Can’t do just one thing at a time? | ADHD Information

        I have to doodle while on the phone or I'd be
climbing the walls and if that's not possible I'll walk     
back and forth. Some of my doodleing can can get
very detailed, and when I get of the phone I want to
keep going with it.

           Oh, and I used to crack my knuckles when I
was in grade school. When I got older I couldn't
stop! Finally broke that habit {but didn't break any
knuckles}.I had two rental cars and one owned car at the same time. Does that count? One was in Phoenix. The other was in San Antonio. And I live at home.

Another time I had one in Liberia, one in Alajuela, and I still lived at home.

Here's another one. Driving. Talking on the phone. Computer on, mapping almond fields while driving, drinking water, and, believe it or not, thinking...
[QUOTE=Kerrbear]...mostly because I keep forgetting to get up to go have one)[/QUOTE]I do that with having to go pp, so when I finally do go, it's a torent (that's why they call me 'torentado'... NOT! Just kidding. On the torentado part. [QUOTE=autumnstar]Dr Ed Hallowell calls it a 'fidget toy'.[/QUOTE]The world is my fidget toy...

basketcase,

I also have ADD with Anxiety.  I was in denial over the Anxiety until they put me on Prozac! 

I know what you're talking about.  I have to have multiple things going on.  I play little handheld computer games while I'm at home watching tv or waiting on things - Dr Ed Hallowell calls it a 'fidget toy'.  Growing up I'd play with a deck of cards, playing solitaire over and over again while I watched tv.

I also have to listen to music (certain kinds) to be more productive at work or to keep on track with things at home.  I want an Ipod for Xmas. 

When I was first diagnosed with ADD, I had actually gone to a therapist because I thought I had anxiety disorder - that's when I found out the anxiety was actually a result of the ADD. I'm actually not a heavy smoker - I can go all day without a cigarette when I'm at work )mostly because I keep forgetting to get up to go have one), but I often light a cigarette only minutes after putting one out because i forgot that I just smoked. Then I take about two drags and realize I really don't want the whole thing. I usually think - well I'll just smoke the rest later. Naturally, I never remember I have half a cigarette left later. I was thinking about my bad habits, am hoping my doctor will decide to put me on adderall next week and it will help....................I bite my nails.......bad, and smoke a pack a day. I can't just talk on the phone, I have to have a cigarette when I'm on the phone and usually start making coffee if I know its going to be a long conversation. I cant' just watch tv, I have to have little choclate candies to keep me busy AND smoke, AND bite my nails. I can't just drive, I have to smoke and listen to the radio...........I'm so busy inside the car and my head I can't remember the last 5 miles I drove. If I HAVE to just do one thing, like waiting in a dr.'s office and have to just read a magazine, I feel like I'm about to jump out of my chair........its not physical thing, need for movement (I'm not hyper), its more inside, a need to be diverted by something else to keep the intensity of doing one thing from driving me crazy! Anyone else like that?I can completely relate. I know what you mean about it not being a physical thing - I do not have the hyperactivity either. I feel like I get bored very easily so I need many things to keep my interested. Ok, so all of the things you mentioned are things I have done but here's one that hopefully is not just me - have you ever been so unfocused or "antsy" that you forgot you were already smoking a cigarette and lit another (I don't think I've ever actually lit another but I've definitely come close!)?Hey, I do that too!

I can't type without thinking...
When I read, I bite my nails. I can't talk on the phone or person to person without going nuts unless I have a cigarette. Its like I have to be doing something physical even when my mind is active, which is constantly.

Kerrbear and barb, do each of you have anxiety also??? I do, and I'm hoping the anxiety med I'm on and an ADD med next week will help this "stuff" I do that makes me hide my hands becau;se they are terrible from nail biting and I want to quit smoking so bad.But no self discipline right now

Kerrbear: YES I HAVE had two cigs going at once, I can't tell you how many times,....I dont' just come close to it, I do it. And honestly do not remember that I had one going when I lit the second one. My husband is like "Do you KNOW how much those cost?"

My husband is driven crazy by "my little games" that I sit and play.  He says that he's going to gather them all up and throw them away.  I told him that if that happens, it'll just give me an excuse to go get new ones. 

When I started reading about ADD, my husband asked me to let him know if I should get rid of those toy games.  When I told him that Dr Hallowell said that we NEED 'fidget toys' - he hasn't said another word about them.