ADHD and Me: What I Learned from Lighting Fires at the Dinner Table

A new book, ADHD and Me: What I Learned from Lighting Fires at the Dinner Table by University of California Berkeley freshman student, Blake E. Taylor, is coming out in February. The book tells the story of Taylor’s own experience living with ADHD. Diagnosed with ADHD at age five (though problematic behaviors were first evident at age three), Taylor writes about how he has learned to live with both the good and bad aspects of ADHD.

In an interview for the Sacramento Bee newspaper, Taylor encourages people with ADHD to view ADHD as a gift. “There are so many wonderful qualities that come along with ADHD: intelligence, high energy, the ability to accomplish a lot, creativity, passion for a cause, innovativeness, trustworthiness, etc. But the trick is: you have to learn how to live with it and harness it. Realize it is part of the normal spectrum of being. It is a difference. It is like blue-eyed or left handed. Realize that you have lots of company – there are 4 million young people with ADHD in this country.” Taylor also encourages people to get the support and help they need.

Be sure to check out the article where this interview occurred. Living with ADHD, published in the Sacramento Bee newspaper and written by high school student, Amanda Thompson.

Your experience with ADHD may not include the fires at the dinner table...but each person's experience and life lessons are different. What have you learned from ADHD?

Related Reading: Celebrating ADD and ADHD

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