What book are you reading right now?
This little shocker came from my wife. I was diagnosed as ADHD in early 2002, spent a spell on Ritalin that I considered dangerously addictive so opted for CBT instead – all privately as the NHS were clueless. ‘You’re not suicidal’ I was told. You’d probably be ADHD in the US, but not here – i.e they wouldn’t pay for it.
With ‘mental health’ an issue in the family, both sides, cousins and back through parents and probably grandparents this is a timely read at a time of crisis – in the hope that our 30th Wedding Anniversary in six weeks can be celebrated and enjoyed.
I got through ‘The ADHD Effect’ in two sittings – including note taking from page one. I shared highlights from my notes with my wife.
I am now (two days later) reading it for a second time and it’s like reading a second book – the bits I skimmed over the first time I now pick up. Such is my ‘Brian’ as I call it. Full of holes, like a cheese grater or sieve … or more chaotically like a ‘leaky dam’. Some brains work differently.
I’ll spare my notes but rest assured it rings true and has already proved useful by defusing some petty arguments, we’ve also laughed, hugged and even cried a little – which I guess augurs well.
Returning to the question though, it is rare for me ever to be reading just one book. It’s more likely that I have between four and eight on the go simultaneously. Some like ‘The ADHD Effect on Marriage’ are the physical thing, others are eBooks on Kindle while one or two will be a hardback. Topics currently include trees/woods, relief printing, coaching elite swimmers, an obscure history of the First World War and a book about the artist Fortunino Manatnia. Unless I feel driven as I have been with ‘The ADHD Effect’ I will read a chapter or two of each book then move on. I may also have two or more notebooks on the go – one for each book (unless it is fiction).
Leave a Reply