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Gina Pera

Joined: 07/27/2011

Expert Profile:

My foray into the field of ADHD began by chance. In 1999, I picked up a library book about the brain. And what I read changed my life and my husband's life. Funny enough, that book was Dr. Daniel Amen's Change Your Brain, Change Your Life.

In that book, I read about something called Adult ADHD, and suddenly I had a clue why, as much as we loved each other, my then-fiancee and I were driving each other nuts! I showed the book to my husband, a neurogeneticist who, as luck would have it, could vouch for the authenticity of the material. "Doesn't this sound like you as a kid?" I asked him. " And, well, doesn't it sound like you now?" He agreed. And off we went to navigate our mental healthcare maze. Meanwhile, I figured other "partners of" were in a similar position, so I started an online discussion group.

It's not enough to say that I was stunned at the widespread ignorance about ADHD, including among professionals. Frankly, I was outraged. There is quite enough suffering in the world that cannot be prevented. The suffering that comes from unrecognized ADHD is not one of them. We have a strong knowledge base about ADHD. We have good treatment strategies. All we lack is more people willing to step into the 21st Century.

Deciding to put to use my background as a print journalist, I became a very persevering (nagging?) advocate for better awareness and evidence-based treatment standards—by lecturing, writing, and leading discussion groups in Silicon Valley and a 600-member Internet group for the partners of adults with ADHD internationally. Oh, and yes, you've probably seen my comments around the Internet. When you are an unpaid advocate for 10 years, you go to war with the army you have: my keyboard.

After a few years, the need became clear for a nuts-and-bolts guide to Adult ADHD, especially as it affects relationships. A guide not only to understanding Adult ADHD symptoms but also the "emotional baggage" that comes with late-diagnosis — baggage carried by both partners in the relationship. I also wanted to provide readers with a consumers guide to Adult ADHD treatment strategies — the particulars of therapy to seek (and avoid), the medication protocol that so few prescribing physicians seemed to know about (and perhaps that's why so many people had unnecessary side effects), and, that big deal breaker: how to get through a loved one's "denial."

That's why I wrote Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D? Stopping the Roller Coaster When Someone You Love Has Attention Deficit Disorder (1201 Alarm Press, San Francisco. 2008).

I am grateful to the many top experts who granted interviews, fact-checked chapters, and endorsed the book. It has won four national book awards and, last I checked, has 65 five-star reviews on Amazon. It's a book I am thrilled to be able to hand to people who are struggling. (Because, after all, I couldn't keep typing the same advice in our support group for another 10 years!)

The book and my unpaid advocacy have been a giant labor of love for several years now, and is my greatest joy to have connected with so many thousands of people and played a small role in elevating their lives.
I write three blogs on Adult ADHD:

http://www.YouMeADD.org
http://www.ADHDRollerCoaster.org
http://www.ADHDPartner.org

Thank you for your interest in Adult ADHD, and please try to keep an open mind if you are just beginning to learn about it. One fact is clear: ADHD is real, and it affects real people's lives. Maybe even your own or that of someone you love.

Best wishes,
Gina Pera

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Reply: how i feel about my ADD?ADHD

It is a myth that people with ADHD will lose their "creativity" if they pursue treatment...

Posted by Gina Pera

3 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:how i feel about my ADD?ADHD It is a myth that people with ADHD will lose their "creativity" if they pursue treatment...

Reply: underweight and still losing weight

I agree with aybara. What does your physician say?

Posted by Gina Pera

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:underweight and still losing weight I agree with aybara. What does your physician say?

Reply: Sleep?

Yes, it's one of those under-reported topics: Sleep and ADHD. It's a complicated...

Posted by Gina Pera

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Sleep? Yes, it's one of those under-reported topics: Sleep and ADHD. It's a complicated...

Reply: Meds no longer covered by insurance

Was this exemption stated in your policy? I know it's a pain to compare policies but it's...

Posted by Gina Pera

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Meds no longer covered by insurance Was this exemption stated in your policy? I know it's a pain to compare policies but it's...

Reply: Newly diagnosed and medicated 10 year old, PLZ HEL...

SSappey -- I'm wondering what other factors might have contributed to this precipitous...

Posted by Gina Pera

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Newly diagnosed and medicated 10 year old, PLZ HELP SSappey -- I'm wondering what other factors might have contributed to this precipitous...

Reply: How to help desperate teacher of my ADHD child

To me, this teacher sounds patient and thoughtful. I would seriously consider her reports...

Posted by Gina Pera

3 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:How to help desperate teacher of my ADHD child To me, this teacher sounds patient and thoughtful. I would seriously consider her reports...

Reply: ADHD can be beaten by hardwork

How wonderful for you, that you feel you have had a successful life despite ADHD...

Posted by Gina Pera

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:ADHD can be beaten by hardwork How wonderful for you, that you feel you have had a successful life despite ADHD...

Reply: 4 year old... Testing? Diagnosis? Medication? W...

I can see why you are alarmed. If I didn't know as much as I do about ADHD, I would be...

Posted by Gina Pera

I can see why you are alarmed. If I didn't know as much as I do about ADHD, I would be absolutely aghast at the idea of giving a four-year-old medication after such a simplistic exam.

But I'm really of two minds on this.

1. I've seen how children whose parents delay medication as long as possible lag behind in developmental milestones and often develop long-running problems (and "emotional baggage") because of it.

The brain is "programmed" to learn certain things at certain ages; if those things aren't learned then, there often isn't a "catchup" period. It's just missed entirely.

So, in my 12 years of studying this topic and talking to thousands of people on every point of the lifespan, I have to say I'm leaning more towards medication at a younger age for those who are really missing out on key developmental milestones.

2. All that said, I am also sad that four-years-olds don't have more free time and less structure these days. While certainly these types of attentional demands can help to identify ADHD earlier (a good thing, in my opinion), they also just create more stress for kids, which can intensify any ADHD issues.

I also see how physicians often have no clue about assessing overall issues as related to brain health, including dietary intake, exercise, environment, exposure to sunlight, etc. For example, most Americans are deficient in so many key minerals/vitamins that it boggles the mind. Yet, many physicians seem to view this area of basic biochemistry as little more than mumbo-jumbo. It's dispiriting.

So.....how would I resolve such a "on one hand and the other dilemma"?

I would read as much as I can about ADHD from solid sources. I might start with Dr. Mark Bertin's book, "The Family ADHD Solution." I know you said you don't have time to sort through board discussions, but you will need to make an investment of time in educating yourself. This is too important to your child's entire future.

I would also scrutinize my child's diet. Is breakfast usually a bowl of cereal and milk? I would cut out first dairy and then wheat, to see if that helps the child. And I would make a breakfast that includes protein.

I would make sure the child is getting enough sleep, is not exposed to the household chemicals that are so omnipresent these days in fragrances, fabric softeners, mastics in furniture, etc. and is getting enough exercise and sunlight.

After I tried these things, I would re-assess and re-consider the ADHD diagnosis and medication. As you say, he's a preemie, and that's a factor. I would also look for the genetic connection to you or the child's co-parent. If one of you has ADHD, that can make parenting more of a challenge. A home life affected by disorganization and ADHD-related stress in an adult can of course affect the child's behavior.

I hope this helps.View Thread

Posted byGina Pera

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:4 year old... Testing? Diagnosis? Medication? Where to start? I can see why you are alarmed. If I didn't know as much as I do about ADHD, I would be...

Reply: newly diagnosed child

Gee, I should have seen there were several replies here before I wrote one. I'm working...

Posted by Gina Pera

9 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:newly diagnosed child Gee, I should have seen there were several replies here before I wrote one. I'm working...

Reply: newly diagnosed child

HI Kiercey. Thank goodness for that teacher eh? I'm glad you took her perspective to...

Posted by Gina Pera

9 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:newly diagnosed child HI Kiercey. Thank goodness for that teacher eh? I'm glad you took her perspective to...

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