ADHD Center for Success

Have you noticed that, like other ADD adults, you are routinely 5-10 minutes late for work, appointments, and most other scheduled events? It’s not that you intend to be late. You just simply got lost and distracted in time.

Let’s face it — ADD Adults generally have a poor concept of time. We understand time but we tend to be poor managers of it. Certainly, I’ve met some ADD adults who are compulsive about being on time, but on the average, we simply run late. Let’s take a  look at what goes wrong.

You know the drill. You have an appointment at 2pm and if you’re lucky, you just might have your appointment written in your calendar. You may actually know where your calendar is. You have an idea about what time to leave for your appointment but it’s not likely written in stone. It’s simply still an idea.

Meanwhile, “stimulation is my friend”) so you’re probably in the middle of something. Now maybe you just lost track of time or maybe you’re watching the clock while strategizing the best time to break away from your current focus of attention. “Ok, leave now! I’ll have just enough time to arrive on time. But wait! Where are my keys, where are the papers or directions I need to take with me?” You know what it’s like, right? You’re ready to go, but you’re not prepared to leave.

Again, ‘stimulation is my friend ‘, so you probably don’t like arriving at your destinations early. “What will I do? Why arrive early and risk feeling bored with nothing to do?”Now here’s an interesting twist…Although you don’t like being late to a scheduled event, now that your are running late you may be feeling bad or guilty at the thought of not arriving on time. At the same time, your body is now filled with adrenaline as you ‘race’ to your appointment - ’stimulation is my friend’. Bottom line, you feel bad about running late, but your body is being rewarded with adrenaline for ‘running’ late. 

Tips for Managing Your Time:

• Mindfulness Bells: Set timers or alarms to bring your awareness back to the moment. Timers also help to remind you when to “get ready to leave” so that you’re prepared to leave on time.

• Get ready to get ready to go: I had a girlfriend who was always on time and very structured in her life. Unfortunately, when it was time to leave for destination, she was ready to walk out the door and I was “ready to go but not prepared to leave”. Before long she began to announce, “Rudy, it’s time to get ready to get ready to go”. That gentle message got my attention and allowed me the appropriate time to prepare to leave on time.

• Dual alarm kitchen timers are wonderful. Set one alarm to remind you to get prepared to go, and the second alarm five minutes before it’s time to walk out the door.

• Planning: There is a popular saying… “People who fail to plan, plan to fail”. Set yourself up to win/succeed by using some type of planning calendar. You can use calendar books or you may use your cell phone or electronic PDA. These last two options are nice because you can set an alarm to remind you 5-10 minutes or more before your intended departure time. Of course, it’s also helpful to keep track of your calendar/planner.

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Warning signs for attention deficit disorder.

By PsychologyToday.com

We all have garden-variety memory lapses. Where are my eyeglasses? Did I turn off the stove? But the adult with ADHD is a special case. Over and over, he leaves his wallet at the store, she forgets he son’s basketball game, he can’t finish projects at work, her finances are in the red, or he forgets to unhook the gas pump from the car only to drive (the last example has to be the most original).

Some 4 to 5 percent of children have ADHD, and 60% of these children carry symptoms well into adulthood. for the adult with ADHD, the disorder can interfere with relationships at home and at work. And to make matters worse, other problems and conditions-such as alcoholism or social anxiety-can hide symptoms, make treatment difficult.

Untreated symptoms can often bring on feelings of low self-esteem or low mood. The ADHD adult can be a high achiever, for example, but her disorganization holds her back from unmet goals that then lead to poor self-image. Of course, symptoms may lead her straight to a bout with depression or even chronic anxiety.

What’s more, these individuals are also more likely to smoke; smoking is twice as common among people in this population. Researchers at Columbia University are studying smokers who have ADHD symptoms; they are interested in the effects of the drug methylphenidate and whether it might reduce symptoms of ADHD as well as tobacco withdrawal. Research like this may help us better understand the disorder.

Yet the tendencies of the ADHD adult can also be directed to one’s advantage. Some, for instance, are hyper-focused on tasks that interest them. That’s why professions such medicine, science, or art may be better suited for these individuals. It’s no surprise, then, that people like Albert Einstein, John Lennon, and Beethoven are said to have had symptoms of ADHD.

Sometimes, just being aware of the symptoms can be a big help. what you may not know is that there are three types of ADHD: inattentive, hyperactive, or impulsive. while all types affect executive function, each one has its own quirks. Here are some signs to look for:

Listen Up

The inattentive ADHD adult is pretty much a disorganized person. She often gets bored and easily distracted, losing herself in daydreams. With little attention to detail, she can make careless mistakes. All of which leads to an inability to focus and follow instructions. Conversely, this person can focus too much on tasks of interest and can even underestimate the time needed to complete these tasks. this can fuel procrastination and lateness. don’t be too put off as the inattentive ADHD adult can appear aloof or even arrogant.

On the Go

The hyperactive suffers restlessness, even fidgety hands and feet. It’s not surprising t find this person squirming in general. He also is known to talk excessively, hopping from one topic to another. She may be dogged by feelings of being overwhelmed.

Thinking Before Acting

The impulsive type may suffer irritability, anger, and impatience. She, in fact, cannot curb her reactions. In interactions with others, he may speak without thinking, interrupt others, and suffer poor timing. These people sometimes suffer addictions like impulsive shopping or even eating disorders.

What You Can Do

Many people who have ADHD see marked improvement through a combination of talk therapy and medication. But each person is different, so treatment plans much be tailored to the individual. Here are some steps you can take to combat ADHD. First, consult a mental health professional and ask for a thorough assessment covering everything from attention span to medical exam. Also ask about medications such as Ritalin and Adderall. Different drugs, however, work for different individuals; you may have to try one and then another. Plus, studying up on ADHD will help as well as building skills like using to-do-lists, day planners, and filing systems. You can also divide large tasks into smaller more manageable ones, that way you will not feel so overwhelmed. If you need further tools to manage your behavior, try meditation or relaxation techniques. And lastly, turning to others by joining an ADHD support group will let you know you are not alone.

Most AD/HD adults know the feeling of overwhelm. It’s that place we go to when we’ve overextended ourselves, when we’re multi-tasking and having trouble keeping up or when stress gets the better of us, and more. Maybe you recall that old expression, “Stop the world, I want to get off ”.

It goes without saying that we love stimulation but there are those times when we get too much (of a good thing) and become overwhelmed by it. Oh, and then we tend not to be the most organized person so there are those times when we get stuck; can’t move forward, can’t move back. Do you know the experience of approaching today’s TO DO task but all you can see is clutter, disorganization, piles of prior incomplete tasks and suddenly you experience that sensation slowly creeping up and you can’t figure out where to start. Yes, that’s overwhelm.

By the way, are you on target to complete and mail off your taxes before April 15? If you managed to keep organized financial records then preparing your taxes may have been a simple task. If on the other hand, you are challenged by organization and paperwork then you may have experienced overwhelm even at the thought of your taxes. Then you may have also felt your blood pressure or anxiety on the rise.

Symptoms of Overwhelm –
• Brain freeze – can’t discuss, can’t problem solve, etc
• Tired, sleepy, poor focus, increased irritability
• Running in circles, busy but poor productivity
• Depressive and stress related symptoms
 

How to manage overwhelm?

I offer several coaching solutions to manage overwhelm but here’s one of my favorites. Develop a “Recipe for Success”. Do you have a favorite kitchen recipe? When you follow your recipe and utilize the proper ingredients in the proper amounts you are nearly guaranteed to create your favorite dish with a reliable outcome. That’s all you do with your “Recipe for Success”.

Your Recipe for Success!
• Know your desired outcome
• Determine the ingredients necessary to create your desired outcome
• When creating your recipe ingredients, consider what’s worked in the past
• Your recipe MUST be written and kept somewhere that you can easily find it
• Post recipe in calendar or organizer and review on 1st day of every month

Get help with ADD overwhelm TODAY! 

Contact CoachRudy

Email: CoachRudy@adhdcenterforsuccess.com
Tel: 828-681-7100