How to Deal with Adult ADD/ADHD

As a sufferer of ADHD, I know how it can wreak havoc on your career, relationships and seem to stymie your personal growth. Though most of the time, Ifm exciting, funny, eccentric and energetic, there are times when enough is enough. The downside of this disorder is that it can cause one to be disorganized, impulsive, inattentive and out-of-control. I know that people are often frustrated with me and I often get frustrated with myself. It has taken me a lot of time and energy to deal with this (I opt to face this without medication, despite what people recommend to me.) While these tips will not make your disorder go away, it will help assuage the chaos and make your life a bit easier. Here I have discussed common problems associated with ADD/ADHD and how I manage them in my own life. Before things spiral out of control, take responsibility for gaining control over the areas that you can.

Sleeping and Waking Problems

A lot of adults with ADD/ADHD have problems falling asleep, whether it is due to the effects of their medication or due to an inability to wind down, especially when the mind is so turbid with activity. Some even have trouble staying asleep. Sleep problems can make waking up in the morning excruciating and may cause you to be consistently late. Some individuals with ADD/ADHD work the 2nd or 3rd shift to counter this problem. If that isnft an option, then try to limit over-stimulating activity one to two hours before your bedtime, take a bath or read to wind down, and practice deep breathing and meditation as you try to sleep. I personally rub myself with lavender oils and drink valerian root tea. Whatever you do, do not try to fight your insomnia. If you cannot sleep, get out of your bedroom and engage in a quiet activity. When you get sleepy again, return to your bed.

Lack of Motivation

Oftentimes, individuals with ADD/ADHD require high-stimulus activities to stay motivated and interested. I know that I am prone to boredom and therefore, begin to neglect things that I see as mundane, but which are necessary in order to continue on as a denizen of society. Do you find yourself jumping from job to job or skipping out on paying bills because you did not really feel like keeping up? It requires discipline to stay with a job or to manage the fine details of your life, and it certainly is frustrating when your ability to stay on task is episodic at best.

I realized that there are some things I cannot change in my life. Things have to get done and not everything in life will be exciting and dramatic. I have had to alter my attitude towards life, and to remind myself that even though this job may not be my first choice, that I should appreciate that I am employed, and give it some effort. Such thinking has improved the usual feelings of dread as I go to work; now, I try to challenge myself by thinking, How can I do my best today?

I was also one to give up on relationships, and it was my attitude that doomed them. Had I given them a bit more effort, I could have made them work, or at least have extended their 2-week shelf lives. Look at the situation you are in right now, and try to come up with ways that you can improve it.

Time Management Problems

Do you ever feel as though youfre always running late? You thought that you had half an hour, and then you check your clock and two hours have passed? What happened? I am perpetually haunted by this strange time distortion and when people get upset with me for being chronically late, I am at a loss for words. I mean, I thought I was going to be on timecbutcthe clock sped up on mecI do not know what happenedcyikes.

I realized that I am terrible at gauging how long it will take for me to get dressed, eat, preen, walk or do anything. I multiply the real time span by 1.5 and the product I get is the perceived time for how much longer I have to get ready, or to get to the appointment. Every time I tried to explain my theory, people were dishumored. Valid or not, I had to do something. I had to take responsibility for myself.

So I walked around everywhere with a stopwatch to track the exact times that each activity took. Each time, I was surprised. Four minutes to floss my teeth? Eight minutes to choose my outfit? I tried to argue with myself, but I had the cold, hard facts on my trustworthy stopwatch.

So time yourself. Get a sense of your own pace.

In addition, record how you spend your time. Not only may you lose track of time, but if someone were to ask you what you did that day, you will find that long stretches of time are not accounted for. If you divide your day up by one-hour slots, and fill each one with how you spent your time (be truthful!), you can get a sense of how well (or how poorly) your day was spent.

Also, learn to prioritize. What is especially vital to you in helping you achieve your short-term and long-term goals? Remember what is important to you throughout the day in order to help you stay on task. Learn to say gnoh to those who want to take up your time and distract you from your goals (you do not have to say it heartlessly, just use it judiciously and when you do use it, use it firmly).

Take advantage of your most productive time. Which part of the day do you have the most energy? Complete the tasks that require utmost concentration during these periods, and leave the mindless errand-running to the times of the day that you have less mental clarity.

These are just some practical guidelines to start you off towards a more peaceful existence. Remember, you do not want to wear your body down with constant stress. Adjust your life so that you do not have to tear through it like a bullet train run off its course. Peace is so underrated.