Trauma seems like a large and discouraging topic. Let's break it down a bit. What you can do Many things contribute to making this a really hard issue to navigate. The stories can trigger emotions that lead away from the present moment, and raise many questions. It can be hard to share the information, and…
How do you go from habitual wallowing to being charged with purpose?
After a few years in recovery from neglected ADHD symptoms, I've begun to approach things in a different way. Critical junctures in the past, such as the moment I was accepted into a writing program. Before addressing the emotional dysregulation that cripples so many ADHDers, my memory of this moment would have been drenched in…
Taming the Bull: 30 Days of Atomic Essays
In May, I took up a challenge to write and publish thirty 250-word essays. Saturday, I published #1, missed the kickoff call, then read the instructions. ADHD. Why I did this - Reason 1 I signed up for this when I read Dickie Bush point out that writing a blog weekly is the worst possible way…
Three Questions
Psychologist Sheldon Solomon: 'Death Anxiety Makes Us Hate People Who Are Different' Two antidotes: Humility and gratitude. Every morning I write for an hour, expressing gratitude and cultivating curiosity. About twice a week, I clean out the toilet in our tiny house. That helps with the humility. This year, for lockdown, I began writing every…
Shut up: I’m Digging!
What is Trenchmind? A soul-infection chartacterized by gradual loss of joy and fluidity, especially in activities associated with growth, creativity, and fun. Signs: 1. Shut up, I'm digging. Trenchmind is easier for others to notice. When they do, it makes you bitchy. 2. This used to be fun. Exercising because it feels so good when…
How to Find an Illustrator for Your Book
I think my book Bull in a Candy Store is going to need illustrations. I know a few writers who’ve worked with graphic artists, but I have no idea how to find one. As a fan of James Altucher, I made a list of ways I could learn about this. Somewhere down the list was…
Penmanshit: Feed Your Brain Sips of Inspiration
“Daddy, say the thing.” My daughter had just turned 14. I was charmed that she remembered our birthday ritual. I turned to her and said “Part of you will always be 13.” BTW: I know this topic is all over the place, but I like this version. I will try it again sometime soon. Every ADHDer…
My first diagnosis
What it was like, What happened, then what it was like for a while What it was like In 1994, I was in the best physical condition of my life. Lean, aerobically fit, and reasonably limber. I had 5 years of sobriety and a solid recovery network of people I helped, and people who helped…
Anyone Missing From Your Kurzweil Panel?
Ray Kurzweil, who inspired the creation of the bots that will incorrectly flag this story as an AI article, uses a powerful thought exercise to improve his writing. I heard about this exercise from Tom, my emotional-support Canadian. Ok, he’s my ADHD Coach. I asked him for advice on how to ensure that my book…
ACE Score: an Oven Mitt for Childhood Trauma
A friend of mine asked about the term “High Ace Score” in my profile. ACE measures adverse childhood experiences (violence, abuse, neglect), which correlate numerically and unsurprisingly to a host of poor outcomes in adulthood - divorce, incarceration, COPD. Your ACE score can be a great tool. I think of it like an oven mitt…
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