ADHD self help resources

Resources links for those who have or suffer with symptoms of ADHD

Information:

These are resources suggested by staff and service users, which have been recommended, but the views expressed are not necessarily those of the health centre and we do not have responsibility for the content.

Websites

Local peer support group: adhdaware.org.uk

Useful information from the Royal College of Psychiatry: www.rcpsych.ac.uk/adhd-in-adults

An American site dedicated to university students to help them study and work better: howtoadhd.com

Advice about sleep and how to sleep better

The Sleep Charity: thesleepcharity.org.uk

Royal College of Psychiatrists: www.rcpsych.ac.uk/sleepingwell

National Attention Deficit Disorder Information Support Service (ADDISS) is a national charity for individuals with ADHD and their families and offers educational resources and information regarding local groups: www.addiss.co.uk

AADD-UK is a small charity founded by members in Bristol, London and Newcastle, and is currently running several affiliated support groups as well as an interactive website and online community: aadduk.org

Books

Some of these provide an alternative model to the medical model and are recommended to you if you want to investigate how lifestyle changes can help with problems holding attention:

  • Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most Out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder by John J Ratey
  • Taking Charge of Adult ADHD by Russell A Barkley
  • The Adult ADHD Tool Kit by Russell J Ramsey
  • The Drummer and the Great Mountain by M J Ferguson
  • Scattered minds by Gabor Mate
  • Stolen focus by Johann Hari

Recommended apps

Recommended time management apps are Focus Keeper and Pomodoro

Healthy living

With all individuals with ADHD, we would stress the value of a healthy lifestyle. There are many benefits of a diet based on food with low glycaemic index and the advantage of having a large breakfast based on proteins, according to the following recommendations:

  • A high-protein diet that includes beans, cheese, eggs, fish, meat, and nuts.
  • Reduce simple carbohydrates, such as sweets, honey, and sugar, products made from white flour, white rice and potatoes without the skins.
  • Increase complex carbohydrates, such as vegetables and some fruits (including oranges, tangerines, pears, grapefruit, apples and kiwi).
  • Eat more Omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in tuna, salmon, other cold-water white fish, walnuts, and olive oil.

A good source on information about health living can be found at: www.nhs.uk/livewell