Hi folks,

I'm at the end of my rope here. I've GOT to do something about my ADD.

My main problem is what I call carelessness - leaving the car doors open after going in the house; making a shopping list and then forgetting the list; buying something and then walking off without it, etc. Usually things one can smile about, but I'm afraid that with two kids, I've got to be more aware - my carelessness has bigger repercussions.

A bit of background: I've tried some of the meds with no success - irregular heartbeat + stimulants = ick. What are my options - counseling? Life coaches? Which is better?

I think I need to train myself to stop and think about what needs to be done before running off (I'm always in a hurry!), but sometimes that doesn't work - my brain gets all foggy and I still forget things. (Case in point: I went to the pool the other day and thought about what I needed to bring - goggles, towels, toys for the kids - and then forgot the pool key!). I've started keeping a note pad to write things down, but that doesn't help with the quick, everyday things that I mentioned above.

Anyone who's had success dealing with forgetfulness/carelessness/flighty states of mind: PLEASE HELP!

Thanks,
kurtav

Yep me, all the time. Stupid mistakes, annoying crap that made me have to repeat tasks - like not puttting clothes in the washer but running the water and soap as if I had, standing in the shower not able to remember if I had shampooed or not, you wouldn't believe how big those frozen bread rolls can get when you set them out and forget them for a whole day (that was yesterday, still tasted fine).

I have eight kids and I never messed up with them though. By that I mean that none of my stupidness ever hurt them. I used to have nightmares about forgetting one at home by accident but I never did. I think because I have always felt like a screw-up that I have been hyper-vigilent when it comes to them and their safety. Poisons, sharp objects, ect. will get lost because I put them in such a safe place I can't remember what I did with them. Doesn't mean that I won't space supper until it is too late to cook something proper but kids like pancakes for supper occasionally. Or that I will think I have the laundry caught up enough for everyone to have an outfit the next day only to discover that one kid has all clean clothes but I managed to not wash a single pair of pants for another kid. Everyone survives though and all those mistakes I named off are things I have done since being medicated.

The only thing I can suggest is make yourself stop in the doorway before leaving and do a mental check list by picturing what you are about to do step by step. I learned to do that because I had kids that would announce they didn't have some vital thing AFTER we reached our destination. I can't even count the times it was their stupid shoes. WHo leaves to go somewhere without their shoes? Why did it take more than twice before I learned to ask "does everyone have shoes on?"

I agree with the last poster. I do the same careless things as well. It has been so bad that I might put a pair of glasses on the coffee table, get up to pour myself a glass of water, and then immediately wonder where I put my glasses! My parents' favorite example was during my pre-medication time. They bought me Focus Factor (some sort of vitamin sold in the States to help with focusing/attention/etc.), and I completely forgot to take it!
The irony of the situation is that I am a speech-language pathologist in the schools and I teach my students to learn and use memory strategies to help them compensate for their learning differences! I am a great teacher, but a poor strategy implementer! In any case, I now have everything I need to begin my day placed out the night before, in the same spot. I make sure that my keys are hung up the second I walk in the door. Any grocery list is typed, printed, and placed in my wallet before leaving the house. Bills are now put in an in/out box on my desk in plain view, so I won't lose them. Any bills that need to be paid are automatically withdrawn from my checking or savings accounts (because I would otherwise forget to pay them). Also, I cut down on many of my distractors in my house by donating lots of miscellaneous things to charity. Not only do I have a cleaner house, but now I have less things to distract me from what I need to be remembering and/or doing!

Hope that helps some!

I think I need to train myself to stop and think about what needs to be done before running off

Gee I think if I could have done this I would have in the first place and made some resemblance of progress long before being diagnosised with ADD at 29.

The only thing besides the list you are currently doing is to “rutualize” some every day activities, even if those rituals begin with a small list of things you want to become habits.

I did loose my head, twice. Turns out it was on under my hat the whole time.

Thanks to all who responded - I know I've got to start planning better. I've heard of people who put lists at the door to remind them of things to remember (keys, cell phone, etc.). The hard part is the spur of the moment things, like when my wife asks to get some diapers from the nursery while I'm looking for something else...;)

Thanks to all who responded - I know I've got to start planning better. I've heard of people who put lists at the door to remind them of things to remember (keys, cell phone, etc.). The hard part is the spur of the moment things, like when my wife asks to get some diapers from the nursery while I'm looking for something else...;)I call that "one channel operating ONLY" when dealing with my family. If I am changing a diaper and am asked where something is, I reply "On the Baby Channel now, please wait until the next commercial!".

If I could have switched channels at will, I would have done so before being diagnosed at age 40 :D and even now, I still can't do it.

And my dad would call that a "tough one" ;). Ya want dinner? I tune into the Food Channel and I stay there. Change the channel=burnt food. Or you can cook the food yourself. Those are the available options with this brain of mine these days.

Crazy (one channel operator, what a tough one Dad!)

I've heard of people who put lists at the door to remind them of things to remember (keys, cell phone, etc.).

Oh I have a work bag that I keep all my work stuff in so I do not have to remember fifteen small things I just have to rememebr one (the bag with the fifteen things in it) ;)

I don't have to clean it out much, and I try not to take any thing out of it when I am at home. When my jacket gets ready to wash, I take dirty one out but I replace it with a clean one immediately, (some of the units get really cold at night). I do not try to remember umbrellas for when it rains I got one of those small ones in my work bag, I dry it out right on top of the bag itself so I do not forget it when I go to leave. I even keep an extra canned "lunch pack" (self life 65 years) in case I forget my lunch. Should I get mugged while walking from my car at night I have a ready made weapon, I have been using this bag system for so long I know if I have any where to go (work, school, Florida) there is a bag to go tooooo. Just when cleaning time comes I have to clean it when I will not be interrupted so I do not leave stuff out.

Cell phones Ugggggg . . . .


Gary has "been helpful" by removing my cell phone from my purse and charging it (which I won't remember to do until it is beeping low battery) and then he gets mad because I walk off with out it. Okay he thinks I should check to see if he moved my cell phone? What has he lost his mind? Then he whines I just don't want your batter to go dead, okay I plan for my own non-planning I have an extra charger in my work bag, another in the car that goes into the cigg lighter =planning for the forgetfulness of forgetting to plan :p .

My forgetfulness has been so scary today. Even with lists I'm forgetting things. Drive to the post office to mail my passport renewal, as soon as I handed the envelope to the clerk an alarm went off in my brain and said "YOU FORGOT TO INCLUDE THE CHECK, STUPID!"

I took a chair into the bathroom to change a light bulb. My son called me 3 hours later and asked what the chair was doing in the bathroom. I took him ice skating today. I had all his meds in the box divided by the time of day he gets them. I forgot to give him ALL of his meds! Wife asked me to switch a load in the clothes dryer. I remembered hours later.

This is really bothering me. I know I've been hyperfocusing about reading online and not getting much sleep, but the Adderall XR (20mg/day) helps me not feel tired during the day, so I reason why sleep.

I'm worried about this, big time. I start a new job Monday. I've accepted a position that requires me to relocate my family. I can't blow this job by forgetting things.

Help!

NJTrout

I know I've been hyperfocusing about reading online and not getting much sleep, but the Adderall XR (20mg/day) helps me not feel tired during the day, so I reason why sleep

Lack of sleep makes forgetfulness worse, as well as other ADD symptoms like difficulty concentrating. The medication would be more effective for ADD symptoms if combined with a full nights sleep.

Story of my life. I've spent an entire day with my shoes on the wrong feet before... they were a little big for me so I didn't notice.

mcovey it is early Monday am so you should be sleeping, tell us how your first day goes ater your first day which should be today.