Playdhd: Permission to Play…..a Prescription for Adults With ADHD.

There are many other books that can guide you to develop better habits and routines when it comes to managing ADHD with diet, medication, sleep, and exercise. This book will not tell you what to eat, whether you should take medications, how to develop better sleep habits, or how fantastic exercise is for you. Though I will present some of the basics, you will not learn the detailed science and research about ADHD in this book. There is no “cure” for ADHD, so there won’t be one in this book. Finally, if you’re looking for how to catch fish, that won’t be in here either. If you are an adult with ADHD, this book is your prescription to play. Other experts in the field may tell you to take a pill, get more rest, exercise, train your brain, or whatever else it takes to manage impulsivity, inattention, poor time management, lack of motivation, memory struggles, and other symptoms related to ADHD. But they might not talk much about how fun and play can have a substantial effect on how you manage your ADHD symptoms. ADHD is a serious problem. But your approach to it doesn’t have to be serious. This book focuses on how developing a more playful mindset and habit of engaging in playful activities can actually help you to manage your ADHD. After a lifetime of being urged to stop goofing off and to take things more seriously, I’m telling you that play is what you need to do to better manage your difficulties with attention. ADHD and Play—they’re a perfect marriage. Play is the antidote to the challenges of ADHD: interest, attention, and motivation. Among people with ADHD, I find those who are playful while at work are happier and more productive. The same can be said of people with ADHD who are more playful in their relationships. People who travel, try new things, go on adventures, and just have fun have more successful relationships. Yes, this is true for everyone, not just for people with ADHD. But the impact is even more profound for those with ADHD. As an adult there is a stigma about play. We’re trained to take things seriously, work hard, and not “goof off.” We are told to “grow up,” and if we smile in a tense situation we are reminded, “This is serious.” People with ADHD tend to feel even more pressure to be taken seriously. The words of adults repeating these mantras about the importance of being serious, working hard, and NOT playing so that we could “meet our potential” are lodged in our brains. It’s likely that you were never encouraged to play to meet your potential, much less to have fun in an effort to be more creative, happy, energetic, and productive. Enter Dr. Milliken—that’s me—stage right (as in the side of the brain that likes to play), telling the ADHD audience to forget those old messages and start PLAYING MORE!