Adults with ADD: Do Your Batteries Need Recharging?

Before diving into this week's topic, I want to take a few minutes to offer big thanks to all the blog and newsletter readers who offered their support and shared their own stories after my last newsletter. (If you missed that newsletter, you can read it here: A Personal Note from Jen)

I'm always amazed and very grateful when I open up in a very personal way (more so than usual) and I get an outpouring of positive responses in return. Every now and then I write a newsletter in which my personality really shines through (curse words and all), and I worry just a little about pissing people off. Yet, those are the newsletters that get the most positive responses. I think it's a sign that I need to be a little more conversational in my communications, and a little less polished!

Getting back to the topic, one of the reasons I wrote that personal note was to tell you about the inspiration behind The Holistic Health Virtual Conference, which took place last week. The event was a great success, and I'm really excited to be exploring a whole new element in the overlap between ADD and holistic health and wellness. I'll be writing a lot more about this topic (and my own journey) on my blog at http://ExperiencingADDvantages.com.

At the Holistic Health Virtual Conference, I presented a talk on "Stress Management for Better Health," and I'd like to share some of that information with you today, specifically as it applies to ADD management.

Have you ever been walking or exercising with an iPod (or walkman, or radio) and the batteries run out on you? What do you do? Well, if you’re like me, the first thing you do is play with the device in the hopes of getting it to magically work again!

"Hmmm…" you think. "What if I jiggle this thing around a little? Or shut it off and then turn it back on?" It usually works, but only for a few minutes. When the batteries are out of juice, there's really nothing you can do about it. The battery needs to recharge, and that takes time.  

Did you know that this can happen to you, too? You can run out of juice and just stop working!

Adults with ADD have a low tolerance for frustration. We also have a difficult time regulating our energy levels. So if you have a rough day at work, come home to find a sink full of dishes when you left it clean, and discover that your brand new shirt somehow managed to get badly stained, you’re likely to find yourself feeling drained.

Just like an iPod that hasn't been charged in a while, you stop working. You reach a point where you know that you just can’t handle anything else. You feel like your batteries have run out of juice.

And just like an iPod that's run out of juice, you might be tempted to play with the batteries to jolt them back to life. You might have another cup of coffee or grab a sugary snack. And this might work, for a little while. But just like an iPod, when your battery is dry, you need to recharge.

This is the perfect time to slow down and step back from stress. In fact, it's essential. Take a recharging break. That might mean taking a walk, stretching, going for a drive, picking up a book, or whatever it is you do when you need to unwind.

Of course, there will always be things on your to-do list. The important question is, would you rather tackle your to-do's fully charged, or running on empty? And which way do you think is more effective?

Remember this. And remember that a little recharging time can go a long way in lowering your stress levels and managing your ADD.

How do you recharge when you run out of juice? Please share your thoughts in the comments field.

Comments

[Jacques]

I can remember as old as 1986 with early daily fatigue.

In 2004 i've been told that I had ADHD.

I'm stucked since 2005.

Now It looks like cyclothymic disorder. Trying medications made my batteries very low so far even with good sleep.

To be continued ...

[Kelly Cichocki]

I teach middle school, and I come home from work devoid of ANY energy! I crawl into bed and watch a movie on my laptop (preferably a funny one), or I read, read, read!!!! When I have that time to decompress, I am ready to tackle other things that need to be done.
On the flip side, my middle schoolers actually keep me very young!

[shelly]

I would love to comment but I am so tired tonight I hope I have the energy tomorrow to tell you my story

[S.]

Great analogy! I used to go go go and never took the time to watch a tv show once a week. I felt like I still got nothing done. Now, I balance my mind, body and soul by spending 40-50 hours a week on work and the rest is sleep, eating properly, working out, spending time with friends/family, playing with my cats and listening to music. As a result, I feel rujuvinated.

[Holly]

It sounds so trite and stereotypical, but yoga has helped me immensely and I'm sure in ways I'm not fully aware just yet. I'm a 45 yo stay-at-home mom of 3 (ages 14, 12 and 10) and "exercising on purpose" was something I absolutely hated and had to bribe myself to do. However, now I go to 4 classes a week and practice on my own at home on days I don't go to class. Something about the precise nature of the poses and focusing on my body and breath and allowing my ego to take a back seat gives my brain permission to stop spinning. I feel better, look better, sleep better and am more aware when I need recharging.

[Scott Wieczorek]

Recharging is a religion to me. I find it absolutely necessary to stick with my workout program weekly. Yes, there are days where I feel like putting it off until tomorrow. But to keep the peace at home, I force myself. I feel tons better afterward.

[Chris]

To recharge, I will most likely go and lay down for 20 mins. I do also walking meditation with my dog.(deep breathing)
Sometimes though I don't recharge until I hit the pillow and I pay for it with exhaustion and neck pain. I need to recharge my batteries more often as I have a TBI as well as ADHD

[Leanne Kinsella]

To get recharged I will go get some bodywork done. I have a friend who does Cranio Sacral Therapy treatment and reflexology on me. It really helps me relax and reboot my brain.

[Tammy H.]

I have really had to slow down, on purpose. I can now take my 'list' and cut it in half. I used to feel like I had a squirrel on a bike (inside of me) that just rode and rode, non-stop. When the bike stopped, the squirrel crashed. I only had two speeds, High and crash! I am not where I want to be, but I'm better than I used to be.I know I need regular exercise, just to deal with my mental energy. Praying and meditation has enabled me to slooow down. Babysteps...

[Chris Bruni]

I have always been hyperactive, running all day, exhausting myself in order to sleep. I have found that changing my diet has helped, cutting down on medications whenever possible, and exercise such as walking 12,000 steps a day, if possible and yoga and meditation or walking a Labyrinth is especially great for recharging my batteries.
It also helps when I am under stress; it calms my spirit.
Chris Brunihttp://www.experiencingaddvantages.com/2010/02/do-your-batteries-need-recharging.html#comments