When my daughter was diagnosed with ADD, I dove into research to better support her. As I explored the intricacies of the disorder, I began to suspect that I might also be affected. I’ve always been somewhat disorganized, a master procrastinator, and have faced challenges in initiating and finishing tasks. This led me to often question how others, seemingly busier than I am, manage to be so productive when I struggle to meet even basic deadlines. Eventually, a medical professional confirmed my suspicions: I have ADD. Suddenly, years of behavior that had caused me embarrassment and frustration made sense.
Curious about what living with ADD feels like? Here’s a glimpse into a week of my life:
Monday
You start your day finding a jury duty postcard from the county court stuck to the fridge by your partner. It informs you that you missed your appearance two weeks prior and may face a fine. Thankfully, you’re able to navigate through an automated phone system to resolve the issue, avoiding the discomfort of explaining your mix-up to a real person. You know the original summons has likely been lost in the mountainous pile of bills, school notices, and your daughter’s creative projects that clutter your kitchen counter.
Tuesday
You feel annoyed when your phone rings, displaying your credit card company on the caller ID. What could they possibly want? Ignoring the call, you scroll through social media instead. Confident that you’ve paid your latest bill, you assume they’re just reminding you about the new card that you misplaced. To be cautious, you log into your account and are shocked to find an overdue payment. How did that happen? You curse yourself while calculating the late fees and reluctantly make the payment.
Wednesday
You have a dermatology appointment scheduled for later in the day but forgot to jot the time down. You vaguely recall seeing the reminder card—maybe it’s in your purse or lost in the chaotic mess you call an “in basket.” After a frantic search, you find it under a glass of water on your nightstand but discover, to your horror, that your appointment is actually at 10:45 AM—just minutes away. With wet hair and pajamas still on, you rush to the clinic, congratulating yourself for arriving only five minutes late, despite feeling self-conscious about your appearance in the waiting room.
Thursday
You scramble to finish an essay for a contest due that night. Although you’ve known about it for months, you only started writing yesterday. As you near completion, you remember it’s also back-to-school night for your daughter. Assuring yourself that you’ll finish the essay later, you head to her school. By the time you return home, dread washes over you when you realize you missed the submission deadline.
Friday
Your car registration, which you promised yourself you’d take care of months ago, finally arrives. You know you should put the new stickers on your license plate immediately, but fatigue and hunger take precedence. You shove the envelope into the kitchen basket, firmly believing you won’t get caught driving with expired tags.
Saturday
Confused by persistent calls from your credit card company, you log into your bank account and your heart sinks. It appears your payment didn’t go through at all. Frustrated, you resend the payment, ensuring it processes this time.
Sunday
You dash to the ATM to deposit various checks you’ve let pile up. There’s your birthday check from mom, a payment for an article you wrote months ago, and insurance claims you barely filed. You drive away forgetting to withdraw cash, but perhaps that’s for the best—your credit card fees are mounting, and you’ll soon have to settle up with the DMV for expired tags.
Reflecting on the week, you find it wasn’t entirely disastrous. You managed to complete your essay, got your daughter to school punctually, walked the dogs daily, cooked meals, and even received good news about a biopsy you’d postponed for a year.
I briefly experimented with medication for my ADD, but unfortunately, it wasn’t effective. However, understanding that there was a biological basis for my behaviors has been liberating. I’ve found support groups helpful and have learned to break projects down into manageable steps, maintain short to-do lists on my phone, and incorporate regular exercise into my routine. Most months, I successfully pay my bills on time and haven’t faced collection calls in over a year. For more information on the subject, visit this excellent resource about pregnancy and home insemination.
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Summary
Living with ADD presents daily challenges, including missed appointments, overdue bills, and the constant struggle to stay organized. With understanding and adaptive strategies, it’s possible to manage these hurdles effectively.