driving | ADHD Information

Does anyone else have trouble concentrating when they are driving? I hear all the time how parents will have these wonderful talks with their kids while they are driving, and I can't do that.

I have to concentrate on what is going on constantly unless I am hyperfocusing, which doesn't happen that often. New places, even old routes with heavy traffic terrify me. There is so much going on around me that I can't seem to register it all. I have to constantly be alert (which is good for anyone) and still am unsure that I am aware of everything.

I can't stand loud music when I need to think. Its ok when I am doing house work but when I drive it actually makes it harder for me to think. I also can't stand to have anyone talk to me or expect me to answer a question when I'm driving. My family gets mad and thinks I am ignoring them because I can't really pay attention to them and drive. It just takes all of my ability to think to drive.

I can't stand headlights behind me, especially if they are on bright, but even on dim, they are a distraction. Tail lights in front of me drive me nuts. I need to leave a lot of space between myself and them before they don't bother me.

I can drive ok in the areas where I am used to driving or in areas where there is next to no traffic. Even thruway traffic is ok if I am very familiar with the route although it does stress me out if I have to drive through rush hour. I guess most people feel that way.

Please someone, tell me that its typical ADD! No one I know except old people will admit to feeling this way. Most of my friends think nothing of hopping in the car and driving to city malls and stuff, and I hate to do that. I love to spend money   as much as any woman but I usually shop close to home! . If I had more to spend it might bother me more to miss out on that! LOL    Barb

 

I can relate to some of this.  headlights bother the @#@ out of  me.  There's no talking to my daughter while I'm driving, and my wife has to keep the conversation going or I'm silent.  Traffic doesn't bother me that much, but I always take the same route (sometimes, even if I'm not going there   )  My wife is forever saying, "Where are we going again?" or "Are we still going to ___?"  It's her polite way to let me know I'm making a wrong turn.  She used to say "You want to turn here." but that just sent me into distraction and my frustration went through the roof.

For a while in college I delivered Pizza.  I had to turn the radio off to find the house numbers. 

Strange thing though... I've always wanted to drive through New York City.  It may put me in the funny farm, but I want to try some day.

Oh boy, headlights drive me up the wall, I can't see with them in my rearview, I can't see when they're coming at me, and people always seem to find the spot right where their headlights are in your rearview and side mirror!

Can't do the cell phone thing, I was talking to my friend on the cell yesterday and I ended up driving home when I had errends to run! Oops.

I live in a very small town so most roads are 2 lane and very fmiliar to me so I listen to loud music in my car all the time but if I have to find something new, I need silence.

What really really bugs be is when people don't use their blinkers! Hello! They're there so you can warn people that you're going to turn! Use them! Even on meds I can get some serious road rage going on. Especially when they're not doing the speed limit (because I'm usually running late)...

Someone trying to talk to me while I'm driving is so distracting! My mom does this all the time, and than points to something, and expects me to look! Headlights also bother me because in Florida, so many people use their highbeams when theres no need to. It blinds me!

But loud music, I love. I thinks it helps me concentrate. (think is the key word here). I recently blew my speakers out, so I'm rethinking my theory.

I don't like traffic because alot of people drive like a**holes, and that kind of scares me. I think these things bother alot of people, but they won't admit it because alot of old people feel that way. also I hate to admit this but cell phones and speeding are my worst habits!