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Sound like you? Then you’ve come to the right place.
You won’t feel alone or lazy or stupid at the Affinity Center. That’s because we talk to you and what you have to say matters! Many of us have AD/HD, so we remember what school was like and understand how it feels inside your head – and outside, too.
We’ve put together a short checklist below that can help you evaluate various symptoms associated with AD/HD as well as gain more self-awareness about this neurological condition. BUT, please don’t use it for self-diagnosis. Lots of things can cause similar symptoms. To get an accurate diagnosis for AD/HD, you need to see one a professional who knows AD/HD and get a multi-factored evaluation. If you come to Affinity, that means you’ll have a structured interview with a therapist who has expertise in diagnosing AD/HD, take some tests, meet with one of our doctors, and talk with our educational consultant about what goes on at school and at home when you try to do homework and study.
Our goal is to get to know YOU and work with YOU to find the best way to help you manage your AD/HD, be it through medicine, neuro-feedback, coaching or whatever you feel comfortable trying. Whatever your questions or concerns may be, we will do our best to answer them in a confidential setting.
Still not sure …Call us and we will be glad to spend some time on the phone, free of charge, and answer your questions.
Remember: AD/HD is about so much more than paying attention. We’re here to help great people do great things!
About that medicine…
Do you now or have you ever taken medicine for AD/HD and feel the following things:
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I feel tired.
I feel weird.
My friends think I’m boring now.
I can’t eat.
I get a stomach ache
I feel paranoid.
I can read now, but I can’t remember what I read.
I don’t think I drive as well on medicine.
I can’t have sex.
It makes me feel different
I just don’t like taking medicine, it’s not natural.
My girl/boyfriend doesn’t like me on the medicine.
I feel stupid on my medicine.
My medicine makes me dizzy.
My medicine makes me sleepy.
I can’t remember to take it
My sleep is worse
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Contrary to what you may have heard there is no reason to feel badly on medicine for AD/HD. We know how to do medicine at Affinity.
If you have any of these, or other side effects when you are, or have been on medicine for AD/HD, we’ve got some answers for you.
Teen Marijuana Group
Most of us, at some time during our life, enjoy the prospect of playing with our brain. Some say ADD’ers enjoy this more than others. Current research says there is little difference in the drug of choice between the ADD’er and their “normal” counterpart. I do not know if it was my coming of age in the late 60s, or my AD/HD, but in college, when I discovered marijuana, a light seemed to go on in my head, that said, “Aha, this is what I’ve been waiting for”. I felt relaxed, yet focused, and with no side effects….or so I thought.
Who could ask for more? Of course, my already poor cognitive skills worsened, and finally, I became profoundly depressed, during which time I began a process of examining every reason I could think of to have caused this, except of course one, my Marijuana use. At the urging of a friend, I decided to stop “smoking” for a while and see what happened. Much to my dismay, I became less depressed. I smoked again, the depression returned almost immediately, I quit again, and it went away. I repeated this several times over the next few years, always with the same results. In those days, my perfect “drug” was both socially acceptable and politically correct, but a disaster for me. It would not be until 20 years later that I began to understand the AD/HD brain and its attraction to Marijuana.
At Affinity, we are very honest with clients about our awareness of the appeal of these “wonder drugs”. In turn, people usually seem very honest with us when discussing their own drug-related experiences. Over the last several years, I have become increasingly concerned about the usage of many drugs by younger and younger people, but even more so, marijuana. The effects on the user’s self-awareness, in terms their own cognitive functioning is often profoundly blunting, with the user defending it with all their conviction.
My good friend Fran Bailey, a gifted energy healer, and I started a series of groups aimed at helping the members develop their awareness of their own energy, and how to shift it and use it in ways to help clear the brain and strengthen them both physically and emotionally. The group seemed very open and candid in their discussion of why and when they “used” and how its usage was linked to various issues related to their family, social, or school life.
The members bonded with each other and to the ideas they discovered in the group. The parents saw profound shifts in their children. They were calmer, more open to discussion, and positive about coming for group sessions. Although we had no requirement to stop using, all reported a decrease in need and interest in getting high.
The group offers teens a path of developing life skills from within, which in turn increases their own competency and leads to a genuine sense of self-empowerment.
Gee, do you know any adolescents who could use that?
If it sounds good to you call me,
Tom D’Erminio, Co-Director
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