Last night I rang in 2012 with my fiancé and a few close friends.
Today I spent some time lost in thought and doing some research.
Last night the topic of my ADHD and depression came up.
Today I got answers and uncovered new questions.
Last night one of my friends mentioned that Patrick McKenna and Joe Pantoliano had both been part of documentaries involving ADHD and clinical depression.
Today I tracked down those documentaries. McKenna stars in “ADD & Loving It?!” and Joe Pantoliano directs and is featured in “No Kidding, Me 2!”
I still have yet to see these films but I look forward to it. They both have very informative websites that include clips from the documentaries so I got a chance to preview some parts of them.
On the “ADD & Loving It?!” website, totallyADD.com, I was overjoyed to read this from their ‘About’ page:
Created for adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) and those affected by it (family, employers, health professionals, etc.), Totally ADD liberates people from the fear, shame, and stigma that can accompany this often misunderstood and misdiagnosed disorder. Through education, humour, and social interaction Totally ADD provides the tools and support people need to create a life they love.
This reminded me of all the resources I have available that I often forget to reach out too. Back in 2007-08 I went to the ADDCA (ADD Coaching Academy) which was a wonderful experience that I will go into here in a future post. I’ve also had an amazing ADD coach. I’ve studied about ADHD for many years now on and off learning coping strategies along the way. I have my meditation, my artwork, and my loving family.
OK I am writing this towards the end of the day and I am about to get ready for work, but let me make a mention of it here so I don’t forget:
Re: Subject of Resources
- Make a list of helpful ADHD links
Resume original blog post. LOL Anyway totallyADD.com looks really great and I really want to take the time to go through it closely as it appears to have a great deal of information.
Now Joe Pantoliano’s project, “No Kidding, Me 2!” is connected with the website nkm2.org. From their mission statement:
No Kidding, Me Too! is a 501(c)(3) public charity, whose purpose is to remove the stigma attached to brain dis-ease (BD) through education and the breaking down of societal barriers. Our goal is to empower those with BD to admit their illness, seek treatment, and become even greater members of society.
Again, I am faced with seemingly a site with a lot of info that I would like to take a closer look at. In the documentary, the previews I’ve seen reveal how Joe himself is challenged by clinical depression and ADHD. He also meets with other people in the community with ‘brain dis-ease’(s). So it’s a broader picture of the mental health community in society, the stigma attached, and how we as individuals cope with this. It is a rally for us to seek education, get help and remind ourselves that these things aren’t character flaws; we aren’t bad people. We can be brilliant.
Thank you to my friend, Kathryn for helping find these documentaries as even researching into them has been beneficial to me. Thank you to all my friends who could make it last night and all those who couldn’t (we will catch up soon). Let’s all make 2012 a grand year.
Thank you to my fiancé for her understanding and continued support. I am grateful to have all of you in my life.
