Why Do Some Strategies and Tools Not Work for People with ADHD?

There are so many strategies out there and there can be times where it feels like none of them work... why is that? Jessica talks about it in today's video!

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[HowtoADHD]

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[ziggystardog]

It’s funny to me the paradox of requiring executive function to help with your executive function

[thescowlingschnauzer]

Gonna say the quiet part out loud: people with ADHD like complex organization systems because of the novelty. When the stimulation of the novelty wears off, the punctilious routine is draining.

[suem.]

"I was simultaneously bored AND panicked?!" The contradictions of ADHD!

[lydianici]

i hate when i finally find a technique that works for me and then literally all of a sudden, random day it doesnt work anymore and its frustrating😭😭😭

[aliciasizov]

Me: ok brain, let’s get organized

Autism: *spends hours hyperfocusing on developing an elaborate system of charts and graphics to manage everything down to the smallest detail, then collapses*

ADHD, a week later: *squints* …dude what even is any of this??

[kellymaple]

And even the stuff specifically for ADHD doesn't take into account comorbidites, like ASD, GAD, Depression, etc. Neurodivergence isn't just a spectrum, it's a kaleidoscopic smorgasbord. 😅

[charlespentrose]

One frustrating thing for me is that after I get used to a system and have everything figured out and set up to work well with my brain - I get bored of it. I find this equal parts irritating and amusing.

[Kai-Xi]

6:28 "I had to make the natural assumption something is wrong with me, like I'm broken somehow."
oof, this one is unfortunately a lot easier to learn than to unlearn

[DancingKittyCat]

I used to forget my keys often. I had gotten locked out of my apartment multiple times. We had a bowl by the door, but sometimes I just, would forget to grab the keys if it was a quick trip and wasn't locking the door. However, I need the key fob to get into the apartment building.
Now, I have a key hook on the door right above the handle. Point of performance baby! I'm usually good about putting my key on the hook, but if it isn't there, I see the empty hook and it's a visible reminder about my key and I'll start looking for them. Since we implemented this strategy (lovely NT husband thought of it) I have not once left the apartment without my keys.

[MrKeychange]

I don't think there's enough discussion about ADHDers need for control. One commonality I see across the board is our need for autonomy. We can be really stubborn when it comes to anything we've moved into our circle of control.

It comes to mind when you described how your mind allowed you to experience a type of therapy, only when you found a perspective that came from you.

I think that's really common. I can't think of anyone I know with ADHD, including myself, who hasn't had that exact experience in connection to something.

[kedrynevans]

"Batteries not included, ADHD friendliness not included" best, clearest idea of how to handle something that has some benefits but may need tweaking/adapting for us to find/use those benefits. This is one of your best videos, thank you so much for sharing!

[brixjourney]

I don’t think I ever seen this specific sub-topic, but I would love to see a video summarizing “transition tools.” Different things to help switching activities short of urgent panic.

Trying different things to see what works is great, but if you’ve never heard of something, you don’t now to try it.

[mishakoc]

The only organisational system that worked 100% of time for me was the basement storage room in Minecraft that had a very long hall of chests with a picture of the item category in a frame above it. Sometimes that was one box for "crafts made out of wood" and sometimes it was two boxes for carrots. If I needed to, I could just dig more and add more chests. I could always find everything. Never left anything out, always put it where it belonged. Too bad I can't do that in real life.

[sandirhodes]

I bought a sketch book, and made calendar pages the way I wanted them, and the rest of the book is my "external brain." Thoughts, ideas, and anything I know I will forget if I don't write it. It is a sketch book so that I can write any way I want, no lines. I write tasks, circle them, and color them in when done. The colorful pages are satisfying, and I like to turn it into neurographic art, which is also therapeutic.

[Blotchy]

For people who like Jessica (and like me) couldn't handle smart watches for sensory reasons, there are straps that look and feel like scrunchies and those were a GAME CHANGER. gotta clean or swap them regularly because they get gross but I always had a scrunchies on my wrist before and it doesn't tug or hurt the way those awful silicone bands do

[suzanneohandley]

Bullet journals overwhelm me, so I went back to the individual notebooks for each "thing": I teach, so one for each class. I do research, so one for each project. I do "service" so one for the service, but then with sections. I also have other notebooks for other personal "things". When everything was all together, including things of personal interest, it was just simply overwhelming.

Then I also have a paper calendar (daily planner that I use more as a "diary" or what I've done), a little paper calendar that goes in my purse and only has my medical appointments (I can add them in while at the doctors so I don't forget and with only them there can see them very quickly), and an electronic calendar...that may be too much for some people, but for me it is the right amount. Keeping things more separated even in calendars is better than everything jumbled together...too overwhelming.

My "to do lists" are in pretty blank "journals" so I want to use them. Color and visually appealing are very important for me. As is texture and feel of books, notebooks, etc.

[armae]

Phone alarms with alarm name labels + the alarm name read aloud have been a game changer, ie "take x medication it's 10am" aloud also reminds me of the time.

I've also made myself a rule that if it's something that takes less than a minute to do, I let the alarm ring until I've done it (like taking meds) coz if I dismiss it, I'll forget. It gives me a little game to rush to get it done! I also set multiple alarm tones so I don't get sick of them. I also set transition alarms in sync with my time blocks on my google calendar as I tend to dismiss Google calendar reminders sometimes if I'm in hyperfocus.

[dragonartz]

My mom was/is always big on “planners” and is still insisting “Yes! This will help!” When I know for a fact I’ll forget. It’s far harder to remember three things instead of one. Explanation: I have to remember to write in the planner, I have to remember I wrote in the planner, and I have to remember to look in the planner. It’s easier for me to just mentally comb through and review each of my classes.
She also tells me to use calendars and lists, and honestly I’m not confident in those solutions either.

I think one of the worst things that’s happened to me in school because of ADHD is when I forgot to 7 of my homework assignments, and I never got around to doing them until the day before the final and I’m like NO”
And one time in that class I actually remembered to do the homework assignment on time and I did and I came to school and was so proud of myself, only to find I’d done an entirely different assignment, meaning I didn’t actually do the assignment even though I did the work. I was so frustrated.

[carly]

When you said progressive muscle relaxation I had a visceral shudder—I HATE it for the same reasons you’ve said, as well as issues with the associated sensory overload. Nothing makes me more aware of how acutely uncomfortable a specific part of my body is. Makes me want to crawl out of my skin, but I can’t, cause I’m stuck doing a goddamn meditation 😂 Never heard of anyone else having that same experience with progressive muscle relaxation, and it’s surprisingly comforting to hear.