Imagine you are 15 years old and your parents have given you instructions to clean your room. About two hours later, your parent checks in on you: "Did you clean your room?” If the answer is “no,” you have two choices. The first is to take accountability and apologize for your lack of follow-through, while the second is to make excuses. Excuses typically result in arguments.

So now imagine if this 15-year-old has ADHD. In that case, it would likely be choice number two, because the lack of follow-through with directives is a frequent occurrence. Further, in response to coping with the feelings of shame with oneself and disappointment from others, you (the 15-year-old) have developed a defense mechanism that........

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