So Overwhelmed | ADHD Information

I am feeling so overwhelmed right now. I feel like I have a gazillion things to do and not enough time to get it all done. How do people cope? I know all of the strategies but I still just seem to get overwhelmed and depressed sometimes. What I find really troubling is that I can be really excited about a project, think I am motivated to complete it or start on it and end up not even starting because I just get so overwhelmed. I know to take it one item at a time but holy cow. I just need some words of encouragement. Thank you all so much.

ADDers see true complexity - and the feelings of being overwhelmed stem from *this* - so the same problems (as the ADD less) - but with deeper 'analysis' ...

... ... ... if we can get past those very feelings of hopelessness in the face of tasks ... just underneath is lurking the most amazing 'what's important?' detector ...
maybe if you can glimpse the W.I. detector ...:-)... an order for the tasks which you need do - and a partitioning of tasks into various 'bins' - one of them - (of course) labelled 'waste... ... ...please recycle' ... ... ...

... you've all you need to get past these feelings - just look inwards - trust yourself ... and before you know it - you'll be full of the word above less 'lessness' ...

'trust me' ...

sb.

:-)
SB_UK38958.6509027778Do you mean work wise or in the home or both ?

I don't know if your'e a woman or a man ?

What kinda projects ?
[QUOTE=yo_louie]

[/QUOTE]

I can't function without a list. If I lose it I'm lost. I keep it in a spiral notebook and never tear it out (more likely to loose one piece of paper!).

I keep it in a handy place so when something comes to mind that I need to do I write it down right away..In the evening I look at my list and decide the order I will do them (for the next day) and then I number them accordingly.

Seeing it on paper helps me tremendously. Seeing the list shows me how sometimes I can "kill two birds with one stone" and use my time more efficiently...Once I've completed something on the list I check it off..It gives me a nice sense of accomplishment and is somewhat motivating.

Also what I've found that really helps me is to keep my Adderall on my night stand nest to my bed and take it as soon as I wake up!

Oh, and about the projects. If I have one I want to start I just write it down on my list and also on my calendar (that I keep hung on the wall right by my kitchen sink) and write down a time in which I will begin it and work on it each day and make it as an appointment! If the dishes aren't done...Oh well!

Hope this helps.

bepatient38962.4905208333

I do the same things with the notebook - I carry one around that fits in the back pocket of my jeans or uniform, I also carry around a little pocket calendar book to enter things in as I need to.

At home I have a monthly whiteboard and have a colored marker for each member of the family and the dogs for appts and commitments.

You have to find ways where you can visualize what you have to do and plan it out - it is a livesaver to me as I have 1 kid that plays 2 sports, one that plays one sport, band concerts, work commitments, 3 dogs, house commitments, etc.... - anyway you get the picture!!!

Funny thing - I could not figure out how to get this organized befroe I started medication!!!

Sometimes such "simple" things to other people, are overwhelming to us ADHD'ers. Sometimes positive reinforcement from others when you can't find it in yourself can truely help. I am in the process of cleaning up a very messy house that got that way from years of working more then one job. I get very overwhelmed sometimes with trying to clean the house, the job and my family. When this happens and I can't seem to get back on track I usually talk to a friend or someone I know that is positive. I also come online and write about it. It does help when you can relate with others that go through the same thing. You can get things accomplished, it's not as impossible as your mind tells you. Sometimes you just have to try to not think too much about what's next. Do what you can with the time you have, one step at a time. Be patient with yourself and try not to think about how long you have or how long it's going to take. Just keep in your mind that it will get done and you can do it. Is there anyone that can help you out? Sometimes you do have to reach out for a little help. It sure doesn't hurt. If you have a chance, maybe take a walk or a drive and just take a breath. Also, remember that you are not the only one that goes through this. Hang in there friend and please keep posting. Dee lostmyshoe38960.2861458333I agree with lostmy shoe - sometimes to me it feels like I am the only one that struggles with certain tasks or things and then I came to this forum and realized all the things I have in common with others and that my struggles are not unique!!!

It gives me some comfort to know I am not an idiot (most of the time). Hey, I also started doing that too. I now carry a pocket composition notebook and write down things about my day, what I plan to do, and what ideas I think about, before they fade away and I forget about them.

It helps.The very act of writing down tasks in order of some kind and repeatedly seeing them helps to re-inforce for me. The pleasure of seeing each task crossed out on the list as i complete them is also an incentive to me to keep going until all are crossed off. I remember my first completed list. I remember sitting at the kitchen table late that night and looking back over the day...There were 10 items on that list. I had done it out that morning eating breakfast. Went to work, did 4 tasks during lunch break. Finished work, did 3 more. Home, did 2 more chores. Made dinner for d/s and myself. Tidied up and did last task on list. As I sat and listened to my favorite music cd i felt GREAT... So if I can do it,

with my profile at my age, i reckon anyone can... Yo_louie! Have no doubt, if you use the 3 cardinal strenghts of most ADHDers, Creativity, Energy, Above Avge. Intellect there is very little you cannot do within your own set of abilities and that includes basic practicalities of life....You could just look at the task at hand instead of all the other tasks as a
whole that you have to do.I find a list helps me too. If I don't make a list, I am lost. If my day is not planned out, I am lost. I get anxious and feel overwhelmed. My mind is always thinking about the 3 or 5 more things I have to do while I am still on 1. When I am at work I feel calm because I have a routine. When not at work, I need a list of my whole day or things get out of wack and the day flies by and it feels I have done nothing, and I hate doing nothing!I try to do that......but my mind just wanders off, thinking of everything I have to do. I can't stop it! I should be on meds.......but I hate meds.

I like lists too. If nothing else if I onl do one or two things at least I have done something. I don't feel so guilty, I feel more productive.

You have got to find a friend you can be real with. Lucky for me, my best friend is a professional organizer. I can say to her her is my idea but I have no idea how to get started. Then she talks me through it. It can even be simple things like my desk is a mess, and I feel overwhelmed. She will just get me going and then I am fine. I help her with things too, stuff on a more creative end.

Other people help me too, my husband, my assistant, the office manager at school, lots of people. But I had to be brave and expose my weaknesses. It is hard to make yourself vunerable. But I also realize I have a lot to offer too. I am great at what I do (Teach) I will wake up in the middle of the night and just know what a child with a problem needs.

Small tasks can overwhelm ADDers. I didn't realize till my oldest daughter, the only one in the familywith out ADD, became an adult. She amazes me. She can do simple things before work like run an errand that I would need a whole day to get done.

Life is just harder for us. Oh well. We add color to the world.