Grace Friedman - Winning with ADHD: A Playbook for Teens and Young Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Winning with ADHD is a powerful resource for succeeding in school, the home, and relationships. The playbook format is engaging, endearing, and so relatable. Graces personal journey is an inspiration for teens everywhere.

Lara Honos-Webb, PhD , author of The ADHD Workbook for Teens

Grace Friedman and Sarah Cheyette have joined together to create the perfect playbook for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This book speaks directly to teens and young adults with ADHD from Graces (a young adult with ADHD herself) perspective of knowing exactly what its like to deal with and thrive with ADHD. Written in the style of a playbook for sports, it combines ADHD-specific plays (which help readers break big tasks into smaller steps) with concepts to better understand ADHD and guidance on making wise choices that those without ADHD never have to make. It is full of straight talk from the authors and other teens about managing ADHD and winning and thriving personally, at home, in school, and with friends. Readers will immediately feel understood while being coached and encouraged to make changes that lead to creating the life they want.

Debra Burdick, LCSW , author of Mindfulness for Teens with ADHD and ADHD

Winning with ADHD is a truly extraordinary book for teens with ADHD. Written by a young woman with ADHD who has clearly walked the walk, every page is filled with warmth and wisdom. It covers all the important aspects for teens to know about ADHDfrom understanding the diagnosis to self-care, medications, and specific strategies for conquering the challenges that arise at school, at home, and with friends. Practical advice is buoyed by real-life examples and heartfelt optimism. This book affirms, guides, and inspires; and most of all it gives hope to the many teens struggling with ADHD. Winning with ADHD is a grand slam!

Linda Pfiffner, PhD , professor in residence and director of the hyperactivity attention and learning problems program in the department of psychiatry at the Weill Institute for Neurosciences at the University of California, San Francisco

Wow, a book that is written for teens with ADHD, not about them or at themin other words, a book that they will actually read. Most of. Okay, some of them. But still. And they will be so much better off for spending some time with this gem, since the better they understand themselves, ADHD and all, the more successful and happier they will be. (You will also be happier, but dont tell your teen that.)

Ari Tuckman, PsyD, MBA , psychologist, author, public speaker, advocate, and ADHD expert

This book for teens is refreshingly honest and practical. It provides kids with relatable situations and no-nonsense advice. I especially like the section on controlling the controllable things in life. When kids feel overwhelmed or frustrated, they will learn what they can focus on so that they can feel more in control and better able to manage their challenges.

Cindy Goldrich, EdM, ADHD-CCSP , parent coach, teacher trainer, founder of PTS Coaching, and author of 8 Keys to Parenting Children with ADHD and the video Executive Function, ADHD, and Stress in the Classroom

The combination of an author who has ADHD plus a pediatric neurologist who specializes in it packs twice the effectiveness in one book. Friedman presents her own experiences to the reader, while Cheyette provides the research. The book is written in a format that is palatable to people who may have found other books on ADHD a challenge to read through.

Stephanie Sarkis, PhD , author of Natural Relief for Adult ADHD and 10 Simple Solutions to Adult ADD

Winning with ADHD speaks directly to teens with positive, practical help for key challengesfrom study habits to managing depression. Its a winner!

Katherine Ellison , Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Buzz

In Winning with ADHD , Grace Friedman and Sarah Cheyette show adolescents how to take ownership of their ADHD, their brains, and their behavior with positivity and encouragement. Full of compassion, clarity, and kindness, the authors normalize living with ADHD and help teens acknowledge their challenges while showing them how to accomplish goals and succeed in life. Friedmans refreshing honesty about her own experience, and Cheyettes professional insight and clinical examples ground the books information and useful suggestions in real-life examples of change and success. Winning with ADHD is a must-read for teens, their families, and professionals!

Sharon Saline , licensed clinical psychologist with more than twenty-five years experience empowering children and teens with ADHD and executive function challenges, and author of What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew

So many wonderful strategies in Winning with ADHD ! A great guide for any student looking for practical, implementable tips. The combination of Sarahs expert advice and Graces real-life strategies make this book a terrific resource.

Ana Homayoun , author of That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week

Publishers 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 2019 by Grace Friedman and Sarah Cheyette

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 Jess OBrien

Edited by Kristi Hein

All Rights Reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file

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Foreword

Everyone has opinions about ADHD these days. Most scientists and evidence-based clinicians rightfully believe that its a biologically based condition affecting an individuals focus, attention, and self-regulationand that engagement in treatment and self-management can help the individual thrive. But others believe that its a hoaxthe product of unresponsive classrooms, a society hell-bent on achievement at all costs (and at ever earlier ages), or a clamoring for performance-enhancing medications. Or that its solely a U.S. condition, unknown in the rest of the world. Still others contend that ADHD is nothing other than a series of hidden strengths, meaning that it shouldnt be considered a disorder at all. A subgroup promotes a range of unsubstantiated remedieshomeopathy, herbs, extreme diets, supplements, and the likethat they claim can free people from ADHD, dismissing evidence-based medication and psychosocial interventions.

Countless articles and books have been written on the entire topic. Voluminous websites and social media posts espouse multiple, conflicting perspectives, yielding a torrent of information and, too often, misinformation. Little wonder that things get polarized rather than synthesized.

But in the midst of such contention, imagine an energetic, optimistic, yet realistic young woman with a history of ADHD, who tells fundamental truths about her life and the condition with which she copes, while offering some of the most sound and authentic tips and coaching points one could imagine. Thats what Grace Friedman has done in Winning with ADHD, with able mentoring provided by Sarah Cheyette.