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Focused Forward: Navigating the Storms of Adult ADHD
Living with adult ADHD can feel like you’re in a constant battle with your brain.Every day, you have to fight to stay in control, to meet your obligations, to not screw up—forget actually living up to your potential. But what you might not know about, and what’s even more damaging, is the constant, corrosive emotional stress of a lifetime spent wondering what the hell is wrong with you.
In Focused Navigating the Storms of Adult ADHD, author and self—proclaimed “ADHD-er” James M. Ochoa, LPC goes beyond the management and scheduling techniques most ADHD books focus on to deal with what really holds so many ADHD-ers back—the emotional fallout of ADHD. He helps readers identify, manage and alleviate symptoms of a PTSD-like condition he calls the Emotional Distress Syndrome, with practical, proven advice
Understanding the link between ADHD and emotional distressWhat Emotional Distress Syndrome (“EDS”) feels likeHow to construct an Emotional Safe Place How to recruit your own Mental Support GroupEight essential tools to help you cope And more…
With wisdom, humor, and plenty of (sometimes painful) empathy, Focused Forward will help adults with ADHD move past the pain and shame toward a future full of possibility, balance and joy.
In Focused Navigating the Storms of Adult ADHD, author and self—proclaimed “ADHD-er” James M. Ochoa, LPC goes beyond the management and scheduling techniques most ADHD books focus on to deal with what really holds so many ADHD-ers back—the emotional fallout of ADHD. He helps readers identify, manage and alleviate symptoms of a PTSD-like condition he calls the Emotional Distress Syndrome, with practical, proven advice
Understanding the link between ADHD and emotional distressWhat Emotional Distress Syndrome (“EDS”) feels likeHow to construct an Emotional Safe Place How to recruit your own Mental Support GroupEight essential tools to help you cope And more…
With wisdom, humor, and plenty of (sometimes painful) empathy, Focused Forward will help adults with ADHD move past the pain and shame toward a future full of possibility, balance and joy.
156 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 21, 2016
163 people are currently reading
506 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 5, 2018
After attending an ADDA webinar with the author speaking, I promptly bought the book, Kindle and audio versions. It's not like any other book regarding ADHD. He truly "gets it" and is a likeable and funny guy who doesn't take himself too seriously. He explains why ADHD generally has comorbid conditions associated with it like anxiety and depression; they result from a lifetime of "mini traumas." He offers specific strategies to address and help manage the "emotional distress syndrome" that is fallout from living with ADHD.
He recommends leveraging the ADHD strengths of creativity and thinking-outside-of-the-box (or perhaps blindness-to-the-box) to "strategically daydream.". It resembles mindfulness and meditation (breathing and watching your thoughts non-judgmentally) at the beginning but adds some fun, inviting you to create an "ESP - emotionally safe place" you can return to and further develop anytime. Only you are allowed into your ESP and you can use all your senses and any magical rules that you want. When you're there you also create your "MSG- mental support group" including a cast of anyone you want who may offer you some valuable insights.
This part of the book with the tools and strategies is the most valuable, though short. For the tool of meditation, it recommends beginning with guided meditations. For non- guided meditations, I like how it provides a concrete example that shows how to address your thoughts non-judgmentally and move on; if a self-critical thought pops into your head, think: "Oh, that’s a thought. Back to the breath. Breathe. In. Out. In. Out. Instagram…Oh, that’s thinking. Back to the breath. Breathe. Oh, the sound of a bird. Sound. Breathe. Breathe.". Other tools include acceptance and spirituality, the latter being defined as whatever belief or construct for yourself works to protect you from "existential anxiety.". EMDR is also described as a tool to help address the cumulative "mini traumas." Other tools also leverage ADHD strengths, including imagination, intuition and humor.
In short, it's a great book and I recommend it to anyone with/ affected by one with ADHD and definitely for anyone who coaches or counsels anyone with ADHD.
He recommends leveraging the ADHD strengths of creativity and thinking-outside-of-the-box (or perhaps blindness-to-the-box) to "strategically daydream.". It resembles mindfulness and meditation (breathing and watching your thoughts non-judgmentally) at the beginning but adds some fun, inviting you to create an "ESP - emotionally safe place" you can return to and further develop anytime. Only you are allowed into your ESP and you can use all your senses and any magical rules that you want. When you're there you also create your "MSG- mental support group" including a cast of anyone you want who may offer you some valuable insights.
This part of the book with the tools and strategies is the most valuable, though short. For the tool of meditation, it recommends beginning with guided meditations. For non- guided meditations, I like how it provides a concrete example that shows how to address your thoughts non-judgmentally and move on; if a self-critical thought pops into your head, think: "Oh, that’s a thought. Back to the breath. Breathe. In. Out. In. Out. Instagram…Oh, that’s thinking. Back to the breath. Breathe. Oh, the sound of a bird. Sound. Breathe. Breathe.". Other tools include acceptance and spirituality, the latter being defined as whatever belief or construct for yourself works to protect you from "existential anxiety.". EMDR is also described as a tool to help address the cumulative "mini traumas." Other tools also leverage ADHD strengths, including imagination, intuition and humor.
In short, it's a great book and I recommend it to anyone with/ affected by one with ADHD and definitely for anyone who coaches or counsels anyone with ADHD.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2025
This book was so helpful to me. His discussion of an Emotional Distress Syndrome wasn't something I'd come across in my other ADHD reading, but it felt like an "aha" moment. I will definitely read this one again.
November 20, 2016
I hate his reading voice and that 12 step program talk that has nothing to do with adhd.
July 15, 2021
I've lately been suspecting that I have some kind of high-functioning inattentive ADHD and/or executive dysfunction - certainly I seem to tick a LOT of the boxes (like... all but one or two, depending on the test) in the various self-assessment tests. So I'm trying to do as much research as I can before I make the call on whether or not to seek an assessment and potential diagnosis.
(And in the meantime, I'm looking for practical strategies to help me manage my relationship with time, my inability to stick to plans and routines, and my incredible distractibility when I want/need to focus. Because even if I DON'T actually have ADHD, I'm quickly discovering that I'm already using a large number of the recommended ADHD-friendly strategies and finding them helpful to at least some extent - so I want to learn more of them in the hope of better managing the symptoms, regardless of what they're symptoms of)
This was the first of the books I've read on the topic, and I found it super readable and accessible. Some of the author's comments resonated deeply enough to make me tear up, and there were several moments of "OMG YES THAT'S TOTALLY ME!!!" It wasn't particularly strong in the practical strategies department, but then, it wasn't written to be - it's designed as a guidebook for the emotional fallout of ADHD which... I feel like I'm dealing with less than most of the clients he talks about in the book.
The two main techniques the author recommends - creating an (imaginary) emotional safe space, and a mental support group (again imaginary) - are both things I'm familiar with from previous spiritual and psychological work. Of course, just because I know them doesn't mean I use them... so it might be time to brush them off and actually bring them into my meditation sessions (when I remember to actually do them!)
(And in the meantime, I'm looking for practical strategies to help me manage my relationship with time, my inability to stick to plans and routines, and my incredible distractibility when I want/need to focus. Because even if I DON'T actually have ADHD, I'm quickly discovering that I'm already using a large number of the recommended ADHD-friendly strategies and finding them helpful to at least some extent - so I want to learn more of them in the hope of better managing the symptoms, regardless of what they're symptoms of)
This was the first of the books I've read on the topic, and I found it super readable and accessible. Some of the author's comments resonated deeply enough to make me tear up, and there were several moments of "OMG YES THAT'S TOTALLY ME!!!" It wasn't particularly strong in the practical strategies department, but then, it wasn't written to be - it's designed as a guidebook for the emotional fallout of ADHD which... I feel like I'm dealing with less than most of the clients he talks about in the book.
The two main techniques the author recommends - creating an (imaginary) emotional safe space, and a mental support group (again imaginary) - are both things I'm familiar with from previous spiritual and psychological work. Of course, just because I know them doesn't mean I use them... so it might be time to brush them off and actually bring them into my meditation sessions (when I remember to actually do them!)
July 12, 2020
This was a supremely helpful book for me as I learn to deal with having ADHD as an adult. The most useful part of James Ochoa's work is addressing the emotional trauma that comes with the condition, especially with going undiagnosed and untreated for so long. I call it life just "sucking" for me, no matter how hard I try. He calls it by the more precise name of Emotional Distress Syndrome (EDS).
I'm tempted to go into more detail now but think it best to refrain to keep the message simple: if you or someone you care about has ADHD, especially as an adult, and life is incredibly difficult all day every day, check this book out. It's very relatable for those experiencing the disorder while not being too clinical with its language.
Ochoa has direct knowledge of this topic, and it shows.
I'm tempted to go into more detail now but think it best to refrain to keep the message simple: if you or someone you care about has ADHD, especially as an adult, and life is incredibly difficult all day every day, check this book out. It's very relatable for those experiencing the disorder while not being too clinical with its language.
Ochoa has direct knowledge of this topic, and it shows.
May 4, 2024
Starts off great with promises of information that you never really get. That’s before it quickly turns into a commercial for his center.
It was also painful to listen to. No audiobook should include the words “parenthesis” and “close parenthesis” as we should be able to tell from the readers voice. Also adding the words “bullet point” when a list is being read is unnecessary.
Add that to the fantasyland that the author wants you to imagine yourself escaping to and you will likely get the same opinion as I did.
It was also painful to listen to. No audiobook should include the words “parenthesis” and “close parenthesis” as we should be able to tell from the readers voice. Also adding the words “bullet point” when a list is being read is unnecessary.
Add that to the fantasyland that the author wants you to imagine yourself escaping to and you will likely get the same opinion as I did.
December 21, 2020
Decent book with some new ideas about regulating adhd in adults, that go beyond keeping a calendar or having a home for items like keys. Overall quite good and the author obviously knows his subject.
However, in audio, this is one case where the author should not read his own book. Some listeners might want to listen to it at a faster speed if able.
However, in audio, this is one case where the author should not read his own book. Some listeners might want to listen to it at a faster speed if able.
July 30, 2022
Eye Opener
This was very hard to put down once I started reading. I know now without a doubt, that I have ADHD. I'm 64 years old and have struggled with why I do the things I do. I gave 5 stars because if anyone thinks they might have adult ADHD this read will confirm it. I'm looking forward to seeking professional help, and working out a more happy and joyous life.
This was very hard to put down once I started reading. I know now without a doubt, that I have ADHD. I'm 64 years old and have struggled with why I do the things I do. I gave 5 stars because if anyone thinks they might have adult ADHD this read will confirm it. I'm looking forward to seeking professional help, and working out a more happy and joyous life.
November 6, 2017
Comprehensive resource on a frequently- overlooked ADHD subject!
This is your "go-to" roadmap for managing the overwhelm of ADHD-triggered emotional storms, written by a true professional who speaks from his own experience and those of his clients. Rock on!!!
This is your "go-to" roadmap for managing the overwhelm of ADHD-triggered emotional storms, written by a true professional who speaks from his own experience and those of his clients. Rock on!!!
January 15, 2018
Absolutely loved this book! So helpful in gaining understand and learning tools to deal with the emotional toll of ADHD. The concepts of an "Emotional Safe Place" and "Mental Support Group" are breath through ideas!
June 6, 2018
If you don't understand the emotional side of ADHD, read this book.
July 24, 2021
good
January 30, 2017
Thankful for this book. Hit me at the perfect time. Love his explanation of emotional distress syndrome caused by ADHD. The skills section provides good reminders. Has a lot of good, concise, well-organized info. I am usually hard to please when it comes to books on this topic, so I was delightfully surprised and encouraged.
July 29, 2016
Absolutely a MUST read for ANYONE dealing with ADHD
Excellent book that emphasizes the emotional toll ADHD has on, not only the the adult with ADHD but how it affects the people closest to them as well!
Excellent book that emphasizes the emotional toll ADHD has on, not only the the adult with ADHD but how it affects the people closest to them as well!
November 8, 2016
What an insight into my adult ADHD son! I listened to it. I think it would be better to have it in text for the chart he gives. Since the author isn't one, he kind of rambles sometimes, but the info he gives out is great. Now I understand where my son is coming from.
December 28, 2020
Best book i have read about the emotions living with adult ADHD. Thank you!❤️🤘
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews