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Mindfulness and ADHD: A Tip from Dr. Lidia ZylowskaElisha Goldstein, Ph.D. Updated: Oct 23rd 2009 While we all can feel inattentive at times, some people struggle with it most of the time and about 7-9% of children and over 4% of adults in the US are diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). ADHD is often times misdiagnosed because there is a difficulty with self regulation and people see this as depression or anxiety (even though these could be co-occurring issues). These challenges can you lead to be frazzled, frustrated, and feeling hopeless about managing life which could then mix with feelings of anxiousness or depression.
Lidia Zylowska, M.D., is a Psychiatrist who is leading the wave of integrating mindfulness into ADHD treatment. Her newest upcoming psychoeducational and experiential CD, Mindful Solutions for Adult ADD/ADHD has a practice with the acronym R.A.I.N in it that I will share with you right now in dealing with difficult emotions.
Bring to mind a difficult situation, one you may be experiencing right now, perhaps an argument with your spouse, a disappointment or a hurtful conversation, perhaps a time in which you forgot or lost something and thought harsh, judgmental thoughts about yourself... calling yourself stupid or a failure....
As you think about the situation, check in with yourself in this present moment...noting your mood or your body .... see if there are any feelings or emotions present right now.
- Recognize the emotion by giving it a name... using words like "sadness', ‘anger', ‘hurt', ‘embarrasment'.... Or perhaps there is a feeling of numbness or disconnection. Or just a neutral feeling....Whatever you notice, with courage allow yourself to fully have the experience.
- Accept the reality of this feeling in the present moment. There is no need to criticize yourself or thinking something is wrong with you, simply noting, ‘oh, there is anger', ‘oh there is sadness'. As much as possible, welcoming the experience.
- Investigate this feeling a little more. With a sense of beginner's mind or curiosity, drop your attention deeper into the body and notice any sensations present there. Perhaps there is some tensing up in the chest, feelings of clenching in the stomach or maybe a sinking feeling. You may even notice some reaction to the difficult emotion or the thought itself? There may be feelings of anger or shame for even having this emotion.
As you go through the steps of recognizing, accepting and investigating, you may notice that the emotion or the thought feels less personal, simply an emotion...simply a thought.
- Not identifying or not personalizing the feeling. Stepping back from the experience and seeing it for what it is, a set of reactions and sensations. As much as possible just witnessing them without getting caught up in them.
In doing this process with difficult emotions, we practice strengthening our attention and regulating our emotions as we relate to them different with greater openness and clarity.
If you would like to know more about Dr. Zylowska's CD program, you can contact her through her website at http://www.lidiazylowska.com/
As always, please share your thoughts, stories and questions below. Your interaction provides a living wisdom for us all to benefit from. |
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Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist and conducts a private practice in West Los Angeles. He is co-author of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook (New Harbinger, February 2010).
Check out Dr. Goldstein's acclaimed CD's on Mindful Solutions for Stress, Anxiety, and Depression, Mindful Solutions for Addiction and RelapsePrevention, and Mindful Solutions for Success and Stress Reduction at Work. -- "They are so relevant, I have marked them as one of my favorites on a handout I give to all new clients" ~ Psychiatrist.
If you're wanting an interactive program to find relief from anxiety and stress, check out Dr. Goldstein's progressive online behavioral change program in Aliveworld.
If you're wanting to integrate more mindfulness into your daily life, sign up for his Mindful Living Twitter Feed. Dr. Goldstein is also available for private psychotherapy.