You'd Lose Your Head If it Wasn't Attached: Scatterbrain Strikes Again

By Lisa Kroulik © May 31, 2011

It is a comedy of errors just to get me out the door in the morning. There are so many things to remember: keys, purse, lunch, glasses, cell phone, making sure my clothes are on properly. My good-natured husband helps me go through the checklist each morning, but inevitably something goes amiss. Last week alone, I had two forgotten lunches and an inside-out shirt incident. Thankfully, I have co-workers who know my tendencies and notice things like tags sticking out where they shouldn't be and alert me so I don't go about my day in blissful ignorance.

My husband of ten months has not yet comprehended the depths of my issues with short-term memory. I haven't had the heart to tell him that a friend once bought me a color-coded beeper system to place on all of my easily misplaced items, which probably would have worked well if I hadn't lost the master remote.This is an amusing picture, no? I figure I can either laugh at myself or crumple into a ball of self-pity.

About ten years ago, I discovered that I have Adult ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder, Inattentive type. Gee, you think? I have been a scatterbrain for a very long time. My mother tells me that she once bought gloves for me and my three sisters as Christmas gifts, but by the time Christmas had arrived, I had worn and lost all four pairs. As I got older, my scatterbrain tendencies began to have more serious consequences and that is what lead me to begin researching Adult ADD. Note: This article does not discuss Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), only ADD, Inattentive type.

What is Adult ADD?

According to the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) the criteria used to diagnose Adult ADD is as follows:

Often making careless mistakes when having to work on uninteresting or difficult projects.

Often having difficulty keeping attention during work, or holding down a job for a significant amount of time.

Often having difficulty concentrating on conversations.

Having trouble finishing projects that have already been started.

Often having difficulty organizing for the completion of tasks.
Avoiding or delaying in starting projects that require a lot of thought.

Often misplacing or having difficulty finding things at home or at work Disorganized personal items (sometimes old and useless to the individual) causing excessive "clutter" (in the home, car, etc.)

Often distracted by activity or noise.

Often having problems remembering appointments or obligations, or inconveniently changing plans on a regular basis.

Hyper foucs on subjects that are interesting to the exclusion of other responsibilities.

Notice the prevalence of the word often. Anyone can have these issues from time to time; it is only when they are frequent enough to cause significant distress for the individual that a diagnosis is considered. For a formal diagnosis to be made, a person must exhibit at least six of these symptoms, have had symptoms present before the age of seven, and had difficulty in at least two life areas, i.e, work and relationships in the preceding six months.

How Adult ADD Has Affected Me

Of the criteria listed above, the one that caused the most severe repercussions for me was not being able to hold down a job for a significant amount of time. I bounced from job to job until I was 40 years old, often having no idea why I would quit, other than just feeling restless. This wasn't as big an issue before the recession hit; since then, I have finally learned to think through the consequences and be less impulsive. Prior to the job I have now, which at 2 years and 8 months is my longest ever, I went well over a year being unemployed. It is difficult and embarrassing at my age to explain gaps in my resume and to account for only lateral, rather than upward, movement.

I also have a very low tolerance for noise. I shop at small stores because the noise and confusion of large establishments causes me a lot of distress. I need total silence to write, since the smallest of distractions will keep me away from the task at hand, and unless there is something very worthwhile on television to watch, I generally can't stand to have it on. It's just noise and laugh tracks to me. I think that these things occur because it is difficult for me to attend to two tasks at the same time. If I am focused on getting out the door on time for work and I haven't taken my lunch off the counter, it's a sure bet that any distraction competing for my attention will win over remembering to take my lunch.

I have never had a formal diagnosis. I just did a lot of research, completed questionnaires which placed me in the very high range and spoke to a counselor who said I probably did have it. I have also never sought any formal treatment. What I did do was make the decision that while "Adult ADD" does describe some of my characteristics, it does not define who I am. I do not feel that I have a disease of that I am a deficient human being. Simply put, I decided to work with it.

Strategies For Success

ADD is not something you just have to live with. I recommend being proactive and seeking out what will work the best for you. Some people choose to go on medication, such as Adderall, to help improve focus. I was never comfortable with that option as I felt it would be medicating away my personality. I may be completely ignorant in saying that, but am just being honest with my thoughts. I am certainly not anti-medication. I took Zoloft for many years for depression, and say with no hesitation that it was Zoloft which finally made a noticeable difference in the severity of my symptoms.

For people with the means, hiring a behavioral coach or a professional organizer may be the way to go. Unlike a therapist, a behavioral coach is more concerned with the here and now and helping you cope with everyday situations which may present challenges for you. A professional organizer can help you to get a grip on clutter and a system in place for handling appointments, personal belongings and so forth.

There are support groups out there for adults with inattentive ADD, as well as a wealth of online resources, such as message boards and newsletters with ADD-friendly tips.

Myself, I just read a lot of books. It's been a while but the ones that immediately comes to mind are Driven to Distraction and You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy? They helped me to understand my challenges, set-up support for them and arrange my life is such a fashion that my strengths were allowed to shine.

I Am Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

And what are those strengths? I read on an ADD forum that people with ADD often have "creativity, passion, energy, out-of-the-box thinking, and a constant flow of original ideas." I would agree that describes me pretty well. I was told by a friend recently that I have a different way of thinking and I wasn't at all offended by that. In my eyes, different means unique, not strange or lacking. I wouldn't trade the uniqueness of my original mind for anything.