adult add help » ADD Background

Tips On Dealing With Your ADD

admin — Wed, 06 May 2009 23:38:00 +0000

If you’re an adult with ADD, then you may be familiar with the concept that (at times), slowing down is a very difficult thing to do. There are many tasks to complete and so little time to complete them. So your mind starts working at high velocity, trying to achieve your whole "To Do" list, or getting frustrated in your realization that completing all required tasks is not possible. As a result, you spend a lot of time worrying, and very little time getting pleasure from life.

While the process of slowing down is difficult to explain, it certainly is possible. Here are 6 established strategies to slow down the adult ADD brain:

1. Monitor and Control Your Work– Control your work/business hours. Admittedly at times it is necessary to work overtime, don’t do it unless it is absolutely mandatory. You will work more competently during the day when the time you have to complete your job is fixed. Additionally, take some time off–at least two or three weekends a month.

2. Arrange For a Night Out With Others–Nothing is better than having a night out with your friends. This may be with work colleagues,personal friends, family, or members of a group you are a part of. Be sure to let off a little steam.

3. Schedule a weekly event (Like Taking a Class or belonging to a club–play poker with your buddies or get together with your girlfriends for a dinner in a good restaurant): Find a reason to go out of the house and out of the office each week. Attend a class, if possible to learn something new . . . something you are passionate about. Ensure you pay for the class beforehand so you will not be tempted to make excuses not to go.

4. Maintaining a Daily Journal–This will make you take time out and reflect. It will help you in dealing with nervous tension and enhances clarity of mind. Try to do it every day. Don’t be bothered about sentence structure, syntax, punctuation, or flow since no one else ever has to see it.

5. Meditate– There are many approaches to meditation, but the one described here is ‘mindfulness meditation’. This is merely the action of being there in the present – whether you are working, walking, or washing the dishes. Make an effort to keep your mind in the instant, and do not ‘tag on’ worrying or troublesome thoughts or feelings. It’s OK to take ‘baby-steps’ at first, with 5 minutes spent in mindful meditation daily. After a week or so, build on your performance as you become more and more at ease with the process.

6. Turn Off Your Computer 2 Hours Before Bed– Computers are rather interesting, in particular for ADDers, frequently finding themselves sitting at their computer at 3 o’clock in the morning completely pre-occupied in exploring something totally arbitrary. They cannot move away from the computer and going to bed is just not a consideration. Set a deadline and get in the habit of switching the computer off at least two hours prior to going to sleep so as to allow time to wind down before going to bed.

Published by Adult ADD Help

Other Relevant Posts:

Is It You, Me Or Adult ADD? An ADDer …

Gina has written a book for the ages and I have never read any book as thorough, evaluating all the aspects of adult ADD/ADHD. She explains not only the common symptoms, but also the symptoms that show up in smaller groups of people …

Adult ADD: The Impact

New Survey Reveals Extent ADD/ADHD Affects Adults Day-To-Day. The daily lives of adults are clouded by their ADD/ADHD in a variety of ways, a recent survey discovered. Those adults with ADD/ADHD are concerned about such items as symptom …

ADHD Coach …

After he learned he had the disorder, Quily researched approaches to managing it and found many that worked for him, including exercise, personal coaching, talk therapy, support groups, and spiritual exploration. … The Vancouver Sun recently had a great article on Adult ADHD, hope more of the BC media start covering the condition and if you live in BC remember during this provinical election to ask your campaigning politicians if they support the BC Medical …

Howie Mandel – Howie Mandel Interview

Howie Mandel interview about the Adult ADHD is Real campaign. … What has been most helpful for you in regards to managing your ADHD? Answer from Mandel: Well, the most helpful thing, and this is the reason I am doing this interview, is number one — identify it and then if you identify it, go get help. I am not going to talk about specifically what I do. …

Testing for Adult ADD

Assessment and Testing for Adult ADD / ADHD. Up until about 15 to 20 years ago, ADHD was considered a childhood condition that was generally “outgrown” by the teenage years. We now know that ADHD can span a lifetime with problematic …

Tips for ADHD Adults

Free Gift with Sign Up. Adult ADHD Managing your time, money, career & relationships. Success at School Keep kids learning! Tips for parents and teachers….

ADDitude § Adult ADHD Discussion Forum: Help for Adults with …

A discussion forum for sharing ADHD symptoms, challenges, frustrations, solutions, and stories with other ADD adults.

By: Garry Macdonald

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Garry Macdonald & Kieran Smyth have established a website providing little known information about attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). To learn the insider secrets about ADD or ADHD, go to www.adhdsecretsuncovered.com .

Adapting to ADHD At Work

admin — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:44:00 +0000

Managing Your Job With ADHD

Do you hate your job? Do you intensely dislike the people who work with you? Do you put things off until your boss roars because you’ve not gotten a project done? Are you just totally and horribly unhappy? If you have adult ADD, this could easily be true.

The 40-hour work week might seem like a strait jacket for you, and it might hinder that great ADD energy and creativity you have inside. But you also have the ability to hyperfocus and get things done, providing that they’re projects that interest you. You’re probably great at things like detecting and solving problems, but you probably shy away from the paperwork involved. It’s just too boring!

Don’t worry! The problem can be solved in a couple of different ways. You can adjust some of your work habits, or you can find a job with you love and that loves you in return.

Get Out Of An Office

The most obvious solution seems to be running your own business. This is a good situation for someone with ADD, who can organize and plan things, or if they can hire someone or have a partner who can do these things for them. This won’t be the ideal situation for everyone with ADD, but it does allow you to unleash your creativity and to function on your own terms.

Yet, people with ADD often enjoy fast-paced situations. Firefighters, police officers, and EMS technicians all have this kind of job. People who trade stocks, auctioneers, and food servers are high energy jobs, as well. However, you can really work any job, if you have ADD symptoms under control.

Need To Take Small Steps To Complete Projects

Impulsiveness can have you taking off on tangents, just because something other than what you’re supposed to be doing interests you. One major problem with ADD is that we try to do too much. Someone asks for another project to be done or task that needs accomplishing, and we say, "Of course, we can do that." Learn to hold back a little. Don’t overwhelm yourself, just because you want to try new things. But instead of overloading yourself, try to underload yourself. Do less than you think you can do. When you try to handle too much at once, you might make yourself much more unhappy in the long run. Besides, when you find yourself with free time, you can always work in other tasks as time permits, rather than making another ongoing committment.

Stay On A Structured Schedule

When you’re distracted. Try setting a timer that will beep periodically to help you remember to stay on task. Or, break up your work schedule. Do ten minutes of the job you hate doing or is boring for you, then, do 10 minutes of something else you like to do. You can fit as many as 6 activities into an hour, and rotate through them. That way, you’ll never be bored, and you’ll always be on task because your attention span is accommodated. If your attention span is longer than 10 minutes, perhaps you’ll rotate 4 tasks per hour, but try this and see what span of time works for you.

Boredom is hard to deal with for most adult ADD-ers. We just can’t stand to be bored! The rotating tasks technique can work for you, if you are easily bored, but you should also try to do the boring things you have to do when you’re at high energy times of the day. And never hesitate to delegate whenever possible. What’s boring to you might be someone else’s fun.

Set Daily Objectives

Just don’t procrastinate. Get the hard parts of your job done first, and the rest of that job will go more quickly because it will seem easier. Never anticipate things. Get them over with because the faster you get the thing you’re procrastinating over done, it will be gone, out of the way. An accountability partner can help you with this. Find someone who will rattle your chain if you don’t have things done on time.

But if it’s your co-workers that are giving you cause for pause, look in the mirror. Could their antagonism actually be your fault? Try not to go off into long lectures about things that nobody is interested in, anyway. And if you interrupt people in conversation, and catch yourself doing it, apologize and stop talking. Don’t be blunt, either. Though honesty is always good, it’s not always socially polite. Try to be more tactful and your inter-office relationships will improve.

Any of these ADD-related situations can cause work problems. But don’t jump to another job, just yet. Try some of these strategies and see if they don’t help you to be more productive and more sociable. Yet, if you can’t, if you’re still that square peg, find a more flexible job that will suit your ADD abilities and make yourself a happier person.Published by Adult ADD

My ADD / ADHD Blog
As many people know Linda Hillger recently began a new program through ADDClasses.com called the..

The Secret to Living Effortlessly With adult ADD
Not until my early 30’s did I learn about Adult Attention Deficit Disorder. I vividly remember…

Adult ADD
Typically an adult with ADD has a history of symptoms dating back to childhood.

Adult ADD vs. Bipolar II
Some patients diagnosed with Adult ADHD|adult ADD wonder of they have bipolar II disorder…

Published by Adult ADD Help

By Tellman Knudson
Published: 3/31/2007

I Suffer From Adult ADD

admin — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:02:00 +0000

I suffer from adult attention deficit disorder, and let me tell you it is not much fun to still be fidgetting and unable to pay attention at the age of 35. I have suffered from attention deficit ever since I was a child, and adult attention deficit disorder isn’t really much different from any other kind. Basically, the symptoms of adult add are an inability to concentrate or focus, a though process that wildly swings from topic to topic, and also embarassment at being unable to stay on task.

The real tragedy of adult ADD, or adult ADHD as it is also known, is that it really can cripple your life and make success difficult. People who suffer from this condition often get behind in their professional work, miss dates and plans in their personal lives, and all in all have a much harder time of it than their non adult attention deficit disorder friends, relatives, and acquaintences. In this one area organization, the adult attention deficit disorder brain just doesn’t work quite right.

A strange sympton of adult add is that, alongside the distractability, there is often what is known as hyper focus. When an adult or child with attention deficit disorder becomes engaged in something such as a hobby or a sport, or even a job if it something that they find very compelling, they will sometimes reach a state where they are totally and completely engaged in what they are doing to the exclusion of all else. They will begin to tune out the world around them, and will be deaf and blind to all outside influences. This is a very positive benefit of adult attention deficit disorder, and can be used to help fight its symptoms.

One of the best ways of treating adult add is to set up a very meticulously organized system and then stick to it. Have a day to wash your clothes and always wash them on that day, and have a day to apy your bill and always pay them on that day. Have one specific place where everything goes. It is contradictory to the mindset of the sufferer or adult attention deficit disorder to do these sort of obsessive compulsive sorting activities, but it can be more helpful to them than anything else, as more than most people, they require a high level of organization to succeed. When I was in the process of getting my life organized, I asked a friend who was very organized and didn’t suffer from adult attention deficit disorder to help me, and my efforts and his help payed off.

Published by Adult ADD Help

The Secret to Living Effortlessly With adult ADD
Not until my early 30’s did I learn about Adult Attention Deficit Disorder.

Adult Attention Deficit Disorder
Attention Deficit Disorder tends to focus predominately on children, leaving the ADD adult...

Adult A.D.H.D. – Jeff’s A.D.D. Mind
Living with Adult ADD and Adult ADHD. … Recommended Reading. Odd One Out:.

Adult Attention Deficit Disorder
Attention Deficit Disorder tends to focus predominately on children, leaving the

ADD Sleep Problems

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:38:00 +0000

Like many insomniacs, I have a hard time waking up in the morning,

but I have an even harder time falling asleep at night. When I spoke to my doctor about this problem, she offered me a very simple solution: take 3 hours to "wind down" before bed. Don’t do anything stimulating in the evening that will engage your brain. Relax, unwind, and you’ll find yourself falling asleep much easier at night.

Many people with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD or ADHD) often find themselves chronically tired during the day, but they can’t sleep at night. This can be true for adults and children alike. Some of us seem to have our own internal schedule – a body and mind that want to sleep all day and be productive at night. Unfortunately, most of the world doesn’t work this way. Many people with ADD have a schedule to conform to, and find themselves suffering with sleepless nights and sluggish days.

But if we have a potential solution – like not doing anything stimulating 3 hours before you go to bed – then why do we still have a problem? I know that if I can manage to spend a relaxing evening free from stimulation, I have a much easier time both falling asleep and sleeping soundly. Unfortunately, relaxing and winding down in the evening is not as easy as it seems. Two main symptoms of ADD are hyperactivity (which can be physical and/or mental) and impulsiveness. These are 2 things that constantly tempt the brain to get active. Additionally, once a task or project is picked up, people with ADD have the potential to over-concentrate on it and lose track of time. In order to avoid this and wind down, I find it best to stick to a routine. I have to schedule my activities for the evening, and not allow myself to get caught up in anything that I find engaging, like emailing, talking on the phone, or even picking up an interesting book.

When scheduling your evenings and developing a routine, whether it is for yourself or your child, identify the one or two things that usually provide the most stimulation and eliminate them from the pre-bedtime hours. In my own routine, I begin my wind down by shutting off my computer right after dinner. This prevents me from getting caught up in email, research, or any other number of interesting things that the Internet has to offer.

The next thing to consider when planning your routine is to schedule in "down time" for some serious relaxing. For me, this can mean taking 15 minutes to meditate, going for a walk with my dog, or even just sitting in my favorite chair and breathing deeply. Whatever it is, I do it alone.

And finally, set up a "signal" that will let your body know it’s time to start shutting down. The very last thing I do at night is brush my teeth. This is my signal to my body and mind that the day is now over and it is time to rest. You may choose to do some light reading, tuck in the kids, or make your lunch for tomorrow – what it is doesn’t matter, as long as it’s the same small task repeated every night.

Once you have developed your schedule, make it a routine. People with ADD often work well with this kind of structure. You can change the activities you plan for each night, as long as you stick to the basics. Get your body and mind used to winding down in the evenings, and you may just find yourself falling asleep easier at night!

Other Related Posts on ADD Sleep Problems:

Creating Healthy Sleep Habits for Adult ADHD

ADHD may be linked to a number of sleep disorders. OrganizedWisdom has crafted a list of resources that provide tips and advice that can help an ADHD sufferer sleep. … by: The OrganizedWisdom Physician Review Team; Redirects: How to Sleep With Adult ADHD, What Will Help An Adult ADD Sufferer Sleep, What Will Help an Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Sufferer Sleep, What Will Help an Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Sufferer Sleep; Last up…

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder: How Does SAD Affect …

Symptoms that are common among younger sufferers of SAD may include a decrease in school performance, depression, disinterest in socialising, anxiety, sleep problems, unusual cravings (often, for sugary foods), frequent aches and … Despite the fact that SAD is as prevalent in children as other childhood disorders such as attention deficit disorder (ADD), the condition often goes undiagnosed. The symptoms are mistaken for signs of learning difficulties or even lazine…

What is ADD/ADHD? Understand The “Big 7″ Commonest Nervous …

are very effective in some types of ADD, especially when, as is usually the case, ADD occurs in association with other Disorders such as Sleep Disorders, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Substance Abuse or Addictions. … The Stimulants Dexamphetamine and Ritalin may be the most helpful medications for people who only suffer from ADHD (Hyperactive ADD) and/or ADDD (Inattentive or Day Dreaming ADD) and many ADD sufferers will want th…

Kaos and Control – ADD Forums – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity …

As a small aside- as a “recovering ADD sufferer” as I now class myself, it is a curious observation that my need for stimulant medication is greatest when I am forcing myself to do work that I have some qualms or doubts about. The “Great Way’ really is easy … If you think you are too small to have an impact, try going to sleep with a mosquito in the room.. The fool sleeps as if he were already dead, but the master is awake, and he lives forever. he watches. He is clear…

My wife has MS: ADD, ADHD or just MS

We have spoken with other MS sufferers that have the same over active mind issue. I know that we have tried all sorts of things like sleeping pills, relaxing bath and massage, but when the insomnia hits, there is very little we have …

The Crusades Of A Critic: Television round up

Television in Britain today is in a sad state – comprising of footage of people sleeping (Big Brother), smug gits like Simon Cowell, soaps so ludicrous it would embarrass even the Twilight Zone and unfunny sitcoms probably starring … ( which is by no means exhaustive) so in a hundred years time scholars may read this and come to the conclusion that our primitive species had the attention span of an ADD sufferer in big fun after staying up all night doing crystal meth. …

By: Jennifer Koretsky

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Jennifer Koretsky is the Founder of the ADD Management Group, Inc. and the author of the new book Odd One Out: The Maverick’s Guide to Adult ADD. Jennifer and her team work with ADD adults who are overwhelmed with everyday life in order to help them simplify, focus, and succeed. For free resources and information on adult ADD, visit www.ADDmanagement.com . To learn more about Odd One Out, visit www.odd-one-out.net .

Mail this post

Technorati Tags: add, adhd, adult, asleep, difficulty, falling, problems, sleep