New & sick of my impulsiveness | ADHD Information

The only thing I can think of is to not take any credit or debit cards with you and only take enough cash to purchase what you are going for. It might be ok to take a little extra in case you remember you need bread or milk, but that is it.

I would suggest keeping a note book to record your purchases but from experience I know that our ADHD minds will allow us to put it off until we can no longer remember what we got.

I have learned to save all my receipts, then when I can't imagine where the money went, I can go through them. It works really well for me when my dh starts getting on my case about spending too much. I can show him where it went in gas and groceries which he ate!

Believe it or not, I did learn finally to not buy everything I thought I needed. It wasn't easy but if I could do it, I know you can too.

We have had to go to a "cash only" system for my husband because of this problem. If he has a debit card or checkbook, he spends like water. "Cash only" forces him to think more--when the grocery money is gone, it's gone. BUT he still has trouble sticking to the list, and buys impulse items--especially if it's on sale, even if we don't "need" it and we're low on money. Because it was on sale, and we'll use it eventually! I wish we had a better solution because we are on a very tight budget, and fixed income. He still will take the last bill from the money drawer and then be surprised 2 days later that we are completely out of money! Who has a good system??Barb & ragurl Thanks

I gave my credit cards to my husband and asked him to hold them for me. I will try the cash system. So often I never do what I plan. It is hard to keep a plan when you don't know what you are going to do next.

WOW Barb, you keep all your receipts? I'm impressed. Where do you put them?
You actually stopped impulsive spending. That gives me hope - Thanks!
Hi, I am 49 years old & recently diagnosed with ADHD after going to psych for major depression in June. My problem is I can not seem to control my impulsivness and it is causing me to go broke. I am now on Lexapro 20m & Strattera 40m . Things have improved some, however, I still drift away when people talk to me and I spend money like I have it. I am always surprised when I get to the check out. I really don't notice or don't get it somehow.

Example: Yesterday my beta fish died. I went to PetSmart to purchase another for .49. Came home with 2 guinea pigs and all of their supplies to the tune of about 0. Love those little furry creatures, but, my word - my behavior is sending my family & me to the poor house!

Any suggestions? Please, I am feeling depressed again & don't want to get into a funk.

Hey Cg,

I've a solution, with beneficial gains!

I'm 49, too. Until tomorrow.

Why don't you send me all your money, and I'll impulse it instead?

It would go for a great cause!

On a serious note, ask for overtime at work...

woo-hoovski!...let it all hang out!!!

Okay, Okay Would you like to swing on a star or carry moonbeams home in a jar? Why can't i do both....as I'm swinging on the star I could put the moonbeams in a jar-jar............?

I wanna swing with the star, and have moonbeams in my eyes...

Hey Cg, are you a star?

Well, come my friends, to the show that never endsssss...

Did your doc consider bipolar as a diagnosis?

[QUOTE=Countrygirl] [QUOTE=Davidornado][/QUOTE]Great idea! (not) Tell me the truth - You'd have bought the guinea pigs too, right?[/QUOTE]

Truthfully, no! I'd'a bought, oh, say a knife, or a flashlight, or a gun, or a computer thing, or a jacket, or another cowboy hat, or a, a, a, I forget!

[QUOTE=Wordwoman]Did your doc consider bipolar as a diagnosis?[/QUOTE]

OMG! I read "Did you consider a bipolar doc for a diagnosis?"

Can a person read dislexically?

[QUOTE=Davidornado]

Hey Cg,

I've a solution, with beneficial gains!

I'm 49, too. Until tomorrow.

Why don't you send me all your money, and I'll impulse it instead?

It would go for a great cause!

[/QUOTE]

Great idea! (not) Tell me the truth - You'd have bought the guinea pigs too, right?
[QUOTE=Davidornado]On a serious note, ask for overtime at work...[/QUOTE]

Haven't thought about that. More time at work , Less time to shop too. Makes sence. Why haven't I thought of that?
[QUOTE=GlenW]

Impulsiveness - yeah it's a problem!

I've found the ability to fight it a lot lately - the meds give me the "NO" I never used to have. It's like the old cartoons where you have devil on one shoulder and angel on the other - but mine were both devils. you want it says one - what he said says the other. Bad juju!!!

As was said - it could be bipolar but not necessarily. I know my exgf is bipolar and spending money was a big thing with her. When she hit a low period the money would just run away. Then - the highs would come and the money was still gone - but now on cleaning supplies, food for 1000 and toys for the kids. Just depended on which direction she was headed. The big diff between ADHD and bipolar is that ADHD doesn't have the extreme highs and lows of bipolar. We tend to be a bit more emotionally in the middle or lower end. A psychiatrist would know how to tell.

There's always hope - don't give up! With help - no matter what you are suffering from you can come out of it. A therapist will do great things for you - teach you new ways to cope that don't need money. You'll need to relearn how to make life run that you never were taught.

[/QUOTE]

Thanks, Glen I am seeing a psych and a counselor - It's good help - Just noticed too that the days I went shopping, I had forgotten my Lexapro 20 2 days in a row. Think there's a connection? I do fit everything ADHD, but, yes, my moods swing from one end to the other. The highs are mostly situational though not random. Get hyper excited and say things that piss people off. If I go through the awful lows of depression - I just disapear for awhile. The highs don't last for days either. I can bounce from every mood possible within a 30 minute time frame. The Strattera helps me focus only a tad bit better, but really helps with my moods. Time will tell won't it.
Am I a star?
Don't get me star ted
I am easily star tled
And I was star ving (except I just ate supper and lost my appetite.)

Thought I was a star once, but fell off my horse.

Impulsiveness - yeah it's a problem!

imagine what he could do on a manic swing

I rode the Maniac Swing at 6 Flags{poles} ---and iwas sick for three daze....

woo-hoo!

seriously, I rode on a wild swing in Ben Lomond, with 20 foot long chains, hanging on a tall redwood tree. as i was nearing V-max, one chain broke, and i found pink panties in the hotel room drawer.

I thought you were going to say::::" Hanging by my knees from a pine tree

don't know what it's all about

let it all hang out..."

[QUOTE=Wordwoman]Did your doc consider bipolar as a diagnosis?

[/QUOTE]
Actually, yes. She is still writing in that d#*&# notebook trying to figure me out. Drives me crazy. Would love to see what it says.

A bipolar Doctor, interesting, think I'd have better luck? though would hate to visit when we're both having bad days.