What personal experiences have you had with ADD and how did it motivate you to write this book?

A lifetime! I was not diagnosed with [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder] until I was 25. My inability to focus and concentrate became increasingly evident during graduate school and I dropped out several times. After enduring years of problems in the traditional education system and ensuing depression, I became very frustrated with traditional psychotherapy and medication, the only solutions physicians and books offered me. I often found solace in nature and discovered gradually over time that working and teaching ecology on a 785-acre nature preserve, organically farming, using my art to advocate for land preservation, writing, practicing yoga and meditation and helping build houses in impoverished villages on mission trips alleviated my depression and provided me with a positive outlet to expend a great amount of energy and creativity.

These natural, holistic approaches were progressive in nature, giving me a sense of the future and identifying new career possibilities. This lifestyle also involved visual and interactive learning, as well as movement, essential for those diagnosed with ADHD. A relevant study revealed that one of the most effective interventions for ADHD is to involve an ADHD student in tasks utilizing movement, although only 15 percent of teachers responding in one survey employed this intervention. Furthermore, after working with adolescents for seven years, it appears that if one labels something as “therapy,” resistance develops. However, in the context of a garden, hiking in the forest or on a camping trip, conversations spontaneously develop. It has been my experience that out of the blue, one may speak of their struggles with depression or addiction. I have had many students spontaneously discuss problems with their parents, such as alcoholism or drug addiction, in the garden while hoeing or weeding.

In “Fragments,” I also contend that the “deficits” that those with ADHD exhibit often manifest as behavioral problems in the classroom because the majority of teachers present concepts in such a way that particular students cannot grasp them. These “deficits” should not be referred to as such; rather, they should be referred to as “differences.” Such physiological differences would not have been apparent in the past, as those with ADHD were often engaged in different jobs, such as farming, hunting, blacksmithing, woodworking and others. These experiences led to a calling to write this book and I felt compelled to share my journey and offer holistic alternatives for those frustrated with traditional psychotherapy and medication.

Have you always been interested in writing on medical-related topics? If not, what made you become interested in that area?

I became fascinated with medicine and physiology while interning at an inner-city hospital during graduate school, but do not typically write about medical-related topics. I wrote “Fragments” solely because of my personal experiences and struggles with ADHD and the research necessary for the book helped to foster a better understanding of the underlying physiological and emotional problems people diagnosed with ADHD encounter.

Could you please outline the process you went through while writing your book?

No pun intended it was quite fragmented. I did not follow any regimented schedule. Some excerpts came from a previous, unpublished manuscript and journals from travels; chapter three on environmental education evolved from a thesis on using environmental education as alternative therapy for ADHD kids. I often wrote at night during graduate school and on school breaks. After much reflection on my personal experiences and observing what was effective for those diagnosed with ADHD, an outline emerged and the pieces came together.

What do you think was the hardest part of writing the book?

Organization is not one of my strengths and I tend to write in a stream-of-consciousness fashion. I am very grateful to editors who have the ability to provide organization and structure. Revisions are also tedious. Once the initial flow of thought is captured on paper, the excitement ceases. It was also difficult to expose some painful and very personal experiences, but I felt it added a personal dimension readers could relate to that is lacking from the majority of books on ADHD.

What other types of writing do you do in your free time?

Nature-based poetry, philosophy and ecology-related nonfiction.

Do you have any future projects planned? If so, what are you working on now?