MOMS With ADD???

I am! It drives me nuts a lot. I realized it my first year of teaching when I was doing a screening on a student. I was thinking- yeah, that's me on all of them. So, I did an adult screener and talked to the dr. He prescribed meds, but my husband talked me out of them at the time because I had managed for so long. It did TOTALLY explain lots of issues I had with losing things, disorganization, forgetfulness, and not being able to remember most things I read. So, I just knew I was ADD and moved on. Now, about 10 years later, I realized I was having trouble managing parenting, work, the house, and everything else. I was constantly overwhelmed and taking so long to do things because I would get distracted, walk off, and start something else. SOOOO annoying. I was also having a hard time working with my kids around, I couldn't concentrate and would have to read with my fingers in my ears. They aren't that loud, I just needed absolute silence to read. So, I got on meds. It helped. I'm actually out at the moment. I'm managing ok, but I do better with them. I'm much calmer and don't get so overwhelmed by day to day life.

I am ADD.
1) I do this
2) MAKE A menu and LIST and only purchase what's on the list.

my struggles are cleaning!!!
I start something and look over there and hey that needs to be done too, and nothing ends up completely done.
I also struggle with long conversations.
If someone is sitting there telling me ( especially on the phone) instructions or what ever I will sit there and say yeah , yeah ok , got it . Then get off the phone and have no idea what that person just said.

I have it and I love it! it frustrates the hell outta me but I wouldn't want to be any other way! I was diagnosed when i was 24. i will say it upsets me the most because I have all these great ideas and things I want to do with my kids ( or friends or family) and the never come full circle, but it's ok because twenty more new n exciting things pop into my head. one of my favorite stories is when my daughter was an infant and I had to go back to work. running around in the morning getting things ready was insane! I would make atleast 5 trips to the car. one morning on the second trip I realized I didn't have my shirt on, just my bra! it was always the lastthing to go on bcuz my daughter spit up a lot. there r sooo many more to share!

HAHA I drive or walk into things that I just don't see. Like poles.

I homeschool and sometimes we never get anything done because I see something that is more fun, like planting dry beans from the kitchen, or cooking.

I have driven to the grocery store for something like noodles then forgot what I was there for and come home with bread only to have to go back for the noodles, or cheese, or milk. I have done it so many times my 15 year old always goes with me to make sure I dont;' get distracted.

I take meds for my thyroid and never forget them. Hubby calls them my stupid pills. If I do run out, like I do every month, my brain gets all frazzled and I can't concentrate on anything.

You are not alone.

I was diagnosed at 6 years old but my parents didn't want to medicate. I had big problems paying attention through school. The ADD was kinda forgotten about for a long time. I have no organization skills and my mind is always flying all over the place. I mentioned this to my Dr. a year ago and he sent me for testing. The diagnosis was adult ADD.
I can never just contrate on one thing. I have medication but I don't take it. It helps keep mymind on one thing BUT I don't like the way it makes me feel. So when I am trying to clean I can't just focous on one thing and I am always getting distracted. I go to the store all the time with one thing in mind I want and end up comeing home with everything but the thing I went after. I am always losing my keys and phone and blue tooth and anything else that isn't attached.
The other day I want out to eat with my friend and before I was to leave I was running around looking for my bluetooth. Frusterated I just grabed my phome and left. While at the resterant I was eating and my bluetooth fell from my ear oto my plate. Yeah, it was in my ear the whole time!

I live with ADD too. I was diagnosed in the fall of 2007. I started on Ritalin then, but just as I got used to the meds and was able to actually function properly, I became pregnant, then I nursed for the following 9 months until I became pregnant again...then nursed for nearly another year. Fast-Forward to late October 2010 I was finally able to re-start the Ritalin. Huge huge difference. I struggle the most with memory. I have virtually no short-term memory, which results in a very shotty long-term memory. What kills me the most is when I have "flash-backs" of recent events or conversations that took place a week or two before. Then I wonder if there was anything else I missed and had completely forgotten to do. Its actually very heartbreaking to have my 10 and 7 year olds remind me before they go to bed to make their lunches so I'm not rushing around in the morning :*(

It is very real and very frustrating, especially since so many people just do not understand ADD in adults and think its just a joke or an irresponsible person.

I do the same thing when I'm grocery shopping. If I go into a store without a list, I leave with a whole bunch of stuff, but really when I get home, I've got nothing, lol. I seem to forget everything, no matter how much I try and try. I also can't seem to stay focused when I'm cleaning around the house. On the upside, with the Ritalin, I am able to focus and stay on task...but that can be a curse too. I set out to clean/straighten up our 3 bedrooms and the bathroom upstairs the other day. I started in the bathroom and managed to stay in there cleaning for nearly 4 hours. I literally wiped everything from floor to ceiling, took the shower doors down and de-scuzzed them, fixed the broken knob on the sink, and even scrubbed the floor behind the toilet! Like I said, at least I can stay focused on something, lol.

J. J
www.delaniesdoggy.org

There was a great show on PBS relating to ADHD and I watched for the sake of my son. It was geared to grown ups and was very informative. If the meds help, take them, if you had diabetes and needed the shots, you'd give that to yourself. Don't take on the stigma or 'bad' feelings around yourself. I think my son is one of the most creative and fun people I know. I think because of having ADD, it has given him benefits as well.
He has a positive attitude and can laugh about certain situations such as you did in bed with the towel. Keep it up, laughter is great. I believe we all have ADD just on different levels. We can all share stories of driving down the road and taking the wrong turn because our mind was thinking of something else.
Enjoy life!

Gosh if what you posted and what the other posters have written are ADD, then I guess that's me too. Every morning my hubs has to ring my cell so I can find it, usually a foot away from me. I walk in to the kitchen to get something and I have to ask someone why I went in there. On my way to get something I find things to do on the way and forget to do my first intention. I take a shower to wash my hair and come out without washing it. I thought this was all due to being distracted or busy. I wasn't like this as a kid. Geez.

I have ADD, my oldest son has ADHD, my mom has ADHD, and my brother has ADD. Mine effects me most when I am trying to concentrate on something important and am unable to focus because of distractions around me. I also am terrible about forgetting what I have started or intended to do. I learned a long time ago to finish what is started, if something else gets my attention, write it down to be done when the current task or tasks are finished. I learned that if I don't write it down, it will be forgotten and later I will be angry at myself for having left it undone but if I jump from the current task to the new task I find that the first task is left undone. I am not medicated and most likely never will because of finances. I have similar shopping experiences and find myself texting grocery list to my husband to pick up the forgotten items. I feel bad about sending him to the store after work when I was only at the store a few hours ago, but I really need the forgotten items. ARGGGH!!!! He never complains though and usually comes home with lots of items I would prefer did not come in my home for diet reasons.

My mom and son are medicated. My mom is a public school teacher and could not survive without. My brother is no longer medicated and it is quite obvious since he is continually loosing or misplacing his keys, tools, etc. He is a maintenance man at a nursing home.

Well I havent been diagnosed with ADD but have done almost the same things as you.
Just this morning I am running around my house frantically looking for my coat- it isnt in the closet, not downstairs, not in my room- 20 minuets I spend looking for the damn thing- It is sitting next to purse where I put it last night so I didnt forget.
I have walked around the house with a dirty cup in my hand picking up one thing or another because I was on my way to put the cup in the sink.

I think I am too, how do you get tested or confirm that you have it? THen what, meds or are there other ways to deal with it without meds??

My husband programmed my pager's alarm to go off everyday at 4:30 - time to make dinner! and every week - take son to piano lesson! and so on.

Just wanted to let you know that there is a supplement that has helped a lot of people who struggle with ADD/ADHD. My family takes it for a variety of health concerns, and we are seeing amazing results. Let me know if you'd like some info!

I have never been diagnosed but I do believe i have a little ADD going on. I'd love to get myself some medication to help but I don't have insurance for the doctor visit right now and its not exactly an emergency so Ill just bring it up at my next regular appt.