Housekeeping Solutions

In order to not get overwhelmed when cleaning, just tackle these five things: Trash, Laundry, Dishes, Putting things back that have a place, Put things in a pile that don’t have a place.

If you can afford it: Get a cleaning person; It takes them 3 hours to do what you do in 3 weeks. While they are there, use them as an accountability buddy and work on tasks you have been putting off, like paying bills.

Take a picture of your to-do list otherwise the first item on your to-do list will be find your to-do list!

Make a list of what you need to do and estimate how long each task will take. Build in buffers on your time estimations for distractions and breaks. Then arrange the tasks in the order you plan to do them and go to it.

More than once, I left my phone inside the fridge, in my socks drawer, or the medicine cabinet. I have left it at work and in an Uber.

I lie around doing nothing all day and procrastinate on schoolwork because of depression, but I get it done at the last minute because of my anxiety.

Two years ago, during Covid isolation, I returned to my tribe, people with ADHD. I had been away for over ten years. Many people I knew when I was actively educating people about ADHD were still in the trenches and I also have met new committed people. Today I want to celebrate them and thank them.

 By Cynthia Hammer, MSW

My son, who at age 13 was diagnosed with ADHD, lied, stole, got into fights and even broke someone’s nose. At age 15, he spent four weeks in juvenile detention and after turning 18, spent several months in jail. These were the most harrowing years of my life, yet even as I’ve written about my ADHD diagnosis, I’ve kept the details of our challenges raising our youngest son a secret for over 25 years.  

How Important Is ADHD Medication in Reducing Harm?

There are several strong arguments for including medication in ADHD treatment.

ADHD is a disorder associated with serious distress and/or impairments in living. Although, as documented below, many severe adverse outcomes have been associated with ADHD, the typical patient does not experience all, or even most, of these problems. Many patients live enjoyable and productive lives, especially if they receive treatment.

The idea of using medication to treat problems of behavior provokes deep feelings and equally strong opinions in many people. They have these mistaken opinions even though the Federal Drug Administration first approved medication for ADHD in 1957, and significant research supports the effectiveness of treating ADHD with medication.

I remember nursing a grudge against a friend who I thought didn't like me as much as she pretended. Every time my mind wasn't occupied with something, I returned to my grudge, reworking variations on my grievance, “She’s a phony. She acts so excited to see me, but then ignores me and forgets things I’ve said.” I tried to stop thinking this way. “It’s fruitless to have these thoughts. It’s a waste of time and doesn’t help. You need to move on,” yet I continued to stew.

A friend recommended a book I would enjoy reading. I don’t write down the title, thinking I will remember it. The title is a single word, Horse by Ann Patchett. For Pete’s sake, I can remember that! Then, my conscience, which acts as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of my behavior, pipes up, “You won’t remember it. You need to write it down.” Then I tell Elsie, my pet name for my conscience, “This time will be different. There’s no need for you to nag me.”

I was blithely living my life when I began to notice that some of my behaviors were the same as my son’s, who had been diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. “Mmm,” I thought, “am I just like Brian?” It was a thought that got stored in the back of my brain that I would ponder every now and again.

When my supervisor at work evaluated me, she mentioned a few issues with my work habits that rang a bell—“Ding! Dong! This sounds like ADHD!” I told her, “I think I have ADHD.” She replied, “I think so, too.” She had a grandson with ADHD so she was familiar with its symptoms.

One day this past winter I came home exhausted after a full day of cross country skiing. I store my ski boots and ski clothing in the basement, but coming into the house totally worn out, I said the fatal four words, "I'll do it later." Fortunately, I caught myself and proceeded down the basement stairs to stow my gear.

How often do we say, "I'll do it later" when we really have time to do it now.

What are we really saying when we say, "I'll do it later"?

CADDAC stands for the Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada. It provides leadership and support in awareness, education and advocacy for ADHD and provides outstanding information to parents, adults and physicians.

Part of a thorough evaluation of an adult with possible ADHD should include evaluating for the following conditions and problems. Some of these health problems will not improve until the ADHD is treated. Optimum treatment should see improvement in several areas.

At an ADHD conference, a therapist presented on this topic. Unfortunately, I didn't get to hear her as it is a topic of great interest to me. What about me is attributable to having inattentive ADHD? Probably all the behaviors listed in the DSM-V for inattentive ADHD, but it is my terrible memory that troubles me the most.

All my life I have been shy and uncomfortable in social settings and meeting new people. I got totally wiped out when I had to engage in an extended conversation. When I read Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain, I said, “Yep. That’s me. An introvert.”

So, you can imagine my surprise and delight when I realized a few months ago that I was an outgoing, social butterfly, ready, willing and able to talk with anyone!

Hyperfocused and Productive

My hyperfocusing has served me well and I have a great career from it.

When I’m committed to doing something, my hyper focus allows me to give 100%.

When we hyperfocus we can get 3x the work done in half the time.

I get things done! I am determined when working on a project especially when I really like it. Productive when doing things on my list

ADHD is usually considered a disorder of attention, but it is better understood as a disorder of regulation, and regulation of emotions is a key challenge for people with ADHD. The limbic system of the brain is where emotions start. It gives and receives messages from all parts of the brain.

When you experience a let-down from a symptom of ADHD (e.g., late to a meeting, forgot an important detail, made a small but important mistake, forgot to turn in an assignment, observe yourself being distracted instead of completing a task), ask yourself, “What’s on the other side of this coin?” What positive behavior accompanies the difficulty?

ADHD is a disorder of self-management and self-regulation. People with ADHD often experience frustration related to their behavior, sometimes being critical of themselves which can lead to a default stance of learned helplessness.

Focus is like a wave. It has its own momentum and is part of a larger process. It ebbs and flows. If you catch it at just the right moment, it can carry you.

People with ADHD have focus. They just have a hard time catching the wave and riding it in certain circumstances.