Adult ADHD and Addiction

It’s December and here are some notes from a one hour lecture I attended on line provided by Dr Tim Ayas, an addiction Psychiatrist. I was impressed by him and would definitely recommend him should the need arise. Definition provided: Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that includes a combination of persistent problems such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour. Studies have shown a strong connection between ADHD, drug use and alcoholism. ADHD is 5 times to ten times more common among adult alcoholics than it is in people without the condition - 25%. Treatment can be challenging because medication used can be also become habit forming. Dr Tim Ayas indicated that ADHD has to interfere with functioning or development and present itself before age 12. He suggested that the questions to ask clients is: How many phones have you lost in the past year? Are you able to meet deadlines? He stated that in France, one needs to be hospitalized before being diagnosed with ADHT. Comorbitities go up as time goes by, usually as more than one condition. Do not recommend marijuana (I never do) as it impairs cognition and motivation. It’s like putting fuel on fire. There are safer things to try such as anger management training; support. They can change their lives with medication. Treat heart burn. No fruit juice or pop or coffee within one hour of medication. Water is fine. When there is no medication taken, risk can increase for drug abuse which can rise 4 times, speeding increase to rise risk of trauma. With medication social interaction gets better. One should be re-assessed each year for medication use ( neural re-wiring). One may have one or two coffees a day, no energy drinks. Marijuana can cause psychotic state. I have just finished reading an interesting article about ADHD in psychology today. I shall share that another time.

Belated Happy Thanksgiving to my American neighbours and tid bits

Time is flying and it is difficult to find the brakes. I taped the New York Thanksgiving Parade and managed to watch five minutes of it. I want to spend sometime today preparing Christmas cards to give out this year and will be able to watch, if not too distracted. I love the Christmas season and it is definitely the best time of year for celebrations. My own gift to myself this year is to see Harry Potter at the theatre with front row seats. I got an invite to Niagara Falls to watch the Christmas show there but I won't be able to go. There is so much to do in my city but I am still quite aware that COVID is causing our hospitals to overflow and the strain it has on health care workers. The Ontario government has asked our Doctors and Nurses to step up and work more. My advice as a psychotherapist is don't. You are already working at maximum capacity and self care is paramount during this time. This is a systemic problem which has been going on for a very long time before COVID started. Individuals cannot take the burden and I provided you with an earlier blog which provided stats which health care workers had submitted. As for myself, self care is paramount. How can I take care of others if I am to be overwhelmed myself. When my Holy Terror died, I took time to mourn her and have increased my social time since. Mr Attitude is now getting all my attention and he loves that. However, I know he misses her terribly as well. He has no one to swat now. I was going to write at about one of the sessions I have been attending and still need to record as my hours. However, I have a small time frame before I work so I thought I would just share this. I haven't been writing about Putin still hurting the world, or North Korea playing with missles and China being stopped from Canada to spy here and bringing their police forces here and all the other stuff dictators do. We have our own pal, so stay home. I really don't like these guys. I will not buy anything from countries where there is dictatorship. The reason I have sort of stopped writing about them for awhile is because I don't want to add to suffering. People are so overwhelmed by what is happening in the world, that I don't want to add to that. I have so much information to pass on about the seminars and I promise that will soon be my agenda. Enjoy the festivities and be kind to those who need that kindness so much. It is amazing what a smile can do for someone who is feeling so alone. Christmas is difficult for many. Let's be generous if we can and if we can't gestures go a long way. Have a great weekend! What do you think?

Christmas is coming to town - This Christmas one free book of Hey Guy for all orders at www.silvaredigonda.ca

It is the Christmas season, so with every order of any book (ebooks excluded), I will throw in a copy of Hey Guy Buy Me. Regarding my new book, I have turned down all the offers I have had from Publishers to date. I learned from a neighbour who wants to publish her late husband's book (who was also my dear friend) that I have not been sending out enough. He and I never discussed the business side, only our love of reading and writing. ( I cannot shut down my practice to accomplish what she suggested). Christmas time is busy for my practice as is the entire winter so once I have the time to focus more on traditional publishing, I shall give it the attention it needs. More of that another time. Be a sport and buy a book. I don't care where you are in the world. I will reach you.

Eschatology notes continues

Rapture - Theory of people going to heaven and others staying. Ignatius - can be deceived by own ego. Marcel - Theology of Hope, related to Philosophy. John Macquarie (Western) 1. Individual vs cosmic/social (will overlap). 2. This worldly reality vs other worldly. Buddhist enlightenment - world does not end until all human suffering is over. 3. Evolutionary vs Revolutionary - compared to seed turning into great tree. Reign of God so contradictory it is going to be like a revolutionary. 4. Present vs Future Eschatology - End still lies ahead. Past - future/(Heaven - Earth). Part of our eschatology reality as Christians is we will never be completely home in this existence. But, at the same time, may have had moments. Eschatology is not just myth - grace is part of the creative - flight from authenticity - good - evil. God’s grace is victory over evil. Reality we are living now. Each of these poles has eschatology reality in the Christian life. The very cross is a tension. The struggle for authenticity is within me. Eschatology humanity is within me. Eschatology humanity is part of our reality. to be continued.

Eschatology continues (notes)

One third of Europeans believe in re-incarnation according to Lane. 1992. 1992 question in eschatology against re-incarnation. Response - It is better to talk about theories of re-incarnation - Hinduism; Genises. Eschatology - the last things. There is tension in eschatology - that tension is the cross. Escalation event of the end of the world. Death and Judgement. The last thing (Greek). Eschata/logy - theology, death, dying, eternal. Life, hell, purgatory. Some don’t believe in purgatory. Limbo - Church never taught there was a limbo. It was a theological hypothesis. Medical - can it explain transformation of experience. Second part - something happens when someone dies. Balvazar - causing a renewal interest of Hell. He states everyone will be saved. Eschatology ultimate goal - why am I here? What is the ultimate reason for being here? St Augustine - heart is restless. Tradition - rest in peace. Resting in the beauty of God. Tradition of dying - resting in peace can also think in terms of two dimensions of Eschatology: 1. Individual - what is going to happen? Why I die? Why am I here? 2. Collection: What is going to happen to us? Why are we here? Realm of human freedom - final judgement is absolute. Angels don’t have the luxury of making a distinction. We learn not to put hands on fire. Saint Paul - God is Judge; not us. Difference - fundamental option. Ignatius - have to retain human freedom to make absolute decisions of God. Speculation conditions of Purgatory - three options: heaven, rejecting God and not ready for heaven - more schooling. Eschatology = theology of Hope. Second Vatican Council did not deal with Eschatology in detail but did speak to it in communion of Saints and Church of modern world. Eastern religions - people don’t survive death. Christians we do. Buddhism - interconnectivity; Liberation theologian - I’m clearing my corner of the world. Rapture theory - of people going to heaven and others staying. To be continued this week.

Three Day Conference with AAMFT was amazing

It was an exhausting week, but well worth it. Now I want to put up my Christmas decorations before I miss Christmas because time is speeding by. One day I would like to attend a conference live in the States, but I still I have an old pet who needs me. As for my clients, the more I learn, the more I can offer them. The weather here went from warm to freezing in just a short time. Anyhow, I would like to continue with some theology notes as well this week. More soon......

♥ A Neuroscience Love Song ♥