Sure fire signs you have adult ADD…… and probably need professional help:
1. You are addicted to one or more of the following substances/activities: coffee, exercise, adrenalin, diet pepsi, Full Throttle, sugar, chocolate, RockStar, Monster, internet dance tutorials .
2. You cannot unload your dishwasher all at once. You unload the top, then make the coffee. Then you unload the bottom, followed by folding half a load of laundry. Finally, you put away the silverware. And later you do the other half of the load of laundry.
3. You cannot go for a run without your ‘audio adrenaline’ (ipod) and you change the songs frequently to avoid boredom.
4. You lose your keys. Frequently. And misplace all receipts. And forget to pay your child’s dance tuition. And can’t find the book that you just received from Amazon YESTERDAY. You make plans and vows that from this day forward you will always put things away where they go. You last 3 minutes.
5. You have ten books all ‘in progress’ . You make deals with yourself that before the clock strikes ten, you must finish chapter 3 of say….Heart of Darkness. Only to get distracted by how to do a turn in the waltz…… which drives you to the computer…..45 minutes later you go back to bed and vaguely remember that there was something very important you were gonna do before you starting waltzing.
6. You have countless unfinished projects in your house….because you’re great at STARTING things, but easily lose interest. Like that one small area in your kitchen that you never painted…from 4 years ago. Despite the fact that you’ve repainted the other walls 3 times.
7. You have to use every ounce of restraint within you to sit through a whole movie….vowing only to get up for extreme bodily emergencies. Despite the effort, you’re up and down no less than 12 times. In one hour.
8. Change is like air to you. You cannot for the life of you follow anything that might slightly suggest a schedule. Your girls (that you homeschool) notice this and remind you often that math comes after bible.
9. This need for variety is evident in your cooking. You make nearly 30 different dishes in 30 days. And when greek stir fry comes up in the rotation, you find several ways to ‘change’ it from last time.
10. You almost never wear the exact same outfit. Unless it’s supercute and then you wear it 4 days in a row. Although you’ve made amazing strides in your spending, you are unable to pass up that pair of Steve Madden boots that was on sale for $20. Despite the fact that you have many more boots than you can safely fit in your closet. And you have nowhere to wear them.
11. You are always talking about organizing…..coming up with elaborate organizing systems…and buying multiple organizing containers. Only to find that all those methods/systems/containers require supervision from someone who does not have ADD.
12. You make stacks of things everywhere….with good intentions to process through all those bills/books/magazines/etc. Three months later you realized you missed the deadline to redeem your free gift at the bookstore. That was in the bottom of a stack that you never got to. Along with the physical form for your sons’ Cross Country team— and the season just ended.
13. You realize these weaknesses and do the best you can to plan your tasks in small-doable increments….and for the most part, live a productive normal life. But you often fall prey to books with this title: Organizing Solutions for People with ADD: Tips and Tools for How to Take Charge of Your Life.
14. Your calendar looks like you were crawling with activity in August and September and then either died or misplaced your calendar for ten months. But you have all the hope in the world…that next years’ gonna be the year for you. So you make your new years resolutions with vigor. And buy a different kind of calendar…thinking that the one from last year just wasn’t…….big enough. You’re gonna keep a calendar…..and all your appointments….and balance your check book……and follow a diet program. January 25 comes and you’re sure you’ve missed someone’s birthday but you can’t remember who……or where your calendar is…..or where that pesky food journal went.
If you feel scared that I’ve crawled inside your brain and told all your darkest secrets….be comforted. Here’s the upside for people with ADD and their loved ones: These are the reasons people love you…..taken from an adult ADD website.
Positive characteristics of adults with ADD / ADHD
The symptoms of ADD / ADHD are not all negative. People with ADD / ADHD also have many positive traits that are directly tied to their active, impulsive minds:
Creativity – People with ADD excel at thinking outside of the box, brainstorming, and finding creative solutions to problems. Because of their flexible way of thinking about things, they tend to be more open-minded, independent, and ready to improvise.
Enthusiasm and spontaneity – People with ADD are free spirits with lively minds—qualities that makes for good company and engrossing conversation. Their enthusiasm and spontaneous approach to life can be infectious.
A quick mind – People with ADD have the ability to think on their feet, quickly absorb new information (as long as it’s interesting), and multitask with ease. Their rapid-fire minds thrive on stimulation. They adapt well to change and are great in a crisis.
High energy level – People with ADD have loads of energy. When their attention is captured by something that interests them, they can have virtually unlimited stamina and drive.
Remember this post is just general information. I had no specific person in mind. Really.
Ang,
So sorry I was fooling around with my edit posts and deleted the original one with your comment. So sorry and thank you for almost always being first! XO Your scarf is in the mail…supposed to be there Friday!
So, hypothetically speaking of course, where would one find online dance tutorials?
okay…I have never thought of myself as ADD but if those are explain ADD…where are my meds?
-sandy toes
Yeah pretty much sums me up…except for #9 (I cook the same things over and over) and #10 (I have no problem wearing the same outfits a lot). So is it horrible to lie to your husband when he asks why you were researching adult ADD on the net and you say it was for a nephew? Hypothetically speaking of course!
Oh, once again you made me laugh out loud! I do almost everything on this list especially the Ipod changing and I can NOT clean just one thing, I start a million things! And the stacking…LOL! So me!!! My husband laughs all the time and says I have ADHD! In all seriousness, it makes me crazy!!
Oh Sandy unfortunately meds don’t help that much in the long run…stimulants are the treatment, usually and are riddled with side effects. Nutrition and supplements is probably where it’s at….essential fatty acids (fish oil) and lecithin….b vitamins, especially b12. There are all kinds of combination supplements on the market….bright spark, attend…but it’s hard to know which ones really work. I am ordering the book i mentioned…..if it helps i’ll let you know!
Jessica, You are so funny. I, on the other, hand, am an open book. But I’m comforted to know I’m not the only one!!
I don’t know if I am ADD but I can identify with #2 especially…getting the dishwasher unloaded in one sitting is not easy to do around here!
Carrie
I found your through my friend Carissa (brown eyed fox). I just found out last week that I have adult adhd! I never ever ad behavioral issues as a child – but as an adult – coffee, exercise, coffee, work, clean – I never ever stop – and when I do my mind just doesn’t. I’m glad you listed those things though – it made me feel not quite so alone!
I’ll be back to visit – I love you blog!
Wow! You hit this nail on the head. The only one that doesn’t really apply is the cooking different things. My hubby is a meat and potatoes kind of guy that likes the same things over and over, and OVER! I do bake a lot of different things. Thanks to you, I have now been introduced to CCBB, and am in love. The pumpkin bread with butterscotch chips is next on the list. Thanks again, enlightening as always.
This is me to a capital T. That is sad I really think I have ADHD. Let us know if the book is any good. I would be interesed in what I can do to help my situation.
Greetings from the Hill Country of Texas!
OH my gosh, that post was wonderful and so funny! I came over from Jen’s blog…I really like your style. I am officially a new reader!
Now I know what is REALLY wrong with me!
Stay blessed!
Oh boy, is that ever me; especially the dishwasher part. My problem is, I beat myself up and feel terrible about it.
I’m going to try to remember there a positive things about it. Thanks.
Kathi
so THAT’S what my deal is! 🙂 ha
you are so funny!
i just got back from the gym and i SO changed the the songs… SO many times… could i just let the song finish playing out… kind of like the book thing… how many can i fit in! 🙂
happy weekend to you!
This is cracking me up!! And, I so identify with the random person this is written about… 🙂 🙂
Ok, I like you even more now, which I didn’t think was possible!
I laughed out loud when I read this post, because you did crawl inside my brain. And then I almost cried. It is sooooo nice to hear someone else understand me like that, because I live in a place where the moms are all executives and they send out save the dates for kid birthday parties 6 weeks ahead, and then call 2 weeks before because they didn’t receive my rsvp! Fortunately, I have been diagnosed and I’ve stopped trying to be like that.
I would add Excedrin Migrane to #1.
Oh, and I’m glad I found your blog again. I lost it for a while, because I have 300 blogs bookmarked on 2 different computers with 3 different blog readers.
Oh My Goodness! I just recently found you in the great big world of blogging! This post was screaming at me! It’s like you know me! Thanks for posting! Loving your blog!
it’s funny how we’re all just the same.
thank you renae and much love and blessings,
edie
Oh you so it it on the head of a nail!! Love it!!
So, I’m NOT crazy…..
I. LOVED. THIS. PERIOD.
I can relate, relate, relate!!!
Edie, many thanks 🙂
Julia
Hey! I know this is an old post, but oh I just loved it! Thanks so much for sharing, I can totally relate!!!! Btw- was in your workshop this weekend at Allume, thank you for sharing your life and story with us. It was wonderful!