ADHD and Clutter

Great book I found regarding this. Some easy principles, that take a bit of dedication to happen, but works!

"Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD" by Susan C. Pinsky

Ok. Thanks.

Wow. you all nailed it. My significant other just got diagnosed with ADHD. Our house is SO cluttered. stuff winds up where ever it is last used. or where it seems most convenient at the time. Seems like we lose stuff because there isn't a correct place for it. My depression does not help us. the place is dusty dirty. Neither one of us seems to clean much. It is a terrible cycle of stress. I hope I can get better, and I hope the Adderall helps my ADHD person.

Clutter seems to build up around me too.

Completly agree. Starting to think since yesterday, mood stablisers wouldn't be such a bad idea for ADHD as well, especially if it's diagnosed late.

Thank you Seeker, reading this post made me smile.
ADHD is hella frustration to say the least. Our motto is if we don't laugh, we'll cry. I've lost my goofiness over a period, but you're helping me get it back, so thank you

< Is now jigging to said song, like a complete loon


Everyone smile, cause none of you can dance as bad as me, lol.

Another theory for me about clutter, is unfinished things.

We actually hold unfinished things in our mind and it takes a small part of energy.
Same principle behind expressing a secret and feeling better.

We build up so many unfinished things and reinforce failure to complete such things and so often I'm not suprised our minds run like they do.

Apparently many/most ADHDers as children turn hyperactivity inward as adults (maybe conforming to rules being an adult). We are forced to take things more seriously, and are made to feel bad when we don't.

So my advice for everyone based on this, laugh it up, it's just a piece of paper, it holds no meaning other than the thoughts on it. It's not worth obssessing about any more, you know deep down inside when you think about it, or even just reading this, it's just a piece of paper.

My Psychiatrist (who has an interest in ADHD) when said "you don't seem hyper" I said I am around some people, and I said I contain it most of the time. He then asked what do you feel when you contain it. I took a few seconds to think seriously and "Anxious" was my answer.

LauLiza is completly right with the purging (although I disagree with the word due to most associations being negative), but to also have fun with it, well that's just the cream on the strawberry or whatever that saying is, lol.

We make a mess, but after a while it's not longer fun (when usually it is).

We all get more and more wound up and constricted. The principle of "control freak" is counter productive, like (i've said in the past) squeezing playdoh as tight as you can, it will just run through your fingers.

People call us lazy, (hilarious). I think the older we get with ADHD the less fun we become, the more neurotic become.

So take those pile of papers and throw them in the air and dance as they fall all around you.
DISCLAIMER: You cannot sue me over paper cuts, you're an adult and responsible for yourself

Kinda like Exposure therapy with OCD phobias, except here purposely & consciously make a mess and clutter with the intention of being silly and enjoying it.

(hopefully this post is accurate enough to make sense, Alex needs some sleep)

ok - this is soooooo me in the past 5 years - including the MDD diagnosis

Could you afford a cleaning person once a week, or month? That's a dream I have so I don't have to deal with that aspect of things. One thing less...

I want to - I even left a bunch of messages for different people with cleaning businesses. Most didn't call me back. Guess that shows me how professional they would be to deal with.

Truth is, I'm going to be going back in to therapy and I'm fairly certain that I'm going to be upping my med intake all of which translates to an upping of my $$$ outlay. I'm already stretched to the breaking point in that department and you can't squeeze blood from a turnip. Something will have to give and it will be the house cleaner - therapy and meds are more important. BUT - like I said - I'm really hoping that once I get my focus & energy back that I'll be able to tackle my house like I used to - or close to it at least.

Boxes and boxes of unopened mail, un-filed paperwork, piles of receipts, etc. is just ********. I never used to live like this. Oops-a-daisy. Are we allowed to swear on this site?

This is so me, with the worst of it beginning about 5 years ago. I keep things clean as I can remember to, but I fail to see clutter until it becomes too much to handle.

Someone described having the adrenaline rush to do something but then being too overwhelmed to know where to begin. I can really relate to that.

Ugh, so much clutter. I put all sorts of papers in one big box recently, with the intention of sorting it all out into its proper places. But the idea of deciding what to do with everything, and probably looking over things that will remind me of things I don't want to remember or which I feel I just can't handle right now. It's too much.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I haven't read through the entire thread yet, but this touches on something that's been making me feel awful for a while, so I appreciate it too.