myadhdchronicles

[myadhdchronicles]

Time Blindness and ADHD

One of the major struggles of ADHD is time blindness or time nearsightedness. I prefer to call it time nearsightedness, it explains it better, thanks to Jessica McCabe from How to ADHD for the great term. Time blindness/nearsightedness happens in ADHD when those suffering from it cannot "see" time well. It is a problem where ADHD brains have just two time settings, now and not now. Things land on our time radar later than they do on that of those without ADHD.

What this means is that we are often late, underestimate or overestimate how long tasks will take, think 5 minutes have passed then look up at the computer to see that 50 minutes did, think we have time to do this one more 2-minute thing, and end up still doing the task 20 minutes later, and more. It means that a task that we think will be short ends up being long, and something we thought would take forever, end up being short. This time blindness means we must always have a watch, phone, computer, clock, or timer to keep us on track and help us "see" time.

This is a problem in all aspects of our lives. We can't figure out how long we need to get from waking up in the morning to arriving at work on time because we forget we need time for things like getting from house to car, from car to work, finding a parking space, etc. We plan our time as if everything will always go perfectly and we will have long enough to do everything without realizing what everything includes. We don't know how to break down assignments because we think it will take us 5 minutes to read the textbook chapters that the assignment is on when it will actually take half an hour, we think it will take half an hour to write the outline and it actually takes an hour and a half, and we think that writing the draft will take an hour when it actually takes 3 hours, we also forget the time it takes to actually get the assignment turned in.

Some things that can help with time blindness/nearsightedness are as mentioned earlier having a way to see the time EVERYWHERE, which means clocks in EVERY room, wearing a watch, always having your phone nearby to check the time, having a clock visible in the taskbar on all your computers, and timers everywhere. Another thing that helps is estimating how long you think something takes and then using a stopwatch to see how long it actually does take. We also need to have calendars handy wherever our clocks are as well because we can lose track of the date too. You can also ask people in your support system to help you with time by letting you know how long you've been doing something or giving gentle reminders that you need to be done with that task soon because you have that appointment soon and things like that. Reminders and alarms are also helpful.

It is very difficult to suffer from this symptom of ADHD and when added to the other symptoms it can be a very real struggle just to get things done and get places on time. It is also not the ADHD sufferers' fault that they suffer from this symptom, and treating the person as if they have some type of character flaw or moral failing because they struggle to see time the way you do will not help them at all and will just make it all worse, not to mention it doesn't help you either and you just stay frustrated. It doesn't fix the time issue people with ADHD have to be told we have a character flaw or moral failing when what we really have is an ADHD symptom that's making our lives and the lives of our loved ones miserable. Instead, focus on solutions. Because we can't help it.

Until the next ADHD Chronicles, put on your time glasses and remember we're not broken, we're neurodivergent!

[myadhdchronicles]

ADHD is difficult but some things make it easier. I just found that I can write my tumblr posts with the pen on my new Samsung Galaxy S24 UItra. This is the kind of thing that makes technology great for people with ADHD. Another thing I mentioned that is great for ADHD are Rocketbook notebooks because you can scan and save the notes in your Rocketbook to your phone then erase them and reuse the pages. The best thing you can do for your ADHD is to find to find things that work with your ADHD instead of trying to force your brain to use tools that work against it. The other big thing you can do is acknowledge when your symptoms are going to be worse and put tools and routines into place to account for the added challenges you will be facing. I am doing that lately as added stress from my job and its wildly irregular scheduling for me right now. That is why I was seeking ways to make writing my blogs and other things easier. This also helps my job search because I can use it there too. stay tuned for more ADHD Chronicles. see you soon!

[myadhdchronicles]

I love this! I am so here for this in the New Year!

[myadhdchronicles]

ADHD and Comorbid conditions

What is a comorbid condition?

Comorbid conditions are those conditions that occur along with another condition. A lot of people with ADHD have other conditions that occur with it. These conditions add to the challenges of ADHD and make treatment even harder and more complex.

What kinds of conditions are often comorbid with ADHD?

Many things can be comorbid with ADHD. Many people with ADHD also have anxiety, depression, autism, sensory processing disorders, learning disabilities, chronic pain conditions such as migraine and fibromyalgia, and even bipolar disorder. Many things can occur together so the list can kind of be endless.

My own comorbidities:

My own ADHD is comorbid with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Fibromyalgia, PTSD, Migraine, and Dyscalculia (the math learning disability or "math dyslexia") and I also believe I have some sensory issues. This makes life very difficult for me, it causes an avalanche of challenges that just compound with each other to create a perfect storm of issues to be treated. Treatment for me is very complicated and this adds to the stress and challenges in my life.

ADHD and comorbid conditions challenges:

Having ADHD and comorbid conditions causes a lot of challenges that interfere with your life. With ADHD your executive function and working memory are challenged. If you add Generalized Anxiety Disorder, migraine, fibromyalgia, and Bipolar disorder to it they are even more challenged so things like hobbies, housework, careers, relationships, learning, cooking, and more are impaired by them. It is hard enough remembering things and focusing long enough to get through all the steps of a task with ADHD alone, each condition you add to it makes it even harder to remember, focus, and sustain motivation to complete activities you need to get done. It can be hard to remember all the chores you need to do around your house from beginning to end, especially if they have more than one step to them like laundry does. At work, it can be hard to complete projects that have many steps to them, and it can be hard to focus through an entire meeting or multiple meetings. Often times people with ADHD and comorbid conditions spend time at work returning to the printer several times because they've forgotten to grab their printout more than once, or having to ask people to repeat instructions or resend emails to them a lot because they forgot what it said and accidentally already deleted it from their inbox.

Organizing for those of us with ADHD and comorbid conditions can be extremely difficult. It can seem like a magic trick when other people organize their homes, desks, bags, purses, etc. Another thing that happens is that we can organize for a day or so and then the clutter begins to return. One thing I have extreme difficulty with is keeping my desk and apartment from ending up full of piles. That is my default organization system, put it in a pile.

One thing I and a lot of other people with ADHD and comorbid conditions struggle with is finances. For those of us with both ADHD and dyscalculia, numbers are like a foreign language, we just cannot wrap our brains around them. This makes budgeting and dealing with money very hard. It can be hard for us to recognize amounts and this leads us to issues knowing how much money we actually have in our bank accounts, add to this ADHD's impulsivity and you have a recipe for disaster. We often have overdrawn bank accounts, unpaid or late-paid bills, and seem to never have enough money coming in to cover what goes out. And budgeting is a concept our brains just cannot seem to grasp very well, it's like asking someone to do calculus who hasn't even taken algebra yet.

For those of us with ADHD and dyscalculia, calculus is a math we never made it to in school, we likely got stuck in algebra or geometry so we were never eligible to take that course. For me, even elementary/middle school math was difficult, let alone algebra and higher math courses. I barely passed prealgebra with a D, and I scraped by in algebra with a C. I also managed a C in geometry and at that point, I had enough math credits to graduate high school and was unable to get into trigonometry, which was the next class after geometry. The only math I took in college was economics, statistics, and math of finance. I had to get a tutor for all 3 of them. I managed to pass with a C in economics and statistics and I somehow got a low B in math of finance. Math is just difficult. It's literally like learning Greek or something for me, a whole other extremely difficult-to-learn language.

Treatment for ADHD and comorbid conditions:

Treatment for people with both ADHD and comorbid conditions is complex and multilayered. It does not work to treat just the ADHD and not the other conditions. Treatment needs to address all of the issues, from ADHD to Bipolar Disorder, to Fibromyalgia, Dyscalculia, Migraine, Anxiety, and PTSD to work. If you leave any of them untreated, that untreated disorder will undermine the others. You also have to be careful with what you treat things with so that the treatment for anxiety doesn't exacerbate the ADHD, the ADHD treatment doesn't aggravate the anxiety, and the treatments for those don't exacerbate the Bipolar Disorder, etc.

Closing:

Having ADHD and comorbid conditions is a complex, multilayered situation that requires a variety of different approaches to treat and manage well. It has a huge impact on the life of the person who has them and it takes a lot of work and finesse to manage life with them. Life is complicated with these conditions altogether but it can still be fulfilling and joyful. Stay tuned to My ADHD Chronicles for more great information and insight into ADHD and how to live with it.

[myadhdchronicles]

A Day in my ADHD work life

I wanted to go through what a day is like for me working with ADHD. It could be very helpful for people to see the kinds of things that can happen at work due to ADHD and also to see that it's not just them. I want to show that many of the things people without ADHD take as careless, lazy, or intentional are directly caused by ADHD and that they're not excuses.

Before work:

Beginning my day yesterday, I woke up late because I worked the second shift, it was 12:30 p.m. I had a lot of things I needed to do before work and now already didn't have enough time for all of them. I postponed some of my writing projects. Rearranged the cleaning schedule I originally had and decided a later time I'd get ready, 2 p.m. instead of 1:30 p.m. I then tried to eat something at home and basically had nothing here so ordered takeout. It took forever to arrive and I had to rush my meal while in between cleaning and getting ready for work. I manage to finish cleaning and getting ready and I realize it's now getting to be a late time to call my Uber to work.

Arriving to work:

I arrived at work at 3:05 p.m. when I needed to be there 5 minutes earlier. I am now rushing to get to the office and clock in so I can head to the front desk to get started. On my way out to the front desk, I forgot my phone and work planner/notebook in the office twice. I also started to walk off without the crutch I needed for walking twice as well. I finally made it to the front desk to start our shift change and count the drawer.

During my shift:

As I begin to count my cash drawer, I forget the cash count sheet I need 3 times. I then proceeded to lose my count while counting the $20 bills, the $1 bills, and all types of coins more than once. I also suffer from dyscalculia in addition to my ADHD, so money is a nightmare. I also wrote the dollar amounts in the wrong order twice and reversed the amounts for the dimes and nickels. I then have several people come up to the desk to check in to the hotel and as I am creating their reservations I have forgotten things on the guest information screen and had to return to it from other screens multiple times. I have to check how many days they are staying and what the room number is 5 times during the course of creating their guest room keys.

I then forgot that I had to print out several reports at the beginning of my shift and went to print them out more than once. I also forgot that they were sitting in the printer and started to print something else. I have to keep paper near me for notes at all times because if someone asks me for something or tells me something I need to pass on to someone else I will forget it if I don't write it down. It was incredibly busy which just exacerbated all of my ADHD issues. I paid for a drink and some candy and proceeded to forget to go get it from the gift shop. I also had an extremely hard time being still. I couldn't keep sitting on my stool, I kept getting up and walking to the office, the gift shop, the storage closet, and back to my seat.

When I was assigning rooms and making keys I accidentally assigned a room number to someone's reservation that was dirty. Luckily it was before that person was checking in and I just changed it, but it could have been more of an issue had they been there already. I kept forgetting many times that there was no houseman or engineer scheduled for the second shift, so I couldn't ask them to go get things or fix things. I kept forgetting that I couldn't have guest room TVs fixed because I had no engineer working at the time.

End of Shift:

I had even more trouble at the end of my shift counting the money and closing my shift than I did counting it when I opened it at the beginning. I kept forgetting to take my reports to the office with me when I was ready to go to the back and clock out, and I forgot to put the amounts I counted on the count sheet. I also forgot to put them on the shelf they go in twice. I tried to tell my coworker taking over for me things in my end-of-shift report even though I'd just typed them into the report on the computer that I had to submit before clocking out. I kept forgetting what I needed to say, it was very frustrating. Being tired does not help the ADHD brain even less than it helps the non-ADHD one. I was so easily distracted and forgetful by this point that I almost forgot my jacket and planner/notebook when I went to go wait for my Uber. It was exacerbated by the fact that one friend was texting my phone and another was calling it.

After work:

Once my Uber arrived I was just so done. I just needed a rest from executive functions like thinking, remembering, focusing, and processing information. When I got home I almost left my crutch in the Uber, I just couldn't remember anymore, my brain was just done. When I arrived at my front door I proceeded to have a panic attack because I thought I lost my keys. They were just in a different pocket than I had them in when I locked my house up on the way to work. I finally got into my apartment and forgot that my keys were hanging from the door and started closing it. I also forgot that my boyfriend had to work his 2nd job overnight and had a brief panic attack finding my apartment empty when I thought he would be home. I then went to bed and proceeded to veg out in front of my TV, computer, and phone.

The takeaways:

The takeaways here are that those of us with ADHD struggle with executive function tasks, such as focus, remembering, keeping track of how much money we just counted, keeping track of our things, and making sure we have them all before we leave the location we are in and more. We need tools and tips that can make executive function easier for us. We often need to write it down so we don't forget it or use apps that help us keep track of all the things throughout our day. We also have a lot of anxiety and distress because of our struggles with these things and we can often feel burnt out at the end of our day due to it. Executive function tasks and anxiety that can accompany them for those with ADHD take a lot of energy so it is common for us to feel drained after a long day of those kinds of tasks, as it is those days when we work.

We also are not forgetting on purpose, we are not distracted because we don't care, and we're not losing count of the money because we just don't want to do it or we can't count properly. Blaming us for these things that we cannot help due to the way our brains work is incredibly unhelpful and hurtful. Instead offer to help, maybe suggest a helpful app you saw that might alleviate some of the struggle with these things, make sure you communicate your needs with I statements and keep character judgments out of it. For example, I really need to get these reports on time, I saw an app for your phone that could help you to get them done in time to get them to me by the deadline, would you like the name of it?

ADHD isn't character flaws, it's not showing that we don't care, it's not on purpose, we're not doing the things to be mean, we can't help it. We have brains that work differently, we are neurodivergent and that comes with challenges but it comes with strengths too. We are people too, and we deserve to exist in this world as we are without having to try to change things about ourselves that aren't all bad and that we were born with just to suit a world that isn't designed to fit us, just to appease others that are uncomfortable with them.

See you next time ADHD team, hope you come back to check out the next Chronicles!

[myadhdchronicles]

Thank you to everyone who got me to 50 likes!

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Navigating Life with ADHD: My Journey, Tips, and Hacks

Living with ADHD has its unique challenges, but it's also a journey filled with creativity, resilience, and countless small victories. I've learned to embrace my ADHD and discovered some invaluable tips, hints, and hacks along the way. In this blog, I'll share my personal insights and strategies that have made life with ADHD more manageable and even exciting.

1. Embrace Your ADHD:

Accepting your ADHD is the first step to managing it effectively. It's a part of who you are, and that's okay.

Learn about your specific strengths and weaknesses associated with ADHD. You might be exceptionally creative or have hyperfocus superpowers!

2. Create a Structured Routine:

Establishing a daily routine can provide a sense of stability and predictability.

Use digital calendars, planners, and reminders to keep track of appointments, tasks, and deadlines. I particularly like Sunsama, it is very ADHD-friendly. Habitica is good too, it is a gamified digital calendar that engages the ADHD brain much better than regular planners.

3. Prioritize and Set Goals:

ADHD brains can easily get overwhelmed by too many tasks. Prioritize your to-do list and break tasks into smaller, manageable goals.

Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small.

4. Minimize Distractions:

Create a dedicated workspace that's free from distractions.

Consider using noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, or white noise to maintain focus.

Learn what kind of workspace works best for you, it's not the same for every ADHD brain.

5. Time Management Techniques:

Use the Pomodoro Technique (working in short, focused bursts with breaks) to stay on track.

Set timers for tasks to prevent hyperfocus and procrastination.

6. Medication and Therapy:

Consult a medical professional to discuss medication options.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you develop coping strategies and improve executive functioning skills, but know your own ADHD brain because it does not work for all of them.

7. Mindfulness and Meditation:

Mindfulness practices can help you stay present and reduce anxiety.

Try meditation to improve concentration and self-awareness.

Meditation and mindfulness do not have to be the typical sit still and clear your-mind things they are for non-ADHD brains, for a lot of ADHD brains we need to move so something like knitting/crocheting, going for a walk, or sitting outside in nature with your dog are our forms of mindfulness and meditation.

8. Stay Organized:

Use color coding, labels, and file systems to keep your physical and digital spaces organized.

Daily checklists can be a game-changer.

Know your own ADHD brain and make your system one that works for your brain or organization will continue to be a struggle.

9. Don't Fear Mistakes:

It's okay to make mistakes. Learn from them and keep moving forward.

Perfectionism can be your enemy; aim for progress, not perfection.

Learn to let good enough be good enough, perfection does not exist.

10. Get Adequate Sleep and Exercise:

Prioritize good sleep hygiene; it can significantly impact your ADHD symptoms.

Regular physical activity can boost focus and mood.

11. Utilize ADHD-Related Apps:

Explore ADHD-focused apps designed to help with time management, organization, and focus.

Some popular options include Todoist, Forest, Trello, Clarify ADHD, Sunsama, and Fabulous.

12. Seek Support and Community:

Connect with others who have ADHD through support groups or online forums.

Share your experiences and learn from the journeys of others.

Living with ADHD doesn't mean you're destined to struggle. By embracing your uniqueness and applying these tips, hints, and hacks, you can take control of your life. ADHD has its challenges, but it can also be a source of creativity, innovation, and unique perspectives. Remember, you're not alone, and there's a vibrant community of people who understand and support you on this journey. Embrace your ADHD, and together, we can navigate the world with success and resilience. See you next time, ADHD Team!