Leanne Maskell - ADHD an A-Z: Figuring it Out Step by Step

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A deeply validating reminder that peace is possible, however your brain works! Its super refreshing to find a book formatted in a way that caters to those of us who struggle with focus. Thank you for a book we can finally read without worrying were doing it wrong!

I Am Paying Attention, the late diagnosed ADHD and Autistic community for badasses

ADHD an AZ is like having a friend walk you through your early journey with ADHD, when the NHS websites are full of scary symptomatic speak. Leannes book is exceptionally well written, via the lens of an ADHD-er for ADHD-ers the book packs the latest research from experts in the field of ADHD and personal lived experience, which gives readers a sense of validation and solidarity. Whats most important is that the book is accessible, practical and broken down in manageable chunks perfect for someone with ADHD.

Samantha Hiew, PhD, founder and director of ADHD Girls Ltd

A fantastic user-friendly book which is both an excellent resource for those working with ADHD clients and also a bible for adults as they navigate their journey pre-diagnosis, validating their daily life experiences and giving them strategies to manage their ADHD and live their best lives.

Dr Rob Baskin, independent consultant adult psychiatrist, ADHD specialist

A fantastic manual that does exactly what it says in the title: explores the key issues that are really pertinent to anyone with ADHD from A to Z. The books format is really accessible for ADHD-ers you can scan the contents and dip into the chapters that are most relevant to you. Each chapter is packed with really interesting ideas, lots of practical advice and exercises to complete, and its all written in a really engaging way. An absolutely invaluable resource!

Sonia Ali, author of A Teenage Girls Guide to Living Well with ADHD

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ADHD

an A Z

Figuring it Out Step by Step

Leanne Maskell

Foreword by Ellie Middleton

First published in Great Britain in 2023 by Jessica Kingsley Publishers

An imprint of Hodder & Stoughton Ltd

An Hachette UK Company

Copyright Leanne Maskell 2023

Foreword copyright Ellie Middleton 2023

The right of Leanne Maskell to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this book is not intended to replace the services of trained medical professionals or to be a substitute for medical advice. You are advised to consult a doctor on any matters relating to your health, and in particular on any matters that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library and the Library of Congress

ISBN 978 1 83997 385 7

e ISBN 978 1 83997 386 4

Printed and bound in Great Britain by TJ Books Limited

Jessica Kingsley Publishers policy is to use papers that are natural, renewable and recyclable products and made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The logging and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.

Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Carmelite House

50 Victoria Embankment

London EC4Y 0DZ

www.jkp.com

This book is dedicated to everyone who has ever thought that there is something wrong with them, but who couldnt figure out what it was. Everyone who has been told that theyre being dramatic, or that ADHD isnt real, or who has had to wait months or years to receive help. It is for the people who have felt so overwhelmed by the tsunami that is their own mind that they didnt know how they could go on any longer, but who have somehow kept fighting. For everyone who has felt like theyre in an ocean thats filled with fish swimming one way, and you can only swim the other way. For all of the people who have felt like the odd one out, because they see the world differently.

I wrote this to provide an overview of my personal experiences in relation to ADHD, in the hope that it can help somebody else in a similar position. Its not here to convince you that you have ADHD, and Im no medical or academic expert, just a person who has navigated this immensely difficult process and managed to finally live a (relatively) stable, happy life with ADHD. Ive done my best to translate my own experiences and the overload of academic and non-academic information that exists into accessible, tangible and relatable action, straight from my ADHD brain to yours.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way, including my family, who have always tried their best with what they had available to them at the time.

I used to think that being smart meant being complicated. I thought that it was explaining complex concepts, using fancy words and speaking in long sentences. I thought it was the person at the front of the room who knew so much more than everyone else, knew that they knew so much more and gave you that little uncomfortable feeling in your stomach when you realised youd never understand things in the same way they did. Recently, though, I realised its actually the opposite.

Being smart isnt about being complicated. Its about taking something simple, but not yet obvious, and explaining it in a way that makes people go, Ahh, yes, of course! I knew that, I just hadnt seen it that way before now that I have, that makes a huge amount of sense!

This is exactly what Leanne has done in ADHD an AZ .

Learning how to hack your ADHD and how to work with your brain rather than against it is absolutely life changing. But none of it is rocket science. Its a series of tiny changes, minute switches and small habits that all add together to make a huge amount of difference to your life.

Its learning to work in sprints instead of marathons. Its learning what external motivators you need to keep you accountable. Its understanding the way that your brain works and figuring out different ways to keep it happy. Its coming to terms with the fact that, actually, there is nothing wrong with being different and its much better to accept your differences and work with your brain than to keep your head in the sand and keep working against it. Its forgiving yourself for all those times you thought you were lazy, messy or unmotivated and forgiving those around you who called you those things, too. Its deciding that you dont have to live in the way youve always been told you should; you can instead decide to live in a way that feels more authentic to you.