LaGrange Gets New AD/HD Support Group

Online, January 5, 2011 (Newswire.com) - LaGrange, IL

Contact Person: Maryellen Grady
Home Phone: 708-482-4984

New Support Group Starting January 19, 2011 for Adult Attention Deficit Disorder:

Group Name: Journey To Joyful Wholeness: Recovery From AD/HD
Meets at: LaGrange Public Library, Downstairs Meeting Room
Time: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
10 W. Cossitt Avenue (Off of LaGrange Road)
LaGrange, IL 60525

Group's Blog/Website: http://journeytojoyfulwholeness.blogspot.com/
Group's Email Address: [email protected]

More than 15 million Americans may suffer from the indecision and problems with concentration that characterize adult attention deficit disorder (AD/HD or sometimes ADD/ADHD) at a ratio of 3 to 1 boys to girls. There is a strong genetic determinate to this neurological disorder and it does seem to run in families. All those children who have learning and discipline problems in school because of it do not outgrow it when they become teens. They become adults with adult problems as a result of its symptoms.

The meetings will be held every Wednesday evening starting on January 19, 2011 from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. They are free and open to anyone who thinks they may have symptoms of this disorder. Coming to a group meeting is a good way to find out if you really do have adult attention deficit disorder or one of the conditions/diseases which can imitate it and make you think you have it. These include substance abuse, chronic depression, bipolar disorder, thyroid disease, or other diseases or conditions.

Typical symptoms of ADD are forgetfulness, distractibility and inability to concentrate and sometimes to read, impulsivity and risk taking, failure to live up to potential, procrastination, inability to complete tasks, lack of organization, excessive worry, low self-esteem and many others, some worse than others.

The Contact Person for the group, Maryellen Grady, has a lot of experience running groups, something she did as a certified substance abuse counselor for over ten years, but she hopes someone else will volunteer to co-chair or take over soon.

"One of my AD/HD symptoms I need to work on is a complete lack of organization. It took everything I had to get this group going. Now I hope someone who doesn't live in chaos on a daily basis will give it a shot for a while," she said with a laugh.

ADD, also known as ADHD when hyperactivity is a factor, and more recently grouped together as AD/HD, can be a debilitating and even life-threatening disorder. It is responsible for poor social, dating and marital relationships; legal problems; parenting difficulties; job losses and unemployment; thwarted ambitions; not living up to your potential; substance abuse; depression and other life crises.

Coming to a group meeting is like making a promise to yourself to no longer live at less than your potential and to start enjoying the success that has been waiting for you all of your life, only this is a promise you keep with the help of the group members.

Maryellen says she is sure the group will have many members who thought they were in control of ADD on their own. They were in therapy, took medication, read all the books, and figured they were beating it, but in a moment of clarity they saw that they still have all the symptoms they started with before they did those things.

If you know someone who is constantly losing his car keys, forgot his wife's birthday even though it's on Christmas Day, had ADD as a child, and is always late for appointments and used to be late for work all the time until they finally let him go, he may want to check out this group.

The group will be structured around the 12 Steps for ADD. The 12 Step Programs have been so successful in recovery rates for everything from over-eating to alcohol that it does seem the way to go for successful recovery. The first step is that we admit we are powerless over ADD and our lives have become unmanageable.

Topics for discussion will be chosen by the group. Outside experts such as therapists and coaches who specialize in treatment of AD/HD will be invited to share their expertise with the group. Group members may elect to ask one to work with them at their standard fee rate.

The group's blog has more information, articles, links and resources. And please let us know by e-mail or in a comment on a blog post if you are coming. You can always call Maryellen if you have questions.

We look forward to welcoming you on January 19th.