[BatsAndButterflies]

It seems like people with AD/HD tend to be really creative. What do you do create in your free time?

I like to write music and doodle/ cartoon

[Queen of Chaos]

I truly am hyper-creative and everyone who knows me would probably describe me as being the most creative person they know. I generally enjoy that side of my personality but it also is almost like a curse. Everything I see my mind visualizes something creative to do with it, I save everything from stuff the size of broken costume jewelry to objects I find in my neighbors' curbside trash - always envisioning something creative I want to do with it...and, naturally, I don't have enough time to follow through with 1/100th of my artistic plans.

ANYTHING creative attracts me like a moth to a flame - what I have absolutely no motivation on earth to do is the normal day-to-day activities that truly need my time and attention.

I sincerely wish I was not like this - it is not normal, it is frustrating and sets-up another situation that bothers me to no end and that is feeling overwhelmed by all the things I want to do but can't or won't.

[BatsAndButterflies]

I understand... I mean I wouldn't trade my creativity for the world, but at the same time it would be extremely nice to be able to actually follow through with more than a small percentage of my creative endeavors... I have a huge list of composition ideas for music and songwriting and so many unfinished doodles/ cartoons.

And I completely agree that it makes it extremely difficult to settle for ordinary things like cleaning or other things that need doing... which is why I chose to pursue music, but at the same time finding a job with music is quite difficult.

Sometimes we just have to slow down and take care of one awesomely creative idea at a time... even though it is EXTREMELY difficult.

[addcolin]

I connect so much with this -
being so creative - seeing these ideas for all the 'junk' collecting so fast in the house and garage, but either I quickly forget the genius idea, or there is no time, ever, to finish, let alone start some projects.
When I impulsively volunteer to fix everything in the neighbourhood, I usually 'crash and burn!' My niece calls me Uncle Gadget, because I'm forever 'trying' to be creative!

[Queen of Chaos]

My 43-year old daughter, no doubt, has ADD but not anything close to the degree I do. She has turned her boundless creativity into a career she loves as a freelance graphic designer.

I see an interesting personality trait in that while her visual/written creativity are absolutely beautiful, she keeps her personal/home surroundings extremely simple and uncluttered. She has told me she loves working on a computer because there is virtually no clutter distracting her while I, on the other hand, generate clutter! Clutter multiplies around me faster than a field full of bunnies!

I have enough junk stashed at home and in storage, stuff I bought or found with every intention of "doing something" with, to open a shop!

My siblings are absolutely, 100%, not like me whatsoever - they have no interest in creating anything. Their homes are immaculate, they don't know the staff at every Hobby Lobby, Michaels, estate sale and secondhand store on a first name basis BUT if I had to choose between being creative or not, I'd probably stay with creative.

[slowinmi]

This sounds so very much like me! I enjoy being creative, especially when it involves things like cement, rocks, some stained glass, etc. I especially enjoy making stepping stones of my own design with "found" objects.

I'm lucky my husband and family are understanding. My house is always a mess and I was forever starting a project, then putting it aside while it dried or set up, etc. Then I would start another project -and eventually I'd have all the stuff for 2 or 3 projects spread out all through the kitchen and other parts of the house. Finally my husband gave up a small outbuilding on our property that was supposed to be his potting shed. He donated it to me for my workshop. Now I can have 2-4 projects out in various stages of completion without adding any more clutter to my messy house.

I still have way more stuff to be creative with than I have time to do the projects, but at least I can sometimes find the things I want when I want them. slow

[Queen of Chaos]

Originally Posted by slowinmi

I'm lucky my husband and family are understanding. My house is always a mess and I was forever starting a project, then putting it aside while it dried or set up, etc. Then I would start another project -and eventually I'd have all the stuff for 2 or 3 projects spread out all through the kitchen and other parts of the house. Finally my husband gave up a small outbuilding on our property that was supposed to be his potting shed. He donated it to me for my workshop. Now I can have 2-4 projects out in various stages of completion without adding any more clutter to my messy house.

This is the story of my life, slowinmi! 100% my world! I have been married 45 years - I don't know how my husband stands it but he never says a negative word. The only thing that has probably saved me is he also enjoys doing a variety of projects, not the least of which is restoring vintage cars and motorcycles, but he doesn't keep his stuff here, he keeps everything at a shop a couple of miles from our house - incidently another place I have stored junk I had big plans for that may or may not ever materialize!

I adore my husband and KNOW the man is a saint! If he did things the way I do, I don't think I could bear it!! He is organized, neat, keeps his stuff orderly - and somehow looks beyond my crazy way of doing everything.

[slowinmi]

Queen, I so understand. My husband is very organized also. I'm very fortunate that he gardens and he likes the photos I take of his garden and the stepping stones I make for the paths. In this way he enjoys my creative side even as he occasionally gets exasperated with my messiness. I long ago gave up paying the bills because it was too hard for me to make sure they got sent in on time.

[aeylania]

I love writing, and am constantly starting stories with great ideas only to have them fizzle out on me because I can't focus long enough to write anything. I have the urge to do artwork (though I have only a little artistic ability), but my projects often are just messes. I love the creative feeling and flow, but it'd be nice to just focus on something long enough to finish.

[sara76]

Each thread I read, I learn more...

I primarily crochet. I like to paint and draw, but I usually throw it away. That is, I'm not talented, I just like to do it. I used to cross-stitch. I LOVE free piles. People in my neighborhood are always putting boxes of free stuff out. It takes concentrated effort to walk by without checking it out. I got a free head board that I took home, sanded down, and painted with free paint. Did that with a coffee table too. Got a chair with the back broken. I took an old torn dress and used it to weave a back for it.

My friend wants me to make a bunch of the same thing for her to sell at her website, but I get bored doing the same thing over and over. I just like to do what comes to mind.

I almost never follow a recipe by the book.

Sometimes it doesn't work out. The chair is ugly, but I sold the headboard for $20.

I didn't know that creativity is common in people with AD/HD, but now I see it with people I've worked with too.

[dddyoung]

I just read through the comments and am amazed at the similarities I share with you all. It's so difficult to be creative as well as organized and focused.

I've had a some what successful career as an artist but know that there is still more. I want to create in a sustainable way and not just fits and spurts, which I've been doing for over 30 years. I'm getting help from an organizer to help me with paper work and a marketing maven to help with business and making money.

We will see... My husband is excited as he is ADHD as well and any progress I make will rub off on him!

[slowinmi]

Hi dddyoung and welcome to PC. The organizer and marketing person sound like a good idea. It's good that your husband is supportive and trying to improve also. I wish you continued success in the future. - slow

[spinningmetal]

im new to this sort of thing,but its nice to read about other people that have too many ideas and items to create with. I have that problem also,my challenge is that although my husband appreciates my creatiivty,he HATES the way I clutter the house.so i dont do anything creative ,i just move piles around the house and feel guilty that im not cleaning the house or creating. its horrible.

[falling star]

I get ideas all the time. It just doesn't come to life because I end up getting depressed sometimes and just quit all creative outlets. But I have ADD and have a hard time finishing things anyway. However the ideas do pop in my head. Just wish I didn't struggle with finishing them.

[luna22]

I paint, write and crochet. Usually I have more than one unfinished project from each of these catagories. I am not myself if I do not have projects going on. I do not think I could stop if I had to.

[chelledotcom]

I am also super creative, though not officially diagnosed with ADHD. I've been drawing since the age of 5, and Ive always been strongly driven to do something with my hands, and I've always been driven to just make things. Drawings, paintings, logos, photomanipulations, photography, crochet, sewing (I made my own clothes for a while), even makeup and hair designs. My hubby is a crossdresser, and I have used him as a strange living barbie doll, even down to body sculpting (body shapers and prosthesis). I love printmaking (acid etching into metal plates, engraving, and hopefully soon, mezzotint) and sculpture. I've made things out of duct tape and candy wrappers. I've painted and decoupaged table tops. BUT, like alot of people with adhd, I tend to start projects and never finish. I have about 5 drawings going simultaneously, not to mention several pairs of crocheted gloves or socks that I never made matches for lol.

[luna22]

LOL Chelledotcom- I am so with you on the gloves and socks with no matches!! How does anyone work up the desire to make a second sock?? that is what I want to know. I have seen books on how to knit socks two at a time on circular needles. You know this book was written for people like us!

[kkrberts]

So glad to read this post, I'm definitely the captive type. Like some other people I tend keep a lot of things because I have creative ideas for them and or refuse to buy new things because I feel that I can always make it At times my creativity drives me crazy because I feel like everything I do (anywhere from making dinner to paying bills) has to have my touch on it....which in turn slows me down and distracts me quite often, but yet my creativity gives such much satisfaction in life. So I'm wondering though if any of you take any ADD meds and if they affect your creativity, for the better or for the worse?

[Irine]

used to do drawing....love songwriting and....choreography....

[Tamezen2015]

I know the feeling...just love yourself despite...

[Shenex]

I think we all suffer from the same problem we can never follow through wit our creative thinking ><, I wish i could turn those thoughts into my drawings and such. I draw and create cosplays in my spare time ^^

[RonPSH]

I see creativity in everyone, in everything in nature.

In ADD ADHD and bipolar, I see a greater creative impulse. I see us as more authentic individuals vs the masses that have been molded by culture.

[Tamezen2015]

Sulking and wondering why I am still alive...what's the purpose?

[Tamezen2015]

Originally Posted by Tamezen2015

Sulking and wondering why I am still alive...what's the purpose?

My thoughts and my feelings had been destructive instead of creative recently(well, what's recently); I think that this has been going for quite some time now...I am an extreme, when my mind is in the creative mood...ideas spark and dance colorfully in my head then I have to catch one and focus on it in which I start to get my pen(or pencil) and a pad of notes...write or design something; anything such as how my wedding album should be made...the word album trigger me to get the scissors and my pictures, then the glue, then magazines and I start to scan on beautiful pictures...beautiful pictures are bright colors, exotic forms, tell some stories that fil the beauty of my photograph with my husband...and lots of things to get excited with...but when I remember that I deserve something better then I start to sulk and ask myself these questions..."What am I doing?" I feel like I deserve something better..."something better" is already existing in my head...it's like I am already living my "tomorrow"...and so I sketch my "tomorrow"...and draw it as completely as I imagined...

[Tamezen2015]

"I don't know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day; I don't borrow from each sunshine for the sky may turn to gray; I don't worry for the future...so today I just walk beside him for he knows what is ahead...many things about tomorrow...I don't seem to understand...but I know who holds tomorrow...and I know who holds my hands."