Conquer ADD and keep your life on track

[sleepytime]

Those of us with ADD can struggle just to keep current on daily tasks. Bills to pay, chores to perform, appointments to keep, etc, can turn into a maddening jumble in the mind. I would like to share a tool that has helped bring peace of mind and order to my life.

I have employed software task managers to itemize the periodic small jobs that can too easily be ignored, delayed, or lost in the shuffle. The benefits include:

Pay bills on time

Set advance reminders to pay every bill. You can set them to repeat every month, (or semianually, or annually, etc) so you know it's done and you know it's on time. Banks, utilities and County Treasurers don't like missed payments.

Break chores into manageable bits

"I've got to clean my apartment" is a seemingly insurmountable task that is easily put off. You would be surprised what you can accomplish if you change that to "Spend 10 minutes cleaning apartment" every day. Knock it down, check it off, done, don't worry about it.

Don't forget the little things

Like "Oops, forgot to clean the litter box for 8 days." Put it on the list set to repeat every day. Knock it down, check it off, done, don't worry about it.

Peace of mind

There can be a constant, nagging feeling of "there's a lot of stuff I have to do". You can take care of a few items, but the feeling is unchanged--there is still "a lot of stuff you have to do". Using a list can change this in a visual way. Now, after checking off some items, the feeling becomes "I have a limited number of things to do, and now I have reduced that number." Nagging doubt has been replaced by a sense of control and accomplishment.

The list also relieves your mind of the duty to keep track of everything. Once you have a comprehensive, repeating list in place, rely on the list and give your head a break. The only requirement is to remain diligent in keeping the list current.

My favorite task manager is Toodledo. Online is free, 2.99 for iPhone/iPod. If you want to dig deeper into the benefits of task management, Google "Getting Things Done" or "GTD".

[MatticusMania]

I KNEW I HAD ADD!

[L-A]

I don't think I have ADD, but I use Things, which is for OS X and is GTD-oriented too.

[EBodious]

thanks for the post. my son is borderline ADD. i just started him on concerta. it did not radically change him (which i think is a good thing), but it definitely sharpened him up enough to choose to get his homework done and stay on top of assignments. it had been a nitemare of forgotten work and confusion.

me, i am a compulsive list maker. being born before computers, i still prefer paper and pen. but i could not make it thru my days without one (or more). the feeling of control is priceless. i hate the nagging feeling that i am forgetting something, cause i usually am!

[MakiSupaStar]

I'm pretty sure I've got ADD.

[sleepytime]

Originally Posted by EBodious

thanks for the post. my son is borderline ADD. i just started him on concerta. it did not radically change him (which i think is a good thing), but it definitely sharpened him up enough to choose to get his homework done and stay on top of assignments. it had been a nitemare of forgotten work and confusion.

me, i am a compulsive list maker. being born before computers, i still prefer paper and pen. but i could not make it thru my days without one (or more). the feeling of control is priceless. i hate the nagging feeling that i am forgetting something, cause i usually am!

There are many people that share your preference for pen and paper, and I am sure you have worked out a system that works for you. The thing I like about the digital managers is that they keep themselves updated. Once your list is set, you don't have to worry about anything but checking items off as they are done.

[EBodious]

true enough. one thing that i like about the pen and paper is the re-doing of the list. that is where i get the real sense that i am on top of it. i get a chance to review and revise my current list. i still just don't trust a computer to tell me what is lingering out there. but, i will concede, with monthly (or longer) recurring items it would be helpful to have them pop up automatically.

also, i don't have a digital device that i carry around with me, except for my very old cell which doesn't do all the fancy things.

[sleepytime]

Originally Posted by EBodious

true enough. one thing that i like about the pen and paper is the re-doing of the list. that is where i get the real sense that i am on top of it. i get a chance to review and revise my current list. i still just don't trust a computer to tell me what is lingering out there. but, i will concede, with monthly (or longer) recurring items it would be helpful to have them pop up automatically.

also, i don't have a digital device that i carry around with me, except for my very old cell which doesn't do all the fancy things.

I see your point. I always thought the greatest benefit of taking notes in school wasn't reviewing them, but just the act of writing them.

[macaroni tony]

Hi sleepytime,

I just wanted to thank you for starting this thread. I used to be a rollerskating instructor, and for some reason, I had a lot of kids in my class who had ADD, and a lot who had autism. It broke my heart to see how some of the parents and staff treated them. I don't have ADD, but I can only imagine that your breakdown would be invaluable to anyone that does.

K Bye

[tZer]

I have ADD/ADHD I can say from personal experience that getting on Adderall (stimulant therapy) made all the difference in the world.

I describe it as 'gaining full access to my own brain'. Where before, I was only granted limited and inconsistent access.

The pros include:
1) Everything I start, I finish. This was NEVER the case in the past. Tons of half-starts with very few (if any) real completions.
2) In areas where I was simply making do I now excel. Studying, practicing, performing, at work, in my band, at home - everything went up more than a notch in effectiveness and quality.
3) Mood. The negative feelings, self-loathing that goes hand in hand with ADD/ADHD due to the feelings of inadequacy - knowing you can do better - that you're smart enough and capable, but for some reason you just can't seem to make it go... Gone! No more 2am wake-ups that led to anxiety that led to a horrible day being exhausted - GONE! That alone is worth it.

The cons:
1) You have to talk 1 pill every day.
2) You have to get the script refilled every month.

Otherwise, my personality was not altered. I am not a 'speed freak', as I feared becoming. My appetite was not affected and my overall quality of life is without question significantly improved.

I strongly recommend to anyone who believes they have ADD to talk to their doctor and try stimulant therapy - IF that works for you. If it does for you what it did for me, you'll never regret it.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by tZer

I have ADD/ADHD I can say from personal experience that getting on Adderall (stimulant therapy) made all the difference in the world.

I describe it as 'gaining full access to my own brain'. Where before, I was only granted limited and inconsistent access.

The pros include:
1) Everything I start, I finish. This was NEVER the case in the past. Tons of half-starts with very few (if any) real completions.
2) In areas where I was simply making do I now excel. Studying, practicing, performing, at work, in my band, at home - everything went up more than a notch in effectiveness and quality.
3) Mood. The negative feelings, self-loathing that goes hand in hand with ADD/ADHD due to the feelings of inadequacy - knowing you can do better - that you're smart enough and capable, but for some reason you just can't seem to make it go... Gone! No more 2am wake-ups that led to anxiety that led to a horrible day being exhausted - GONE! That alone is worth it.

The cons:
1) You have to talk 1 pill every day.
2) You have to get the script refilled every month.

Otherwise, my personality was not altered. I am not a 'speed freak', as I feared becoming. My appetite was not affected and my overall quality of life is without question significantly improved.

I strongly recommend to anyone who believes they have ADD to talk to their doctor and try stimulant therapy - IF that works for you. If it does for you what it did for me, you'll never regret it.

Thanks, I might look into this. You pretty much described me to a T in the first section.

[tZer]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Thanks, I might look into this. You pretty much described me to a T in the first section.

Maki, I strongly encourage you to look into it. If it is the right solution for you, you will be amazed with the results.

I tried Strattera first, which is not a stimulant, but the cons far outweighed the pros and I opted out of that. I'd rather simply be scatter-brained than deal with all that nonsense. But Adderall - man... The focus, the ability to do what I always knew I could but never did and the happiness that comes from all that is nothing short of incredible. Night and day.

I was always that 'lucky' kid who did well in school and didn't need to study too hard to make the grade. Gifted programs, music, etc... So no one really thought I had a 'problem' - that I was just lazy and undisciplined. But I remember night after night of not being able to focus long enough to finish homework. The sensation in my head was like a crowd constantly murmuring - the frustration was unbearable. Homework was like torture.

Reading - that's a funny thing - I would read a page and get to the last word on the page and realize I couldn't remember a thing that I just read because the entire time I was reading, I was re-writing the story based on what I was reading. Every word made me think of something else and pretty soon I had an entire other story going on simultaneously with the one I was trying to read.

It took me easily three times as long to finish a book as my peers, not because I couldn't read very well, but because I was essentially experiencing two to three stories at once and needed to re-read constantly in order to be able to pass tests or write reports.

Now I could talk about the literature in class because I was quick enough to hear what others were saying and extrapolate what the author was probably going for - and most of my teachers thought I was pretty dang brilliant - except for the fact that I didn't turn in assignments on time and tested poorly... Undisciplined, lazy...

OK - long story - sorry. But one very important thing is that it's genetic and if you have it, it's possible your son could too. I am having my son tested this month - but I'm pretty convinced he's got it. My daughter too - but it manifests itself differently in girls - and she's a real chip off the old block with the gifted, agile mind thing. But she also has the anxiety and other symptoms that go hand in hand with having ADD.

PM or email me if you have any questions.

[EBodious]

Originally Posted by tZer

Maki, I strongly encourage you to look into it. If it is the right solution for you, you will be amazed with the results.

I tried Strattera first, which is not a stimulant, but the cons far outweighed the pros and I opted out of that. I'd rather simply be scatter-brained than deal with all that nonsense. But Adderall - man... The focus, the ability to do what I always knew I could but never did and the happiness that comes from all that is nothing short of incredible. Night and day.

I was always that 'lucky' kid who did well in school and didn't need to study too hard to make the grade. Gifted programs, music, etc... So no one really thought I had a 'problem' - that I was just lazy and undisciplined. But I remember night after night of not being able to focus long enough to finish homework. The sensation in my head was like a crowd constantly murmuring - the frustration was unbearable. Homework was like torture.

Reading - that's a funny thing - I would read a page and get to the last word on the page and realize I couldn't remember a thing that I just read because the entire time I was reading, I was re-writing the story based on what I was reading. Every word made me think of something else and pretty soon I had an entire other story going on simultaneously with the one I was trying to read.

It took me easily three times as long to finish a book as my peers, not because I couldn't read very well, but because I was essentially experiencing two to three stories at once and needed to re-read constantly in order to be able to pass tests or write reports.

Now I could talk about the literature in class because I was quick enough to hear what others were saying and extrapolate what the author was probably going for - and most of my teachers thought I was pretty dang brilliant - except for the fact that I didn't turn in assignments on time and tested poorly... Undisciplined, lazy...

OK - long story - sorry. But one very important thing is that it's genetic and if you have it, it's possible your son could too. I am having my son tested this month - but I'm pretty convinced he's got it. My daughter too - but it manifests itself differently in girls - and she's a real chip off the old block with the gifted, agile mind thing. But she also has the anxiety and other symptoms that go hand in hand with having ADD.

PM or email me if you have any questions.

wow. story of my life, especially the reading, i would fall asleep after one page. except i tested well. thus dubbing me under-achiever. i can barely afford my son's prescription ($44/month), but i wouldn't mind feeling like i can get things done too.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by tZer

Maki, I strongly encourage you to look into it. If it is the right solution for you, you will be amazed with the results.

I tried Strattera first, which is not a stimulant, but the cons far outweighed the pros and I opted out of that. I'd rather simply be scatter-brained than deal with all that nonsense. But Adderall - man... The focus, the ability to do what I always knew I could but never did and the happiness that comes from all that is nothing short of incredible. Night and day.

I was always that 'lucky' kid who did well in school and didn't need to study too hard to make the grade. Gifted programs, music, etc... So no one really thought I had a 'problem' - that I was just lazy and undisciplined. But I remember night after night of not being able to focus long enough to finish homework. The sensation in my head was like a crowd constantly murmuring - the frustration was unbearable. Homework was like torture.

Reading - that's a funny thing - I would read a page and get to the last word on the page and realize I couldn't remember a thing that I just read because the entire time I was reading, I was re-writing the story based on what I was reading. Every word made me think of something else and pretty soon I had an entire other story going on simultaneously with the one I was trying to read.

It took me easily three times as long to finish a book as my peers, not because I couldn't read very well, but because I was essentially experiencing two to three stories at once and needed to re-read constantly in order to be able to pass tests or write reports.

Now I could talk about the literature in class because I was quick enough to hear what others were saying and extrapolate what the author was probably going for - and most of my teachers thought I was pretty dang brilliant - except for the fact that I didn't turn in assignments on time and tested poorly... Undisciplined, lazy...

OK - long story - sorry. But one very important thing is that it's genetic and if you have it, it's possible your son could too. I am having my son tested this month - but I'm pretty convinced he's got it. My daughter too - but it manifests itself differently in girls - and she's a real chip off the old block with the gifted, agile mind thing. But she also has the anxiety and other symptoms that go hand in hand with having ADD.

PM or email me if you have any questions.

Yeah, that first part describes me but I never had problems finishing books and with reading comprehension, but it's true, I always have a lot on my find and it always wakes me up in the middle of the night.

[tZer]

The thing I think is best is eliminating the "middle of the night I hate myself" sessions. I've never been seriously depressed but I did simply accept that if I woke up in the middle of the night, the next thing that would happen is a litany of my personal failings would start to roll. Everything I knew I didn't do - everything I knew I wouldn't do that needed to be done - everything I'd started but knew would probably never finish - relentlessly played out.

It was always fine in the morning and the anxiety didn't persist. But the loss of sleep was killer. I'll still have an occasional bout of insomnia, but it's actually quite pleasant. I can lay there and think of things without all the negative stuff making me feel like something terrible was going to happen. I can actually practice relaxation breathing techniques and even meditate which was all but impossible with all that negative chatter happening. So now, even if I do have a night of sleeplessness, I can still get 'rest' via meditation and such.

ADD - especially for people who are otherwise talented and intelligent is an insidious condition.

I would have never been able to build a bass - let alone two - if I didn't treat my ADD. My family life and my career have both HUGELY benefited as well. It's worth the investment - and believe me - being allowed to use your own brain to it's fullest potential is about the most empowering thing I've ever experienced. It's like the radio station finally tuned in!

[sleepytime]

Thanks tZer, I will definitely look into that. I have never really sought medical attention, and frankly, I am not thrilled with the idea. I am currently on a program of better sleep, healthy eating and exercise. That has helped in the past, but if I still struggle, I will consider meds.

[drteeth]

Thank you for the list, these are -- OOH A SQUIRREL

Just kidding There is some very good advice in here!

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by tZer

I was always that 'lucky' kid who did well in school and didn't need to study too hard to make the grade. Gifted programs, music, etc... So no one really thought I had a 'problem' - that I was just lazy and undisciplined. But I remember night after night of not being able to focus long enough to finish homework. The sensation in my head was like a crowd constantly murmuring - the frustration was unbearable. Homework was like torture.

Thats SO me.

[tZer]

Originally Posted by sleepytime

Thanks tZer, I will definitely look into that. I have never really sought medical attention, and frankly, I am not thrilled with the idea. I am currently on a program of better sleep, healthy eating and exercise. That has helped in the past, but if I still struggle, I will consider meds.

That is definitely the way to start and if it works, more power to you! I felt the same way - and did much the same thing and only looked into meds as a curiosity. I was actually OK with it and using a lot of what you described, I was doing well too.

My first attempt at using meds only seemed to confirm what you and I both thought - that it was more like trading one not-so-hot situation for another. I told my Dr. that if there was no real significant improvement OR if there was improvement but the side effects were unpleasant, I'd simply stay the course of food and exercise - along with lists and reminders.

But when I found the correct meds - and there was no doubt at all that it was 100% better. I still use reminders and lists because even though you manage ADD, everyone can benefit from good organizational skills!

And I don't mean to come in to your thread like some drug dealer and I don't want people to simply think that drug therapy is the only way to go about dealing with ADD - but I do want people to know, who might be hesitant to consider such therapy, that for me, it is an amazing solution and worth it in spades.

[Simo98]

My younger brother has ADD/ADHD.

Its quite interesting, he is on a special diet now and has being for about 7 years now, where a large amout of food additives are removed, as well as a lot of natural foods with a high salicylate content.

Now I was never one to believe much in this type of stuff, but seriously, anyone with kids that are hyperactive should look into it before going and grabbing a bottle of pills.

Salicylates are (unfortunaly) found in a huge amount of natural foods, some of the worst are corn and honey, but any berries as well as quite a lot of other fruits contain a high content too. But to be honest removing them actually makes a much bigger dfference than removing all the weird numbers.

He is still a bit of a hypo kid, and thats just his personality, but seriously if you gave him a packet of corn chips he would quite literally climb walls, you cannot get him to sit still, or even look you in the eyes he gets so distracted so easily.

I urge anyone with hyperactive kids (or even hyperactivity themselves) to look into it.