Is This A Symptom Of Add?

[muffin47]

Hi everyone,

In my mind I know what I want to say, now let's see if I can explain it in this post. When I ask someone to do something for me (which isn't very often), I feel I need to explain why I want them to do this for me. Example: When my kids were younger my cousin would babysit for me. One day my uncle answered the phone, and I asked if Pam could babysit for me. Then I went on to explain what I was doing and where I was going. He stopped me in mid sentence and said "you don't have to explain why you need a babysitter, that is your business".

I always feel I need to explain myself, no matter what it is I'm doing. I feel I need to explain everything, and I give out more information than I should. I've, also, noticed that I repeat myself a lot, and I ramble on a bit to long.

Does this make sense to anyone? It didn't come out the way I imagined it in my mind.

Deb

[HighFunctioning]

I do this too, but I don't think it has anything to do with the ADD itself and more to do with thinking styles. Some of us want to have an understanding of why a situation is as it is, and in turn, convey the same?

[Folded]

I have the exact same thing, actually. I'm always over-explaining things to people, which must seem patronizing.

[barbyma]

It may just be a product of ADD rambling. Rambling is certainly an ADD trait (as well as a bipolar trait, which is probably why I'm such a BLABBERMOUTH!). Maybe you're like me. I just can't seem to have a thought that doesn't get expressed one way or another!!

[Marmalade_man]

I think it may be ADD rambling too or perhaps a lack of confidence. I do it too.

I have also been been told I talk too much and if someone asks me the time, I am liable to tell them how to MAKE A WATCH.

Best wishes, Vic

[nasnem]

I struggle with telling people too much as well as telling them too little.

I have people that tell me I shouldn't assume that they know what I know so I need to be more specific. When I am more specific I get told that I shouldn't assume other people are idiots.

I can never seem to find the middle ground.

[Adamant1988]

I do this a lot. My constant need to explain everything I say, can very quickly turn into a ramble. Many times that ramble follows my somewhat irregular thought patterns in conversation. I'll often explain stuff in such great detail that the person listening hasn't been able to absorb the slightest hint of what I was trying to say, because I talk very fast (which I do think is because of the ADHD).

[Bean Delphiki]

I do it, like crazy. My most-oft repeated phrase is, "I mean...." It become really obvious if you know me for a while. I can't leave things alone.

Also, when something (like an explanation) occurs to me, I almost can't NOT say it. Not even necessarily in a really impulsive sense, but it's like I hyperfocus on the thought until I get it out.

[Merrill]

When I want to tell someone to do something I often have to explain why I want them to do it because I feel as though they can understand it better if I explain why it needs to do be done (at least I can understand it better if someone explains it to me that way).

I too often ramble when I do this and then go into stories about the task that I'm asking them to do. When I start the stories I often start mid-story and then have to backtrack to the actually begining and then explain the end skipping over the middle. I confuse myself when I do this as well as the person that I'm explaining it to.

[cell]

Originally Posted by muffin47

Hi everyone,

In my mind I know what I want to say, now let's see if I can explain it in this post. When I ask someone to do something for me (which isn't very often), I feel I need to explain why I want them to do this for me. Example: When my kids were younger my cousin would babysit for me. One day my uncle answered the phone, and I asked if Pam could babysit for me. Then I went on to explain what I was doing and where I was going. He stopped me in mid sentence and said "you don't have to explain why you need a babysitter, that is your business".

I always feel I need to explain myself, no matter what it is I'm doing. I feel I need to explain everything, and I give out more information than I should. I've, also, noticed that I repeat myself a lot, and I ramble on a bit to long.

Does this make sense to anyone? It didn't come out the way I imagined it in my mind.

Deb

Yep. All the time.

Socially and in my personal life it drives my friends nuts. My very long stories could have been told in 5 sentences or less. My family doesn't mind because they all do it too! (And, I'm convinced they all have ADD too).

My poor students probably hate me. I explain things very thoroughly, and then will repeat myself with another explanation. Of course, this is after I stop and interrupt myself several times because I'm so bad at organizing my thoughts. And, I'll remind them throughout the day and over weeks. I figure I do this for two reasons - 1. because I myself often don't understand things with one explanation; and 2. because I can never remember anything. So, between 1 and 2, I always benefit from from thorough and repeated explanations, and figure everyone else will too.

Maybe now that I know my difficulties are not "normal", I should try to reign it in a bit.

[netsavy006]

I allways overexplain things to other's when talking w/ others.

[meadd823]

I have people that tell me I shouldn't assume that they know what I know so I need to be more specific. When I am more specific I get told that I shouldn't assume other people are idiots.

I can never seem to find the middle ground.

Hey I resemble this remark!!!! Aint no one ever satisfied.

I think over explaining has to do with wanting acceptance some times.

[nasnem]

The reason I tend to over explain is because I'm looking for a reaction or feedback from the person I'm speaking with. If I don't receive any type of feedback I feel like they don't understand me so I begin to detail what I just told them.

One of my greatest fears in life is that I will be misunderstood in either what I say and/or what my intentions are.