How to cope with having ADD

Dale Carnegie, the well-known self-improvement writer, once said, "Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success." If attention-deficit disorder (ADD) treatments have failed and the symptoms are discouraging you, work around your condition to make it through the day with your self-esteem intact. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), people with ADD or ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) have trouble with organization, forgetfulness and inattentiveness. Akron General Health System reports that many people with ADD adopt compensatory skills in order to cope.

Things You'll Need

• Small pocket notebook
• Wall calendar
• Organizer
• Wastepaper basket

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Instructions

Get Organized

• 1

  Know where to find your keys.

  Become more organized by making a place for your car keys and only put them there. Save yourself time by not running around frantically looking for them when you leave for work.

• 2

  Prepare your clothes, lunch and other necessities at night so that your morning goes more smoothly. Check to see if the kids have their clothes and homework squared away at night.

• 3

  Fix or finish things as the situations arise. Prioritize your tasks and tend to the most important ones first. Letting things pile up adds stress and guilt that you don't need.

• 4

  Calendars with boxes have writing room.

  Keep a calendar at home and an organizer with you for important dates and appointments. Glance at it every day so you have advance notice at all times.

• 5

  Make it a habit to close doors and drawers, turn off lights and pick up whatever you drop. Have an extra wastepaper basket in your bedroom, office, bathroom or anywhere that you tend to hoard papers.

Train Your Memory

• 6

  Carry a small notepad and make notes of the things that need remembering: call Mom, pick up milk, replace the burned out light bulb. Do this at work as well.

• 7

  Use mnemonic devices, or memory tricks, to remember names, information, titles or even events. To remember Charlie, Alice and Tim, take the first letter of each name and form a simple word -- "CAT." The letters cue your memory. Saying things out loud helps memory recall.

• 8

  Attack a task when it first comes up or note the task on your small notepad so you remember to do it.

Pay Attention

• 9

  Focusing while on the phone takes even more effort.

  Discipline yourself to focus on a person during a conversation. Stop yourself when the urge to interrupt occurs. Make eye contact and tell your ears to listen.

• 10

  Don't attempt to read with the TV on or with background music other than instrumental music.

• 11

  Take notes at seminars or when you watch an informational TV show. Keep your best ally, the notepad, with you always.

• 12

  Ask your family and co-workers for patience while you institute strategies that will make you more effective and efficient.