Chris Worfolk's Blog

ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction is a book by Edward Hallowell and John Ratey.

It is written for adults who are ADHD or have ADHD children, but could also potentially be a read for clinicians who want to gain greater insight into the ADHD experience. It talks about one of the underlying models of ADHD (default mode network) and then goes on to talk about practical strategies such as building the right environment, exercise, diet, and discusses the use of medication.

From a critical perspective, many of the strategies are simple and common sense. That doesn’t mean they work. But, for example, the authors try to sell us on the benefits of to-do lists. But many ADHD people have told me they can never remember to check their to-do list so more scaffolding is needed. Perhaps the biggest criticism of the book, though, is that it writes in support of Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA), an approach firmly rejected by the neurodivergent community.

I don’t know how to reconcile these differences. For the most part, it is a very neuroaffirmative book and I’m thinking “these people really get ADHD”. But then when I read other bits, such as ABA or just write a to-do list, I’m thinking “these people have never met an ADHD client”. On the whole, I the whole, it is mostly the former but I don’t think I would recommend it as a resource.

Them: “Have you been to Eureka before?”
Me: “Yes. But not in the past 30 years so maybe you should give us a refresher.”

We have freed up some more space for the clinic, so from next week, I will be available for in-person sessions at Leeds Anxiety Clinic, as well as online. Chris’s appointments are available as usual, too, so you can have your pick.

This year’s Hyde Park Harriers Christmas party took place at the Water Lane Boathouse. Great pizza. Thanks Paul for organising it, and Toby for doing the quiz.

Heslington parkrun takes place at the York Sport Village Cycling Circuit. It’s a one kilometre cycle track meaning you take on five loops to complete the parkrun. It is very flat with only one slight rise and the laps allow you to gauge your pace, even if it is a little repetitive. Great course if you are looking for something flat and fast.

The Abbey Dash is a flat and fast 10k. And yet somehow has a new flatter course than when I last ran it in 2021. There was a good turnout from Hyde Park Harriers but we never got a group photo organised. I finished in:

50:40

I spent 1:40 in an emergncy bathroom stop at the half way point, so I think I would have run around a 49-minute 10k if it was not for that. I was delighted with it as I haven’t done much fast stuff since spring and not much serious running since Dublin Marathon, so I’m flat I’m still reasonably fit.

It was a great day of running. Cold and dry. Plus there was the Christmas market in City Square. Well done to everyone who took part and thank you to all of the volunteers.

York parkrun takes place on York race course. it’s one and a half laps, meaning it starts on the far side and finishes in front of the grand stand. It’s a popular one: despite the cold November weather, there were 608 of us there. It’s probably a PB course if you are at the front as it’s absolutely flat and tarmac all the way around. Further back there is quite a lot of congestion, especially around the large puddles that form after heavy rain. Thank you to all of the volunteers and excited to have got my Y for the alphabet challenge.

As of this month, we’re no longer splitting our time between Leeds and Dublin. We’re just in Leeds now, sailing away from the Poolbeg Towers for the last time.

I’ve fallen in love with Ireland over the past few years. It’s physically a goregous country. And Dublin can be a fun place to be in. it is also a country that is changing. Historically, it has been quite conservative and that is still present in many areas. But in other areas, such as being neuroaffirmative, it is leading the way internationally.

Also, it has Supermac’s and Abrakebabra.

My total score was 54 different parkruns. I was going to stop at 50, but then I found out that the 5K app counts parkruns in the north as British rather than Irish. Sounds like a car bomb waiting to happen but there you go. I’m counting it as 54.

We had an amazing time in Donegal and I would like to redo that, and also potentially explore more of Cork, and drop back in on Dublin. Until then, see you soon, Ireland!

I finally made it to Run The Line! It’s a 12k-ish loop, all on trail, that starts and finishes in Glencullen.

Thousands of runners take part and if you’re thinking “that sounds like a lot of people to get in and out of Glencullen”, you would be correct. It took about 45 minutes from arriving at the edge of Glencullen to get into the car park, so cycle, car share, or arrive early if you can.

The run itself is well organised with plenty of marshals supporting us along the way. It is run in aid of the mountain rescue service so I felt in safe hands. The course mostly goes up and the start and both the climbs and the descends are technical so I was pretty slow on all of them.

My total time was:

1:44:16

I was just happy to get around. I took my eye off the ground for a split second at about the 7km and hit the deck, but no serious damage done.

Beautiful views all around. I would recommend it if you are in the area.