Learn and Share

• When diagnosed with ADHD, learn everything you can about it. A good start would be the purchase of "Windows into the A.D.D. Mind" by Dr. Daniel G. Amen, or "Thom Hartmann's Complete Guide to ADHD." Understanding how the condition differentiates you from others can help you address daily challenges. Sharing your experiences on sites such as Addforums.com, or the forums at Adhdnews.com, will help you realize that you are not alone.
  
  

Recondition Yourself

• Buy a journal and use it to identify the behavior patterns you want to change in your life. Pay attention to the precise moments when these behaviors present themselves. Create rules to address your behavior, and put them up where you can see them. Perhaps you argue about things that aren't really important when you are stressed, which leads to difficulty communicating and hurt feelings. Instead, find a subject you like to discuss such as movies or sports. Be passionate, but don't fight: It helps you reframe the behavior and still get the brain activity you need. The rule could be "discuss, don't argue." Reward yourself every time you successfully follow one of your set rules--by putting a quarter in a jar, for example. After a few successes, go to the movies or buy a pair of shoes with the money--anything that will make you feel good. It will help reinforce your positive behavior and remind you of the progress you are making.
  
  

Brainwave Biofeedback

• Brainwave or EEG biofeedback is a treatment that measures or manipulates physiological responses in the body (brainwave biofeedback focuses specifically on brainwave patterns). A similarly effective device is the Audio Visual Stimulation, or entrainment device, which stimulates specific brain patterns to help your body through the functioning of your mind. It helps the patient focus on which parts of the brain are activated during a specific emotional episode, helping him to better understand and control how his ADHD affects him. Speak to a psychiatrist about using this type of treatment, and what steps may be involved.
  
  

Treat Your Body Right

• Getting to sleep can be difficult for people with ADHD, whose minds don't shut off at the end of the day; according to researchers at Duke University, they don't produce enough serotonin to do so. Alleviate this by getting at least eight hours of sleep every night: Schedule it and stick to it. If you need time to get to sleep, plan an extra hour to read, practice meditation or yoga, or listen to a tape of soothing music. This can also make it difficult to get started in the morning. Get plenty of exercise as well. A simple half-hour walk can increase your energy levels and help you focus.