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.
