Too many choices | ADHD Information

I have not been diagnosed yet (I have an appointment next week). But I find how I've avoided dealing with making decisions (in some situations) is by always making the same choice. Like if I want to stop and get a bite to eat, instead of going throug the painful process of not being able to decide, I end up back at Subway having the same stupid turkey sandwich and a bag of baked lays.

I feel like I either can't make a decision to save my life or make snap decisions to avoid the pain. That's the story of my life--I live at one extreme of the spectrum or the other.

Does anyone struggle with this problem? When faced with a large number of choices, making a decision is very painful and often make an impulsive choice just to avoid really weighing each choice?

Like fashion choices or interior decorating choices or even grocery shopping? Of course, not having a plan always sabatoges me. I like so many different things with different styles that I struggle to choose ones that go together.

Oh yes...This is some that challenges me. I have some strategies which help me though. For example when I go shopping I make a list of choices before hand. If I need pants or shoes I will narrow them down to a choice of 2 colors before entering a store.

I used to drive my husband crazy when we went grocery shopping together. One time I took 5 minutes to decide which brand of yogurt to buy.

I am the same way. I'm fine with 2 or 3 choice but any more than that and my brain just kind of shuts down.

I think shopping is the worst, especially since I was raised to be a comparison shopper- I have the worst time buying anything if I haven't seen what the other stores offer and how much it is. I'm trying to move away from that by telling myself that I just need to buy the item at the first store for my sanity's sake.

I guess the problem really begins when you have to make big choices, like where to live or whether or not to get a new job. I actually totally deferred to my husband on the decision on whether or not to have a third child. I just couldn't wrap my head around all the different scenarios involved and ended up telling him that I wasn't opposed to the idea if he really wanted one. I did, however, feel a huge amount of relief when he finally decided he didn't. I'm not sure I'd want to be outnumbered by the kids.

I remember my ADD (dx as an adult) daughter taking 15 minutes in a store aisle trying to decide between the light purple shirt or the slightly darker purple one(for instance). It drove me absolutley nuts! Of course I thought it was just part of her personality, not part of a disorder that I had never heard of then (20 years ago).

Hi All:

I also had this problem. It was easy as a child, my Mom bought all my clothes with the assistance of my sister. Later I had friends and family to make those decisions, now that I am alone, I have the hardest time just picking clothes for work in the morning.

People tell me all my clothes look the same.

I have problems in this area, particularly with shopping. I find that if I shop around for bargains, I forget exactly what I have seen at certain stores in terms of merchandise and prices. I get frusterated, and end up deciding on an impusle. The absolute worst for me is car shopping. I hate it because I feel so lost, particularly when they start talking about financing. It just exhausts me, and I would agree to almost anything just to get out of there! [QUOTE=worldisround] <font face="Verdana" size="2">

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I can relate so much to all of you. Have any of you seen improvement in this with medication? I'm not officially Dx'd yet either waiting to be tested in Jan. But, I avoid shopping for interior decorating, because I like a lot of things, but never sure exactly what I want... or if I'll like it a year from now (can't afford to buy new that often )

So our house has no pictures, nothing on the walls (mainly because all of my pictures are still in the hutch waiting for me to buy frames that I can't decide on) My husband gets frustrated with me when shopping because I comparison shop on things I buy all the time! Like something is going to change and I'll get something different. sometimes I do.. sometimes I'll go with a different flavor of Crest toothpaste, or scent of a deodorant.. but it's the same brand always . I can never remember if we buy the red or blue Charmin. my hair color I can never remember the number, and always have to call my husband to ask him what it is and he remembers! My clothes... well they're pretty plain and simple, I go look for the simplest things. I have to tell myself.. ok, buying Blue jeans today and a couple of simple t-shirts. So I don't get overwhelmed by the choices and just say forget it all together. ShawnB39034.5629513889[QUOTE=lovelylady2348]

Does anyone struggle with this problem? When faced with a large number of choices, making a decision is very painful and often make an impulsive choice just to avoid really weighing each choice?

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I hate this part of my life. I will randomly grab curtains or something (bedspread etc....) and then later hate it, and wonder what the hell was I thinking? I will usually return it, but sometimes I just never get around to returning it, so I lose out big-time.

Mia