MSI Press Blog

  An Interview with My Son Who Has ADHD A Personal Perspective: What it's like to have inattentive-type ADHD.* What is it like to have inattentive-type ADHD? To pay attention to everything all the time? Andrew, my son, vividly describes his inattentive ADHD brain as an overstuffed garbage can—the lid won’t stay on, and stuff is falling out all over the floor. Kids with inattentive-type ADHD do not fit the stereotype of the hyperactive, impulsive child who is in constant motion, blurting out answers in the classroom. They often fly under the radar at school with symptoms of inattention, disorganization, and forgetfulness, and are perceived as lazy, uninterested, and, even worse, stupid. Since there is a misunderstanding of inattentive ADHD symptoms, I recently asked Andrew what else he would want others to know about his ADHD. I am smart, but I don’t learn like everyone else. My son, like other kids with ADHD, often struggles to pay attention for extended periods of time i

  Released this week: Andrew's Awesome Adventures with His ADHD Brain by Dr. Kristin Wilcox with Andrew Wilcox. Available from the MSI Press webstore at 25% discount. Use code FF25. Change what you think you know about ADHD.  In this two-part book, Andrew, a child with inattentive-type ADHD, and his mom, Kristin Wilcox, Ph.D., each tell their story about living with the inattentive subtype of ADHD.  How do you survive life and middle school with an ADHD elephant in your brain? Kids with ADHD will relate to Andrew’s reactions to everyday and school-related situations, like remembering to turn in homework, staying organized, and making friends.  Using practical strategies Andrew learns to manage his ADHD even when his brain sometimes feels “like and overstuffed garbage can, the lid won’t stay on and garbage is falling out all over the floor”.  He even realizes there is a positive side to having ADHD like creativity, fearlessness and hyperfocus.  Dr. Wilcox’s unique perspective as bo

  MSI Press, Kristin Wilcox, author of the award-winning  Andrew's Awesome Adventures with His ADHD Brain , regularly writes for  Psychology Today . Here is a recent contribution on a valuable topic: " The Nightly Challenge: Sleep Disorders in ADHD Children ." Description of Andrew's awesome Adventures with His  ADHD Brain: Change what you think you know about ADHD in boys. In this two-part book Andrew and his neuroscientist mom each tell their story about living with the inattentive subtype of ADHD. How do you survive life and middle school with an ADHD elephant in your brain? Kids with ADHD will relate to Andrew's reactions to everyday and school-related situations, like remembering to turn in homework, staying organized, and making friends. Using practical strategies Andrew learns to manage his ADHD even when his brain sometimes feels "like and overstuffed garbage can, the lid won't stay on and garbage is falling out all over the floor". He even r

Released this week: hard cover edition of the popular and award-winning, Andrew's Awesome Adventures with His ADHD Brain Kristin Wilcox and Andrew Wilcox. Book description: Change what you think you know about ADHD in boys. In this two-part book Andrew and his neuroscientist mom each tell their story about living with the inattentive subtype of ADHD. How do you survive life and middle school with an ADHD elephant in your brain? Kids with ADHD will relate to Andrew's reactions to everyday and school-related situations, like remembering to turn in homework, staying organized, and making friends. Using practical strategies Andrew learns to manage his ADHD even when his brain sometimes feels "like and overstuffed garbage can, the lid won't stay on and garbage is falling out all over the floor". He even realizes there is a positive side to having ADHD like creativity, fearlessness and hyperfocus.   Dr. Wilcox discusses the science behind ADHD, parent-to-parent, from s

“My brain is an overstuffed garbage can — the lid doesn’t stay on, and stuff is falling out all over the floor.” This is how my son describes what it’s like to have ADHD.   When he was initially diagnosed, I thought I understood ADHD: it was found mostly in boys who were hyperactive, impulsive, fidgeting, blurting out in the classroom. My son, who had been diagnosed with the inattentive subtype of ADHD, had none of these behaviors.   Unfortunately, the stereotypical view of a boy with ADHD has changed little over the past several decades.   This was the motivation for my son and I to share our experiences with his ADHD in our book Andrew's Awesome Adventures with His ADHD Brain   (MSI Press, 2022).   I continue my mission of spreading awareness of inattentive-type ADHD, particularly in boys, through my blog on Psychology Today , and by writing for various ADHD groups.   October is ADHD Awareness Month, and you can read more about my journey with my ADHD son in this article

  Excerpt from Andrew's Awesome Adventures with His ADHD Brain Sometimes My ADHD Brain Needs a Reminder on a Neon-Colored Sticky Note. Dismissal time! My ADHD brain doesn’t have to pay attention in school anymore today. Now, if I could only remember what I have for homework. I rummage through the miscellaneous papers shoved into my backpack, looking for my planner. “Found it!” It’s blank because I forgot to write down my homework assignments. Again. I stare at the books in my locker hoping to remember. Nope. “Darn!” I hear my bus number being called. Slamming the locker shut, I run down the hall with the nagging feeling I am forgetting something. I weave in and out of the sea of kids making their way to the front door of the school. My feet are moving faster now as I make the final sprint to the bus. Made it with only a minute to spare! I flop down onto the seat. “My trumpet! That’s what I forgot!” Mom reminded me before I left for school this morning to bring my trumpet home. Oh w