tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92631232011-10-11T02:57:32.323-05:00The ADDventures of a practicing attorney in a southern state. I hope those in the law and those with ADD can find some comfort and help in these postings. The only real person in this blog is the author. The people described in this blog mostly represent sterotypes of some of the characters I see in my travels. Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.comBlogger661100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1106586536653173102005-06-28T11:08:00.000-05:002005-06-28T11:06:59.063-05:00

While this information is done by a California attorney, it's just good advice for anyone in a divorce.Children don't have strong egos. Their sense of themselves is through their parents. When one parent criticizes the other parent it wound's a part of that child's identity.If you love your children, never, ever say anything bad about the other parent where you children can here.California

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com98tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1108078187081724642005-06-10T17:29:00.000-05:002005-06-11T13:30:59.966-05:00

Some people wonder if the increase in diagnosis of ADD is caused by changes in our society. They wonder if there are things that have changed about society that are causing people to have ADD. One of the suspects is TV watching. The following article gives an overview of the research behind the ADD/TV connection.Does Watching TV Cause ADHD? - Pediatrics Archives

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1117594025575251672005-06-05T21:47:00.000-05:002005-06-06T16:51:52.766-05:00

There are 296 million people in the United States. It is estimated that 3-5 percent of that population is ADD. So, somewhere between 8.8 and 14.8 million people have ADD. The following article deals with how more and more people in the workplace are diagnosed with ADD. Now if we could just get more people to understand about ADD, then perhaps the workplace will be more ADD friendly.ABC News:

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1117594090997031882005-06-03T21:48:00.000-05:002005-06-06T16:31:53.890-05:00

I'm a solo practioner. I work for myself. I tell my assistants about my ADD and have them try to compensate for me. The great thing is that I can dictate my pace and control my schedule.When I get home, I feel wiped out. A whole day of having to concentrate makes me come home not wanting to do much at all. If too many things come up at home I quickly get the feeling of being overwhelmed.This

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1114265312199052392005-04-23T09:00:00.000-05:002005-04-23T09:08:32.200-05:00

I'd love for my blog to be a great resource for people with ADD, but I have to face my limitations as a person. First, I have this "law thing" that I do. Second, I have this ADD thing that often makes life somewhat chaotic. So, often I have to look for material to continue to post.One of the best blogs for people with ADD is Living With ADHD. I subscribe to it with RSS and enjoy the variety

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1110711862584239492005-03-19T05:04:00.000-06:002005-03-20T03:56:28.303-06:00

Domestic violence is a troublesome issue for family courts. First, there is the problem of getting victims of family violence to be strong enough to end the cycle of abuse. There are so many times when a true victim will continue to go back to the abuser over and over again. The second problem is the "offensive" use of a claim of family violence. Since this can be an issue of life or death,

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1111189999892499342005-03-18T17:53:00.000-06:002005-03-18T17:53:19.893-06:00

Many people do not understand the bankruptcy system, until they really need it. Many people need only lose their income for a couple of months and they would likely end up homeless. The credit card industry has been trying to get bankruptcy "reform" passed for a number of years. It looks like this year they will finally get it done. This article tells why this "reform" is really a bad idea.

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1111104516698012392005-03-17T18:08:00.000-06:002005-03-18T09:19:13.510-06:00

This is a subject in which I have a vested interest. I've been diagnosed as dysthymic. This is a persistant low grade depression that follows one around throughout life. I've also suffered from several bouts of rather severe depression in my life.It is very common for someone with ADD to have comorbid depression. The medical world is unsure if this is just a natural part of the differences in

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1110710716243565442005-03-13T04:45:00.000-06:002005-03-13T04:45:16.243-06:00

This is potentially a big case for divorce lawyers. I've often recommended my clients use Spector if they feel that their spouse is using the computer in furtherance of harming the marriage. It seems the Florida courts feel that this is improper and have not allowed evidence obtained this way to be used in courts. My state is a community property state, so it's likely that any computer used by

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1109328530704295722005-03-07T04:48:00.000-06:002005-03-08T05:32:05.160-06:00

My ADD brain craves stimulation. I'm always looking for new things and have such a low frustration tolerance for boredom. I wrote some time ago about my use of FreeCell as "brain candy." My son (ADHD) is quite a chubby fellow just like his father. I can see the way he uses food to stimulate his brain. He eats so much more when he doesn't take his Adderal. Some of this is due to the appetite

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1109328513795979152005-03-06T04:48:00.000-06:002005-03-08T05:46:39.316-06:00

My household should own stock in Shire. 4 out of the 5 people in our household take Adderall XR. My two sons ages 8 and 13 take it. Many people have some prejudice against taking any medication that affects the brain. I really don't understand their thinking. If my thyroid doesn't produce enough hormone, I'll supplement it. If I'm diabetic, I'll take insulin to regulate my blood sugar. Why don't

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1109330142738327982005-02-28T05:15:00.000-06:002005-02-28T06:51:47.226-06:00

ADD is both a blessing and a curse. It is both positive and negative. Most people believe that Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein were ADD. Would they have had the same impact on the world if they were taking medication? Does medication affect the ADD brain in negative ways? This article presents some unique points of view on this issue.PsycPORT.com | What if Einstein Had Taken Ritalin?

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1109328059111703902005-02-25T04:40:00.000-06:002005-02-25T04:40:59.110-06:00

I recently linked to a PBS article on medicating kids with ADD. This is another excellent resource on the whole spectrum of learning/processing disorders. I think more information such as this will help society see that each individual has a unique brain. Just because my brain works differently from the brains of the majority of society doesn't make mine defective. Misunderstood Minds | PBS

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1109327010219803322005-02-25T04:23:00.000-06:002005-02-25T04:23:30.220-06:00

This is a page on a site by a pediatrician who also specializes in treating ADD/ADHD in adults and children. On the page he lists some of the life issues that arise with this condition. The introduction to this page really resonates with me. It says: "This is a plea that we must find ADD/ADHD in children early and treat them effectively to prevent their outcome and consequences" ADD/ADHD

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1109326703828938392005-02-25T04:18:00.000-06:002005-02-25T04:18:23.826-06:00

This is the most comprehensive list of ADD assessment tests I have found. If you are an adult and are trying to figure if you are ADD, they have a self scoring Excel spreadsheet of the Wender Utah Rating Scale here. Psychiatric Rating Scales for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) -- Neurotransmitter.net

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1109291257723640612005-02-24T18:27:00.000-06:002005-02-24T18:27:37.723-06:00

Two doctors have an affair for four months. Two years later, the male doctor is slapped with a paternity suit. He claims that the other doctor kept some of his sperm and used it to impregnate herself. He sues her claiming that she caused him emotional distress. You've got to read this story. It shows just how wacky human behavior can be. I really liked the part where the court of appeals

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1109245490778670192005-02-24T05:28:00.000-06:002005-02-24T05:52:52.100-06:00

A recent post on the Adult-ADD-issues Yahoo group talked about ADDer's who are able to read people. The interesting thing about ADD in their relations with people is that it can manifest itself in very different ways.I have a friend, also an attorney, who is should be an ADD poster child. One of the ways her ADD manifests itself is with her non-stop talking. She is so distracted and hyperfocused

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1109114413521805012005-02-22T17:20:00.000-06:002005-02-22T18:08:57.606-06:00

This all started with a post on the blog Notes from the (Legal) Underground. The interesting items are the comments and the links. I know a lot of lawyers that just hate what they do.Since a large part of my practice is family law, it is often some high conflict stuff. I’ve loved and hated practicing law in my 18 years of practice. I’ve had the joys of seeing an abused child adopted by loving

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1109113333389050402005-02-22T17:02:00.000-06:002005-02-22T17:02:13.390-06:00

A man points a gun at an officer, struggles with him, bites him on the hand and is arrested.  He was stopped for an allegation of aggravated indecent assault.  He claims that since he still owes his lawyers $15,000 out of a $25,000 retainer, his lawyers pressure him to plead guilty on the night before trial and the next day he does.  He appeals his case he is given a new trial.Unfortunately we

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1109032760201410732005-02-21T18:39:00.000-06:002005-02-22T18:06:04.466-06:00

Oh, the wonders of the first amendment. If it's art it can't be indecent, can it? So, when Boise passes a law against totally nude clubs, some bright club owner starts holding "art night" where customers sketch the "models."Think I can tell my wife, "Honey, I think I'm going to take up sketching. There's this meeting on Mondays that I just have to attend."I'll just have to suffer in the name of

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1109002987499583642005-02-21T10:23:00.000-06:002005-02-21T10:23:07.500-06:00

Having ADD has affected by life. ADD can seriously impact many aspects of a person's life including home, school, and work. This is an online course about advocating for someone with developmental disabilities. Anyone who has ADD or who has a child with ADD should check out this resource. Partners in Making Your Case

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1108905859110554042005-02-20T07:24:00.000-06:002005-02-20T07:24:19.110-06:00

Obviously since I have a "unique" brain, I am very sensitive to clients who have issues caused by the unique ways their brains work. This post talks about the lack of training for lawyers in the areas of mental health and the ethical and moral issues dealing with clients with these iissues. I like the idea of a continuing education course dealing with the seven deadly sins. Crime & Federalism:

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1102336785689919632005-02-18T18:39:00.000-06:002005-02-19T00:45:50.830-06:00

Many people going though divorce suffer negative effects on their credit. Many people don't remember if they applied for credit in their own name or jointly with their spouse. Equifax has an online 3 in 1 credit report that should find most accounts on your credit. It might be a good idea to check even if you're not going through a divorce.Equifax Personal Solutions

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1103652482930595062005-02-11T12:08:00.000-06:002005-02-11T17:48:01.656-06:00

Can you really tell when someone is lying? The following article details some of the research going on in this area. There is an interesting part of linguistic clues.Detecting deception

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1106586090240706392005-02-10T11:01:00.000-06:002005-02-10T17:13:42.643-06:00

Having been a lawyer for a number of years, I now know that there are always two sides of a story. Often I go to court and can't figure out who is telling the truth. Sometimes it takes a long time before I get some feel for the truth. The following article addresses some of the reasons and possible solutions to this issue in the family court context. �Lying in Family Court

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1107872397184971982005-02-08T08:19:00.000-06:002005-02-08T08:19:57.183-06:00

Why do some people have brains that function differently than others? Autism is caused by brains that have difficulties in understanding communication, social interaction, and imagination. Many have problems processing their sensory inputs. This article details how scientists are discovering some of the causes of the differences in autistic brains. Unfortunately for autistic persons, there

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1103601412792627372005-01-18T18:19:00.000-06:002005-01-18T18:24:14.493-06:00

This is a very good article on gender bias in family courts. It has some good suggestions on ways to correct this situation. Most family law attorneys know that this bias exists. The problem is correcting the situation.

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1103652357831767422005-01-17T11:05:00.000-06:002005-01-17T11:04:57.283-06:00

The hardest part of my job is trying to tell if someone is really telling the truth. Whether it's a witness, the opposing party, or my client, it is so difficult to try to find out the real truth in any situation. This article says that women are better liars than men. I don't know if I necessarily agree with this, but it's interesting reading.

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1103710299821933502004-12-22T03:49:00.000-06:002004-12-22T04:11:39.820-06:00

As an ADD attorney, I'm always perhaps a little bored with life. I'm always looking for something to help entertain that overly active mind. Since I have a tendency to overanalyze things, I try not to take myself too seriously (otherwise I'd likely analyze myself insane). That's why I love the blog Blonde Justice, by a real life public defender in a large city. Her posts run from thankless

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1103652042297486392004-12-21T12:00:00.000-06:002004-12-21T12:00:42.296-06:00

I actually started doing a little reseach on lie detecting. I wanted to see if there had been any advances in studying the brains of people who tell falsehoods. I just happened upon this article: Wired News: Brain Scans Arouse Researchers. Interesting stuff. Kinda reminds me of this joke I heard ... Oh never mind.

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1102336305610250502004-12-20T21:31:00.000-06:002004-12-20T21:45:31.513-06:00

If you've ever been involved in a custody dispute, you may have had to deal with a court appointed psychologist. The following guidelines are suggested by the American Psychological Association as appropriate for any psychologist conducting an evaluation in connection with a child custody dispute. Guidelines for Child Custody Evaluations in Divorce Proceedings

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1103315210394348732004-12-17T14:26:00.000-06:002004-12-17T14:26:50.393-06:00

This article gives sound advice on coping during a divorce. Worth a look. Divorce: Coping With The Family Law Process | Family Resource (FamilyResource.com)

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1103200616044188792004-12-16T06:28:00.000-06:002004-12-17T07:27:35.880-06:00

"The first thing we do," said the character in Shakespeare's Henry VI, is "kill all the lawyers." Whether you like lawyers or not, we do serve a function in society. One of those functions is to make sure that the average person is not oppressed by other people in power. Sure, some lawyers take advantage of their ability and then turn around and oppress people in a different way. That's a post

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1103146674970659742004-12-15T15:27:00.000-06:002004-12-15T15:37:54.970-06:00

In some cultures, an individual's birthday is not celebrated. In the southern US, birthdays are a big deal. We look forward to our friend's birthdays to tell them how special they are to us. We want to celebrate another year of their life. We want to show them how much they mean to us. It must be tough to have a December birthday. You're always competing with the other birthday that is

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1102348788830014292004-12-15T06:08:00.000-06:002004-12-15T06:08:31.320-06:00

Taking medication for ADD is a very controversial subject. My own personal experience tells me that any parent who doesn't medicate their child is doing them a grave disservice. Adderal helps my ADD brain enormously. Doesn't solve all of my ADD issues, but it sure helps. The following web page is a great resource for those parents who are agonizing with the decision. In usual PBS fashion, it

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1102766024957217092004-12-11T05:53:00.000-06:002004-12-11T06:09:25.313-06:00

Lately, I've been spending some time digging into the book "The Power of Now" by Eckart Tolle. So, what's this book like? Here's an excerpt from Tolle's website: To make the journey into The Power of Now we will need to leave our analytical mind and its false created self, the ego, behind. From the very first page of this extraordinary book, we move rapidly into a

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1102467222874833602004-12-10T15:53:00.000-06:002004-12-10T15:53:32.806-06:00

For all my fellow ADDers out there and for all their significant others, here are some tips for making the relationship work. Personally, the two that have presented the most problems in my relationship are #2, the "nagger/avoider" dynamic (I'm the king of passive agressive behaviors), and #7, the "blame game" (This is a big problem in divorces).

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1102647589417813342004-12-09T20:47:00.000-06:002004-12-09T20:59:49.416-06:00

Often I see situations where a person "kills" themselves. What I'm talking about is not where the person actually commits suicide. It's more insidioius and painful to watch. It is when the person kills their soul. When you see the beauty that lies within a person slip away, it is difficult to watch. You see the vibrance and wonder of a person become a hollow shell. I believe that God loves

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1102544699355074032004-12-08T16:13:00.000-06:002004-12-08T16:24:59.356-06:00

I know that one of the reasons I became a lawyer was to try to correct injustices done to others. I've often had the problem of becoming too wrapped up in cases or issues. Especially when I really feel the pain of the person I'm trying to protect. When that pain moves something so deep in me, I feel that I MUST do something about it. The frustration comes when despite how much you want to do

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101348814139025602004-12-07T18:13:00.000-06:002004-12-08T05:45:52.636-06:00

Parents in divorce cases often are so wrapped up in their problems that they can barely take care of themselves let alone their children. The child feels they have no "voice". A child's voice is their self-confidence that they can be heard and can have an effect on their own environment. Dr. Richard Grossman writes some compelling stuff on his website. Many of the problems today with teenage

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1102335673695069692004-12-06T06:21:00.000-06:002004-12-06T10:13:49.926-06:00

Parental alienation is a controversial topic in the family law profession. Richard Gardner coined a term called parental aliention syndrome. This is where a pattern of alienation becomes so severe that it reaches the stage where it should be classified as a distinct psychological syndrome. The diagnosis of parental alienation syndrome ("PAS") is controversial because it is not officially

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1102284176603488982004-12-05T15:26:00.000-06:002004-12-05T16:02:56.603-06:00

If you've been a victim of child abuse, you should check out this site. Many people who were mistreated as children don't realize the impact it now has on their lives. Many even may repress their memories of abuse.

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1102205138067443082004-12-04T18:01:00.000-06:002004-12-04T18:06:42.416-06:00

Here are tips for divorcing parents. The two I see most often violated are Rule #9, "Speak positively about the other parent," and Rule #10, "Allow your children to stay children." Bill Feguson knows about this well. He used to be a divorce lawyer. His site is full of useful information.

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1102159237284030842004-12-04T05:07:00.000-06:002004-12-04T05:20:37.286-06:00

Lately I've been doing a lot of blog cruising. Seeing the struggles of others makes me more human. Which brings me to the topic of ADD and spirituality. There are several people in our church choir who are ADD. All wonderful people. All very spiritual people. I came upon this post in blog space. Chris is on a journey and thinks she might be ADD. What struck me about the rest of Chris'

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1102156855425861722004-12-04T04:33:00.000-06:002004-12-04T08:32:03.740-06:00

I've been divorced and it can be pure hell. Here's someone who is honestly posting their thoughts as they are going through the process. I really liked the part where he's trying to change his blog from "all angst, all the time." The End of My Marriage?

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1102119234246324582004-12-03T18:09:00.000-06:002004-12-03T18:14:36.680-06:00

This funny post comes from the Adult-Add-Issues group on Yahoo. My partner asks, "What are you thinking?" all the time. I KNOW you are supposed to answer, "How much I love you, pooky." but, I often find myself telling the truth. Cause relationships are SUPPOSED to be built on honesty. But, it always sounds horrible. "What are you thinking?" on a train through the Casades. "How many people

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1102035157878544882004-12-02T18:09:00.000-06:002004-12-03T06:57:56.000-06:00

Recently, a special friend of mine told me that I think too much. I think that she recognized this because she also thinks too much. So, soon I was thinking too much about how my brain really does think too much. I know that this is one of my ADD traits. A hyperkenetic ADDer can't physically keep their body still. They have both an overactive mind and an overactive body. I am an "inattentive"

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101939642741010812004-12-01T16:08:00.000-06:002004-12-01T16:20:42.743-06:00

There is a high incidence of comorbid learning disorders such as dyslexia in people with ADD. I'm in the process of having my son checked right now. As I started to look into the legal issues, my head started to spin: 504, IEP, IDEA, and of course the issue of getting a free appropriate public education or FAPE. That's why it's a good thing to know people who know this area of the law and can

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101924309542433912004-12-01T13:05:00.000-06:002004-12-01T13:23:26.403-06:00

Here's some links to some different ADD tests. PDF Tests Test #1 Test #2 Test #3 Amen Online Questionaire (self-scoring) None of these, by themselves, proves that you have ADD. All these tests can do is tell you that you have many of the traits of an ADD person. If these tests indicate that you might be ADD, go to a doctor and find out for sure. It just might radically change your life.

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101903820480962932004-12-01T05:50:00.000-06:002004-12-02T06:27:31.900-06:00

Part of my practice is family law. I have a love-hate relationship with that part of my practice. I know that a big part of who I am is due to this part of my practice. The "Best Interests of the Child" is one of those phrases that family lawyers have to use. Since lawyers are supposed to help see that justice is done (at least in the ideal world), we are supposed to put that issue first. The

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101074023648618512004-11-28T20:41:00.000-06:002004-11-28T20:42:49.676-06:00

"Hi, my name is Addicus, and I'm a Free Cell Addict" OK. We've got AA for alcoholics. We've got gambler's anonymous, sex addicts anonymous, overeaters anonymous. I need to find the weekly meeting for Free Cell anonymous. While it's a tough addiction (I had to hard delete it from my work computer - the recycle bin was too close), it now makes so much sense that I am a Free Cell Addict. My ADD

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101424622403932632004-11-28T19:03:00.000-06:002004-11-28T19:04:29.426-06:00

How I came to discover that I was ADD is quite an interesting tale. First, it starts with a good friend of mine who had a child that was ADD. She was the manager for a client of mine and a good friend. So about two, maybe three, years ago she out of the blue tells me that she's been reading and she's almost positive that not only was she ADD (she is) but also that I'm ADD. My understanding of

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101604382658912382004-11-27T19:09:00.000-06:002004-11-28T18:46:41.270-06:00

ADDvantage to ADD - Flexibility This is a funny post to the ADDventures Yahoo Group. "There have been times when there is so much unorganized paper and CRAP EVERYWHERE, ALL over the floor, you have to be some kind of a frickin' NINJA to walk around it" That's why am as flexible as I am. I'm used to going on an Indian Jones adventure when I walk through my room.

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101539730529985372004-11-27T15:05:00.000-06:002004-11-28T01:15:16.610-06:00

The school recently told me that they suspect that my oldest son is dysgraphic. The old saying is that the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. My oldest son is brain-wise the product of his father. It often surprises me how in spite of trying very hard to raise someone different from me, he is so much like me. As I started researching dysgraphia, I began to realize that I was dysgraphic.

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101398578949160512004-11-27T11:12:00.000-06:002004-12-02T21:23:01.146-06:00

A former Episcopal priest I know is a brilliant, dynamic man. He talked with me about our "constructive personality." Our constructive personality is our part-real, part-fake public persona. Our constuctive personality hides a wounded, confused core. He helped me to understand more about my contructive personality because he knew much about his own constructive personality. It was the reason he

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101491124687565942004-11-26T11:35:00.000-06:002004-11-26T11:45:24.686-06:00

Being ADD, I get bored rather easily. So I tend to jump from thing to thing (or maybe from obsession to obsession?) quickly. I've always been a computer nerd (had a TRS-80 for those old enough to remember). As I kept hearing about this Blogging thing, I wanted to find out more about it. Once I looked at some of the technical stuff, I started looking for blogs that fit my interests. One of

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101489692944046392004-11-26T11:11:00.000-06:002004-11-28T08:24:07.206-06:00

It comes as no great surprise to me that as an ADD attorney I'm a solo practictioner. (Anyone know any highly organized non-add secretaries?) Solo firm life has its downsides. (Health insurance is the biggest, but that's a whole other post.) Fortunately someone out in blog space is trying to help all of the solo and small firm types. Carolyn Elefant has a blog called My Shingle. It is a

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101411035846767612004-11-25T13:10:00.000-06:002004-11-25T13:30:35.846-06:00

OK, first check out this PDF of a newspaper story. Look closely at the two faces. I'm trying hard to decide what I would do if this was my daughter. Yes, I wouldn't want some 22 year old to help my 14 year old run away. I'm sure I would be traumatized and hurt if I were the parents in this matter. I'm sure I would be very upset (almost where's my shotgun upset) if this guy had had sexual

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101338335118190432004-11-24T17:18:00.000-06:002004-11-25T16:51:43.380-06:00

One of my purposes for this blog is to try to help people. If anyone out there is ADD, being diagnosed will greatly help you find a new acceptance of yourself. Even if you never take medication, the diagnosis will bring new meaning to your life. This article explains the criteria proposed by Dr. Ned Hallowell, a leading person in the ADD field. These criteria are different from the DSM criteria.

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101321435735537472004-11-24T13:18:00.000-06:002004-11-27T19:16:54.323-06:00

My grandfather was a Winnebago. For some people this is what they think of when the hear Winnebago. If you're curious here's some information about the Winnebago. That explains why my ADD brain stopped when it saw this post on the net. It also really speaks to some of my life. An old Cherokee Indian was teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101325726115510272004-11-24T13:10:00.000-06:002004-11-25T13:34:52.546-06:00

This blog is quite funny in an Australian/English sort of way. I love the line: "I'm the librarian who gets shushed by the patrons." Personally, I'm not a hyperactive ADDer. I'm the inattentive type. As a recently diagnosed ADDer, I now see that I have quite an attraction to other ADD people. Some of my closest friends are ADDers. I sent the hyperactive librarian an email asking him how the

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101254261619655782004-11-23T17:45:00.000-06:002004-11-23T17:57:41.620-06:00

In the family law circle, we often hear from one spouse that their soon to be ex-spouse is totally depraved. The "injured" spouse will often go on ad nauseum about the evil acts committed upon them by the other party. The phrase "Two's Don't Marry Ten's" means that the complaining spouse is probably not exactly a ten themselves. When I was a younger lawyer, I used to listen to the complaining

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101180859187662022004-11-22T21:17:00.000-06:002004-11-22T21:34:19.186-06:00

A large part of my practice is family law. If you've ever done any psychological counseling, you are quite familiar with discovering issues with your "family of origin." The whole purpose of this exercise is to discover how dysfunctional your family was and to try to understand how this affects you today. I'll be the first to admit that it can be an interesting exercise is trying to figure out

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101166296038433042004-11-22T16:47:00.000-06:002004-11-25T12:23:15.896-06:00

One of the best judges down at the courthouse should be a poster child for ADD. The man just cannot sit still for very long. He talks incredibly fast. If you sit down to talk with him, he will often pick up the phone spontaneously without even telling you he needs to make a call. He is not only one of the best judges, he's also my favorite judge down at the courthouse. He's is my favorite

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101057737564956412004-11-21T10:23:00.000-06:002004-11-22T18:39:46.116-06:00

Back in the late summer I was traveling with some friends of mine. They had a son who had just graduated from high school. I knew the child and the parents well from church. As I observed their son, I sensed that he was quite a bit like me. He is smart. (Yes I'm being not very humble and admitting that at least some of the time I might act smart.) He can be withdrawn. He appears to have some

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9263123.post-1101054057290667082004-11-21T09:46:00.000-06:002004-11-21T10:20:57.290-06:00

I decided to start this blog to detail some of the craziness in my life. Life in the law presents its own craziness. The day to day grind of eccentric judges, stressed clients, and other lawyers is enough to make anyone a tad bit crazy. Factor in the stuggles of living with this thing call attention deficit disorder and it makes for a life that has its own unique insanity. One of my goals

Addicus Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737301423653955041noreply@blogger.com