[krzyk101]

Hi, I have been diagnosed with adult ADD as well as other disorders. I live alone and am unable to work due to mental/physical disabilitys.

I have had this ongoing battle with the upkeep of my apartment. I am on medication for my ADD, and in some ways it does help with concentration.

Then it comes down to the house work, Ive tried dozens of thinks little chore charts I made on the computer. A list with little happy face stickers when I was complete with a task. Of coarse all my ideas last about two days then they land in a stack of papers. It is like when I clean or attempt to I am cleaning all four rooms at the same time. I can spend over an hour and it still looks the same. I am able to get the dishes done, then when it comes to clutter, it is everywhere. I have little plastic baskets and boxes and crates and it just seems that I am picking stuff up only to put it down somewhere else. I know it sounds petty, but it all really distresses me. And usually when I start sorting I end up finding something that seems interesting and that is all she wrote.

Well just wondered if anyone else with ADD has or struggles keeping house, and any Ideas to help with this caos.

Thank you

KRIS

As I sit in front of this computer screen, I meet and learn and am helped by those I have never seen.

If you think you have totally gave up, you haven't, because you are here!

[Rapunzel]

Kris,

I haven't been diagnosed with ADD, but I score pretty high on the screening tests for it, and my sister was suggesting that I look into ADD meds at one time. I do have trouble keeping the house cleaned up, and basic organization too. The solution that I have found is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://flylady.net>http://flylady.net</A> . If you join the mailing list you will get reminders in your e-mail to do the things that you need to keep up with. The basic principle is to work on something for 15 minutes, or even 5 minutes, using a timer. It really works. Sometimes it takes someone hounding you and keeping you on task, and Flylady is good at doing that in a nice way. There are quite a few followers of the program who have mental illnesses and/or physical disabilities, and it works even so, even helping with the other problems that people have in their lives.


<font color=orange>"They accused us of suppressing freedom of expression. This was a lie and we could not let them publish it." ... from the Director of Censorship...

</font color=orange>

[krzyk101]

Thank you for the advice and for the link, I will have to check it out. It may be just what I am needing. Anything to motivate me.

Take care

KRIS

As I sit in front of this computer screen, I meet and learn and am helped by those I have never seen.

If you think you have totally gave up, you haven't, because you are here!

[texasclown]

hi, i'm new here, and when i read your post i couldn't help but thinking, my god, that's me. not that that's any help to you, but for me it was good to find out that there was someone else who is struggling with the same issues. maybe some suggestions to help you i will also be able to use.

[krzyk101]

TexasClown,
Sorry I didn't see this sooner, I haven"t been around all that much, and had forgoten that I even posted this. Things seem somewhat the same, only I am learning to accept the clutter, and piles. I am now mostly concentrating on thing like the Trash, the dishes, sweeping an mopping, and vacuum. The main things and strating to throw away stuff I don't need. I am also a big Pak rat. I have found one way for my getting rid of junk mail and such, I bought a cheap only like 15 us dollars home shredder, anything I know I don't want or need I shred it. That way it is final and thrown away not to be dug back out of the waste paper basket and back on the table.

Thanks for your response, and I am glad I am not alone in this battle.

Peace~ CHRIS

If you think you have totally gave up, you haven't, because you are here!

[typolady2003]

I am a new member, and just read your post. If you are interested in a step by step organizing program you can check out ADD Audio Coach. I am an adult with ADD, and used to be extremely disorganized. I spent a long time and designed a system for organizing. We put the system together to help others having the same difficulty. Take a look, maybe it would be useful to you.
Thanks,
Linda
addaudiocoach.com

Linda Hillger
lifelifters.com

[kelbelle65]

I haven't been officially diagnosed with ADD, but I'm purty sure I have it and I definitely have trouble keeping my home organized and clutter free. My husband is bad at it too and we finally solved a little of it by purchasing what they call a "banker's box" to sort our bills, incoming mail, etc. It's basically an 8 section file bin. He labeled them 1) incoming mail (unopened), 2) Bills to be paid, 3) Filing (i.e., notices from our health insurance company), 4) Outgoing mail, 5) Bills Paid, etc. So far it's helping us keep our bills and mail organized which is our biggest problem.

As far as the rest of the clutter, I've come to accept that some people are cluttery and some people aren't and when it starts driving me crazy, I just gather it up and sit in front of the trash can or shredder.

We also have a huge problem with throwing clothes on the floor and our whole room becomes this big giant laundry basket. We have a hamper or two but still, clothes end up living on the floor. And I get so envious when I go to my friends' homes and they are so neat and organized and their homes are so simple and clutter free...

I also do that thing where I decide to clean the whole house and I end up starting 19 different tasks and going from room to room with a dirty sock in one hand and the lint roller in the other, kicking the laundry basket to the washer with one foot and oop, gotta do the dishes, wash wash, phone rings, go answer it, yak yak, hang up and go absentmindely to clean the toilet instead of back to the kitchen to finish the dishes and why is the vacuum in the middle of the floor... oh yeah, I started vacuuming and didn't finish that either. ACK! And every time I say, "Okay, Kelly this time you are going to stay in this room unti it's done" all of a sudden I find myself in a different room wondering how the heck I let that happen when I was trying to stay focused... pant, pant... just re-living my cleaning frenzy habits is making me tired...

But really I have to laugh at myself because it's a little funny the way my brain works. I always used to wish I was Bewitched and I could just wiggle my nose and the vacuum would start going by itself and a little dust mop would be dancing around on the table and the dishes would wash themselves and I could sit on the couch and eat a bon bon!

So I guess we should remember to LOVE LOVE LOVE ourselves as we try to work out our glitches and get our disorders in order. Nobody is perfect and if you think they are, give them an Academy Award for great acting!

-k.

[ToddAADD]

I have one small file box, and even though it's not perfectly organized I do manage to get all my important papers in there, and I have one milk crate and all my semi-important papers go there. I've loved reading these post, it is nice to know I'm not crazy or lazy like the title to that book I just discovered. I wish this was a more busy area with ongoing conversations.
I'm on chapter 3 of ADD Friendly ways to organize your life, and I think the kitchen timer will work for me. Pick a room set the timer to 10 minutes and when it goes off see if you are still in the room LOL!!!!
Keep us posted on your progress.

[krzyk101]

hi K-

Thanks for your story, it doesn't make me feel so bad. I am not really distressed as much as I was over the matter. I do have a file type thing that all the bills that are to be paid the next month go into. If it weren't for that they would be goners. I still struggle with the clutter, althouth I have gotten many more baskets and bins for everything.

I think it is people like me who keep all of those plastic basket and bins organizers in business. I have gotten to haning file forder Boxes one personal things such as printed journals and the other for important letters and documents. So I have managed to keep up and file all of the different papers that need to be put away. I think part of mine is add the rest is a pack rat add.

I too clean still around the house. I thought of this as I walked into the bathroom and remebered that I had managed to sweep and mop the bathroom floor last week, and in the bathroom remains the empty bucket and mop. The vacuum cleaner doesn'nt really have a home it just sits in the hall plugged in. I am not going to worry about that, only glad I am able to run it. I have started to find 'homes' for certain things I use frequently so I do not end up going angry looking for it. It is starting to work. So now I am in the process of giving things a home. The big part is me getting into the habit of putting them in their homes.

Laundry, it does good to get washed and dried. IfI am doing well it gets hung up and folded and put away. I have to laugh about it or I would have more stress than I already do.



Take Care,
Kris

I wish you the best, and the hope for a better day for us all, in out struggles no matter how large or small I wish hope for us all

If you think you have totally gave up, you haven't, because you are here!

[scatterbrained]

I can totally relate . You just described me. I have piles of papers waiting for me to tackle. I have an awful time getting clutter out of the way, it drives my husband crazy. I jump from one task to another and seem to never complete any. I'm planning on going to see a doc. I just scored a 76 on the ADD quiz.

[emwell]

I so need help in this area. My mother was going to come for dinner on Saturday. I canceled due to my clutter. My husband told me he was disgusted with the way the house looks. He said it needed to be clean by Saturday. I made an effort to get something done, but he still wasn't happy. I thought about it and told him I needed help. Not help to clean, help to stay focused. I like the timer idea. I am like all of you. One minute I will be cleaning the kitchen, next thing I know, I am cleaning the bathroom. I am doing well on dishes and fairly okay with laundry (although putting it away is still a challenge). I have started to ask my doctor for help besides meds. I know there is so much more to beating this thing than just meds. But can it be beaten or am I going to have to learn to live with it. I was dissapointed that my doctor wasn't really able to give me ideas to deal with this. I was hoping she had more experience with ADD. I may have to consider finding someone new who can help me with dealing. I am not happy with this idea as this is the first doctor who has actually helped me. I am wondering if I can get my insurance to pay for another therapist to help me with the ADD stuff. My list of diagnosis is long. I wish I had one person to help with it all.

[HealingSoul]

If I don't put my bills on my office wall with thumbtacks, they'll end up in clutter also lol

I have 3 different filing cabinets, and still have a time being organized!!!

[ToddAADD]

Besides the timer try blocking the door of a room with a chair if you pick up something that should leave the room place it on the chair, FOR god's SAKE DON"T LEAVE THE ROOM, or you'll end up doing something else, like surfing the net looking at sport cars!

[emwell]

Now that is great advice Todd. Once I brought something into my bedroom as I was decluttering the living room. I don't know if I ever got back to my original task as I passed the bathroom and decided to clean it while I was there.

Also I do not know how many times I have gone through clutter only to find almost overdue bills.

[krzyk101]

Well its been 7 Months since I made this post...Forgotten about twice...and the 'Big Picture' or my apartment looks somewhat the same.

Though I have gotten more organized with my papers and bills, while the unimportant things remain to circulate around. The dishes are getting done since I stopped using my stove and cooking in the microwave eating lunch meat and throw away paper plates and cups.

I am focusing on those issues with things on a Sanitary issue basis. Dishes, Kitchen Counter tops floor and Bathroom Floor etc. So things have not changed much to someone's eyes who have never been here only to others and myself can see progress made slowly over time.

Lol...since yesterday I was saying that I needed to clean the catbox everytime I went into the bathroom....it was not until this morning when the cat used the floor instead of the cat box that I said ok, enough (not to the cat to myself) needless to say the cat box is changed and I thanked the cat.

[emwell]

LOL I finally changed the cat litter as well. I too found messes right next to the litter box. Now I just have to vacuum her room and she will be a happy kitty again.

[cms39]

I am an "Getting Organized" class dropout! I don't have ADD, but I sure have troubles with housework. And I have a very small house so the clutter is always there. Not enough closets, etc. At one time, my papers were my biggest problem. My mother helped me get some control of that, though. Now it's clothes (summer, winter)

By the way, I visited Flylady and she's very encouraging and gives helpful tips.

[January]

<font color="purple">Hi Kris,

I have just have received a dx of ADHA. I have serveral other dx's, too but had no idea why I am so disorganized and forgetfull. The dx is almost a relief. I was beginning to think I was becoming senile at a very early age.

I, too, cannot keep the house organized and cleaned. There isn't any dirt or filth in my house, but there is clutter and I don't always get the furniture dusted, etc.

However, I have learned to use sticky notes to remind me of specific things I need to do, such as keep appts., pay the rent, etc. I place them in the middle of the bathroom mirror, where I know I will see them in the morning and I don't remove them until I've accomplished the task.

I bought a steno book at the dollar store and every night I try to make a list of things I have to do the next day. I number them and cross each task off the list when I've done it. It gives me a terrific boost of morale when I am able to mark off a task.

If I don't get everything done, I copy the ones left over to the next day's list. Eventually, everything gets done. although it may take a while.

I wrote down important phone numbers on the cardboard back if the book. I make out my month's budget on one page and write my grocery and supplies list on another page.

When I go to the Dr or to my t, I write a list of questions in my book so I won't forget what I need to say.

I carry my steno book with me everywhere. It helps me so much.

I keep an appt. calender with me at all times. I write donw my appts while I'm standing at the office window. Then I put the card in the back cover of the calender. That way I can double check that I wrote the appt. down correctly.

I keep a Rubbermaid tote basket in the tub. When I shower, I take it out of the tub and place it in front of the front of the bathroom door. Before I can get out, I have to put the tote back in the tub and it reminds me to immediately put the towels in the tote.

If I need to take anything with me, ex., books back to the library, I put them in front of the door so I can't get out of the door without them.

I also set small things on my purse; The night before I have to go somewhere I'll gather my steno book, my gloves, purse, coat and anything else I need in a specilic chair. I have to have my purse to go anywhere, so "ta-dah" there's everything else.

I am planning to buy a desk with lots of drawers. I already have a file cabinet and try to file my important papers the same day I get them. (It doesn't always work, but I try.)

Keeping the dishes washed and keeping the kitchen and bathroom clutter at bay seems to be a lost cause.

Oh, if you forget to take your meds on time, get a watch with an alarm on it, or buy a cheap little clock and set the alarm to ring when it's time to take your meds. It's a bother, but it works.

I hope some of my tips help.

Do you have problems remembering what day of the week it is? Any and all suggestions are most welcome!

January


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[JPD5366]

The best way I can say it is that my house is always half clean. It is not always the same half because I start and then find something that I can put away "very quickly" but then when I go into another room, I find something else and befor eyou know it I have been cleaning for 4 hours and NOTHING has been completed.

I feel your pain!

Jennifer

[T_MD]

My ex-wife decided to hire a professional organizer which was just the trick I needed. I didn't mind having someone else working with me, because most of my problem is not knowing where to start. The organizer lady was kind of like a personal trainer for me, providing the direction and stimulus to get things sorted. I'm pretty sure my Dad has ADHD, there are thousands of videotapes knee deep at my parents house and piles and piles of newspaper clippings. He paid me to try and organize it one time and I found myself sitting down and starting to read all the clippings before I knew what I was doing. *Sigh* never hire someone with ADHD to be your personal organizer.

[mbahr]

My world is FILLED with clutter. I hate it. I love it. I'm so conflicted. I know things are a mess, but there is ALWAYS something more interesting to do than file!

It is impacting my home AND professional life (see some teeny pictures of my office here: Blog entry about (dis)-organization).

I've set a goal for myself, I'm a week into it but haven't started yet. Yikes!

[krzyk101]

It has been awhile since I started this thread and forgot it was here. My clutter continues to be basicaly everywhere.

Since I live alone and dont for the most part have company, seems like my clutter just revolves around my two main 'stations' as I guess I could call them.

I have the dining room table which is now my home office/writing/eating/overflowed with so many different things that just do not belong here. Like as I look around the table, I see the remote to the tv. a single serve box of cereal, a dirty fork, a hat, folders and magazines piled high. 4 ashtrays, and all sorts of other stuff.

So recently I took it all to a entire new level. I have no (6) 10quart plastic dishpans to help with moving things form one place to another and for cleaning up underneath them as far as making it easier to move and stack without loose objects falling to the floor just my barely touching them.

This is where the fact that recently diagnosed with OCD it makes it much more difficult to control the clutter as I am not wanting to throw anything away. It simply builds up. When I do 'work' on my area I can spend hours moving things around into there own dishpans, crates, 3 shelf cart, tray table, the pass through behind me into the kitchen. It makes no difference. I end up with nothing accomplished other than finding things I had forgotten I even had.

I just try not to let it consume me any more only I fear the Maitn. Man will come in for preventative Maint. and freak out.

No I guess I am now only concentrating on keeping the apartment 'sanitary' as far as dirty dishes and keeping the bathroom clean and trash taken out.

So just really small steps into being organized, as I could organize everything then go and look for something and the entire thing would be dust. lol to sum it up I am one of those people who pack up a box of 'junk' to put in the hall closet only to end up removing a box at the same time to 'look through' which most likely has more stuff in it than the one I am trying to put into the closet and thus this box ends up in circulation.

[The_Ozzman]

I can relate somewhat. When I see my roommate just throw clothes into a pile on the floor, I'm compelled to pick them up and put them away. When he puts stuff in the middle of the floor, I move it so I can walk. I don't think he's used to it. One time I dusted the entire room and put all loose papers into a folder for him, but I somehow threw out a credit card number or something, so he told me to stay away from his desk area.

ADD sucks

[kate81]

As far as I know I don't have ADD (i scored a 47 on the quiz), but I have a huge problem with organization. I just can't seem to keep my room clean, and even when I clean it, it gets messy really soon after. And whenever I try to clean, I either get overwhelmed by how messy it is or I get distracted from what I'm doing. (As T MD said, reading all the newspaper clippings before I can throw them out, etc.) It's a terrible problem and I don't know what to do about it - I really have to shape up, but whenever I try it doesn't work.

i am so glad that i've read your posts and saw myself in all of them.....my daughter has told me that she thinks i have ADD.....i think i probably do.....i subscribed to the FlyLady newsletter and i'll see how i do........thanks, pat