Abundant Creativity Effect (ACE) is a more descriptive, positive label for the misunderstood, and misnamed ADD/ADHD. If we must have labels for this condition affecting millions of children and adults worldwide then, let it be one of encouragement and positivity.

There is no known cure for ACE, and let's face it, would you really want to? ACE can be controlled and managed, so why would you willingly change the creativity, the ability to focus on a task until completion, the amazing insights you have on a multitude of topics.

You receive stimulus on a continual basis, as does everyone else. The ONLY difference between you and the so-called normal people is that you are lacking a certain degree of filtration. That is all of that external bombardment you are receiving through all of your senses is bouncing around your brain looking for a home, or an exit.

Generally you can use this stimulus by directing it into creative endeavors whether it be painting, writing, sculpting or any of a number of wonderful outlets.

ACE is NOT about being lazy and incompetent. This misguided stereotype will probably be your biggest hurdle to overcome. Until we make people aware that our inability to do things on others' timetables is not due to a lack of motivation, but rather an attentiveness on other aspects of our daily lives, then that is a burden we will have to live under.

This does not mean, however that YOU have to believe that you are lazy or incompetent. YOU know that you are smart and driven to succeed.

YOU are accepted here.

You may be wondering (or not) how I feel about ADD medications considering my pride in ACE. I can tell you that I no hard an fast rules when it comes to meds. There are a variety of things to think about before starting medication.

1. The meds used to treat (not cure) ADD symptoms are Schedule II stimulants. They are designed to "stimulate" certain chemical production in the brain which ACE's lack sufficient amounts of. If used on a person who is NOT an ACE, this can cause some pretty strange behavior, and sometimes have the opposite effect that they are intended for.

2. Adults who have learned to manage the most troublesome or most severe aspects of their ACE probably do not need medication to maintain a productive life.

3. Children, who have not yet learned to manage the behavioral problems associated with ACE will probably benefit from taking medication, at least short term in order to quiet the mind long enough to have a shot at learning some of those lessons.

4. I personally don't think that medication is a long term solution to this life long condition. I think that it has its place, but the long term solution is to learn techniques, utilize loved ones, and decide to live because of rather than in spite of ACE.

I was watching the news today, and saw some stories about the tragedies in Africa, the war in Iraq, and the devastation of cancer, and I realized something. I realized why adults with ACE are reluctant to stand up for themselves and ask for help. We feel guilty.

I know personally, that it is difficult for me to see these types of things and want help for myself. I think that I am not as worthy of assistance as the people affected by disease, poverty and war. I have been inundated with media stories about ACE being an excuse to medicate our children, as an excuse for laziness, and as a 'pretend' disorder concocted by the pharmaceutical companies. I have been made to feel ashamed, and made to question the validity of my ACE.

I recognize that ACE is not life threatening, at least in the sense that the condition itself won't kill me. I would like to know, however, how many people who have committed suicide had undiagnosed, or even diagnosed ACE. I know, however that ACE has affected my life and the lives of those I love. I know that the state of my finances, for instance are a direct result of my ACE.

I also know that I have much to contribute to my life, my family and my community. If only...

If only I could get my finances under control.
If only I could get my household under control.
If only I could get my schedule under control.
If only I could get work under control.
If only I could get school under control.
If only I could get my kids under control.

How will we ever get the help we truly need and deserve if we are too ashamed and guilt ridden to stand up and educate the world on what ACE REALLY is and how it affects day to day living? We have to stop worrying about how others will view us. It is going to be hard. People are going to say terrible things. But we have to know in our hearts and minds that this is the right thing to do. We need to establish some kind of organization that can help us with our day to day living, and not make us feel like failures in the process.

Let's face it, the biggest challenge we as ACE's have is getting organized. We buy all the latest gadgets, try all the latest systems, and read all the organizing books we can find. It never fails that regardless of our best intentions, these things inevitably fail. We forget to use these tools. We lose them. They become too complicated.

How, then do we function in a world where housework needs to be accomplished, bills need to be paid, schedules need to be adhered to and deadlines met? The answer is...one step at a time.

We can't just decide to fix everything in our lives all at once. That would be overwhelming. Make a list of the areas that cause you the most problems. Prioritize the list so that your number one problem is at the top, and your least aggravating one is at the bottom. Transfer this list to your organizer.

Yes, I think that it is imperative that you purchase a good organizer. At a minimum, it should have pages for all of your contacts, a weekly calendar, notes pages, and a grocery list.

Make it your number one priority to use your organizer every day and to carry it wherever you go. Make sure that it can't be left behind by leaving it with your purse/wallet/keys. A good friend of mine told me that she never leaves home without it.

See the list below for ways to use your organizer as your personal assistant.

Now, tackle that first item on your list. Is it finances? Housework? Kids? Schedules? Deadlines? Break down this first item into small steps. What do you need to do first to begin to fix this problem? If you break the big problem down into a multi-step solution it won't seem as overwhelming or cumbersome.

Let's take finances first as that seems to be the biggest challenge we face. Start by trying to identify how you got into the situation you are in. Was it spending beyond your means? Was it failing to pay bills on time incurring late charges? Have you fallen so far behind that it seems that you'll never catch up?

If you are in arrears with many of your accounts, try calling your creditors and utilities to explain to them the situation you are in. There are many companies who will work with you to help you find a solution. If you just can't muster the courage to make that call, check your local area for credit counselors or debt relief specialists. Make sure that you are dealing with a reputable company however. Check with the Better Business Bureau and your local Chamber of Commerce as to the reputation of the company you are looking to go into business with.

Paying bills on time can be one of our most daunting tasks. It's one of our most shameful failings because although we may make good money, we are constantly behind the 8 ball. Our brains just are not wired to focus on the mundane tasks of life that are so essential to functioning in our society.

If your bank has online checking, see if there is a Bill Pay option. You can set up recurring bills to go out at a specified date, ensuring that none of those will be late. Good candidates for this type of bill paying are anything with a stagnant payment amount such as mortgage, rent, car payment, insurance, etc.

I know that for me, the biggest challenge has been paying those varying bills. Credit cards and utilities comes to mind. Trying to remember to schedule those payments every month was an unbelievable challenge to me.

This is how I handle the situation now. Every evening I check the mail. All bills are handled immediately. If I have a bill for one of my scheduled payments, I write PAID and the date it is scheduled for across it and file it away. For all my other bills, I write the check or schedule the payment immediately.

When writing checks, I put the bill stub and check in the envelope and stamp it. I then write the MAIL BY date on the back of the envelope and place it in a basket by my front door. Every morning before I leave, I check the basket for any items that need to go out that day.

This ensures that payments are made and on time. NOTE: Use the MAIL BY date rather than the due date. You don't want to miss getting something in on time.

Dread. Housework is the bane of my existence. I know some people who actually enjoy it! Yeesh. Let's face it, it's a necessary evil, and we can't live in squalor, so how do we recognize what needs to be done, and how can we go about doing it in an efficient manner?

ONE STEP AT A TIME

If you're looking at a big mess, break the task of cleaning it up into smaller parts.

Laundry:
If laundry has been piling up for weeks, focus on getting two loads done today along with at least two other chores. Carry a timer of some type around with you. This could be an alarm on your cell phone, your watch, or any kind of small timing device with an alarm/buzzer. When the timer goes off, go check the clothes. When the clothes are finished drying, fold them or hang them right then and there. Then go put them away. Don't put them back in the basket to get to later.

While the clothes are washing/drying tackle one corner/small area of your house to clean. Take all the supplies that you will need with you to the area. Some things you might need: Vacuum, mop, rags, cleaner, trash bag, duster. Put your blinders on and ignore any other areas until you get this one perfectly clean. If you feel up to it, tackle another small area, but keep your blinders on and ignore the other spots that need attention for now. You don't want to get that overwhelming feeling that you will never get it all done. You will if you chip away at it.

Don't make plans to get everything done at once. It's unrealistic, overwhelming and de-motivating. Try to follow this procedure every day. Once the house is completely clean, it will take you less and less time to maintain it as long as you keep up this routine. If you have a spouse/partner and/or children, get them involved and give everyone two areas to clean. This will help get everything done that much faster.

Remember, you have a life, so don't forget to enjoy it.

Hyperfocusing is the state of attention that ACE's can fall into when engrossed in a task or activity. This state of mind and body focuses all attention on working on something, playing a game, writing or anything that captures the ACE's imagination.

Many Non-ACE's can certainly stick to a task until completion, but when in hyperfocus mode, an ACE will focus on the task to the exclusion of all else, even eating. I once spent 19 hours straight writing an Excel program, breaking only to go to the bathroom...and then only when the need became so great as to force the issue. While this was great for my boss, it was hell on me and my health.

There are positives and negatives to hyperfocusing. Certainly, we are elated that we are in a state where we are getting something...ANYTHING...accomplished. However, this usually comes to the detriment and negligence of other tasks.

I would never encourage anyone to avoid the hyperfocus state. Despite the drawbacks, it does cause a sense of elation and accomplishment that we so seldom feel. However, it is just as important to take care of yourself and the other responsibilities in your life. Therefore, limit these episodes to between one and three hours. This time frame is one that I would consider to be short enough to be healthy, and long enough to be productive.

You probably won't be able to pull yourself out of a hyperfocus state on your own; after all, you are focusing on something else. If you find a timer or alarm clock works for you, great. I find, however that it is just as easy to ignore that as it is to ignore your hunger pangs. It might be better to enlist a trusted person to interrupt you at a pre-determined time. Tell them that when they do interrupt you to do so about 20 minutes before the deadline so as to give you time to finish the last of what you are working on. They should then return in 20 minutes to drag you away.

Keep in mind that if you dismiss your friend or are rude to them when they are doing you this favor that you are unlikely to receive their help again. So, do what you intended and leave the project when time's up. Go enjoy the rest of your life.

ACE in and of itself is challenging enough, but I have met several people with ACE who are also suffering one or more other conditions at the same time. There are several conditions that seem to take ACE by the hand and frolic happily alongside it throughout life.

Depression

Depression is probably the most common co-existing condition related to ACE. It's easy to understand why. Those of us who found out late in life that we weren't losers or backwards in some way, now not only have to deal with learning to live with ACE but also to cope with the lost years; the wasted time.

Those of you who have known about your own ACE for years or even since childhood, also have to deal with the internal struggles associated with being "different" and perceived as "less than".

I'm not an expert, and I don't have the answers. I certainly suffer from depression from time to time. I think, however that if we can recognize the depression for what it is, and take steps to remind ourselves of all the positives in our lives, and the contributions we make every day, that we can try to control the onslaught and the toll it takes on our psyches.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

This is a tough one. Many people with ACE develop OCD as a life management tool. That is, they learn habits that will help them remember things such as turning off lights and locking doors, among many others. This way, they cannot leave their home without performing these tasks, ensuring that they do not forget.

There are various severities of OCD, and so I would recommend that if you feel you fall into this category that you seek professional guidance. In some cases, OCD may be the result of a chemical imbalance and can be controlled through medicine or diet.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders is a label covering a multitude of conditions from societal anxiety disorder to post traumatic stress disorder to panic disorder among others.

Again, it's easy to see how an ACE would develop one or more of these conditions because of how their ACE manifests itself. I, myself suffer from panic attacks at having to be involved in a social situation as I'm unsure as to how I will conduct myself. I also suffer mild panic attacks when I think there is something important I have forgotten.

These are just a few of the added bonuses of being an ACE. We can have any, all or none. The bottom line, however is that they must be addressed and treated if necessary, in order to lead positive lives.

We've talked about hyperfocusing and what that entails, but what about what I refer to as ACE paralysis? I haven't seen much written on this aspect, so all I have to write from is my experience in this area.

ACE paralysis occurs when we are intent on taking action, whether it be sitting down to pay the bills, clean the house, finish a project, etc. Most of the time, the hardest part is just remembering to do the task to begin with. Once that hurdle is overcome, we can set about doing what needs to be done.

However, there are times when we set out to do something and our minds get so overwhelmed with input that we can't even take a single step towards action of any sort. We look at the pile of bills, and we think about the task of sorting them, calculating our bank balance, writing the checks, stuffing the envelopes, finding and placing stamps, getting them to the mailbox, among other things.

STaR's generally think all these things as a series of steps to be taken. However, the ACE brain is trying to process all of those steps at once and quite literally freezes up unsure which action to take. This is what I call ACE paralysis.

At this point, we become frustrated and confused. We get angry at ourselves for our shortcomings. Then we take the only action we know we can...we walk away. This is how things fail to get done in our lives.

So, what then can we do during these instances to break the paralysis and get to work? What has worked for me in the past is to go get a drink of water to calm myself, then I get out a pad of paper and a pen and write a very detailed list on how to complete the task. I make it extremely detailed writing down such simple steps as opening an envelope or licking a stamp.

In this way, I can rely on the list to get me through the steps of paying my bills. This can work for practically any task or project. These lists have been life savers for me over the years. I have some that I use over and over again. I leave them where I need them.

I have one taped to the top of my desk for the bills. I have one taped to the wall of my daughter's room to remind her what she needs to do to get ready in the mornings. I have them all over my house.

The point is that if we can find creative ways to break out of the hyperfocus condition, we can break out of the paralysis one too. Don't get frustrated over your lack of action, rejoice in your creative skills that will break that cycle.

They say that parenting is the hardest job on the planet. I won't pretend that those without ACE have it any better than those with ACE, but it is definitely different.

Babies and toddlers are stressful enough on a parent's nerves, but add the ACE condition, and this can be a time of sheer insanity. Babies and toddlers are very demanding, and parents struggling with ACE may find it very difficult meeting those demands.

While it is always a good idea to try and keep your baby to a schedule as much as possible, it is absolutely imperative for a mom or dad dealing with ACE. Keeping your baby to a schedule will help him know what to expect at any time of the day. This is calming to a little one, and will help you, too to be on a schedule. Keeping to a schedule, you will be able to focus on the surprises little ones can throw at you.

Also make sure that you are taking sufficient time for yourself. Your baby needs you to be as calm and as light as you can be. Time to yourself is important to maintain your serenity.

School-age kids bring a whole new set of challenges to the parenting role. The schedule for this tykes is very busy. We have to keep up with parent conferences, band/orchestra/choir, sports teams, and scouts to name a few. Homework can be a nightmare. Now, if your little one also has ACE, it can be a trip through the insane asylum.

Calendars and planners are crucial at this time of your child's life. This is a great time to teach your child how to use a calendar or planner. Many schools have instituted planners in their classrooms as early as 1st grade. Make it part of your planner to remind your child to check her planner for any papers that need to be signed or homework that needs to be done.

The teenage years are very trying for both parents and kids. If your teenager has ACE, this a time to be very vigilant. Keep your own teenage years in mind. This is a time of poor judgment, and those with ACE are doubly impulsive. Make sure that you are maintaining a schedule at home, and that your children are using good study skills and organizing skills. This is a time for them to take on much of the burden of their own schedules.

Most importantly, and I can't stress this enough, take time for yourself frequently. Make this a part of your daily schedule. This is very hard to do, especially as a single parent, but find the time, even if you have to break it up into smaller increments.

I have seen a lot of ads, and some on this very page which I have no control over, about "curing" ADD/ADHD. Please let me make myself VERY clear. There is NO CURE for ADD/ADHD. I have spoken to several health care providers about this very issue. Do you honestly think that if there WAS a cure that it wouldn't be offered in a more conventional way than over the internet?

Please be very wary of anyone's claim to be able to cure ADD medicinally or otherwise. ADD/ADHD is a neuro-chemical difference in the brain, and many scientists and doctors consider it to be genetic. You cannot cure this condition, but you CAN control the symptoms through medicine and/or behavior therapy.

The best advice I can give you is to do all the research you can on this condition. Talk to your health care provider(s), read the research, and talk to support groups in your area to learn all you can.

Examine your life and determine what things you do very well and those things that you could use some help with. Find friends, family or professionals that can help you with those things, and cultivate those things you are proficient in.

Again, beware of anyone who claims to have the ability or the medicine to cure ADD/ADHD. You will only be disappointed otherwise.

Ever feel like you have just too much on your plate, and that you can never get it all done? You probably do.

One of the biggest challenges for an ACE is overextending themselves. We just don't know when or how to say 'No'. We sign up for bake sales, to be den mothers/fathers, to work extra shifts, etc. etc. etc.

We are busy enough trying to keep the day to day events straight in our heads, and we go and pile on more responsibility. Why is this? I think that it is due in part, to our intense desire to show the world that we are valuable and capable. Other people lead seemingly easy, yet complicated lives, we should be able to as well.

The problem however, is that we aren't programmed that way. The more responsibilities we add into our lives, the more we tend to lose perspective and the more scattered we become. It's vitally important that we maintain a daily schedule and stray from it very little. This is how we get things done. This is how we can have useful, competent lives.

It's OK to say "I'd love to help with that, but I've just got too much on my plate right now." No one has to know that life is what's on your plate. You have to live the life that's right for you. You have to understand your limitations, and learn to set priorities.

You don't need to become a hermit, and volunteering for one or two things here and there is not out of the question, but before you say "Yes" to anything, give yourself a day or two to really think about the impact it will have on you and your family.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Is it worth the disruption to my life and my family's life?

2. Will this in any way affect the progress I've made in my day to day responsibilities?

3. How much time will this take out of my day?

4. How long will this project last?

5. Am I the right person for the job?

6. How long will it take for me to resume my day to day routine once the project is over?

I'm sure you can come up with some additional questions, but whatever questions you come up with, answer them honestly before committing to anything. You have a lot going on in your life already. One of the things you have got to learn to commit to is enjoying life. Make sure you are scheduling time to do the things you love to do. Remember, one of your biggest responsibilities is to take care of yourself.

Thanks to the efforts of Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, September 19, 2007 will be National ADHD Awareness Day. The U.S. Senate approved the bill unanimously.

This is our chance to stand up and educate people about the effects of ADD/ADHD on the lives of individuals and families nationwide. Some things you can do to spread the word:

Start a letter writing campaign. Write a letter to your mayor, school board, senators, representatives and governor telling them about National ADD/ADHD Awareness Day and to request a celebration and a dissemination of pertinent, informative and above all, accurate information.

Talk to your children's principal and/or PTA to find out how we can address ADD/ADHD as a learning topic in our schools. Children need to learn that our kids with ADD aren't social lepers to be divided or removed from class because of their differences, but that working together, children can thrive regardless of their learning styles.

Try talking to a local print shop, and see if they will deeply discount, or even donate fliers or buttons to hand out.

Contact the local papers and news channels to request a story be done on this very important day.

Be creative. You have it in you to effect change. We can't wait for people to suddenly change their minds about us; we have to get the information out there and make people see what we are all about.

This is our time to shine. Make the most of it!