Taking Charge of Adult ADHD: Proven Strategies to Succeed at Work, at Home, and in Relationships

by Russell A. Barkley PhD, ABPP, ABCN, Christine M. Benton (Contribution by)

Overview

If you're among the millions of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you need the latest facts about the disorder and its treatment. You need practical strategies to help develop your strengths and achieve your goals, whether on the job, in family relationships, or in personal pursuits. From renowned ADHD researcher/clinician Russell A. Barkley, this is the book for you. Dr. Barkley takes you through the process of seeking professional help, addresses frequently asked questions about medications and other treatments, and offers a wealth of advice and tips—all science-based. Featuring the latest resources and medication facts, the revised and updated second edition includes new or expanded discussions of mindfulness, emotional self-control, time management, building a successful career, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and more. Finally, an authoritative one-stop resource to help you take back your life from ADHD.

Mental health professionals, see also Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adult ADHD: Targeting Executive Dysfunction, by Mary V. Solanto.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781462546855
Publisher:	Guilford Publications, Inc.
Publication date:	11/03/2021
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	294
Sales rank:	21,215
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Russell A. Barkley, PhD, ABPP, ABCN, before retiring in 2021, served on the faculties of the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, the Medical University of South Carolina, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Barkley has worked with children, adolescents, and families since the 1970s and is the author of numerous bestselling books for both professionals and the public, including Taking Charge of ADHD and Your Defiant Child. He has also published six assessment scales and more than 300 scientific articles and book chapters on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, executive functioning, and childhood defiance. A frequent conference presenter and speaker who is widely cited in the national media, Dr. Barkley is past president of the Section on Clinical Child Psychology (the former Division 12) of the American Psychological Association (APA), and of the International Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology. He is a recipient of awards from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the APA, among other honors. His website is www.russellbarkley.org.

Christine M. Benton is a Chicago-based writer and editor.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Step One. To Get Started, Get Evaluated
1. Is It Possible That You Have ADHD?
2. Can You Handle the Problem on Your Own?
3. Where Can You Go to Get Help?
4. What Do You Need for the Evaluation?
5. What Will the Evaluation Tell You?
Step Two. Change Your Mindset: Know and Own Your ADHD
6. Know Your ADHD
7. Resisting Impulses: The First Step in Self-Control
8. Self-Control: How to Get What You Want
9. Executive Functions: The Abilities That Make Up Self-Control…and More
10. The Nature of ADHD and How You Can Master It
11. Own Your ADHD
Step Three. Change Your Brain: Medications for Mastering ADHD
12. Why It Makes Sense to Try Medication
13. The Stimulants
14. The Nonstimulants
15. What to Expect from Treatment
Step Four. Change Your Life: Everyday Rules for Success
16. Rule 1: Stop the Action!
17. Rule 2: See the Past…and Then the Future
18. Rule 3: Say the Past…and Then the Future
19. Rule 4: Externalize Key Information
20. Rule 5: Feel the Future
21. Rule 6: Break It Down…and Make It Matter
22. Rule 7: Make Problems External, Physical, and Manual
23. Rule 8: Have a Sense of Humor!
Step Five. Change Your Situation: Mastering ADHD in Specific Areas of Your Life
24. Education
25. Work
26. Money
27. Relationships
28. Driving, Health, and Lifestyle Risks
29. Other Mental and Emotional Problems
30. Drugs and Crime
Appendix: A Closer Look at ADHD Symptoms
Resources
Index
 

Editorial Reviews

"Powerful and essential! Your health, happiness, and future have long been a paramount concern to Dr. Barkley. Here he shares step-by-step guidance to get you where you want to be. Dr. Barkley's clear, compassionate voice makes you feel like you're in a private conversation with him. This updated second edition is worth its weight in gold."—Gina Pera, author of Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.?

"The first edition of this book was excellent; the second edition is even better! Dr. Barkley is a foremost researcher who helps you understand and cope with impairments while also developing your strengths. He provides not only practical guidance about treatment, but also strategies to avoid difficulties in education, work, relationships, money management, and health. Dr. Barkley shares his genuine empathy and personal insights into the challenges ADHD poses. This book is a valuable resource for adults with ADHD and all those who love and care for them."—Thomas E. Brown, PhD, author of Smart but Stuck: Emotions in Teens and Adults with ADHD

"The second edition of this wonderful book offers an insightful, fact-based description of how to obtain an accurate diagnosis and find appropriate help. Information is presented in a clear manner that will be helpful in guiding you through treatment. This book has earned its place as a mainstay reference."—Lenard A. Adler, MD, author of Scattered Minds

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Charla Sue Waxman, BS, MBA, EdD (Lake Behavioral Hospital)
Description: This second edition book, originally published in 2010, is organized with illustrations, pertinent information in bold, and step-by-step modules for active engagement with materials and ideas - just what someone with ADHD could use. Divided into noteworthy sections, and a "stop anywhere" format, this book is an easy read covering a complex topic: adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The book presents up-to-date facts combined with strategies for living successfully with ADHD as an adult.
Purpose: The author indicates his goal is to serve those of "us," who number in the millions, living with ADHD. He makes clear that he will do this by providing the most up-to-date information, practical strategies, and ideas for the very best in treatment of this disorder. Those who have worked in the field of mental health and have seen how impactful ADHD can be at work, home, and in relationships, or those with a family member experiencing the behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes/stigma that characterize ADHD know how important these objectives are. This book aptly meets its objectives on many levels: format and style, information, activities, and hope for living successfully.
Audience: According to his biography, the author is internationally known for his long-standing efforts in the field of ADHD. As an educator of both professionals and laypersons on the topic and as a professor of psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, he is well-qualified to inform the readers on this topic. Page 1 of the book provides an introduction and invitation to read the book if you have been diagnosed with ADHD, you were diagnosed as a child, you have signs or symptoms of the disorder (i.e., trouble concentrating, organizing, or problem solving), and/or you want strategies to help you be more successful in managing and understanding symptoms of ADHD. I disagree with the author's target audience - even those with no personal concern for ADHD should read this book. It will increase awareness of clandestine clues to behaviors of both friends and family, reduce stigma-oriented thinking, and help readers help others.
Features: Let's start here: the only shortcoming of this second edition is that the book cover is boring. The first edition cover was cheerful in color and had much more of an appeal to "pick up and read." That being said, the rest of this book is outstanding. The activities are thought-provoking and could create some interesting, life-changing discussions with family or therapists. I recommend taking this book to therapy appointments and using it as an impetus for discussion and strategy work. It could also successfully be used to share with teenage children or a spouse to help a family understand the depth of this disorder. Many chapters are sprinkled with things to do or facts about ADHD. For instance, chapter 16 has a bold opening and framed area that tells readers that Rule One ("Stop the Action") will help buy you time before you respond, while another framed section tells readers to think about how impulsivity may have harmed them. The concepts of work, school, and relationships are highlighted and provide resource ideas as well. The format and style of this book make it very readable, enjoyable, informative, and easy to remember. This is a hope-filled look at adult ADHD.
Assessment: This book is a valuable tool for the layperson and professional alike. The layout of the book is brilliant, making it easy to read and just what someone who may struggle with ADHD would need. This includes revisiting chapters for a review or providing a reminder of what has just been read. What a clever way to show the author knows his stuff! I encourage everyone to read a copy. It will improve your knowledge of behavior in general.

Doody's Review Service

"Barkley knows what works." (on the first edition)

ADDitude