# My Experiences and Challenges with ADHD
> [!metadata]- Metadata
> **Published:** [[2025-02-03|Feb 03, 2025]]
> **Tags:** #🌐 #adhd #productivity #second-brain #mental-health
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As someone with ADHD, I face various challenges in my daily life, particularly with my memory and impulsivity. My journey with ADHD has led me to develop unique coping mechanisms and explore various tools for [[Knowledge Management for the ADHD Brain|managing information and tasks effectively]]. Here's an overview of my key experiences:
## Forgetfulness and Compensating with Notes and Duplication
The hallmark of my ADHD is my forgetfulness. As I discussed in my exploration of [[Harvesting Ideas with Digital Gardens|digital gardening]], thoughts often feel like fireflies - beautiful but fleeting. To cope with this, I've developed extensive note-taking systems and learned to duplicate essential items strategically.
My forgetfulness means I often misplace important items like my wallet, keys, and AirPods. To cope, I've developed a system of having multiples of these essentials strategically placed in different locations. For example, I own 4 pairs of AirPods Pros - one for each room of my house and an extra pair that lives permanently in my work bag.
Similarly, I have charging stations set up all over my home and office, so my devices never run out of battery unexpectedly. I've learned the hard way that if something isn't charged and in its designated spot, I will inevitably forget it exists until I'm caught out needing it.
## Focus and Distraction
Another key aspect of my ADHD is inconsistent focus. While exploring [[Neurodivergence|neurodiversity and different ways of thinking]], I've come to understand that this isn't just a deficit - it's a different way of processing information. I experience periods of intense hyperfocus alongside times when maintaining attention feels impossible.
For example, I can focus really well when I'm working on an exciting project like building out a new feature. I get completely absorbed and can make great progress. But on more mundane tasks like writing documentation or responding to emails, my mind wanders and I find myself getting up from my desk every 15-20 minutes.
My ability to focus seems to be very dependent on my interest level. If I'm not engaged, my attention is easily pulled away to other things. But if I'm really excited about what I'm doing, I can get lost in it for hours.
## Impulsivity in Spending and Conversations
My impulsivity manifests in both financial decisions and communication patterns. To manage this, I've created automated systems for tracking expenses and developed strategies for more mindful interactions. This ties into my broader approach to [[Knowledge Management for the ADHD Brain#The Three-Layer System|organizing information and managing tasks]] through structured systems.
Financially, I have a tendency to make spur-of-the-moment purchases that I don't really need. These impulsive buys can sometimes be quite expensive and not the best choice for my budget. To rein this in, I've created my own automated finance tracking system. I've built custom applications that pull in data from my credit card statements, categorize my spending, and generate monthly and quarterly reports. Having this visibility helps curb my impulse purchases.
In conversations, my impulsivity comes out as a tendency to interrupt others. When someone is talking for a long time, I start to get antsy. My mind races ahead to all the things I want to say in response, and I often jump in prematurely, cutting the other person off. I know it's rude, but in the moment it feels like if I don't speak up immediately I'll forget my points. I'm working on strategies like jotting down notes to avoid interrupting.
## Inner Restlessness and Need for Movement
While I don't have a lot of outward hyperactivity, I do experience an inner restlessness, especially when I'm understimulated. If I'm in a boring meeting or working on a tedious task, I start to feel really antsy. That mental agitation builds up until I have to take a break to move around. I'm not great at sitting still for long stretches.
Taking frequent, short movement breaks helps me release some of that restless energy so I can refocus. I'll do things like take a quick walk, do some stretches, or even just pace around my office for a couple minutes. I've learned I need to proactively step away before the restlessness gets overwhelming.
## Organizational Skills and Automation as Coping Mechanisms
ADHD has pushed me to develop strong organizational skills and automation strategies. My experience with [[Knowledge Management for the ADHD Brain|building systems for the ADHD brain]] has taught me that the right tools and processes can transform challenges into strengths.
Beyond financial automation, I've created custom productivity apps to manage tasks, projects, and schedules. I rely on synced calendars, note apps, task managers, and reminders to stay on top of commitments.
I'm also meticulous about keeping my physical spaces organized. Everything has a designated spot where it always lives, and I'm religious about putting things back immediately after use. I've learned that I waste a huge amount of time and get totally derailed when I can't find what I need. Keeping my home and workspace tidy and organized is a way to minimize those stressful and distracting hunts for misplaced items.
## Anxiety Around Lateness and Compulsive Cleaning
My ADHD also manifests as a real anxiety around being late for any commitment, no matter how big or small. I obsess over being on time, to the point that I get very stressed if I'm running even a little behind. This anxiety applies equally to critical work meetings and casual social plans. I think it stems from knowing that my forgetfulness and distractibility put me at high risk of missing important obligations if I don't stay vigilant about being on time.
I also have some compulsive tendencies around cleaning and organizing that border on OCD. I get very stressed and irritable when things feel out of order. A sink full of dirty dishes or a messy stack of papers sets my teeth on edge and distracts me until I've dealt with it. I think this is partly my brain's way of trying to impose a sense of control and structure on my environment to counterbalance the inherent chaos and forgetfulness of my ADHD.
## Key Takeaways and Coping Strategies
In summary, my ADHD most significantly impacts my memory, focus, impulsivity, and inner restlessness. To manage these challenges, some of my key coping tools and techniques include:
- Extensive note-taking to compensate for forgetfulness
- Duplicating and strategically placing essential items to avoid losing them
- Setting up charging stations everywhere to keep devices ready to go
- Creating automated systems to track finances and curb impulsive spending
- Developing custom productivity apps to offload task and schedule management
- Maintaining tidy, organized spaces to minimize time wasted looking for misplaced items
- Taking frequent movement breaks to release restless energy and refocus
- Arriving early to all commitments to manage anxiety around lateness
- Leaning into cleaning and organizing compulsions to create a sense of order and control
While ADHD presents ongoing challenges, I view it as a unique operating system requiring special accommodations. By implementing tools and strategies that work with my brain instead of against it, I'm better able to minimize challenges and leverage the positive aspects of my different wiring.
> [!important] Remember!
> ADHD isn't just about deficits - it's about different ways of thinking and processing information. By understanding and working with these differences rather than against them, we can develop effective strategies for success.