Archives for March 2017

I know, I know, we’ve been over this before, and yes, I understand the seriousness of this problem…let me explain.

I set three alarm clocks. Somehow my extension cord unplugged itself from the wall. Yes, I realize this sounds odd, but…story of my life. Now, the reason I have an extension cord plugged into the outlet that is directly next to my bed, is because I have 43 things that need to be plugged in right next to me. My alarm clock and bedside light. My phone charger, my watch charger, (yes, I do realize that I have 3 items right next to me that allow me to see what time it is) the charger for my tablet, (ok, make that four) charger for my Bluetooth headphones, my laptop, my flat iron, my curling iron, my lighted mirror.

Why do I need a curling iron next to my bed? Well, so that I can get ready as soon as I wake up…so that I’m not late.

Anyways. the extension cord became unplugged sometime last night, so all of the batteries were depleted from said devices (one of which serves as alarm #1) ?and the alarm clock of course can’t work if its not plugged in. (alarm #2) Which leaves me with alarm #3, which is brilliantly plugged in across the room. However, since #1 and #2 never went off this morning, this was my one and only alarm, so I was thoroughly unprepared to wake up right away. (why are you looking at me like that?)

Let me continue. When I was cognizant enough to realize what was going on, I leapt out of bed and went straight to my closet to get dressed. I opened the door and was immediately overwhelmed by my choices. I mean, I have an extraordinary amount of REALLY great clothes. (you’re still looking at me funny) Obviously I had no time to coordinate a presentable outfit, (I, of course, decided this after trying on about 6 different things and throwing them on the floor) so I grabbed my go-to sweater and my jeans from yesterday.

I had to email my son’s teacher this morning (thank God I remembered that!) because I could not seem to find the permission slip for the field trip and?that?needed to be brought back today. ?Only, my phone was dead, so I had to start up the ol’ lap top.

Now, I realize that I have ADHD and all, but how is it that every electronic device that I purchase, ALSO seems to be suffering from the same disorder? ?The computer never seems to remember how to connect to WiFi efficiently, and then all these various screens pop up about “suspicious activity detected” and “security subscription is expired” and what not. Its terribly distracting.

Moving on…..I opened my email server and since I never check my email on the laptop, it did not have my updated password stored, and of course I don’t remember what it is, I had to create a new one. Only, it had to verify that I was really me….by sending me a text. So then I had to plug my phone in to get enough charge to receive the verification text. Lord help me!

At that point I was panicking and ready to throw my laptop out the window because I knew that I could?not?be late again, but for some reason my email was in a suspended state of “SENDING” ?I was just going to have to just cross my fingers and hope that it went through, because the last thing that I wanted was to be late and to appear as if I do not care about this job, which, I do . I care about it very very much.

I grabbed my coat and my purse and was on my way! But when I got into the car, my heart sank when I did not hear the familiar “ding, ding, ding” of my keys in the ignition. (because this is where I leave them at all times so that I do not lose them, which would cause me to be late….but my husband can’t stand this, so if he takes my car he always brings the keys in the house….and I can strangle him right about now!) So I had to call my husband to ask him where my keys were. ?When he answered the phone, my blood was boiling, so I ended up just screaming a whole lot of incomprehensible nonsense abut my lost keys and getting fired and “its all your fault!” and then…..nothing.

Did he just hang up on me?!! At a time like this! I can’t believe it! Oh wait. Nope. The phone was just dead. I considered crawling back into bed and spending the day updating my resume, but instead I ransacked the kitchen for my missing car keys, until I found them. In the same spot he always puts them when he takes my car. (who does that?) So then I was on my way! (For real this time.) Except I didn’t have my purse. So I made one last dash into the house and then back out the door again.

I was down the street when I realized that I had forgotten my lunch (the one I made in advance last night, so that I wouldn’t be late) so it looks like I’ll be ordering out this afternoon. Which, of course, is the current habit I am trying to break, so that’s a little frustrating…but you know, so is being unemployed. So here I am. Late again. And I apologize. And I appreciate you being so understanding. Um, and since I’m in here, I guess now would be the best time to tell you that I don’t have my badge today….because I put it in my lunch bag. So that I wouldn’t be late.

Recently, I came across a video of psychologist Dr. Russell Barkley, and his lecture “debunking the myth” that ADHD is a gift. He argues that “There is no way that we can go to Ottawa and walk the halls of parliament, arguing for accommodations, entitlements, funding of ADHD medications on the one hand, while rah-rah cheering ADHD as this wonderful giftedness that we have and you don’t [on the other].” ?I understand his point, because believe you me, I understand the daily struggle and enormous effort it takes to simply move forward productively through the day living with ADHD. I am also an advocate for the importance of ADHD awareness and treatment, HOWEVER, I disagree with his notion that rejects the idea that ADHD “predisposes to anything positive in human life.” Ouch.

ADHD is associated with structural, functional, electrical, and chemical abnormalities of the brain. Abnormalities that demonstrate a different way of thinking. It takes a different way of thinking to generate breakthrough ideas, or unexplored solutions. It takes a different kind of brain chemistry to instinctively respond with clarity and focus in a crisis situation. These are qualities that I would not only consider to be positive in human life, but I’d go so far as to say imperative to it.

Can we acknowledge the positive and remarkable strengths and abilities associated with ADHD while still recognizing the importance of proper diagnosis, management, and treatment for it?

Can learning to harness the advantages of ADHD, help us to thrive and succeed in spite of it? Can we empower individuals living with ADHD, by teaching them to reframe their perspective on the diagnosis? Should we celebrate and share the stories of the successes of people with ADHD? ?Yes, yes, and yes!

I can give you a list of all the reasons I should HATE my ADHD. I can tell you stories of failures, and frustrations, and all the ways I’ve screwed up as a result of my brain function. I can choose to be angry about my disorder and resent it, OR I can look for the qualities that make me shine. By learning to recognize and focus on what I CAN do, I begin to feel less restricted by shortcomings.

It is impossible for me to know which qualities are directly associated with ADHD, which are compensatory, and which are completely unrelated, but I do know that by utilizing my strengths, recognizing and working on my weaknesses, and finding effective treatment and therapy for my ADHD, I find that nothing is out of my reach!