Have you read a number of books about ADHD and they didn’t work? Did you know there are over 6,000 ADHD books on Amazon.com; which one should you read first? Don’t you wish someone would tell you the top three books you should read when you are diagnosed with ADHD?
We can tell you some books we’ve found helpful, but we also want you to know why coaching may be a better alternative to ADHD self help strategies, books, blogs or tip sheets.
- The ADHD brain isn’t wired for self-help. A hallmark of ADHD is inconsistency. One day you can stay on track just fine and the next day you fall short. For example, you don’t turn in assignments late because you are lazy. You miss assignments because your brain is wired for distraction.
- People with ADHD usually already know what they need to do; they just have trouble getting it done. Brain research shows that “what to do” resides in the back of the brain, while “getting it done” is in the front where ADHD brains are weaker. When staying focused and on track is the problem, self-help books fail because they don’t provide the support you need to work with this weaknesses.
- ADHD symptoms are different for different people: that’s why it’s called AD/HD, ADD and ADHD. Scientists are still figuring out the different ways ADHD manifests in different people. You don’t need to know all of that, what you need is a program tailor made for you.
An ADHD coach is your brain’s personal trainer
You already know how a personal trainer can take your workout to the next level. They help you develop your workout plan, encourage you to push yourself and hold you accountable to show up!
Skills are teachable and need to be built from the ground up. An ADHD coach provides you with the support to explore your strengths and weaknesses, identify areas you need to develop, outline a plan of attack, give you feedback as you practice new skills, and hold you accountable to your goals.
Still want to read a book? Here are a few we recommend. But we also hope you’ll give ADHD coaching a try. In just a few months you’ll have learned new skills and strategies that will benefit you for a lifetime!
ADHD Self Help Book List
Books for readers seeking to understand ADHD
- Driven To Distraction : Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood, Edward Hallowell & John Ratey, 1994
- Answers to Distraction, Edward Hallowell & John Ratey
- Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults (Yale University Press Health & Wellness), Thomas Brown, 2005
Books for students with ADHD
- Empowering Youth with ADHD: Your Guide to Coaching Adolescents and Young Adults for Coaches, Parents, and Professionals, Jodi Sleeper-Triplett, 2010
- Coaching College Students with AD/HD : Issues and Answers, Patricia Quinn, Nancy Ratey and Theresa Maitland, 2000
- Learning Outside The Lines: Two Ivy League Students With Learning Disabilities And ADHD Give You The Tools, Jonathan Mooney & David Cole, 2000
- Survival Guide for College Students with ADHD or LD, Kathleen Nadeau, 2006
- Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, John Ratey with Eric Hagerman, 2008
- Making the Grade With ADD: A Student’s Guide to Succeeding in College With Attention Deficit Disorder, Stephanie Moulton Sarkis, 2008
Books for parents of ADHD teens and college student
- Your Defiant Teen: 10 Steps to Resolve Conflict and Rebuild Your Relationship, Russell Barkley & Arthur Robin, 2008
- Help4ADD@High School, Kathleen Nadeau, 1998
- ADD and the College Student: A Guide for High School and College Students with Attention Deficit Disorder, Patricia Quinn, 2001
- Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools You Should Know About Even If You’re Not a Straight-A Student, Lauren Pope, 2000
MrsOgg
Any suggestions for adults (non-student) with ADHD? Also, maybe it’s just me but, if you’re saying that follow-through and consistency is so hard that we can’t get through a book then how can we keep up with what we learn from the coach? Based on what you said it almost sounds like you would need a coach for life. Also, I can’t find a support group or therapist who specializes in ADD/ADHD in my area let alone a coach. What do you suggest? Is online ADD/ADHD coaching ever covered by insurance? Cost is a big issue for me as a SAHM. Thanks!
Peggy -- Edge blogger
They keys to coaching is insight and accountability. A coach is very helpful when you need someone to help you gain personal insight into your strengths and weaknesses and hold you personally accountable for sticking to your goals for personal change. They are especially helpful for students in the phase that they are breaking away from their parents but are learning to develop their inner compass. Coaches are also helpful for adults when transitioning to new phases in life or when you find yourself stuck in bad habits. A coach can help you reinforce your new habits until you have integrated them into your daily life.
While coaching isn’t covered by insurance, it is typically something that is done for a much shorter term than therapy. When you are motivated, many people are able to learn life-long skills in just a year’s time. Many adults find that a close friend can help with accountability the same as a coach. Just like you have an exercise partner to hold you accountable for getting out there and doing it, you can ask a friend to check in with you about your personal goals.
Thanks for stopping by and good luck.