Ever since my diagnosis in 1992 with Inattentive ADHD, I have focused on improving myself and helping others with this disorder. That was the lens I used—what’s wrong and how can I help?

It has happened so many times. Someone tells me he just can't get organized. He's not disciplined enough. She's too deeply buried in paper. He's not a very focused person. She is being pulled in too many directions. I can't. I can't. I can't.

There I was—on a seven-day cruise from Vancouver, BC to Seward, Alaska. We had a spacious, as far as that goes, cabin. The Holland American ship was beautiful. The food was outstanding. There was a fully equipped exercise room with classes you could attend. There were movies shown daily in a full–size theatre or you could borrow DVDs from their well-stocked library to watch in your room.

How do you prevent overload in your life? Can you see it coming? Do you know how many tasks you can juggle without coming apart at the seams?

Do you plan your time, and have a realistic idea of how long-planned tasks will take? Have you learned to be assertive in saying, "I'd love to, but I need to check my calendar first." What steps have you taken to prevent ADHD overload?

—Learn about ADHD—what it is and what it isn't—resources include books, ADHD magazines, reputable internet sites, conferences, and support groups.

—Have people in your immediate circle learn about ADHD along with you.

In November, after being incredibly busy with activities for the Inattentive ADHD Coalition, I felt down--not quite depressed, but I had the blues. I was at loose ends and thought, "Is this all life has to offer?" Initially, I thought I was just tired and needed some downtime, some time to recover. But slowly I realized I was feeling down because I wasn't engaged in an interesting, mind-stimulating activity.

We are still relying on research done years ago on white, hyperactive boys. There are few studies and fewer insights on girls and women. Likewise, children with inattentive ADHD (formerly called ADD) continue to fly under the radar. Why?

Is it really possible for someone with ADHD to “get stuff done” when one of our biggest challenges is procrastination? I have known about my inattentive ADHD for 30 years and think I know “best practices” for becoming all you can be as someone with ADHD, so I am surprised when I come across new, effective information.  Here’s a nutshell explanation of what I learned yesterday.

It’s human nature, I suppose, to focus more intently on our mistakes than we do on our successes. Little good ever comes of this, but it’s a psychological habit that’s hard to break. Last week, I realized how far I have come at my neighborhood book club meeting, of all places.

[When parents are concerned about their child taking medicine for their ADHD], I counter their concerns by worrying about the potential “side effects” of not taking the medication: namely, their children struggling to stay focused and getting frustrated when they couldn’t. After envisioning that scenario, the decision became far less difficult.

Invisible disabilities, or hidden disabilities, is an umbrella term to describe a whole spectrum of disabilities or challenges that are primarily neurological in nature. Individuals with invisible disabilities do not show any physical signs,

The Opposite of Happiness is Not Sadness. It’s Boredom

Strategy one is to run away from boredom as often as the situation allows. Being bored makes us feel sluggish, dull, not alive so we need to avoid it whenever possible. Here are some ideas on how to beat the boredom blues:

For some adults with ADHD, the disorder may not be perceived as wholly negative…

“My brain is an overstuffed garbage can the lid doesn’t stay on, and stuff is falling out all over the floor.” This is how my son describes what it is like to have ADHD.  When he was diagnosed, I thought I understood ADHD.  I was a published academic researcher with a Ph.D. in pharmacology who studied ADHD medications.  It turns out my background as a scientist did not prepare me for the challenges of being a mom to a son diagnosed with the inattentive subtype of ADHD. 

It is hard for many people with ADHD to get a good night’s sleep. Poor sleep causes serious problems with executive functions, the skills that help us be organized, focused, and efficient. There are many components to achieving a good night’s sleep.

The ADDitude Symptom Checker will guide you through a series of questions based on your primary concerns, and then compare your responses to symptoms of more than a dozen common psychological and learning conditions.

Because my husband and I spent countless hours wondering if certain behaviors could be controlled by our son with Inattentive ADHD, I found this excerpt from an ADDitude magazine to be essential reading.

Virtually all of the risks of ADHD come from not treating ADHD aggressively with a commitment to long-term management…..

For children, there is the Conners 3 Global Index (Conners 3GI) to measure improvement. These are forms your treating physician would supply to you and your child’s teachers to complete.

Years ago, Lynn Weiss, Ph.D. and author of numerous ADHD books said people with ADHD can do anything, they just have to figure out what works for them. After years of struggling to manage a household, I finally figured out ways that work for me.