The ADD Myth: How to Cultivate the Unique Gifts of Intense Personalities

By Martha Burge

More than 5 million children in the United States take stimulant medication to treat ADHD. Yet, there is no objective method of diagnosis for ADHD. And, many of these medications can cause serious side effects including amphetamine psychosis.

In The ADD Myth, ADHD coach Martha Burge proposes that what is commonly understood as ADHD is actually five intense personality traits: sensual, psychomotor, intellectual, creative, and emotional. Once properly understood, People with these intense personality traits can develop them into gifts.

The ADD Myth shows:

• The five intense personality traits: sensual, psychomotor, intellectual, creative, and emotional
• Why all personalities exist along a "neurodiversity" spectrum
• Where intense people fit on the spectrum
• Why the medical profession should seek alternative explanations for ADHD
• Stories, practical steps, and daily practices for developing one's intense nature with the least amount of suffering.

Burge includes her own story of having both of her children diagnosed with ADHD, the serious reactions they had to drug treatment, and how she began her search for an alternative approach to help them. The ADD Myth will raise awareness of the underlying condition of intensity, and help people who previously thought of themselves as broken develop more fulfilling lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Red Wheel Weiser
• Release date: Sep 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781609256395

Martha Burge

Martha Burge is an ADHD coach, mother to two sons diagnosed with ADHD, and a very intense person. She holds a BA in Psychology and an MA in Organizational Development. She provides educational and coaching support for self-defined intense people, adults with ADD/ADHD, and parents of children with ADD/ADHD. She speaks to groups such as the Celebrate Your Life conference in Chicago. Martha is active in the Mensa community and is a trusted coach to Mensa members. She lives in Orange County, CA.

Reviews for The ADD Myth

[Hannah Lundberg · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

As someone with adhd, whose life has been saved by low medication dose, I find found this book offensive.

[winnie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Even though the introduction was a bit too long for me, I have it with most books (probably because I fall into the intense person description)
I enjoyed reading about my "disorder" in not only positive way but the author gave explanations to some of the results of feeling and thinking slightly different than most people. I got to a point of my life when I started feeling like a freak, wishing sometimes that I could cut out part of my brain to make our go away.

This book gave me a peace of mind and a few new techniques how to deal with challenges and how to proceed further on. Because I did feel stuck - I tried to tame my brain in many different ways and even though I gained some results, a lot of effort was fruitless. Now I feel better equipped to continue with turning my issues the advantages and I have some ideas where to search for further information.

All in all, it was one of very few books that seemed to lead nowhere but turned out to be a great help and guidance.