Mindfulness for Teens with ADHD: A Skill-Building Workbook to Help You Focus and Succeed

234 Pages·2017·3.78 MB·English

“Mindfulness for Teens with ADHD nails it! Any teen— indeed, any person— who has ADHD
can gain enormously by using this practical, reader- friendly, immensely valuable workbook.
The author knows her stuff, having worked in the real world of teens and attention deficit/
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for years. I give this book the highest recommendation. It will
reduce stress, build skills, and dramatically improve the life of every person who uses it.”
—E dward Hallowell, MD, coauthor of Driven to Distraction
“Mindfulness at its core is about building attention, increasing self- awareness, and creating new
choices in responding. This makes a mindfulness- based approach a perfect fit for those who
have unique brain functioning and learning styles such as in ADHD. Debra Burdick’s invaluable
book provides teens, and those that work with them, with an excellent blueprint for applying
curiosity and kindness to one’s ADHD characteristics, weaknesses, and strengths. The book
goes to the heart of typical teen struggles such as schoolwork or making friends, and through
structured questions and practices guides the teen reader to simultaneously become more self-
accepting and more resourceful in dealing with daily challenges.”
—L idia Zylowska, MD, associate professor in the department of psychiatry at University
of Minnesota, founding member at UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center, and
author of The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD
“Debra Burdick has done it again! Another step- by- step, easy- to- follow book— and this time, for
teens with ADHD. Burdick takes us from home and school all the way to employment and long-
term success with her mindfulness activities. This book is a must for all those working with
teens, and also for all teens, whether they have ADHD or not.”
— Susan Epstein, LCSW, parenting expert and business coach for therapists, coaches,
and healers; author of Over 60 Techniques, Activities, and Worksheets for Challenging
Children and Adolescents
“I’ve seen first- hand how mindfulness can help people with ADHD. In her new book,
Mindfulness for Teens with ADHD, Debra Burdick gives you some powerful techniques to help
teens with ADHD succeed in all areas of their lives. The book is full of practical tools that teens
can use in a variety of situations. I highly recommend it.”
— Charles A. Francis, author of Mindfulness Meditation Made Simple
“In my practice in sleep medicine and child neurology, I’ve seen first- hand the power that
cultivating mindfulness can have. This is an excellent resource for learning mindfulness, which
is divided up nicely into segments that a teen with ADHD can easily follow to help them in all
areas of their life.”
—J ose Colon, MD, MPH, founder of Paradise Sleep, and award- winning author of
books on sleep for women, children, and infants
“As a former high school teacher, I have seen many methods to support teenagers with ADHD,
and at the core of all successful techniques is mindfulness. Debra Burdick has compiled an
amazing toolkit for parents and teachers to use with their teens to help them focus, become
more aware, and ultimately increase their self- confidence. These activities will be a part of their
lifetime daily care habits, and good for everyone to use.”
—J ulie Kleinhans, youth empowerment and education mentor, and creator of
Successful Kids Revolution and Mind Focus Generation
“Mindfulness for Teens with ADHD is a fabulous tool for both parents and teens. Debra has
organized a step- by- step process which takes the overwhelm out of living with ADHD. This
book is a must- have for all teens.”
—H eather Chauvin, founder of Mom Is In Control
mindfulness for
teens with adhd
a skill-building workbook to
help you focus & succeed
DEBRA BURDICK, LCSW
Instant Help Books
An Imprint of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
Publisher’s Note
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with
the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If
expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.
Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books
Copyright © 2017 by Debra Burdick
Instant Help Books
An Imprint of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
5674 Shattuck Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
www.newharbinger.com
Cover design by Amy Shoup
Acquired by Wendy Millstine
Edited by Karen Schaeder
All Rights Reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file
I gratefully dedicate this book to my love and husband,
Al Zipperle, who showed me that being present and enjoying
the moments gives you a life full of good moments.
Thank you, Al. I love you.

Contents
Foreword vii
A Letter to Teens with ADHD ix
A Letter to Parents of Teens with ADHD xi
A Letter to Professionals xiii
Section 1: Being Mindful About Your ADHD 1
Activity 1. What Is Mindfulness and Why Should You Care? 2
Activity 2. Being Mindful of How ADHD Shows Up in Your Life 6
Activity 3. What Do You Need Help With? 11
Activity 4. Setting Your Intention 15
Section 2: Mindfulness at Home and School 21
Activity 5. Mindfulness of Your Contribution to the Family 22
Activity 6. Organizing Your Space 26
Activity 7. Getting Things Done on Time 30
Activity 8. How Long Can You Stay On Task? 34
Activity 9. Are You Hyperactive? 37
Activity 10. You Can Improve Your Concentration 43
Activity 11. Organizing Your Schoolwork 47
Activity 12. Calming Your Test Anxiety 51
Section 3: Getting Along with Yourself and Others 55
Activity 13. How’s Your Mood Today? 56
Activity 14. Relaxation Breath to Calm and Improve Your Mood 60
Activity 15. Changing the Channel on Negative or Anxious Thoughts 63
Activity 16. De-stressing Instantly 68
Activity 17. Noticing Your Surroundings and Situation 73
Activity 18. Body Surfing to Calm and Center Yourself 77
Activity 19. A Core Mindfulness Practice 82
Activity 20. How Does Your Behavior Impact Others? 86
Activity 21. Taming Your Inner Critic 90
Activity 22. What Do You Like About Yourself? 95
Activity 23. Why Do You Feel Irritable or Conflicted Around Your Parents? 102
Activity 24. Becoming Responsible and Independent 108
Activity 25. What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like? 113
Activity 26. What Makes a Good Friend? 119
Activity 27. Why Do You Want to Hang Out with This Person? 126
Activity 28. Social Skills for Connecting and Hanging Out 132
Section 4: How to Live a Healthy Life 139
Activity 29. How Much Sleep Do You Need? 140
Activity 30. Your Bedtime Routine 143
Activity 31. Sleep Meditation to Calm Your Mind and Body 149
Activity 32. Paying Attention When You Are Eating 154
Activity 33. Making Healthy Choices About Drugs and Alcohol 159
Activity 34. Driving Mindfully 167
Section 5: Creating Success 173
Activity 35. Setting Your Intention to Succeed 174
Activity 36. Mentally Rehearsing for Success 179
Activity 37. Finding a Part-Time Job 184
Activity 38. Role- Playing the Interview 190
Activity 39. What Is Expected of You at Work? 195
Activity 40. Planning for Your Future 200
An Ending Note to Teens 207
Acknowledgments 208
References 209
About the Author 213
vi
Foreword
If ADHD is occasional or frequent mindlessness, mindfulness is part of the solution. Debra
Burdick’s book is immediately useful for creating positive steps forward. For parents, it is
time we tell our teens a different story. Instead of telling them they have broken brains as a
way of understanding ADHD, let’s tell them that the harder they work to train their attention,
the more they can be the bosses of their brains.
No longer will we tell teens that their brains are broken so they think, Why try? and lose
their motivation. When they stop trying, they begin to fail, and they lose self- esteem and the
opportunity to grow their brains. Imagine the difference between telling a teen that he has
a brain disorder and telling him that he can be a brain athlete and rewire his own brain if he
works hard enough. A different story means a different outcome.
It is important to remember that if mindfulness is nonjudgmental awareness, in contrast the
diagnosis of ADHD comes with clear judgments in the very words “deficit” and “disorder.”
It can help to see your very symptoms through the lens of nonjudgment. What are you doing
when you are not paying attention? Is it possible that what distracts you is also what interests
you, so you learn more about who you are in observing your distractibility without judging
it?
Debra’s book starts with the basics and adds simple steps to create change. Early on, she
introduces the foundational skill of setting intentions. You may start with an intention to get
good grades or to get more sleep. She helps you dig deep to find the motivation by asking
yourself a few questions: “Why do I want to do this?” “What will I accomplish?” “What is the
purpose of this intention?”
This book is designed for the teen with a short attention span. For the teens who are reading
this, you can dip in for a few minutes and get a few reminders that immediately set your
track in a new direction. Debra will show you how to use mindfulness to prepare for exams
and to manage emotional roller coasters. The good news here is that the latest research shows
us that we can change our brains through neuroplasticity. The more you practice, the easier it
gets to stay focused and pay attention. Mindfulness will help treat ADHD, and it will also do
more: it will create a tool for emotional regulation and self- control that will last your whole
life.
You will find specific tips on how to get to sleep, how to stay focused while driving, and
how to manage your diet. One obvious benefit of this mindfulness approach is that there
are no negative side effects. Some find that with medications they habituate over time,