How to Get Beyond a Bad Week with ADHD

Written By Cynthia Hammer, MSW

by Cynthia Hammer, MSW

Have you ever had a day, or a week, or even a month, when nothing went right?

You got up late, couldn’t find anything clean to wear, drove too fast to work and got a speeding ticket, forgot your lunch in the refrigerator, and, noticed too late, that your blouse is missing a button.  On top of that, there was no space in the parking lot at work.

How will things improve when everything has gone wrong?

For many, the tendency is to try harder, to buckle down and make up for lost time, to hustle to not get further behind. But, if you have ADHD and understand your brain, you know these are the wrong reactions. As we get overwhelmed, stressed out and discouraged, we get scattered and are less able to function. 

When things aren't going well, take a break.

Take several slow, deep breaths. Take a walk outside to smell the roses. Think of something pleasant. Put a smile on your face and throw your shoulders back. Once you are calm and relaxed, only then return to the good fight. Figure out your priority and set to work on that.  Making progress on any task will improve your mood and your belief in yourself and your abilities.

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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