Focused Forward

Navigating the Storms of Adult ADHD

By: James M. Ochoa LPC

Narrated by: James M. Ochoa

Length: 4 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Now updated with edited narration for listening ease.

In Focused Forward: Navigating the Storms of Adult ADHD, author and self-proclaimed "ADHD-er" James M. Ochoa, LPC, goes beyond the management and scheduling techniques most ADHD books focus on to deal with what really holds so many ADHD-ers back - the emotional fallout of ADHD. He helps listeners identify, manage, and alleviate symptoms of a PTSD-like condition he calls emotional distress syndrome, with practical, proven advice including:

• Understanding the link between ADHD and emotional distress
• What emotional distress syndrome (EDS) feels like
• How to construct an emotional safe place
• How to recruit your own me support group
• Eight essential tools to help you cope
• And more....

With wisdom, humor, and plenty of (sometimes painful) empathy, Focused Forward will help adults with ADHD move past the pain and shame toward a future full of possibility, balance, and joy.

©2016 James M. Ochoa (P)2016 James M. Ochoa

Annoying

If you must have the information in this book, I strongly recommend purchasing this in print form. I personally was distracted and irritated to the point of not being able to absorb what is likely great and useful information. The frequent reading aloud of parentheses and bullet points could have easily be avoided by using inflection. With hopes of declining frequency (parenthesis, of the reading aloud of parentheses and bullet points, end parenthesis), I tried to muster through this audiobook. There are only two more chapters and I just can NOT. I normally wouldn't write a negative review, but if I can save just one person , it will be worth it.

Daydreaming can help your ADHD

Where does Focused Forward rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

A new take on ADHD. I loved the part talking about the neuroscience behind daydreaming as part of the Mental Support Group & Emotional Safe Place. Also knowing that the ADHD brain is wired to be more trigger happy with the limbic system, the tools to calm the inner lizard - when it inevitably thinks that performance review is an attacking T-rex - was super helpful.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Narration was a bit stilted in places. And although bullet points and parenthesis make for good visual variety in a book, it was a bit crazy making listening to punctuation being read out loud as "bullet point", "quote", "end quote", "parenthesis", "end parenthesis".

Great book. I needed to hear this stuff.

While the content was nothing short of brilliant, the reading was a little distracting. And for an ADD mind like mine, that meant there were a few points I had to listen to repeatedly just to hear them. The main cause of the distraction for me was everytime the reader paused the narrative to say "parenthasis" or "quote". I don't need the verbalized puctuation to get the point. In fact, in most cases, it stopped me from getting the point. I pushed through the little annoyances, however, because the content is just so great. Thanx for writing such an awesome book about the emotional side od ADD. It has made a huge difference in my life. Now on to the next shiny ADD book.

Great content - distracting narration

I was so excited to listen to this book. The content is something that is important to me. The narrator was good except for the fact that every time there were parentheses it was stated in the narration as "begin parentheses and then end parentheses."That and the lists that were bullet pointed, the narrator would state "bullet point" at the beginning of each new item on the list. All of this was so distracting I couldn't listen. I feel like a book written for people who are easily distracted should have as few distractions in the narration as possible. I will try and read the book itself, which is not as easy for me, because I really want to hear what this author has to say. I just can't get through the audible version, which is disappointing.

Tips boil down to: find a therapist

He spends half the book telling a pretty generic story about his own life and success story. Then, the "tools" portion of the book doesn't actually offer real strategies and tools--it is just an extended recommendation to get coaching and therapy.

AN ADDer's God send TO GIVE TO family & friends!!!

I felt like he was reading me my own life story! I'll be buying the paperback. If you know anyone with ADD, please tell them about this book! The CONTENT in this ADD book, is LIKE NOTHING ELSE I've ever read, and while some authors have touched upon the subject of emotional stress in adult ADD, no other has explained it in depth, as intimately as this one. I'll be using all of his advice, re-listening to this book each week, and using his explanations, verbatim, when people ignorantly dismiss ADD as a fake illness. This is a very rare but so desperately needed book. Thank you to the author!!!

ehhh, lost intrest half way through

the book caught my intrest and had me hopefully reading/(listening ) , waiting for new insights that were for sure going to solve my problems ;) Then about half way through, I lost hope. I did keep listening though, just incase, but it seemed more like the book was advertising the authors life help Center and electronic brain therapy than an actual self help book.

Some of the content is priceless

Full of tested strategies, this book made suggestions I would never have thought of, that truly appeal to those with ADD/HD. The author describes adult ADD/HD with sometimes painful, sometimes hilarious clarity. Start with part II (as he suggests you can). I found I was burnt out (waiting for the point) from part I by the time I got there.

thankful hearts will grow

I'm so thankful for this book. I'm trying to understand and support my wife who has ADHD. This book helps me to recognize her efforts and amazing amazingness.

Sensible ADHD help

Ochoa gives sensible advice. This is not quick fix stuff, the Emotional Distress Disorder of ADHD is very real and lifelong. But I am not afraid of it anymore.

The best and most helpful ADHD book i have read.

I've got ADHD so it wont be the longest review! But this book has been the most helpful and intelligent book i have ever listen to and has changed my life with regards to how i feel about myself and with how i cope with my life. I am much happier and productive then i was before still with struggles sometimes but now with a stratigues and an anchor. Listen to it. it can be hard to get through it because so much good infomation but well worth it.

I lasted about 15 minutes

I don't like leaving negative reviews, but I have to share my experience with this. The book itself might be great, I will possibly buy the book to read another time, but the narration was horrible. Every parentheses and bullet point was detailed - which is fine for the occasional one, but when the reader was going through what seemed to be quite a long bullet pointed list, and every item started with 'bullet point', it drove me absolutely to distraction, and I had to turn it off. A shame, because the book itself seemed really good and exactly what i needed to hear. I'd really recommend a re-recording without the need to explain evvery bullet point, there really is no need.

very helpful

amazing book if interested in understanding the emotional side to adhd. Ochoa also give unique far-out tools to do this and feel good, ballanced more of the time.

From a wise ADHDer to newly diagnosed ADHDer.

If you've recently been diagnosed or you've never really looked into ADHD, this book is a great start.

THE book to understand ADHD

Packed with compassion, acceptance and understanding this book offers tools and techniques to manage the emotional stress response experienced by those with an ADHD brain.

Really useful

Great listen, quite different from other ADHD books, with new things to try to help weather the storm(s). Will listen to it a number of times. Thank you!

Authentic and honest, helpful and insightful

I loved the honesty and resources shared in this book, invaluable to me with ADHD