Seeking resources: Mindfulness, concentration & ADHD

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

I was wondering if anyone had access to any resources specifically addressing mindfulness and concentration in the context of ADHD.... preferably resources of a Buddhist nature (if such things exist) but I don't want to restrict the query so as to exclude secular information either.



Metta,
Retro.

[Aloka]

Hi Retro,

Earlier in the year there was an article in the Huffington post "Mindfulness and ADHD".

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephanie-sarkis-phd/adhd-treatment-mindfulness_b_1616826.html

with kind wishes,

Aloka

[daverupa]

http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.100 ... 18?LI=true

The above link offers a preview of the "Mindful Awareness and ADHD" chapter of the 2009 Clinical Handbook of Mindfulness; perhaps it is worth looking into.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Thanks Aloka & Dave (plus anyone who PM'ed me).



Metta,
Retro.

[Monkey Mind]

Not quite what you were asking for, but check out the documentary "ADHD and Loving It".

[Cittasanto]

Hi Retro, have you come across any good ones?

Just came accross this article if you are interested
http://www.imconsortium.org/prod/groups ... _93587.pdf

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Hi Retro, have you come across any good ones?

Not beyond what's been referenced here, but I admit that I haven't been looking too hard yet.

My girlfriend is a psychologist, qualified to teach mindfulness techniques, but has trouble applying them herself on account of ADHD. She doesn't want to take any medication for the ADHD, and my reason for looking for materials was to learn more about the mindfulness challenges she experiences, and to see if I could understand them better from a Dhammic frame of reference. She has one language and frame of reference for these things, whereas I have another... I figured the more I read on the subject, particularly articles that were cognizant of both frames of reference, the easier it will be to bridge the communication gap and improve my awareness and understanding of what the ADHD means to her.

Metta,
Retro.

[Monkey Mind]

In another lifetime (or sometimes it seems that way), I was a counselor working with "emotionally disturbed" teenagers in a residential treatment facility. Every last one of them had a diagnosis of ADHD, and the program I worked for was anti-stimulant medication. I started training the youth in simple "mindfulness" exercises. We played a game called "statue", the youth would freeze like a statue and try to maintain that pose as long as they could, and I timed them. The exercise required "mindfulness of body", and I provided coaching about maintaining awareness of body movements; at first the youth could be still for 10 seconds. Then 30 seconds. Then 1 minute. When they got to 3 minutes, I would teach a basic "mindfulness of breath" exercise.

Because I was already collecting data on "on-task" behaviors in the classroom and during structured daily events, I could demonstrate a clear improvement in their ability to "remain on-task" after starting the statue game.

It's worth noting that the youth were highly motivated and they enjoyed playing the "game". In my career working with adults, many of whom are living with ADD or ADHD, the adults unequivocally dislike mindfulness exercises. I try to convince them that it is "good medicine", but few are motivated to seriously try mindfulness. I was relieved when there was a whole section in the documentary "ADHD and Loving It", where people spoke about how much they hated meditation.

[Cittasanto]

I know nothing of ADHD apart from what is in popular understanding, but to put something out there for those in the know... would a visualisation exercise be more suitable for a sitting practice?

Greetings,

Hi Retro, have you come across any good ones?

Not beyond what's been referenced here, but I admit that I haven't been looking too hard yet.

My girlfriend is a psychologist, qualified to teach mindfulness techniques, but has trouble applying them herself on account of ADHD. She doesn't want to take any medication for the ADHD, and my reason for looking for materials was to learn more about the mindfulness challenges she experiences, and to see if I could understand them better from a Dhammic frame of reference. She has one language and frame of reference for these things, whereas I have another... I figured the more I read on the subject, particularly articles that were cognizant of both frames of reference, the easier it will be to bridge the communication gap and improve my awareness and understanding of what the ADHD means to her.

Metta,
Retro.

[marc108]

My girlfriend is a psychologist, qualified to teach mindfulness techniques, but has trouble applying them herself on account of ADHD. She doesn't want to take any medication for the ADHD, and my reason for looking for materials was to learn more about the mindfulness challenges she experiences, and to see if I could understand them better from a Dhammic frame of reference. She has one language and frame of reference for these things, whereas I have another... I figured the more I read on the subject, particularly articles that were cognizant of both frames of reference, the easier it will be to bridge the communication gap and improve my awareness and understanding of what the ADHD means to her.

my girlfriend is a psychology grad student, so i understand the 2 different frames of reference here. i personally have no run into any Dhamma teachers addressing ADHD directly, but if you want PM me and I can shoot my teacher an email and see if he knows anyone.

re: the other frame of reference:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the ... indfulness
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephanie ... 16826.html
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2010/mindfu ... dhd/all/1/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18025249
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22347788
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22993482

if you want and cant get access to the full study, PM me and i will get them to you. you also may want to contact the authors directly and ask for some resources.


A talk from the 1999 "Insights from an Ancient Tradition" seminar held in Shelbourne Falls, MA, Different Kinds of Minds is a discussion of ADHD and ways that Vipassana Meditation can help with treatment. Vivian Snyder
http://podbay.fm/show/81508264/e/1147639012?autostart=1

Q&A with a monk about ADHD
http://alightofdhamma.blogspot.com/2010 ... _9307.html