50 Unexpected Things That Will Make Someone with ADHD Happy

 Neil Pasricha, to lift his down mood, created a list of 1000 things that make him happy. At least 50 of his items, are particularly appropriate for someone with ADHD. Do you agree? 

Finding money you didn’t know you lost.

Eating things past the expiration date

Someone offering to toss your dirty clothes in with their load of laundry

When socks from the dryer all match

When the dentist says you have no cavities

Doing something half-assed at the last minute and getting away with it

Seeing a cop on the side of the road and realizing you’re going under the speed limit

The first shower you take after not showering for a really long time

When you manage to squeeze enough toothpaste out for one last brush

Multitasking while brushing your teeth

Realizing how much the meal you’re eating at home would cost with take-out.

When you’re driving on an empty tank and a gas station appears

Looking at how much dirt came off something you just cleaned

Changing the channel during a commercial break and flipping back just as the show returns

The extra hour you get when the clock get turned back

When you’re watching a favorite movie and don’t remember how it ends.

When you spill something on your favorite top and realize it won’t leave a stain

Thinking it’s Thursday when it is Friday.

Finding something you lost a long time ago after you gave up looking for it

Sitting on your freshly made bed and admiring your work after cleaning your room.

When a cop finally passes you after driving behind you for a while

Staying in your pajamas all day

When a friend returns something they borrowed and you forgot you owned it

When you went to the gym yesterday

When your roommate cleans the apartment while you were away

Junk drawers

When you pet notices you have had a bad day and comes to see you

When the person you’re meeting is even later than you are.

Fully justifying whatever unhealthy thing you are eating

When you should have gotten a parking ticket, but didn’t

When you should have gotten a speeding ticket, but didn’t

When you manage to get ready super fast when there was no time to shower

Waking up at the right time even though you forgot to set your alarm clock

Figuring out how we got on a particular topic

Correctly guessing an old password you haven’t used in a while.

When you hit something with your car, and there is no damage.

When the chapters in the book you’re reading are really short.

When you think you’re out of clean underwear but then you find one more pair.

Getting dressed from clothes in the dryer

When you finally remove the thing that’s been rolling around in you car trunk forever.

Just able to wrap a gift with the wrapping paper you have on hand.

Using your keyless remote to find your parked car

When a deadline is unexpectedly extended

Putting things in your shoe so you don’t forget them in the morning

Getting tiny chores done before the microwave timer dings

When meetings end early

Correctly guessing which pocket your house keys are in

Correctly spelling that word you always spelled wrong

Crossing the last item off your list

The last day of school!

 

Cynthia Hammer, MSW

Cynthia Hammer, MSW, was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD in 1992 when she was 49 years old. The following year she created the non-profit organization, ADD Resources, with a mission to educate adults and helping professionals about ADHD in adults. She ran the organization for 15 years before retiring.

During the Covid isolation she wrote a book about her life with inattentive ADHD which should be published by the end of this year. In writing the book, she was dismayed to learn that children with inattentive ADHD continue to be under-diagnosed and adults with inattentive ADHD often are incorrectly diagnosed with depression or anxiety.

She created a new non-profit in 2021, the Inattentive ADHD Coalition (www.iadhd.org), to create more awareness about inattentive ADHD and the need for early diagnosis and treatment.

https://www.iadhd.org
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