The Davisson Clinic

The Davisson Clinic Reports

Report #1

The Hidden Condition that Sabotages the Careers

of Highly Ambitious, Intelligent Professionals.

Could this career-killer be the reason

youre not reaching your full potential?

by Harvey G. Davisson, Ph.D.

Brad was a brilliant litigation attorney and a phenomenon at his law firm. The mere

hint that he would represent a client often made opposing lawyers press for a settlement.

He took a lot of pride in that.

Yet, his partners were concerned. He was handling high profile, high-risk cases. They

felt he was depending too much on bravado and reputation rather than on building well-

researched arguments for his clients.

Even his support staff was hindered in helping him because they rarely knew all the

details he was carrying in his head. He would take the files they were working on and

not return them or misplace key documents.

The staff was in a constant state of crisis dealing with his "emergencies," which Brad

brushed off as "normal" for a high-powered law office.

However, when a critical court filing was missed, the partners knew they had to confront

Brad. Annoying the staff with his constant demands was one thing, but putting the firm

at risk for a costly lawsuit was something else altogether.

When the difficult confrontation was over in the boardroom, Brad sat in his plush office

looking out over the city. "This is how top-gun lawyers are supposed to be," he reasoned. "I win my cases. What else matters?"

Charlie seemed to have it all to be a fantastic salesman. He looked good, was warm and charming and didnt pressure people to buy. His professionalism instilled trust and thats

why he was the top performer every month for the manufacturer that employed him to

cover a tri-state territory.

One-on-one, Charlie was terrific. He really connected with people. Clearly he loved to

figure out what the customer really wanted and made sure he explained the benefits of his

products to make them the obvious choice.

When Charlie was called in for a heart-to-heart with his Manager and the VP of Sales,

he was absolutely devastated. He realized he was on the brink of being fired.

"How can you even think of firing me when I bring in more than the next two reps

combined? The three states I cover represent the most volume in the country."

It was true. Charlie was a go-getter. But he was proving to be as much a liability as an

asset to the company with his incomplete paperwork, late order entries and poor follow-

up. Initially the company executives had been impressed by Charlies previous sales

experience, but now realized there might be reasons behind his frequent job changes.

It didnt matter, he reasoned. He could get a sales job anywhere. Yet, Charlie was

deeply shaken by the conversation and realized something was wrong. But he didnt know what.

Aileen thought of herself as an entrepreneur. She had never wanted to be confined

to a job. She was determined to turn her free-spirited approach into an entrepreneurial

venture as a corporate trainer, author and consultant.

Charismatic and flamboyant, she was a stylish addition to corporate meetings and media

events. As she attained celebrity status on the seminar circuit, she knew she had to have

more books, CDs and DVDs released to leverage her increasing fame.

More and more ideas for projects were scribbled down during her many cross-country

flights. She loved the stimulation of non-stop days that included book signings, speaking

engagements and social events that put her with key executives of leading corporations.

Meanwhile, back at the office, her small staff staggered under the load of work. They

could barely get one project started before Aileen would demand attention on a different

priority. Weeks and months of work would be trashed as she abandoned partially

completed jobs to do something "fresher" and more exciting.

Staff turnover was high. Production schedules were always behind because Aileen

kept changing her mind, wouldnt make timely decisions or would forget to provide

input the staff needed.

When four of her five employees left in a two-month period, the remaining long-term

assistant confronted Aileen once again more firmly. "Youre the one causing most

of the problems in the company, not the staff."

Although these examples are composite pictures drawn from actual clients of the

Davisson Clinic, the descriptions accurately represent thousands of highly intelligent

and ambitious professionals who are under-performing or sabotaging their own success.

They all are experiencing the effects of. . .

Adult Attention Deficit Disorder.

Two main underlying patterns of thought can be found beneath the often self-defeating

behavior of a professional with ADD.

"How I act is entirely appropriate for a successful professional. How I think and

behave is the correct way to achieve, and those slow-thinking, uncreative people

around me just need to get with the program."

"I know something is fundamentally different about me. Im busy all the time,

I have lots of great ideas, but I cant seem to get it all together long enough to

bring something to completion to get the pay off."

The first answer is a form of denial that some people put up as a shield. The second is

the attitude we see most often in our clinic. Within a very short period of time, it often

comes to light that the person was thought to have ADD as a child.

Is it possible ADD is sabotaging your career?

Below are some of the symptoms of adult ADD. This is not a definitive list. The

indicated behaviors can also be the result of other problems, including a neurological

injury or a psychological disorder.

Nevertheless, if you see yourself in this list or a colleague or family member has

pointed out these issues to you its definitely worth a closer look.

The good news is that ADD is highly responsive to treatment.

Scan this brief questionnaire and see how many if any of the following traits and

behaviors apply to you.

Do you love the excitement and stimulation of your job, but dislike handling

details? Do you have conflicts with superiors or co-workers over late expense

reports or other documentation?

Is your desk piled high with files, publications and un-filed documents? Do you

stack materials on all available surfaces, including the floor, chairs or sofa?

On a typical day, do you tend to handle whatever comes up rather than following

a schedule or prioritized to-do list?

Do you "do your best work" under pressure at the last minute? Has a superior

or co-worker complained that your procrastination is affecting the work of others

or the smooth operation of the company in any way?

Do you get distracted easily? Does your mind wander in meetings or even

during one-on-one conversations?

Do you spend a lot of time hunting down lost papers or files?

In your most private thoughts, do you worry that youre not living up

to your potential?

Have you moved from position to position more often than most of your

colleagues in your industry?

Do you reschedule business and social appointments frequently to

accommodate spur-of-moment changes?

Do you have repeated conflicts with co-workers, family members, waiters

or other service people?

When youre being completely honest with yourself, do you feel like youre

different than other people, would like to change, but dont know how to

"fix" the problem?

Are you easily frustrated? Do you routinely get upset in traffic, waiting

in lines at the store or the bank? Have you ever blasted strangers because

you felt they were in the way or too slow?

Do you listen until someone completes their thought, or do you frequently

interrupt them because youre sure you know where the conversation

is headed?

Do you find youre sleeping too much or too little?

Are you subject to mood swings?

Do your superiors see you as defensive if they point out an area of your work

that needs improvement?

Are you distressed, anxious, or upset, sometimes out of proportion to

the situation?

When sitting in meetings, do you bounce your feet, tap your pencil, or drum

your fingers on the desk

If you drink or take recreational drugs, do they help you feel more "normal"?

There is no hard and fast "score" on this survey. However, if even a few items apply

to you, it would be worth getting a proper diagnosis.

Here are some of the questions

professionals frequently ask about adult ADD.

I thought ADD was a childhood problem. I was never diagnosed or treated.

How could I suddenly develop ADD now?

If you have ADD, it didnt come up suddenly. Diagnosis and treatment of the condition

were not as advanced when you were a child as they are today. You may have exhibited

symptoms without having a proper diagnosis.

Many adults with ADD had a childhood marked by parents or teachers saying they

were "being bad" or "out of control," when in fact they simply had brain chemistry that

prevented methodical thinking. Frenetic behavior is the outcome of the brain chemistry.

Also, its possible the symptoms youre experiencing today are not the result of ADD,

but rather from some other source such as a neurological injury or another underlying

physical or psychological issue.

I was diagnosed with ADD, but after taking medication for awhile, I stopped.

My parents were told Id outgrow it.

ADD is not a condition you can outgrow, because its based on brain chemistry.

Ive always been under the impression that people with ADD were somehow mentally

deficient. Im quite effective in my work and have a high IQ.

Those with ADD have been widely misunderstood. The reality is that ADD has nothing

to do with IQ. In fact some of the most notable geniuses and high achievers had ADD

including Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Leonardo da Vinci, Beethoven and

Walt Disney. Contemporary examples include Ann Bancroft, Jim Carrey, Michael

Jordan and Prince Charles.

There are three basic categories of ADD, however the brain chemistry is so individual,

every person is different and at a different point along a continuum of the disorder.

First, theres the inattentive variety defined as a person who is distracted by his or her

own inner thoughts. Second, there is hyperactivity exhibited as being distracted by

whats going on in the environment. Third is a combination of the two.

Based on the history of high-achieving people with the disorder, its not surprising

that you are already accomplishing a lot and possibly not exhibiting all the classic

ADD symptoms. At our clinic, we see these high achievers attain quantum improve-

ments in their accomplishments when their brain chemistry is balanced.

I rely on my ability to multitask and generate ideas to do my work. I wouldnt want

to lose that capacity.

As an adult particularly in North America having a lot of energy and a lot of ideas

is a positive attribute. When an intelligent and charismatic individual is the one with

the energy and ideas, people usually pay attention.

Unfortunately, ADD may prevent you from being well rounded. Your job description

may have a significantly broader range than youre currently able to handle adequately.

For example, if your inability to manage certain routine details or reports is slowing

down others or interrupting the normal business processes, it may be costly for your

company in time, money and productivity.

Despite your superior performance in some areas, deficiencies in others may prevent

you from receiving promotions or may even threaten your position. At the very least,

you could be producing results below your potential.

That means, if youre already a high achiever, with the proper treatment, you could

likely accomplish or earn even more with less effort.

As an example, its not uncommon for our clients in sales to double their incomes

or even multiply their earnings several times over.

One entrepreneur with multiple business interests had to have employees directing

critical aspects of his enterprise because he simply couldnt focus on the details or

grasp the essentials of his own business.

But once treated, he could focus and manage his own business affairs with skill

and confidence. And he was able to more precisely and consistently evaluate the

performance of his assistants.

For those needing medication, the effects on the brain chemistry are often very fast

and profound. Results can be evident within 15-20 minutes.

However, one dose lasts only for a few hours, so a professional can take medication

when he or she needs to focus for instance, writing a report or making a presentation.

You dont need to medicate during those times when you need a free flow of ideas,

yet many people find their conceptual ideas and creativity greatly increase while

on medication. They become more prolific and productive.

Also, some situations may be very stimulating to you. In those cases, the brain

chemistry thats required to focus and perform well is created by the body itself.

How do you know the right medication dosage?

Unlike some drugs, such as antibiotics or cough medicines, which are prescribed by

age and weight, the medications for ADD must be prescribed based on the specific

brain chemistry of the individual.

To be effective, it must be as personalized as a prescription for glasses. Just as there

is no "one size fits all" for glasses, based on the shape and condition of the eyes, there

is no single prescription or dosage for ADD.

To balance the medication for each individual, the Medical Director of our clinic,

a licensed medical doctor, monitors the client for several weeks by phone to achieve

the correct dosage.

If Im sure I have ADD or even not sure how should I proceed?

The Davisson Clinic offers a preliminary free screening to see if ADD is strongly

indicated. If it is, theres a full evaluation, including a computer-based component,

that can be completed at the clinic. We analyze the results and rule out ADD or

recommend treatment.

In addition to medication, many clients especially professionals choose to have

follow-up sessions to learn how to adjust to having a "new brain."

How is your treatment different than that of a family doctor or another psychologist?

The clinic provides both the comprehensive evaluation psychologists are qualified to

perform, with the ability to prescribe the proper medication, which requires a licensed

physician. Only a few facilities have the staff to provide both functions.

When the evaluation is complete, I review the results and make my recommendation.

If ADD is the diagnosis, medication can be prescribed by our clinics medical staff

under the supervision of our Medical Director.

Few doctors have the capacity to provide the meticulous, daily monitoring required

to achieve the optimum results in controlling ADD.

What results can I expect?

Properly treated, you can retain the high-energy, creative and visionary traits, yet enjoy

the focus required to follow-through. You should find interpersonal relationships to be

smoother and youll likely find it easier overall to handle your workload.

It can be easier to stay organized and complete your work in a timely manner. Youll

likely be more effective overall resulting in higher income and more satisfaction in

your work and life. You can reach higher levels of achievement.

For further information, please call me at 972-480-0000. If Im with a patient, please

ask to speak with Roger, my assistant.

Davisson Clinic 12900 Preston Road, Suite 1117 Dallas, Texas 75230

Phone: 972-480-0000 Fax: 972-960-6097 email: info@davsionclinic.com

www.DavissonClinic.com