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Once I Get Started: The Adult ADHD Program for Turning Your Intentions into Actions
A globally recognized clinical psychologist utilizes the latest research to confront the overlooked, hidden devastations of adult ADHD and reveals his evidence-based, patient-approved program to transform lives.
Despite prevailing assumptions, ADHD is still an underdiagnosed condition. Not only is the diagnostic scale subjective, but the hallmarks of ADHD often remain shrouded behind conditions like anxiety and depression. Most individuals with ADHD live through their formative years with symptoms that later so powerfully derail their confidence, future, career, relationships, and sense of self. And many of them are not first diagnosed until adulthood despite their often overlooked or misunderstood struggles.
An esteemed psychologist and retired clinical professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, Dr. Russell Ramsay, has worked with countless patients - some suffering from severe cases of ADHD, others having experienced the common frustrations of undiagnosed ADHD for most of their lives. With the help of his groundbreaking program, his patients have found ways to support their unique brains, express their emotions, prioritize what matters, release shame, blame, and guilt, and see the world in the creative, bright, brilliant passion this neurodivergence offers.
The solution isn’t simply getting back to whatever is considered “normal.” As Dr. Ramsay presents in this book, there are patient-proven specific solutions to bolstering our executive functions and these methods combined with a more comprehensive understanding of the emotional pain-points at the root of ADHD can transform lives. Dr. Ramsay offers a paradigm-shift to help us stop blaming and shaming ourselves for our moment-to-moment inattention and instead focus on the behaviors and routines that form the foundation of our lives. It’s for anyone seeking a healthier relationship with their to-do list, more positive inner self-talk, and a new perspective on what is possible when we embrace and support our sometimes-unreliable minds.
Despite prevailing assumptions, ADHD is still an underdiagnosed condition. Not only is the diagnostic scale subjective, but the hallmarks of ADHD often remain shrouded behind conditions like anxiety and depression. Most individuals with ADHD live through their formative years with symptoms that later so powerfully derail their confidence, future, career, relationships, and sense of self. And many of them are not first diagnosed until adulthood despite their often overlooked or misunderstood struggles.
An esteemed psychologist and retired clinical professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, Dr. Russell Ramsay, has worked with countless patients - some suffering from severe cases of ADHD, others having experienced the common frustrations of undiagnosed ADHD for most of their lives. With the help of his groundbreaking program, his patients have found ways to support their unique brains, express their emotions, prioritize what matters, release shame, blame, and guilt, and see the world in the creative, bright, brilliant passion this neurodivergence offers.
The solution isn’t simply getting back to whatever is considered “normal.” As Dr. Ramsay presents in this book, there are patient-proven specific solutions to bolstering our executive functions and these methods combined with a more comprehensive understanding of the emotional pain-points at the root of ADHD can transform lives. Dr. Ramsay offers a paradigm-shift to help us stop blaming and shaming ourselves for our moment-to-moment inattention and instead focus on the behaviors and routines that form the foundation of our lives. It’s for anyone seeking a healthier relationship with their to-do list, more positive inner self-talk, and a new perspective on what is possible when we embrace and support our sometimes-unreliable minds.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published May 19, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 17, 2026
Once I Get Started by Russell Ramsay
★★★★
Yay for a book that actually helped explain ADHD to someone who has spent the last two years genuinely trying to understand what ADHD really is.
This book hasn’t convinced me to try CBT, but it has definitely pushed me to start my own ADHD diagnosis process.
I found the tips and strategies really helpful, but what I loved most was how much the book confirmed and supported the things and systems I already use to maintain my wellbeing. Because the hardest part of ADHD can be the inconsistency. Some days are completely fine, and other days feel like you’re pushing poop up a hill.
More than anything, I felt emotionally supported while reading this. It made me feel less guilty about potentially having ADHD and helped me understand that struggling with certain things doesn’t necessarily mean I’m not trying hard enough.
It also left me wondering how many people might be living with ADHD without realising it. It feels like it’s far more common than I ever understood.
Definitely a book I’m glad I picked up. 🤍
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★★★★
Yay for a book that actually helped explain ADHD to someone who has spent the last two years genuinely trying to understand what ADHD really is.
This book hasn’t convinced me to try CBT, but it has definitely pushed me to start my own ADHD diagnosis process.
I found the tips and strategies really helpful, but what I loved most was how much the book confirmed and supported the things and systems I already use to maintain my wellbeing. Because the hardest part of ADHD can be the inconsistency. Some days are completely fine, and other days feel like you’re pushing poop up a hill.
More than anything, I felt emotionally supported while reading this. It made me feel less guilty about potentially having ADHD and helped me understand that struggling with certain things doesn’t necessarily mean I’m not trying hard enough.
It also left me wondering how many people might be living with ADHD without realising it. It feels like it’s far more common than I ever understood.
Definitely a book I’m glad I picked up. 🤍
Follow along my reading journey here on:
TikTok
July 13, 2026
The whole book felt like an advertisement for this guy’s CBT program. While there were some helpful tips, the book dragged on and there wasn’t much I read that I haven’t heard before.
August 13, 2026
Definitely one of the better books about ADHD. Alot of the tips here really explain how I have coped my whole life, and lots of excellent useful things to try. also 100% relateable about where my brain is at most days. Some people might argue that the guy rambles alot about CBT and promotes his own work alot, but honestly CBT works for alot of people! I found it life changing!
September 25, 2026
Accurately captures what I deal with and have gone through in my life as I struggled with undiagnosed ADHD. I got diagnosed after my mid-20s as an adult.
The CBT techniques are something I am incorporating and using, along with engineering my environment for better initiation and progress towards the goals I set for myself.
The importance of rebuilding self-trust and issues of low self-esteem made me feel seen. Also, the attempt to capture the actual experience of living with ADHD as opposed to understanding it through an incomplete DSM-5 symptom list, made me feel so validated. It has also helped me understand myself, and gave me useful words to explain it to others.
It'd take a while to implement the techniques in this book, but now that I have a toolkit I can trust, and also accept slip-ups and getting derailed as a part of normal life process, I have better hopes from myself.
I am really thankful to Dr Russell for accurately capturing adult ADHD struggles, and being so kind and supportive in his writing!
The CBT techniques are something I am incorporating and using, along with engineering my environment for better initiation and progress towards the goals I set for myself.
The importance of rebuilding self-trust and issues of low self-esteem made me feel seen. Also, the attempt to capture the actual experience of living with ADHD as opposed to understanding it through an incomplete DSM-5 symptom list, made me feel so validated. It has also helped me understand myself, and gave me useful words to explain it to others.
It'd take a while to implement the techniques in this book, but now that I have a toolkit I can trust, and also accept slip-ups and getting derailed as a part of normal life process, I have better hopes from myself.
I am really thankful to Dr Russell for accurately capturing adult ADHD struggles, and being so kind and supportive in his writing!
June 15, 2026
3.5/5
There are some really helpful tips and information in here, but it started to feel like an ad for CBT. (Nothing wrong with CBT, I just didn't expect to get a sales pitch for the majority of the book.)
There are some really helpful tips and information in here, but it started to feel like an ad for CBT. (Nothing wrong with CBT, I just didn't expect to get a sales pitch for the majority of the book.)
October 2, 2026
As good an ADHD (“executive dysfunction”) book as any I have read, probably the best amongst them if you are looking for CBT strategies. I highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews