You only talk for a few minutes, but as soon as you get off the phone, you remember what you are supposed to do before bed. You have a project the next day and need to find information to complete the project...information you organized at one time or another and put away for just a time as this. But you can't remember where that place is, because you have many boxes in which you store your organized information. So you spend several hours looking for the information and are relieved when you finally find it, only to also realize that you've just used up two precious hours of sleep.
You know tomorrow you have to get up quite early because you have started a part time job for a few hours in the morning twice a week to supplement your full time job. You're not really feeling tired enough to fall asleep, because you're still wired from looking for all the information and you're thinking about your friend who called you and is going through a difficult time. You then think of a particular piece of music that has helped you fall asleep in moments just like this one, and so you open up the cabinet to pull it out. But that particular music is not where you thought it would be. You look high and low for it, and once you find the music you are looking for, you are ready to relax and get some sleep. Finally you crawl into bed, exhausted from the relentless searches. Unfortunately you are still abit wired from two adrenaline surges and knowing that you must be up in less than approximately six hours to start the next day. After laying down, you get up several more times to take care of small items you've been too "busy" to remember to do, such as using the bathroom. In the meantime, your keys have fallen off the bed, after pulling the covers back, and have dropped under the bed, just out of sight.
In the morning you push the snooze button one time too many, and then all of a sudden you wake up with a start! Looking at the clock you see that you have 15 minutes before you must leave to make it to your job on time. You rush around getting ready and when you reach for your keys, where you always put them, they are not there. You have no idea where you could have put them, you frantically search everywhere you can possibly think of that you would have put them. After 15 minutes of searching, you find them under the bed, but now you will have to call work to let them know you are running late. You're stressed and pissed off because you hate this...you're thinking "if it's not one thing, it's another!!! Aaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!!!!
Well...believe it or not, this can be a typical day for someone who is ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), even with medication to assist them in managing the disorder's effects/symptoms.
The information below gives a basic idea of what dealing with these disorders is like and this information is from the following site: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_adult_symptoms.htm
Adults with ADD / ADHD struggle daily with self-regulation: regulating their attention, regulating their impulses in talking and action, and regulating their emotions. If you have trouble staying focused, getting organized, starting and completing your work, managing your time and money, and remembering all the little things in your daily life, you may very well be one of these people.
The chaos of living with unrecognized and untreated ADD / ADHD can take its toll: never-ending to-do lists, the stress of missed deadlines and forgotten appointments, aggravated friends and family members [and co-workers/bosses] who just don’t understand why you can’t pull it together and self-recrimination over your lack of accomplishments.
For the last five years I have attempted to "manage" my out-of-control", easily distracted brain with medication. I have found one, in particular, that has helped somewhat. One positive outcome is I no longer lock my keys in the car, at least once a month. (For awhile I was beginning to think my "calling" in life was to keep locksmiths in business.) Fortunately for me, but not necessarily the locksmiths, I haven't locked my keys in my car in years. And there are many other improvements that have taken place since I've sought out information and help in managing my brain malfunctions.
When I say "you're only as good as you think", I'm not speaking of self-esteem. I'm talking about brain functioning. Alzheimers, dementia, bipolar, obsessive-compulsive, schizophrenia, post traumatic stress disorder, ADHD. These are just a few of the brain malfunctions that a significant number of people are living life with everyday. Some can be managed somewhat with medicine and therapy, others with behavior modification and diet, but some are still mind-boggling to medical doctors, research scientists, psychiatric doctors, family members, etc. The brain is a stunning piece of creation! Regardless of how our brains are functioning today, it is important to stay informed about brain health and to take care of your brain and your body. We really are only as good at what we do, as our brain is at taking on the task we give it to do.
For those who believe their minds are working flawlessly, and have no evidence of malfunction in their relationships or job to cause them concern, they may hardly give brain functioning a second thought. It is difficult to explain to others who have not had to work with a less than "flawless mind" what it is like.
All I can say is it is a good thing when one's mind is functioning vs when it's malfunctioning. The "functioning brain" is even more appreciated when one has been the guinea pig (once again) for a new or different drug for a variety of reasons and is left dealing with a "scambled brain", when med outcomes don't go as planned. Fortunately I am assertive, knowledgeable, and self-aware enough to know when to put my foot down and say "no" to more experimentation and ask for what I need, and my current psychiatrist is "respectful and mindful" of patient personal experience, deduction and conclusion/input. I've been reminded, in the last four months or so, that in order to have a postive outcome in dealing with almost anyone in the medical field, one has to be assertive, persistent, and extremely informed.
Over the years I have read various information on ADD and ADHD. Dr. Daniel Amen is one of the many who has written books on dealing with ADD/ADHD. He has done considerable research in these areas and other areas of brain functioning and recently has been doing lectures on brain health to everyone who will listen. Here is a link to his website... http://www.amenclinics.com/my-brain-health/ The information provided includes many helpful reminders of what we can do to take care of our body and our brain.
The dance video today is ball room dancing - The Cha Cha Cha. Ball room dancing...the costumes and the dance moves are breathtaking. One of my favorite movies that includes ball room dancing is "Dance With Me" with Vanessa Williams and the gorgeous Chayanne.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3sRYp9HxEk&feature=related
Little Jonathan (one of my nephews) turned two years old on January 8th. I can't help but remember his birthday, as it is so close to my own. He shares his birthdate with Elvis, so I just had to download a couple of kids doing Elvis impersonations. I'm going to download one elvis video and just include the link to the other...
Link to another young Elvis singer and dancer...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ3sqEdVHiY&feature=related
Unbeknowst to my brother and his wife, my secret harbored hope is that Jonathan will be a music fanatic. Coming into the world on Elvis's birthday...I think it's possibly a given! :)
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