Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Am I forgetting something?
One of the most frustrating things about living with ADD is constantly forgetting things. I have to make several list just to keep up with what all is needed. For an example I have three list just at work so that I get all of my paperwork done on time. Or I will go to do something and get there and completely forget what I went there to do. Lack of concentration and losing focus on task is common with Adults with ADD. Yes we have learned to cope and deal with these problems but that does not make them less frustrating. I get tired of making list and will often try to do with out even though I know that I will end up forgetting something. If you can imagine having to make a list for everything that you do in your life household choirs (cleaning, laundry), grocery list, errands that need to be ran, and anything that is needed at work. It takes an extra hour a day to make the list and it gets tiring. Once you get fed up with so many list you attempt to go with out them and you end up spending more time trying to remember what you forgot or trying to play catch up then it would have been just making the stupid list. With work related stuff it is hard to find an employer that is willing to work with you to accomplish the task at hand. Most people need their task written down and explained so that they do not forget what to do and how to do it. If it is only verbalized then they will forget the details of the task at hand. Even when you work in a field that should understand this simple accommodation they often do not want to be bothered with it. For example, I work as a counselor at a drug rehab. clinic and all my coworkers have a B.S. or M.S. in a social science related field but my supervisor told me something last week that he needed me to do. On a normal day this would have been fine but he told me while I was in the middle of doing another task and he failed to write it down even though I have told him that I need stuff in writing. Well I forgot that he had even asked me to do this task and was reprimanded for it today. Once again you would expect a therapist who had to study ADD to understand the accommodations needed for an employee but it often does not happen. This is the primary reason why many children with this disorder do not accomplish much in the employment market. You find them working on cars, working fast food, waiting tables, and other jobs like this. For me I choose to rise against my issues and force myself to accomplish what I have been told is impossible. I advocate for myself and will tell my employer, my professors, and friends/family about my disability and what accommodations that I will need to succeed. I really hope that in the future that more employer's will understand and be willing to make the correct accommodations.
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2 comments:
I wonder what happens to adults with ADD as they get older? Most of us start to experience forgetfulness or a lessening of our ability to focus as a natural part of aging. I wonder if that exacerbates existing ADD symptoms or perhaps as they are gradual these additional challenges are unremarkable and don't present any co-morbid type effects. I also had a client who is being treated by her GP for adult ADD but I suspect that the Adderall she takes is really masking an undetected dysthymia or mild depression. I wonder how often forgetfulness or feeling unfocused is mistaken for inability to focus? Adderall would feel like it was working as it has seratonin uptake enhancers like many amphetamines but eventually the dose would feel insufficient and the client would no doubt request a larger dose or double up on meds or, as this client does, add alcohol to boost the effect. Clearly adults that have a childhood diagnosis carry that into adulthood, but how many adults who present with similar symptoms are treated for ADD when depression or PTSD are the root causes for what they percieve as simply a glitch in their cognitive functioning?
This is an interesting topic to me, especially now that I'm living with a roommate who has ADD. It's always been something we joke about because she constantly interrupts people, loses things (keys, wallet, cell phone). I think ADD is really interesting, and especially the difference I've seen in my roommate when she is on meds vs not on meds.
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