Understanding and Loving a Person with Attention Deficit Disorder: Biblical and Practical Wisdom to Build Empathy, Preserve Boundaries, and Show Compassion

Arterburn Wellness

by Stephen F. Arterburn, Timothy Smith

People who love or work with someone with ADD often feel they want to help, but they don’t want to enable. They value the person’s creativity, but they are exhausted.   Stephen Arterburn and Timothy Smith address ten myths about ADD, the pros and cons of medication, foods that help to minimize ADD, twelve strengths of people with ADD, new studies on how to calm the mind, showing empathy even when it’s hard, and more.   This fresh look at ADD—not as a malady but as a unique way of thinking—shows readers that ADD doesn’t have to ruin their relationships. In fact, it can make them stronger.  

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2017

About the author

Stephen Arterburn is the founder and chairman of New Life Ministries—the nation's largest faith-based broadcast, counseling, and treatment ministry—and is the host of the nationally syndicated New Life Live! daily radio program aired on over 180 radio stations nationwide, Sirius XM radio, and on television. Steve is also the founder of the Women of Faith conferences, attended by over 4 million women, and of HisMatchforMe.com.
Steve is a nationally known public speaker and has been featured in national media venues such as Oprah, Inside Edition, Good Morning America, CNN Live, the New York Times, USA Today, and US News & World Report.
In August 2000, Steve was inducted into the National Speakers Association's Hall of Fame. A bestselling author, Steve has written more than one hundred books, including the popular Every Man's series and his most recent book, Healing Is a Choice. He is a Gold Medallion–winning author and has been nominated for numerous other writing awards.
Steve has degrees from Baylor University and the University of North Texas as well as two honorary doctorate degrees. Steve is a teaching pastor at Northview Church in suburban Indianapolis and resides with his family in Indiana.

Reviews

[Hallie Gleave · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could give 3.5 stars. I stared reading this because I think my partner has undiagnosed ADD. I was hard though for my to read because the first two chapters or so I felt like Aterburn was writing about my partners life. It triggered me and I had to put it away for a while.

Fast forward to last week when I picked this back up again. I now have a better understanding of how my partners mind works. I liked how Aterburn gives alternatives to medication to help with ADD (like vitamins, healthy diet, exercise, and therapy/coaching). My partner refuses to take any medication so I think he would be more receptive to this.

This book is mostly short snippets of how others with ADD used it to makes their lives better. I was under the impression this book would be more geared towards the partner of the person with ADD as the title suggests. There were maybe two chapters, but I thought it would be a lot more. That’s why I have three stars instead of four.

That being said, I feel like I understand my partner better. I feel hopeful that we can find a solution that works for him if he doesn’t want medication. I feel much more confident that I can bring up his undiagnosed ADD in out therapy sessions. This is why I wish I could give 3.5 stars. I would certainly read another book by this author.

[LINDSEY M · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a mom of two teenagers with ADD/ADHD, I found this very useful. It was a quick read; I finished it in two days. I loved that it was very positive while also addressing the frustrations inherent in having loved ones with ADHD. My main takeaway: Work WITH the ADHD, not against it.

[Chrys Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful for me