Smart But Stuck

The Author ix

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction 1

1 ADHD and the emotional brain 7
A new understanding of ADHD and emotions; why emotions can be so troubling in the lives of those with ADHD; how the ADHD brain processes emotions differently; the influences of temperament and experiences on emotions and motivations.

2 Eric 43
âIâm in a great university where I want to do well, but I just canât get myself motivated to do the work. I did really well in high school; now my grade shave tanked. Iâve been spending too much time hanging out with my girlfriend and smoking weed. Iâve tried some ADHD medicines, but they make me too jittery.â

â"20-year-old university student

3 Karen 65
âMy parents always taught me that I have an obligation to behave and achieve in ways that would not bring shame on my family. When I failed out of college, they helped me prepare to try again. I wanted very much to do it, but on that critical day when I was supposed to start the last two courses I needed to get readmitted, I was too afraid to walk in the classroom door.â

â"22-year-old university student

4 Martin 81
âIâm in Mensa, but I earned no credits in my first two years at collegeâ"I was too baked to get myself to class. Now Iâm doing well in a few courses where the professors are really interesting, but I canât get started on writing papers and often skip class. With my miserable academic record, whatâs the use in my trying to graduate?â

â"23-year-old university student

5 Sarah 103
âIâve been married twenty-five years, have three great kids, and had a decent career as a journalist, but I just got fired because I couldnât prioritize and keep up with my work. Since menopause Iâve had trouble keeping track of things and getting work done. Iâve always had some trouble with these things, but itâs recently been getting worse.â

â"50-year-old homemaker and mother

6 Mike 119
âMy dad always said that Iâm smart but just lazy; maybe heâs right. I got put on academic probation, and now I have to drop out. Iâm always spacing out and canât get myself started on anything until the last minute. I tried my friendâs ADHD medicine and it helped alot, but my dad doesnât want me getting evaluated for ADHD because he says the meds are like steroids.â

â"21-year-old university student

7 Lisa 137
âOther kids donât seem to get my jokes and arenât interested in who I am. I try to make friends, but no one ever calls me back when I call them. I try to talk with my parents about it, but my dad doesnât understand kids and my momâs always yelling at me. ADHD meds help me get schoolwork done, but they donât help with social stuff.â

â"15-year-old high school student

8 Steve 155
âMy wife divorced me three months ago, and then a month later I got fired from my jobâ"both because of my ADHD! Meds help some, but not enough. I get stuck doing some things and donât get around to doing whatâs really important. I procrastinate, and everything takes me way too long. Iâm good at programming computers, but not at programming myself.â

â"32-year-old computer programmer

9 Sue 169
âUntil I got into middle school, I always got really good grades and never got into trouble. Now everybody thinks Iâm hopeless just because I dress Goth and donât do much homework. My parents and teachers all look down on me just because of the friends I hang out with. They donât really know me or my friends!â

â"14-year-old high school student

10 Matt 185
âWhen I was in high school, I had friends. When I got to college, I didnâtknow anyone and was too shy to make friends. I just kept to myself and almost never left my room except to go to class or get meals. I got pretty depressed, and after a while my sleep got messed up. Iâve stopped going to some of my classes.â

â"18-year-old college student

11 Lois 203
âI teach special education, so Iâve taught a lot of kids with ADHD, but never realized I have it. I have trouble organizing my stuff and finishing paperwork on time, and sometimes Iâm forgetful. I got through college and Iâve been teaching for ten years, but over the past year Iâve had a harder time, and those ADHD problems are getting worseâ"especially since difficulties at home began.â

â"37-year-old school teacher

12 James 219
âIf I donât finish four papers this month, Iâm going to be put on probation at school. I
just canât get myself to finish. Iâve had this problem for a long time, but now itâs worse than ever before. Iâve done the research for most of my papers, but I canât get myself past the first paragraph in any one of them. Iâm stuck!â

â"20-year-old college student

13 Getting Unstuck 235
How do the emotions of these teens and adults affect their education, work, family interactions, and social relationships? What treatments are useful for helping people with ADHD get unstuck from these difficulties? What can family members, friends, teachers, clinicians, and counselors do to help?

Questions for Discussion 243

Notes and Additional Reading 251

Index 267