I'm pretty sure that I have ADD, at least a mild case. I personally do not want to take medication, although I have tried it and it helped. Now I have mental check lists and physical lists that help with daily processes.
I know I am not perfect and I have to try hard to remember and stay organized. My frustration is with my husband, and that is why I am here- to get advice. He was diagnosed as a young adult and now he is in his late 30's. When we met, he was on a lot of medication, that I felt made him very intense and prone to angry outbursts. He was also very disorganized and messy on the medication, but he had excuses for it all. Now, we are married and we live together. I have encouraged him to get off of the medication. He is still very disorganized and messy. He will be eating something and just leave the wrapper on the counter when the trash is two feet away. His office is a mess of piles of paper and random things. He doesn't put anything in its place or put things away. When I confront him about these things, he blames his ADD and sometimes accuses me of making him get off the medication. I argue with him that he can change the way he does things by creating new habits that involve discipline. He argues that he isn't capable of thinking that way. Just yesterday he told me he needed dental floss. He asked if there was a list or something that he should write that down on. I said that I would remember. He said that he wished his brain worked like that. I said that it could! Often times I do write things down on a grocery list on my phone, but also when I get to the grocery store, I mentally walk through each department and do a mental check list....Personal care...does he need toothpaste?..no, contact solution?...yes...etc.
I feel like he is using his diagnosis as an excuse to not develop habits that combat his ADD. Am I wrong? Am I being to hard on him? I feel like, if I can do it, so can he... but am I wrong?