Fast Minds: How to Thrive If You Have ADHD

304 Pages·2013·1.81 MB·English

by  Craig Surman

FAST MINDS
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FAST MINDS
How to Thrive If You
Have ADHD
(Or Think You Might)
Craig Surman, M. D.
Tim Bilkey, M. D.
with Karen Weintraub
BERKLEY BOOKS, NEW YORK
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
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WC2R 0RL, England This book is an original publication of The Berkley Publishing Group.
Copyright © 2013 by Harvard University.
Interior text design by Tiffany Estreicher.
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FIRST EDITION: February 2013
eBook ISBN: 978-1-101-61933-9
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Surman, Craig.
Fast minds: how to thrive if you have ADHD (or think you might) / by Craig Surman, M.D., and Tim
Bilkey, M.D., with Karen Weintraub. — First edition.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN: 978-0-425-25283-3
1. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder—Popular works. 2. Life skills—Popular works.
I. Bilkey, Tim. II. Weintraub, Karen. III. Title.
RC394.A85S87 2013
616.85’89—dc23 2012040937
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Neither the publisher nor the author is engaged in rendering professional advice or
services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures, and suggestions contained in this book are not
intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician. All matters regarding your health require
medical supervision. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or
damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion in this book.
ALWAYS LEARNING PEARSON
To my parents, Lezlie Anne Humber Surman, R.N.,
and Owen Stanley Surman, M.D., who gave me the chance
to thrive and taught me the power of empathy.
CS
To Holli, who provides immeasurable support and
creativity in all of our projects; and our son, Geordie, who
was and is our inspiration for writing this book.
TB
To Rita, whose challenges and humor kept it real, and to
my family, who can now have their dining room table back.
KW
To the many people who have entrusted us with
their personal stories, and taught us the principles
we convey in the pages that follow.
CS, TB, AND KW
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A book is always the work of many more people than are named on its cover. In
this case, a few people have provided particularly invaluable assistance,
including Dr. Julie Silver, our editor at Harvard Health Publications; Denise
Silvestro, our editor at The Berkley Publishing Group; Linda Konner, our agent;
David Emslie, Dr. Bilkey’s research and communications officer; and Holli
Bilkey, who both supported FAST MINDS every step of the way. Geordie Bilkey
provided extensive input and critique.
Thanks, too, to our publicist Leslie Wolfe Arista, and the staff at The Berkley
Publishing Group and Harvard Health Publications, including Natalie Ramm and
Meredith Giordan, as well as graphic artist Scott Leighton.
This book is also deeply indebted to the collective work of professionals who
pioneered the understanding and treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder in adults. We are grateful to these pioneers and to the many colleagues
and mentors who trained us and have collaborated with us. In particular, we are
indebted to the staff and resources of the Massachusetts General Hospital
Clinical and Research Program in ADHD.
Finally, we want to thank our families, whose constant support made this
book possible, and the people who opened up their lives to us so we could adapt
and tell their stories here—without identifying their real identities.
CONTENTS
Foreword by Howie Mandel
Introduction
PART I: UNDERSTANDING FAST MINDS
1. What Are FAST MINDS?
2. Tune In to Your FAST MIND
3. FAST MINDS Made Me Do It
PART II: A FAST MINDS OPERATING MANUAL
4. Use the Prefrontal Checklist
5. Be Your Own Chief Executive
6. Don’t Just Do It—Think About It!
7. Find Where and How You Thrive
8. Feel Well, Function Well
9. Help Other People “Get It”
PART III: BUILDING THE LIFE YOU WANT
10. Make the Most out of Medication
11. What Else Works
12. Thriving on the Journey
APPENDICES
Appendix A: Summary and Workbook
Appendix B: Thought Record
Appendix C: FAST MINDS Trait Tracker
Appendix D: FAST MINDS Twenty-Four-Hour Cycle Review
Appendix E: FAST MINDS Critical Moments Planner
Appendix F: Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale
Appendix G: For Further Exploration
ENDNOTES
INDEX