I was recently diagnosed with ADD and feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my being. There is finally a reason for most of the things I do, the chronic lateness, forgetfulness and most of the other “lazy” behavior that I have.
I am a 26 year old stay-at-home mother of two and most of the time my life is chaotic. Not just because of my children but mostly because of me. Just trying to plan a day’s activities takes me hours. Then once I am out the door and have everyone settled in the car I realize I forgot something in the house. Always, never fails, I have to go back into the house at least once or twice and that takes up another 20-30 minutes. Since being diagnosed I have tried to stop my negative thinking and behavior. I will say that is something that will probably take a life time to achieve. It has been 26 years in the making. I, like most people’s stories I have heard, grew up being labeled as lazy, bad, troublemaker, or even worse. After a while I started to believe that. That will be something I will have to overcome but sometimes it seems like I can’t or won’t ever be able.
On a more positive side, I realize that it is okay to ask for help. To have reminder calls from friends and families. Once I wouldn’t have done this. Would have thought it unreasonable to ask for help with something that is so simple to most people. Also have realized that I am not able to set a budget or pay bills. Certainly not on time so I gave that headache to my husband.
Have given my self more time for my art. I am amazingly artistic and I didn’t realize that about myself until a year ago. And surprise I am very good at it. I don’t have to be good at math or science because I can paint, bead or create better than most.
I am new to the ADD scene but I feel like I have come along way in a relatively short amount of time. I know that I have a lot more room to grow and expand as a person and a person with ADD but it doesn’t feel so impossible as it did before the diagnosis