discouraged

[stef]

no one understands how hard it is for me to do things!
I went christmas shopping friday: saturday: groceries, morning rehearsal, afternoon concert, friends over for drinks at home & dinner out.
I'm happy I did this! but sunday was like "sensory overload"; I could have just cried, there is always so much to do, my list is never finished & always added on to. No one is being unpleasant or mean; but they really just have no clue.

[Lunacie]

That is so familiar to me. If I have a "good day" and manage to get a lot done without having a meltdown or overload, the next day or three I really need to just "recharge my batteries" and spend some quiet alone time.

[fizzlesticks]

I hear ya. That never-ending to-do list seems so overwhelming pretty much all of the time, doesn't it? No end in sight! Especially around this time of year. (Then again, I think I say that at all times of year.)

[qhcowgirl]

Oh totally. Don't feel too discouraged... You're not the odd one out here. Thank goodness we've got a place that lets us know that there's others out there just like us!

If I have a good day or two where I get a lot done, my brain takes a complete vacation for a few days. I can sit, knit, do cross-stitch, sleep, watch movies, read fiction, and that's about it. But hey, that's just how we are. And knowing that can save us from feeling guilty...

[AnniLayne]

It's usually about this time - 10 days before Christmas - that I start to unravel from keeping all the appointments, checking all the gifts off my list, baking all the cookies, etc. and just start to lose it. I'm exhausted and it's still almost two weeks to the big day...

Anyway, here's a useful resource for making it through the holiday season with a little more sanity and calm. I especially like the 'Holiday Prioritization Checklist,' which helps whittle down the number of commitments that suck up so much time: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd-guide/holiday.html

[splendidcakes]

You have expressed just what I am feeling. Every year I wind up doing less than I would like to because I just can't organize cookies, parties, gifts for every relative, yada yada. Sometimes I wish I could just tell people "I can't keep up with you, I have A.D.D.", but I need to keep working on appreciating myself just as I am. Good luck to all of us, and Happy Holidays!

[ginniebean]

I went out for lunch with my sister the other day, I even timed it so it would be towards the end of the lunch hour. We arrived at 1:30 and the restaurant was still loud and noisy, I have no idea why but this city has the loudest restaurants bar none. You almost have to shout to be heard. I kept waiting for it to clear out, by 2:30 I was a jangle of nerves and couldn't wait to get out of there. Lately I do feel I have way too much on my plate so I can completely understand that feeling of needing some sanctuary from the raw nerves.

(((hugs))))

[pADDyjay]

sending you a hug stef dont get discouraged, arent you glad you have so many friends to do things withyou are blessedyour body is just telling you to pace yourself, hugs to you, love your posts

[sarek]

Christmas time is really stressful. As usual every year I am hoping to make it that far.
But there's a tree waiting. A little plastic one in my case.

[DTownDave22]

Originally Posted by stef

no one understands how hard it is for me to do things!
I went christmas shopping friday: saturday: groceries, morning rehearsal, afternoon concert, friends over for drinks at home & dinner out.
I'm happy I did this! but sunday was like "sensory overload"; I could have just cried, there is always so much to do, my list is never finished & always added on to. No one is being unpleasant or mean; but they really just have no clue.

My advice would be to sit down and look at this segment of your life as an opportunity to begin make an effort to evaluate your time use and balance and manage your time and life.

Look at each of those days and write down, type, or whatever you feel comfortable doing, what you did each day.


Pertaining to what you did on Friday, Saturday and any other days when you feel overwhelmed ask yourself these questions and any questions you think are relevant to yourself:

1. What was really necessary? Was there a compromise I could have made on my own or with others?
2. What should I have (a.) Done and (b) Not done and why for each and why? Was there another day I could have done what I didn't do and what would be the consequence of doing it another day?

You are definitely not the only one. I am still considering getting myself a moderately priced phone to help me keep track of what I do need to do, make note of something I can do at another time (I will oftentimes forget ). When I have several things to tend to, I will oftentimes get stressed and feel overhwlemed. Most other people probably wouldn't get stressed in that situation. I'm obviously still learning how to manage my condition.

[chartreuse]

Originally Posted by stef

no one understands how hard it is for me to do things!
I went christmas shopping friday: saturday: groceries, morning rehearsal, afternoon concert, friends over for drinks at home & dinner out.
I'm happy I did this! but sunday was like "sensory overload"; I could have just cried, there is always so much to do, my list is never finished & always added on to. No one is being unpleasant or mean; but they really just have no clue.

That is so exactly how I feel, stef. Your "real world" acquaintences may not have a clue but most of us here understand exactly.

My BF never understands how I can be brought to tears or yelling when, for instance, I do my little list of three or four chores on a Saturday and then right as I'm finishing up the last one I remember yet another thing or two I HAVE to do. And then I start thinking about the next day, and what has to be done then, and how many nights after work I have errands that have to get done, and then the next weekend all those same chores are waiting for me again...it's exactly what you said - a list that is never finished and always added on to. And of course some of what I have to do SHOULD be fun but it just ends up feeling like another chore, another item on the list.

A lot of people without ADD just call this "life," but for me it always feels more akin to a super-slow-motion death by drowning.

Why can't the world just STOP for awhile?

[fizzlesticks]

Originally Posted by chartreuse

Why can't the world just STOP for awhile?

My thoughts exactly.

[stef]

THANKS EVERYONE!!!!! finally people who really understand.
well this had been totally ADD so far - not working this week; I was supposed to go out this morning & then do half my desserts for tomorrow. It's 4.34 pm I just got back from the store! LOL. nevertheless I am feeling great & thanks again.

[stef]

update I FINISHED EVERYTHING BY 9:00 PM. And remembered to make dinner. Where's my medal???

[Lunacie]

Originally Posted by stef

update I FINISHED EVERYTHING BY 9:00 PM. And remembered to make dinner. Where's my medal???

Here ya go...