Manage Symptoms of Adult ADHD NOW

The daily hassles of life are enough to cause everyone stress. But if you are an adult struggling with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) everything from paying the bills, to grocery shopping, to social demands can feel overwhelming. By taking advantage of the self-help tips listed below you can begin to overcome even the most challenging symptoms and feelings of disorganization.

Get Organized. Create space in your house by throwing away or storing in bins or closets items you don’t need on a daily basis. Have a special space for items that get easily lost, like mail and keys. Use lists and notes to keep track of deadlines, appointments, tasks, etc. A daily planner can help you get and stay organized; avoid electronic organizers such as Blackberry’s unless you use them routinely and with some facility. Avoid forgetfulness by dealing with things NOW! For example, open the mail as it comes in and deal with it right then, file it, throw it away, or act on it.

Be Mindful of Time. Often adults with ADHD perceive time differently than others. Become a clock watcher. Get a wristwatch, computer, alarm clock, or timer; anything with the time on it that you can refer to will help keep you stay aware of the passage of time. Develop a routine for mundane tasks. Process the mail, pay bills, and complete other daily tasks for the same amount of time in the same order every day or on the same day each week; develop routines that you can stick too. A daily routine will help you remember everything that has to be done. Also, give yourself more time than you think you need. Add ten minutes on to every task to ensure you don’t run out of time. Write appointments down for fifteen minutes before the actual time. This will ensure that you’ll never be late.

Prioritize. Individuals with ADHD often struggle with impulse control and will jump from one thing to another. Big tasks often seem over whelming because of all the small steps involved. Before you begin a big task, prioritize what is the most important thing to do first and then list other less important tasks afterwards. This will help you to break down the large task into smaller tasks, so it will seem less over whelming.

Learn to say NO. Because of impulsiveness individuals with ADHD will often agree to take on more tasks, overloading their schedules. This leads to more distractions and feelings of being over whelmed. It often results in unfinished projects or tasks. By saying no, your performance will improve as you will have less to focus on and more time to accomplish tasks. Learn to check your schedule before you commit to additional projects or tasks.

If you or someone in your life thinks they have or has been diagnosed with an attention problem we can help.  Our clinical director has over 15 years experience in the assessment of ADHD and our therapists excel at assisting adults, adolescents, and children in coping with and beating the symptoms of this challenging disorder.  Call us NOW!