You know you are ADD when..... going shopping takes 3 attempts. I normally leave my shopping list behind and have to go home and fetch it, on returning home I then put my handbag down to pick up my list, and then arrive at the shops with my list and no bag!

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You know your ADHD when...well, my best stories were the two I sent to Terry Matlen when she was gathering material for her new book, Survival Tips for Women with ADHD. Mine are signed "Mary Kay L., Batavia, IL."

So I rush to school, needing to be early for a staff meeting. I ducked everyone in the library, threw my coat and things in my office and snuck into the meeting.

When I went home that night I put on my off-white Eddie Bauer down coat, and lo and behold there was a BRA DANGLING DOWN THE FRONT OF IT!! I had whipped my coat out of the dryer that morning as I rushed to leave. A bra had stuck to the velcro on the front of the coat...AND I HADN'T EVEN NOTICED!! Of course I was talking to a colleague as I pulled my coat one... well the story continues to circle even though I left that school district 6 years ago!! LOL

Story #2 - It was at that same school where I arrived and realized I had NO SHOES. My sandals had been in my hand as I rushed out to the car, but I turned around and went back in to grab something from the fridge for my lunch. I took a plastic store bag and threw a yogurt and apple into it and left for work. Ok well, I'd set my sandals down to do that. I had to walk into school bare-footed, and of course, my principal was giving some new parents a TOUR OF THE SCHOOL! I kind of ducked into a classroom and one of the teachers had a spare pair of sandals under her desk....so I was saved for the rest of the day. But I'll never forget that feeling as my principal looked down at my bare feet.... ARRGGGGGGG!!!!!!

Mary Kay

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You Know You're ADD When... you have enough money in the bank to pay bills yet simply forget to! My credit is horrible because of this.

I have so many more: going to work with my polo shirt inside out; having a pr of glasses on my head, a pr hanging from my necklace and still looking for my glasses; buying a PDA to schedule appts and bill due dates and forgetting to input the data; showing up for work on the first day of my vacation... geeeesh!

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How many ADDers does it take to change a lightbulb?

So how's about a bike ride then?

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When you're thinking about the task at hand, and something else that should be attended to grabs your attention, and you don't even realized you've switched tasks...until later on when you come back across the first one and it was like six attention changes ago.

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my favorite has always been you know you're add when you look like you're on drugs, but you're not. . .but you should be, and if you were-you wouldn't look like you were.

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you know you're a.d.d when you're talking on the phone and have a moment of panic where you ask 'WHERE IS MY PHONE!" and tell the person on the other end of the line that you've lost your phone

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She was in the car with me as I rushed to and from many small errands, went home twice to get other things I'd forgotten...Got to the home improvement store, told her to stay in the car and be a good girl, was gone 5 minutes, came back to find her gone. I yelled all over the parking lot for her, called the local police and informed them in case they saw my large German Shepard. Wandered the neighborhoods near the store asking people if they'd seen her. Handed out my phone number to anyone I saw and asked them to call if they saw her. In tears, I finally drove home, knowing that I'd have to tell the kids that their beloved dog was lost. Got out my key, opened the door to the house and there she was. Not only had she managed to get home, but she'd even gone in the house and locked the door...what a good dog!! Of course, I'd forgotten that I'd left her home on one of my many trips in and out of the house. This is one of the stories I told the doctor when she asked me, "What makes you think you have ADD?"

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Here's the other story I use to demonstrate to doctors who don't believe I have ADD...Again, running a zillion little errands and all excited because we are going on vacation in the morning. I decide to gas up the car. While I'm filling the tank, I decide to check the oil, and then I wash all the windows with that squeegee thing. Then I get in my car and start to drive away. A loud metal scraping noise makes me slam on the brakes. I look in the side mirror and see the gas hose stretched much further than anyone would think it could stretch. Gas is spraying out of the coupler connectors on the hose...there's pretty much a big puddle starting to collect under my car. I pull out the hose, returning it to the pump. I enter the gas station and say to the high school aged clerk, "Oh my God, I've just squirted gas all over out there. I'm so sorry. What can I do? Isn't there something I need to do?" He responds slowly and thoughtfully, "No, I think you've already done enough! Go home!" And I did. The week the kids come home from school and say, "Ma, some guy at school says that you are a real piece of work! He says you drove away with the hose attached to the car. Says it cost his boss about $500!" I assured the kids that it must have been some other crazy lady. It really was a different lady...it was me before I got on meds!

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You're always getting told to stop and listen, and you turn around and add your two cents in anyways, just because you couldn't get your words across because someone was interupting you for not listening to them.

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Your wife changes the cellar door from opening in to opening out, and the door knob is on the opposite side, you go into the basement, and return from the basement using the door and never notice anything is different. You know that you son is too, when he does the exact same thing later on.

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You can TOTALLY relate to the mouse in the book "If you take a mouse to school."

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two of the biggest challenges in life with ADHD - lost items. I lose everything - some things I like to think of as being 'misplaced' because some are found - weeks or months later - I just forgot where I put them or did not even realize I had it in my hand and put it in the shelf in the closet or under the bed looking for something else. If kept within the house - chances are I will find it ..... someday (unless it was put in the trash - and I have spent many days sifting thru the trash). I walk around from room to room with items in my hand doing 10 different things putting things down in a spot that it will take me days to find later on.

when your brain is so far ahead of the words you are speaking - jumping subject to subject - people that do not know you looking at you as if you are nuts (and you thought you just had an incredible enlightenment but you cannot get people to understand). Sometimes I talk in mid-conversation because my brain is so far ahead that I think people know where I am coming from......and they are not even talking about what I am because they said one thing that sent me on 8 different tangents. Or maybe it is just me that feels this way...

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You got ADD when you continue driving around cloverleafs why you should be getting on the highway. Done this many times.

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graciejones said: when your brain is so far ahead of the words you are speaking - jumping subject to subject - people that do not know you looking at you as if you are nuts (and you thought you just had an incredible enlightenment but you cannot get people to understand). Sometimes I talk in mid-conversation because my brain is so far ahead that I think people know where I am coming from......and they are not even talking about what I am because they said one thing that sent me on 8 different tangents. Or maybe it is just me that feels this way...

Oh I can REALLY relate to that!!!! Something like that happened a couple weeks ago to me. I was feeling upset and confused about something that happened between my husband and me. As I was talking about the situation with someone who knows me reasonably well--another ADD person, actually--with a totally overwhelmed expression on his face he goes, "you know, Amy, when you're talking... I'M getting confused!"

At first I was a bit stunned, but now as I think about it it's actually pretty amusing, even though this kind of thing can be somewhat frustrating for me as well as the poor person who is trying so hard to follow my train of thought!

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Since my mom passed away 10 years ago (another classic ADHD person) I have felt that no one understands and felt so alone - I always knew I was different - but never knew why. When a doctor recently diagnosed me I felt a weight was lifted off my shoulders - finally a reason to "why" I feel this way - and it has opened doors ever since. It is so good to know you are not alone and others understand. Thank you!

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...and laugh yourself silly, but can't remember any of your own boo-boos at the moment. Though they are multiple and public every single day.

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Persistent said: ...and laugh yourself silly, but can't remember any of your own boo-boos at the moment. Though they are multiple and public every single day.

This happens to me, I genrally don't think of examples when I can share them.

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I must really be ADD since I can relate to every one of your stories. You know you're ADD when you lose something you need....and you haven't moved from your seat. You know you're ADD when you get to work and realize you forgot to take your son to school.

My train of thought is a roller coaster.

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Oops . . . I forgot but I'll be sure to remember to write you right away when I remember if I jot it down on a post-it with the pen that was just here a minute ago by my papers which have been moved by someone and obviously I need to put them in a folder that's over there so that won't happen again, ouch, what the heck is this laundry basket doing in the middle of the hallway and why doesn't anybody put stuff away where it belongs (I'll be good and just walk this over to the laundry room right away this time), well at least there's some coin there at the bottom of the washer. Is that the doorbell? No, that's my cell phone ... "oh that haircut appointment wasn't for tomorrow??" I better brush my hair in a hurry, that's where the pen was . . . ummm . . . I'm glad I remembered to go buy those post-it notes on the way back from the appointment but I have to get cash from the bank for gas and a treat for the receptionist as I'm running very late . . . . Sure I'll make it to the gas station as the last time I ran out on the road I was in school .... what was the name of that God-forsaken highway where I got stuck in ice-cold weather? Boy did I have to go then too ..... relief ..... oh yeah Google that gas station that charged me $4 for a quart container plus the gas while It's filling up. . . oh there's my Favorites, ADDitude, Forums, Log in, back to Forums, who posted that last one I was reading, no that's the name of who started the thread but the time for whoever posted last except for (boy I wish they made this easier like maybe I should write them a letter, no better yet I'll learn to do Web Design (I wonder what language I should learn HTML or C++ or A+ is that one a language or a test, well skip that, but maybe that tech guy who really owes me can help me build the web's unique, universal (and highest Google ranked?? how do you get there without $$$$??) I'll call it the "SUGGESTION BOX FOR EVERYTHING"? Cool idea. I won't forget that, but how many web pages should it have and what functionality? So what am I doing with this pen on my laptop at the airport b/c I promised myself to type all my reminders and notes onto Outlook?

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A one liner becomes 3 rambled paragraphs about your dog, keys, driving habbits and how your forgot you had a keyboard... even the one you type on.

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Guilty as charged!

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Just laughed my a$$ off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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.......your son has been diagnosed with ADD...and you behave the same way he does..

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SPROCKET: with the only difference between you and your son being that your memory, hearing, sight, tolerance and bladder are not improving any! Don't YOU wish you could get your hands on my dark wrap-around sunglasses, walker and custom liquid baggie??? Now where did my ride go . . . and where the %$@ was it going? Best wishes to you sprocket - - your fellow traveler way down the road I have no idea how I got on.

HARCOUTO: every once in a while i can still hide by posing as the class clown or punching bag! chat on . . .

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You know you are ADD when you have worked your butt off all day and when you stop to look at the results nothing is done or finished.

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You know your ADD when you get bored with foreplay after a few minutes.

....if you skip the long stories on this page and read the short ones.

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I had set up an appointment to discuss how my ADD was affecting my job. When I arrived, the therapist said, "You know your appointment was at 10 and it's about 25 after, so we won't have as much time today." Dang, I was so happy when I thought I had arrived 5 minutes early for the first time in like .... ever!

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Oh my goodness, ADDAWAY, your posts crack me up!!! I can totally relate to so many of the things you mentioned. Sometimes I'll be driving somewhere and all of a sudden I have no clue where the heck I am for a moment, then I remember. "How did I get HERE?" lol

A couple of my ADD things are a little annoying to me tonight. One, I've STILL got some Christmas presents sitting here in my computer room that I have not only not mailed yet, but I haven't even finished making them yet! And it's February already...argh. I made and gave all the "local" gifts a long time ago, but got tired of making stuff so I've been putting off finishing the gifts I need to mail out.

The other--I gave my little daughter a bath this evening, and started folding laundry in my bedroom while the kids watched a DVD. What a surprise to see my naked daughter run in to greet me when the DVD ended...I forgot to put her pajamas on!! lol

Ah, there are definitely LOTS of surprises!

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Ray I relate to this one very well.

{QUOTE]Ray said: You know your ADD when you get bored with foreplay after a few minutes.

....if you skip the long stories on this page and read the short ones.

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Hilarious....you depicted perfectly a typical five minutes in my mind. I may have to print your post out just so I can make people understand how we think and why I am mentally exchausted everday by 11 am. It is wonderful to know I am not alone. Thank you!

As for me...I just finally threw away the Christmas cards I had put in envelopes and addressed to family members in November. Ironically, I had put them in my day planner/organizer so I would not forget to mail them. Obviously I forgot a bunch of times. I should have kept them and just mailed them next year, but I knew I would completely lose them way before then.

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you spend hours cleaning,, and 10 minutes later it's worse then when you started

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I'm not sure wether to laugh or cry! Actually I am doing both! I've been reading all of the "You know you are ADD when..." Posts. I have been sitting here laughing out loud. I got to this one, and just roared....and now I find myself crying...because I soooooo understand that whole post...It is my life! I am 39, and was diagnosed very recently, so I am just a basket of emotions right now. I am so glad I found this site Looking forward to getting to know all of you! Cherub

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Donza said: You know you are ADD when..... going shopping takes 3 attempts. I normally leave my shopping list behind and have to go home and fetch it, on returning home I then put my handbag down to pick up my list, and then arrive at the shops with my list and no bag!

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kelsey said: you spend hours cleaning,, and 10 minutes later it's worse then when you started

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You are looking for sunglasses and they are on the top of your head. Have your math tutor say you can't be taught because you ask question such as if it is an abstract number why do i need to know it. Tell your future father in law That the world may think he is telling the truth ; but you won't believe anything he say the very 1st time meeting him!!!! State the obvious to your co-worker and look around when they all act shocked that you actually said it Put the car key in the freezer and run around looking for them the next day until your father finds them and ask is there a reason you needed the keys so cold. God there is so many things. All I know you better have a sense a humour which thankfully I do.

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I forgot and missed my appointment to talk to the doctor about getting me diagnosed with ADD!

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You know You're ADD when you wander about the weird sound "everyone else's" cars are making only to realize 15 minutes down the road that you've been driving with your parking break on!!

You know you're the least ADD of your ADD family when you have to set up a chore chart ... with your parents names on it. I did that in high school... none of them ever got done... We forgot where we put the chart, and then forgot to do them anyway, and to make a new chart.

You know you're ADD when buying a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread takes 3 hours in the grocery store and you still forget to buy bread.

You know you're ADD when you call someone to say, "I have to tell you somehting important. I forget what it is now, but it's really important." ..this also works with walking into other people's offices at work, and professor's offices on campus... they all think I'm crazy.

You know you're ADD when it gets quiet in an elevator and you start asking people what their favorite color is... okay, everyone in a 6 hour radius thinks I'm crazy.

You know you're ADD when you are given a book on ADD from your doctor when he diagnoses you and you laugh for three days, because you don't have the attention span to read through the chapter names, much less the chapters!! 2 years later? I have read 45 of 200 pages... but I looked at all of the pictures!

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your colleague taps you on your shoulder and asks you to put your glasses back on so you can hear them....

FYI - I strongly suspect everyone in my family (with the possible exception of my father) was/is ADHD.... we had company once that came in sat down for a cup of tea with us, and announced after 10 minutes she had to leave, because she couldn't take us anymore. We were verbally bouncing off each other and talking in almost a short hand. <G>

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Well, see my 14 year old son thinks he knows all........but you know you are ADD when you are getting upset with your 14 yr old for doing the same thing you do, what do you mean you forgot your homework.......what you mean you forget to take your meds.........here I am trying to be a good Mom who has learned to work around some of my ADD and I want him to do that right now...........my classic is when I am searching for my glasses, my son saying he what are you going crazy over, I tell him what the problem is and he says nicely(laughing his butt off), Mom they are on your face! Thank you God I am not alone...........

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I'm an adult with ADD and am so unorganized that I have a hard time doing anything constructive. I have a small interior design business, but let it go three years ago to study online for my MS in Design. I should be finishing this Sept. with the BA, but haven't even finished the first two courses. It takes me so long to gather what I need for one assignment and go around and round in circles that I get nowhere. . I'm getting dizzy just thinking about it! I have tried a couple of medications, but they make my heart race and then leave my extremely tired. Anyone have constructive advice? I really should be going to the gym, studying, cleaning house, taking the dog out, etc.... NOW...instead, I feel as if I need help and am looking to you for support.

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... I forgot to bill my clients last month. I have only recently been diagnosed and can't start my meds for a couple of weeks so I am hoping for an improvement before my kids starve!

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When you find the $200.00 dollar you hid and find it when looking for a needle so you can sew on a button you lost . Never find the needle but find the $200.00 and go to the store to buy a new shirt but instead buy a new pair of pants return home to find you have nothing to match. So run out to buy a new shirt . Now get home to find out you have 15 minutes to wash shower and change and be at the place you are not suppose to be late too that takes an hour to get too. Looking for the key to the car can't find them because they are in the freezer; not sure why you put in there......................................

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Then by the time they answer you forget who you called and have to look at your phone or ask them.......lol

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You get strange looks while walking/running/singing/talking-to-yourself down the street in NEW YORK...

When you pitch paper ideas to professors and they go "huh?"

When your mom sends you a travel coffee mug to replace the one you just lost in the office, and you manage to lose the new one in the library TWICE within three weeks.

When you have conversations with yourself....daily

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you know you're ADD when you're reading a paragraph in "Driven to Distraction" and you suddenly pause to contemplate what you want for lunch the next day. Then, you try to find where you were on the page but end up flitting your eyes towards paragraphs that haven't even come up yet.

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You start off washing the dishes, and find yourself half an hour later cleaning fly spots off the ceiling...

With a sink still half full of dirty dishes...

And a half cleaned saucepan sitting next to the sink, with the dish cloth in it...

sigh

:^D

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1# - you forget you're brewing coffee. I was working as a school librarian and ducked into my office to make a quick pot of coffee; however, the pot wasn't brewing fast enough for my addled brain so I slipped a mug under the brewing coffee and then proceded to leave the library when I remembered I needed to ask someone a question.

20 minutes later I returned to a fully brewed pot of coffee all over the carpet in my office.

2# - you can't find your cell phone. I had been talking on my cell phone on my way home from work. I was getting my stuff together and walked into the house, still talking on the phone, and then started looking for my cell phone only to realize that I was still talking on it.

3# - you constantly lose keys. Long story, but I ended up having to drive my husband's standard truck 20 minutes on a major highway into Memphis, TN and had only driven a standard once when my husband had tried to teach me. I found out the hard way that people are not very understanding when you stall out a stoplight 5 times. I got all sorts of gestures and honks. What should have been a 20 minute drive ended up taking me 45 minutes.

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Firecracker said: When you have conversations with yourself....daily

(the reason im up at 5 am!)

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You know you have ADD when you realize you have 5 years worth of Christmas cards nicely printed, stuffed, addressed, and NEVER mailed!!!!

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...write down some information on one of the 4 notepads you always keep handy. Go to read some in Driven to Distraction, finishing with the section that says you shouldn't self-diagnose, get up to use the computer there, notice a notepad sitting there that happens to look a whole lot like yours, and realize it IS yours...ah forgetfulness...

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I am famous among my close friends for telling long, rambling stories without a discernable point. My friend Jen (who may have ADD, but hasn't been diagnosed) told a story like that recently and I looked at her and said, "That sounds like one of my stories." We cracked up.

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that your techno-loving husband actually goes out and buys the old-fashioned kind of phone with the wire that attaches the two parts together so you can't leave it in the freezer. :)

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... then look for them in the other pocket, and wonder where you misplaced them.

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In the time it took you to log in to ADDitude, you forgot what you were going to post in the first place.

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Oh yeah! I remember!

You know you're ADHD when you always have to read the last chapter of books first, because you get too impatient to wait until you're finished to find out how it ends.

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You turn up to your long awaited diagnosis appointment with your son's school bag in your hand.

You finally get the long awaited ritalin prescription you're been coveting and it takes three months to collect it.

You have to repeatedly confess to your seven year old's teacher that you've lost their homework again.

You work your butt off on hundreds of different projects and when someone asks you what you've been up to you can't think of one thing.

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You read the first few responses, then skip directly to the end of this thread to post this response :)

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You know you have ADD when every surface in you house is covered in paperwork, homework, mail and unpaid bills... because if you put anything away you're afraid you'll never find it.

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I attempted a couple times to post a reply to this thread, but couldn't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

You know you're ADD... 1) when you come home and find the milk in the cupboard, and the cereal in the refrigerator. 2) when you put something in a safe place so you don't lose it, but can't remember where that would be. 3) when you want to find an important document, you hesitate because it means spending a few hours "cleaning" (picking up the clutter) the house.

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