Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD-ADHD)

From renowned mental health expert and speaker Dr. Gabor Maté, Scattered Minds explodes the myth of attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD) as genetically based—and offers real hope and advice for children and adults who live with the condition. In this breakthrough guide to understanding, treating, and healing Attention Deficit Disorder, Dr. Gabor Maté, bestselling author of The Myth of Normal, and himself diagnosed with ADD: Demonstrates that the condition is not a genetic “illness” but a response to environmental stress Explains that in ADD, circuits in the brain whose job is emotional self-regulation and attention control fail to develop in infancy – and why Shows how ‘distractibility’ is the psychological product of life experience Allows parents to understand what makes their ADD children tick, and adults with ADD to gain insights into their emotions and behaviors Expresses optimism about neurological development even in adulthood Presents a program of how to promote this development in both children and adults Whereas other books on the subject describe the condition as inherited, Dr. Maté believes that our social and emotional environments play a key role in both the cause of and cure for this condition. In Scattered Minds , he describes the painful realities of ADD and its effect on children as well as on career and social paths in adults. While acknowledging that genetics may indeed play a part in predisposing a person toward ADD, Dr. Maté moves beyond that to focus on the things we can control: changes in environment, family dynamics, and parenting choices. He draws heavily on his own experience with the disorder, as both an ADD sufferer and the parent of diagnosed children. Providing a thorough overview of ADD and its treatments, without blaming anyone, Scattered Minds is essential and life-changing reading for the millions of ADD sufferers in North America today. In the United States more than 3 million children--and numerous adults--suffer from A.D.D. Based on personal experience and years of medical practice and research, Scattered is a groundbreaking book that explodes the conventional wisdom that A.D.D. is a genetically based disorder, declaring instead that its roots are environmental. Dr. Gabor Mate, a family physician and himself an A.D.D. sufferer, asserts that A.D.D. originates in infancy as a response to conditions that fail to provide a necessary degree of emotional or physical security. Financial problems, marital strife, job stress, and substance abuse can all create an environment that may trigger A.D.D.In Scattered, Mate's mission is not to place blame. Instead, he provides the means of identifying problems and arms parents and readers with the necessary tools to solve them. His plan for healing is an optimistic approach, placing emphasis on what changes need to be made to a child's environment instead of focusing strictly on what is wrong with the child. Neither pro nor anti-drug, Mate believes that medications such as Ritalin should be considered as part of the overall treatment of A.D.D.Revolutionary in content, persuasive and articulate, Scattered is sure to garner attention in the media, as well as induce controversy and debate throughout the A.D.D. establishment In this breakthrough guide to understanding, treating, and healing Attention Deficit Disorder, Dr. Gabor Maté, bestselling author of The Myth of Normal shares the latest information on:• The external factors that trigger ADD• How to create an environment that promotes health and healing• Ritalin and other drugs• ADD adults• And much more...Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) has quickly become a controversial topic in recent years. Whereas other books on the subject describe the condition as inherited, Dr. Maté believes that our social and emotional environments play a key role in both the cause of and cure for this condition. In Scattered, he describes the painful realities of ADD and its effect on children as well as on career and social paths in adults. While acknowledging that genetics may indeed play a part in predisposing a person toward ADD, Dr. Maté moves beyond that to focus on the things we can control: changes in environment, family dynamics, and parenting choices. He draws heavily on his own experience with the disorder, as both an ADD sufferer and the parent of three diagnosed children. Providing a thorough overview of ADD and its treatments, Scattered is essential and life-changing reading for the millions of ADD sufferers in North America today. An controversial analysis of the true cause of Attention Deficit Disorder. In the United States more than 3 million children--and numerous adults--suffer from A.D.D. Based on personal experience and years of medical practice and research, Scattered is a groundbreaking book that explodes the conventional wisdom that A.D.D. is a genetically based disorder, declaring instead that its roots are environmental. Dr. Gabor Mate, a family physician and himself an A.D.D. sufferer, asserts that A.D.D. originates in infancy as a response to conditions that fail to provide a necessary degree of emotional or physical security. Financial problems, marital strife, job stress, and substance abuse can all create an environment that may trigger A.D.D.

In Scattered, Mate's mission is not to place blame. Instead, he provides the means of identifying problems and arms parents and readers with the necessary tools to solve them. His plan for healing is an optimistic approach, placing emphasis on what changes need to be made to a child's environment instead of focusing strictly on what is wrong with the child. Neither pro nor anti-drug, Mate believes that medications such as Ritalin should be considered as part of the overall treatment of A.D.D.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) has quickly become a controversial topic in recent years. Whereas other books on the subject describe the condition as inherited, Dr. Gabor Maté believes that our social and emotional environments play a key role in both the cause of and cure for this condition. In Scattered, he describes the painful realities of ADD and its effect on children as well as on career and social paths in adults. While acknowledging that genetics may indeed play a part in predisposing a person toward ADD, Dr. Maté moves beyond that to focus on the things we can control: changes in environment, family dynamics, and parenting choices. He draws heavily on his own experience with the disorder, as both an ADD sufferer and the parent of three diagnosed children. Providing a thorough overview of ADD and its treatments, Scattered is essential and life-changing reading for the millions of ADD sufferers in North America today.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) has quickly become a controversial topic in recent years. Whereas other books on the subject describe the condition as inherited, Dr. Gabor Mate believes that our social and emotional environments play a key role in both the cause of and cure for this condition. In Scattered, he describes the painful realities of ADD and its effect on children as well as on career and social paths in adults. While acknowledging that genetics may indeed play a part in predisposing a person toward ADD, Dr. Mate moves beyond that to focus on the things we can control: changes in environment, family dynamics, and parenting choices. He draws heavily on his own experience with the disorder, as both an ADD sufferer and the parent of three diagnosed children. Providing a thorough overview of ADD and its treatments, Scattered is essential and life-changing reading for the millions of ADD sufferers in North America today. **From renowned mental health expert and speaker Dr. Gabor Maté, __Scattered Minds__ explodes the myth of attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD) as genetically based—and offers real hope and advice for children and adults who live with the condition.**__The Myth of Normal,__ - Demonstrates that the condition is not a genetic “illness” but a response to environmental stress - Shows how ‘distractibility’ is the psychological product of life experience "From how to cope with ADD in the home and classroom to teaching ADD children new emotional skills, from the crucial role the social and emotional environment plays to what ADD adults can do to develop their own self-esteem, Scattered offers compassionate, wise, and practical guidance on how parents can help their children overcome ADD and how adults with ADD can help themselves. Book jacket."--Jacket "From how to cope with ADD in the home and classroom to teaching ADD children new emotional skills, from the crucial role the social and emotional environment plays to what ADD adults can do to develop their own self-esteem, Scattered offers compassionate, wise, and practical guidance on how parents can help their children overcome ADD and how adults with ADD can help themselves"--Back cover "From renowned mental health expert and speaker Dr. Gabor Maté, Scattered Minds explodes the myth of attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD) as genetically based--and offers real hope and advice for children and adults who live with the condition." -- Amazon.com The nature of attention deficit disorder How the brain develops and how the circuits and chemistry of ADD arise The roots of ADD in family and society The meaning of ADD traits The ADD child and healing The ADD adult Conclusion. UNTIL FOUR YEARS AGO, I understood attention deficit disorder about as well as the average North American doctor,which is to say hardly at all.