Happy Hump Wednesday!

Happy Hump Wednesday!

In ADD/ADHD terms, its clothes all over the floor, middle of the week!


      So as a soon to be finish with school Social worker. Intend to empower others with my blog.As a social worker it means that I am concerned for others and in charge of their healing. Even though I will be a professional therapist, I am still human and I'm also still learning. Having said all that, I realize that I should put myself in time out sometimes. When I am frustrated, yelling, and screaming, not sleeping, or sleeping too much. I realize in some tense moments, that even though I am an adult, I am not making any sense, and I need to remove myself. With that said be very patient with your child, they really are doing the best they can and that goes for adults too.

So my 9 yo son and I have the best relationship, and are the best of friends. Since I see alot of myself in him, I know when to back off. My son tries his hardest, but some days are really hard for him. Especially with homework. His teacher made exceptions for him and allow plenty of time to turn in homework. In the past he has been so stressed out that he hides his homework. I advise all parents to stay in contact with the school and insist on testing more than once if need be. 

All in all, I advise parents or caretakers to stay in open communication with your child so he or she can tell you how he is feeling. My youngest always uses the word "annoying" and that is when he is REALLY MAD! So we give each other some space, because I can also be annoyed. My next tactic, if space away from the problem doesn't work, is to give an official time out which includes being unplugged from internet devices etc. This usually calms my child enough to be able to express his feelings, instead of the usual one word answers.

ADD And ADHD are complicated mental impairments that are not temporary, and do not go away, even with medication. Medication only manages symptoms, it is not a magic wand or cure. So it is important to have a game plan and recognize your child's emotional signals. It  requires research and trial and error on the part of the person affected, caretakers and yes teachers! 

(You would be surprised.) 

Until next time......

as always be gentle with yourself,

questions and comments are encouraged.

My ADHD struggles and motivations

From the ADHD, Be gentle desk:

Hi fellow warriors caught in a whirlwind of chaos,


Actual footage of my ADHD mind at work! 😜

      Through my research I discovered that learning an instrument is good for ADHD sufferers. Through the Understood website and a few others. I learn more and more each day.
What makes me passionate enough to write on ADHD is that I suffered for most of my life undiagnosed with ADD. It is only through my children, that I came to understand, our symptoms are the same. I encourage everyone to get tested just in case. I you have ever wondered why you cant seem to get organized at all or cant find the motivation to get started on assignments projects or work around the house I beg you to find out what may be the cause of it.
   
      One way I have decided to combat my sons struggles is through music. Percussion instruments help the ADHD mind focus and learn a new skill. Since we need all the help we can get I am pulling out the stops. I have decided to put my youngest child into music lessons. My soon to be 10 year old is only interested in Nintendo switch and you tube at the moment. New technology has presented a new problem for Attention deficit warriors and that is these devises shorten your already short attention span. Therefore I have to find ways to distract my lovely son from his phone and gaming system. so with my cluttered mind, I have to remember to take said child to his appointment.  While I simultaneously look at my phone and wait for him to finish. Gotta love my life! (I think I will bring a book this time).I will keep you posted on our journey.......


     ADHD sufferers are either very focused on things they enjoy or very unfocused depending or if the subject at hand  peaks their personal interest. ADHD brain processes and normal brain processes are the same in that way, either you like what you do or you do not. My son is very definite about what he likes and what he does not like. I am a little more flexible, chalk it up to life experience. I know that I have to take some risk and do things that I am not good at to achieve the results I want. A prime example is Math. Dun dun dun. I have failed statistics at least 3 times but I will suvive! Heeey, Heey! (Insert Gloria Gaynor).

     So back to the program, being hyper focused is good for deadlines, but not good if there is say, a FIRE! So someone may be trying to get my attention, but if I am in hyper focus mode, I will not hear them.  I honestly will not hear them, and if I do hear them, I am not focused on what that person is saying, because my mind is still on what I was previously doing. I goes like this " huh? what? say it again!" " I didn't understand you". My son experiences it this way. "Son, put your phone down take out the trash and here is my key to get the mail while your out there". So because he was probably focused on something else, he will hear my voice and stand up, but be unsure precisely what he is supposed to be doing. So he will say I didn't hear you, when in fact he did hear me, he just wasn't able to pay attention. So next what happens, is he will grab the trash bags and not take the key to get the mail. So as you can see its a challenge on both our parts, because I will also forget what I just told him to do, and hours later, be wondering where the mail is. Folks this is all day, everyday.

Funny for this week: To watch the flow of my mental illness, all you have to do is check my Amazon cart!

Be gentle with yourself,
As always. Questions, comments,suggestions?

Introduction ADD Warriors

Hi
Lets get started
I am passionate about everything, basically.
My passions include reading, traveling, my children, and learning new things.

I am a woman, who has decided life is simple, but its not. I want to go with my gut instinct, but what if I'm wrong? I would like to be knowledgeable enough to make good decisions, but what if I'm wrong. I would just like for someone to tell me what I'm doing is right, but if they think its wrong Ill do it anyway. There in lies the problem.
I say this to say, as a person with ADD attention deficit disorder, I have realized that my life is much harder because I don't and cant, think in black and white, I think in many colors. In my mind, nothing is clear cut cut and straight forward, only a wonderful collage of confusion.

For example something hurts you, like a cut in your foot. You may stop wearing certain shoes. You also, may need to use a band aid, antibiotics. Depending on different variables, your foot will heal and you move on with life, taking precautions not to do the same thing, that cut you foot before. Only a person cannot avoid never being cut on the foot again a conscience decision is made to do the best you can to avoid getting cut
.

Only with an ADD brain, a person is  more likely to get cut again because of not being able to pay attention to details, only the big picture. I want to walk barefoot, therefore I will, end of story. It doesn't matter if I have been cut. I don't like wearing shoes. I like shoes. I like the styles and colors and will even buy many pairs shoes in my life, because I do like soft clean feet after all. The problem comes in forgetting consequences, repeating behaviors, or getting stuck in indecision.

I do have common sense but my common sense gets overridden immediately by intrusive thoughts. I have shoes, I don't have enough shoes, I want money for shoes. Should I buy more comfortable shoes, durable shoes or party shoes. See what I mean? does it matter? It does to me. This is just one example. I have made it through life, only by over analyzing, and making small calculated decisions.
Be gentle with yourself.
Suggestions, Comments, Observations?