ADD and Perfectionist | ADHD Information
My son has this. But it is really obsessive-compulsive disorder in disguise.I used to admire perfectionism but now I pity these people.
I think "really" doing your best is an obtainable goal.
Life is already difficult enough.
My mother was such a pefectionist in her ways that it left no time for us.
When people brag about how perfectionistic they are I laugh at them. They are shocked but don't ask why.
I almost fell into this brain trap also.
worldisround39040.4555324074
Do any of you think that ADD is also related to perfectionism? I mean, I am FAR from perfect. But what I really mean is that a perfectionist will not do anything unless they can do the entire job and do it the right way. So I will usually not clean the bathroom if I do not have the time or the energy to do it perfectly, then I just won't do it at all.
Anyone else have this problem?
Mia
Yup. Bingo.[QUOTE=artemis]Yup. Bingo.[/QUOTE]
Who is Bingo?
I haven't heard of them having this problem.
OH MY YES COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND!!!
i tell people that if i'm going to clean, i'm not satisfied until i've washed the walls! i get very compulsive about attacking that last little spot that won't come up... so yes, i do understand...
there are a couple of things that have helped me. the first is to TIME myself. i think of working on the kitchen for 30 minutes instead of CLEANING the kitchen, which to do it "right" would certainly take at least a day!
the next thing i got from a book, but i can't remember which one. it talks about macro-focus, detail focus and micro focus. macro focus is when you focus on the big picture. like a couple of weeks ago when i worked on my living room. i have so much clutter in there that i get extremely depressed, so i took some big bins & just cleared the center of the room, putting all the clutter in the trash or in the bins to sort... you know, sometime
detail focus is a bit more involved & involves putting things where they belong, doing the dusting and vacuuming, etc....
micro focus is the real nitty gritty, like that one little spot you spend a half an hour on. micro focus is VERY RARELY, if ever, necessary... yet before i read about that, i would spend a lot of time in the middle of an insanely messy room trying to get that one little spot off the chair or the window. i needed those guidelines to realize that i didn't have to do that!
good luck!!!
~~~Ursula~~~
Mia,
I struggle with this too. I don't know if it is a stalling tactic or over-thinking it. . . but it is an ever-present problem for me. I know I'm not perfect, don't want to be, but I can't get away from my high expectations. Since my diagnosis (and starting Adderall), it has gotten a bit better, but I don't think it will ever go away. I hope that recognizing it as a problem helps but I don't know. Good luck!
[QUOTE=Davidornado][QUOTE=artemis]Yup. Bingo.[/QUOTE]
Who is Bingo?
I haven't heard of them having this problem.
[/QUOTE]
...I can't think of a comeback.
OH MY YES COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND!!!
i tell people that if i'm going to clean, i'm not satisfied until i've washed the walls! i get very compulsive about attacking that last little spot that won't come up... so yes, i do understand...
there are a couple of things that have helped me. the first is to TIME myself. i think of working on the kitchen for 30 minutes instead of CLEANING the kitchen, which to do it "right" would certainly take at least a day!
the next thing i got from a book, but i can't remember which one. it talks about macro-focus, detail focus and micro focus. macro focus is when you focus on the big picture. like a couple of weeks ago when i worked on my living room. i have so much clutter in there that i get extremely depressed, so i took some big bins & just cleared the center of the room, putting all the clutter in the trash or in the bins to sort... you know, sometime
detail focus is a bit more involved & involves putting things where they belong, doing the dusting and vacuuming, etc....
micro focus is the real nitty gritty, like that one little spot you spend a half an hour on. micro focus is VERY RARELY, if ever, necessary... yet before i read about that, i would spend a lot of time in the middle of an insanely messy room trying to get that one little spot off the chair or the window. i needed those guidelines to realize that i didn't have to do that!
good luck!!!
~~~Ursula~~~
[/QUOTE]
You know that this has been a huge problem for me. And over time it's gotten worse. However, after starting on the Adderall. I have re-organized my entire house (and I have a big house) - I have cleaned most everything. I can find things now. It's so easy to keep it all in order now. I wake up feeling energized and not overwhelmed by junk.
I am thrilled with the energy adderall gives to me.
It's almost to the point though that I am now obsessed with organizing.Which has never been the case.........Geez, one extreme to the other. LOL
Mia
It's Bingo the dog. And Bingo was his name-o. Being organized is very important.It makes your mind calmer & leaves you more time for the fun stuff !!