The Family ADHD Solution, by Dr. Mark Bertin is the newest addition to our UCSD CFM Bookstore.
“Mark Bertin has written an insightful guide to help families approach the challenges of attentional difficulties with a mindful approach. Research has suggested that learning to be mindfully aware can help reduce stress, focus the mind, keep emotions balanced, and even improve your immune function. The bottom-line of these studies is that you can learn to approach challenging situations with resilience. So why not take the small amount of time to read this wonderful book and prepare yourself and your family well for the challenges ahead?”
–Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., author of Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation and Parenting from the Inside Out
"The stress on parents raising a child with a developmental disorder such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be intense. It frequently is amplified by all the misinformation about ADHD available in our modern world, which may lead parents to believe they or their child are to blame in some way. This misinformation also can bias family and friends, leading them to be judgmental of parenting skills and to attribute behavioral issues to anything but the actual biological causes of ADHD. The chronic stress of parents has broad implications for all family members.
The Family ADHD Solution addresses parental stress and well-being as well, as that of their children. The foundation of comprehensive ADHD care is compassionate objectivity – in other words, mindfulness. Without any need for formal training, through reading this book parents begin to practice mindfulness as they start to grasp the intricacies of ADHD, better understanding their child and creating appropriate supports at home and school.
In his blog on Psychology Today, Dr. Bertin notes, "ADHD has distinct biological causes, and symptoms extend far beyond inattention and hyperactivity. It’s not a matter of effort for a child; it’s a matter of what skills they have, which ones they don’t yet have, and the care they need to develop them. Complicated decisions are simplified when parents acknowledge the reality of ADHD – including the fact that their kids generally are trying to do the best they can, and struggling because of their ADHD symptoms."
Likewise, parents of kids with ADHD are trying to do the best they can and often struggling. The amount of effort and consistency required over the years may feel draining. When stress takes over for a parent, it affects their decision making and how they relate to their kids. It also affects how they address problems day-to-day, with old habits more likely to take over, and new possibilities less likely found. And a child’s behavior and well-being may be influenced by how their parents experience stress.
The Family ADHD Solution addresses these challenges through the practice of mindfulness. When parents practice mindfulness, they not only tend to feel calmer and more balanced day-to-day, their children benefit as well. The Family ADHD Solution integrates mindfulness into evidence-based, practical ADHD advice and helps both parents and their children find their way onto a simpler, more balanced path.
For more information, please visit Dr. Bertin's website.
