, like everything, is a matter of degree. Besides, you don't have to be diagnosed with ADD to find techniques crucial to ADDers helpful.