Customer Reviews

Driven to Distraction (Revised): Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

2 years ago, I was diagnosed with Adult ADD, and this book helped to understand that I am not the only one with this problem. It provided me with a complete understanding of what Adult ADD is, and that medication is only a partial treatment for dealing with this problem.

A friend loaned me this book in hardcover, and I read the introduction, gave it back to her immediately and went out and bought my own copy. I wanted to underline like crazy, and didn't want to mark her book!

I was labeled a "space cadet" and "lazy" all through elementary school. I knew I was smart, but just couldn't complete ANYTHING. When as a mother, I searched to discover why my son was not succeeding in school, I learned about Attention Deficit Disorder.

I count it a family victory to finally know what the heck was going on with me,my son, and my over 70 year old father.

This book is an excellent resource for learning you are not alone, that there are strategies that can assist with coping, and then you can show the world how brilliant you really are! Hurray, for John Ratey and Ned Hallowell.

Maggie in Maryland

Whether lay public or professionals in the field, this is the best book you'll find on Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). I treat patients who have ADD; many come bearing a well-marked copy of this book to say they've found themselves in it. To the others, I routinely recommend they read it before we finalize the diagnosis or decide on treatment. The tone throughout is rigorously scientific yet informal, relatively free of jargon, approachable by anyone with a high school education, and very supportive to the sufferer without being patronizing. It contains no propaganda, a rare virtue in books about ADD. Although written by physicians (who themselves are sufferers), it does not shill for medication management at the expense of alternative treatments that have been scientifically validated as effective. This is the ideal book for sufferers and their families, for teachers and those who evaluate the learning problems of children and adults, and for all health care providers. For those who find it hard to read, another book by these authors, Answers to Distraction, is written in an easier, sound bite format. Both books are available on audiotape, often the best way for the ADDers to "read".

-Phil Torrance MD (Diplomate in Psychiatry)

I wanted to get this book for weeks before someone finally picked it up for me. Of course this is also one of the signs of ADD, procrastination. It is well written and easy to follow. I definitely reccomend it.

I am a 23 year old college who has ADD and this is one of the best books I have ever read. I found out I had ADD 2 years ago, and then found that most people knew very little about it. Even my doctor had little knowledge of what it is really like to live with this disorder every day. The author himself has ADD, and can accurately relate what it is like.

I found this book to be insightful, funny, and very informative. I was so absorbed in this book, I found myself reading 100+ pages in one sitting. When I was done reading, I was dismayed that there was no more to read.

Thanks to this book, I now have a better grasp on my disorder, and know about it than my doctor.

I read this book almost ten years ago when someone told me that they thought my son had ADD. We went to a doctor about and she gave him two choices; take Dexadrine or try to treat it through Nutrition. When I ask her how we could do it through Nutrition, the doctor did not have the answers. She told me I should go see a Nutritionist. My son, who was 17 yrs old at the time, decided to try the Dexadrine. I helped him focus but he couldn't sleep at night. He eventually decided to stop taking it because he didn't like the side effects.
I am now studying Holistic Nutrition and have learned how someone can help themselves through Nutrition. I wish I knew then, what I know now.
I really enjoying reading this book but am disappointed that the Doctor did not include a section on how to treat ADD Nutritional because these drugs have terrible side effects.
Deborah in Ajax, Ontario CANADA

If you've already been down the typical path with your child, namely: (1) Child has a problem in school, (2) Child fidgets in front of school "psychologist," (3) Referred to local pediatric physician, (4) received script for psychostimulants, and (5) started giving child the drugs, you'll like this book. It will make you feel good about yourself, your parenting style, and your decision.

At least give yourself the chance to see the other side of the story. You only have one child - read the book "Unraveling the ADD/ADHD Fiasco" by David B. Stein, Ph.D. If you are still convinced that the drug route is the way to go, follow the "1-2-3 Magic" types of parenting techniques (or have a "family meeting" and solicit input from your little child who has no tools to solve this problem), and when that doesn't work, administer the drugs.

OK - I've probably made some folks angry, and I'll concede that there are a relatively small percentage of children and adults that suffer from disorders (with symptoms like those attributed to ADD/ADHD) that are improved through these drugs, including Ritalin. But, keep in mind that in some schools 50% of the male childern are "ADHD" diagnosed and on Ritalin or similar drugs. No one in their right mind could possibly believe that 50% of children have something called ADD/ADHD that requires treatment with Schedule 2 drugs.

I'm not writing for those few percent that maybe have a real disease that is helped by drugs. I'm writing for the 95% of children who are on Ritalin and don't need to be. This book will lead you in a direction that your child doesn't necessarily need to go.

By the way, the book never mentions that Ritalin and similar medicines are "Schedule II" drugs, or what these are. As a parent, I hope you'll ask your doctor - or better still - do your own research on what Ritalin does in the body and its addictive and abuse potential.

Rebut this information if you wish, but I didn't see anything in this book expressing outrage over 33 - 50% of little children being forced to take addictive drugs because some counseler, teacher, parent and doctor didn't want to do some hard work and rule out that the child's behavior can possibly be remedied by something other than drugs.

The book mentions every conceivable cause or correlation with ADD so as to essentially signify "whatever you want to believe ADD is it is." Which shows you how phony psychological modeling and generalizations can be. Save your money. There is no science here. Instead there is indulgence in metaphor and platitudes and loose links. Where is the science?

When my daughter was diagnosed with ADHD last year, I bought this book. After thoroughly researching the subject of ADHD, I tire of the thesis that our children have minimal brain dysfunction. My child is fine now since she has been on good old cod liver oil every day. Remember the adage Fish is good for the brain. Well its great for the brain and ritalin isnt and never should be even recommended.