Grace Meets ADHD

ADHD and Coffee

elegant economy — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:15:37 +0000

I don’t think it’s a secret that I love coffee, and drink a couple cups a day. I vaugely remember reading about the value of coffee or caffine for folks with ADHD before. But I did a bit more research on the topic today. (Not having one of my most focused days today… frustrating). Here’s a couple links I found.

http://attention-deficit-disorder.blogspot.com/2006/03/coffee-and-adhd.html

http://www.myomancy.com/2006/07/caffeine_and_ad

Filed under: ADHD in General, Adult ADHD Tagged: medication, Nutrition

Grace for Today

elegant economy — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:28:50 +0000

I know these posts are often pep talks for how we really can rise above our limitations, and do better. But today, there are no pep talks, or if there is one, it’s towards me today. I feel like all I’ve been doing is getting up, failing miserably at staying focused on my responsibilities, and going to bed, only to do it again. What a fun life, huh? But you know, there are seasons of that. There’s no garuntee out there that we’ll only ever be required to do what we’re good at. Sometimes we just need to keep getting up, doing what God’s called us to, and do it again tomorrow, knowing that he’s only given us grace for today. The minute I get worried that I won’t have enough grace to do any more of what I’m doing day in and day out I’ll be completely paralyzed by fear of failing, or fear of misery. But God has promised us grace for tomorrow, when we get up, TOMORROW, not a minute earlier.

Posted in 20306989

You Don’t Have to be Behind

elegant economy — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:52:59 +0000

I take a very, very short break from planning my day to share with you a startling reallization I had this morning. I’ve been moping around for the last few days about how behind I am at work, what a terrible employee I am, and how distracted I get. However, in spite of all the self debasement, I still was perceiving myself as the vicitm! That changed this morning when I was at a team meeting and reallized that there was more on my plate than I could hope to acheive at my typical distracted pace. For a moment, I started to go down the “i’m behind, feel sorry for me” path, but God intervened. I don’t know where it came from, or why it was so revelatory when it really is so obvious. But I suddenly reallized I didn’t have to be behind in my work.

In Colossians 3:23, God commands us to work hard for him, not for the praise of anyone else. That which he has commanded, does he not give grace for? I suddenly reallized how my perspective on my to do is is “what is the bare minimum I need to have done so I don’t look bad?” It is never, “how can I work hard, and bring honor to the Lord.” I am ashamed. Upon further reflection, I reallized that this is the result of depending on my own strength. In my feeble ADHD strength, I only have the capacity to do the bare minimum, and no more. But with Christ as both my strength and my motivation, I can, in faith, create a very long, and complicated to-do list to get caught up and even ahead. I must confess that, at the prospect of getting ahead, I want to bring glory to myself in my boss’ eyes. That’s why, after I finish my planning, I intend to spend some time in prayer, giving my plans to him, asking to give me strength and motivation to complete them for his honor and glory, and my good. Because let’s face it, it feels wonderful to be on top of the tasks alotted to us.

Posted in ADHD in General, Adult ADHD Tagged: distractions, grace, productivity, task lists

My own Psalm – A cry for mercy

elegant economy — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:28:20 +0000

Pity me, O Lord.

Have mercy on my!

In your kindess look upon me.

See the weariness of my soul, my body, my mind.

My head is pounding.

I long to be comfortably encircled

by the unconditional, accepting love

of Lord and dearest husband.

Yet here I am for all prying eyes to see.

My every fault is easily percieved.

Every way in which I do not meet

the standard set for me

Is plainly set for them to see.

I long to rail at injustice

and claim their inhumanity.

But I am not entitled to such indignation,

for every accusation, spoken or implied,

is only full of truth, harsh as it may be.

So I do not ask for justice,

for it would only condemn.

I only ask for mercy.

For if my God of holiness,

shows mercy to such as I,

then no lesser power over me

can show me any less.

~Me

Posted in Other Random Posts Tagged: thoughts

Some thoughts and meditations

elegant economy — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:52:40 +0000

The christian walk is one of constant surrender. Surrender of good things, but things we can want more than the Lord, and an acceptance of the fact that he, in and of himself, is enough, and that things he chooses to give, are for our good and his glory. Sometimes, many times, he gives us something very, very different from what we would have wanted, and we are so thankful that he knows our need better than we do. But there are times when the object desired is what God himself desires for us, yet we still must put it on the alter being in a place where we are will to give up our desire because we trust our Lord to only give us the best and choicest gift, and we must acknowledge our humble position and not suppose we know the gifts of most value until we receive them from his hand.

Posted in Other Random Posts Tagged: random, spiritual disciplines, thoughts

the less obvious means of accomplishment

elegant economy — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:31:06 +0000

So after writing the post yesterday and having my quiet time this morning, it dawned on me that I hadn’t been terribly helpful in making suggestions on how to be more consistent in our quiet times. I made the assumption that the only thing holding one back from having a quiet time was the desire to do so. And to an extent that is true. If we truely want to do something we will do whatever it takes to do it. But us folks with this extra struggle of extreme distractions can get discouraged by the many exortations we recieve from all sides. We love the Lord, we want to spend time with him, we remember sweet times of intimacy with him, but we’re always distracted. Somehow everytime I mean to have a quiet time, I end up cleaning the kitchen, making lunches, or organizing a closet. Can you relate?

Management of ADHD requires a two pronged approach. The first is just good old fashioned discipline. There are things we just have to do, no matter what our personality or struggles are. We need to get to work on time, we need to have quiet times, and we need to remember to take the trash out to the road once a week. These are non-negotiables and we just need to learn to do them. On the other hand we can put things in place that eliminate distractions and make tasks more palitable to our over busy and creative minds.

When it comes to morning quiet times here is the two pronged approach I have been taking in the last two days… I’ll update later on the long-term results.

Just get up, this is where the discipline is important. But also God’s grace. I’ve noticed in the last few days that God has enabled me in one way or another to catch up on sleep quite a bit. So the last two mornings, when I woke up and noticed I had time for a nice long quiet time, I had the rest and energy to take advantage of the opportunity.
One, Make sure the room I want to have my quiet time in is clean THE NIGHT BEFORE. If I go and sit in the living room and I see 2 loads of laundry to fold, I’m going to want to fold laundry, which usually leads to some other chore, and before you know it I’ve got the whole house done and my mind is filled with my own good performance and not the Lord’s grace.
Two, be interactive in how I read the scriptures. My mind wanders with the best of them when reading even a few verses. I’ve found using colored pens and highlighters to identify repetition, key verses, and important structures in the passage. It employs my hands, while making my mind actively process what I am reading.
Three, keep a journal with my important prayers. Write down my prayers. Your mind can only wander so much when you do this. This is especially important when praying about your own walk with the Lord, asking for a change of heart or pouring out the grief of the circumstances God has sovereignly placed you in. If I were to pick one spiritual discipline that has transformed my relationship with the Lord it would be this. Writing down my prayers. Re-reading them is huge faith builder. I always make sure to pick a journal and pen I like writing with, otherwise I’m not nearly as motivated.

Posted in ADHD in General Tagged: consistency, distractions, grace, spiritual disciplines, techniques

an obvious technique

elegant economy — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:39:54 +0000

Have quiet times or devotions.

How many times have we found comfort in these exclusive times with the Lord at times when we’re hurt, sad, confused, or in need? I’ve personally seen how these circumstances in my life are wonderful means of driving me to the side of my loving shepherd. Yet how often do I look at my day and attempt to pull myself up my my shoestrings and just try with all my might to focus on my work with diligence, ending the day with condemnation for my failure? As is my montra on this site, ADHD is an opportunity to experience grace in weakness. My morning quiet times are a wonderful time to see this opportunity and pour out my heart full of concerns for the upcoming day to the Lord. I’ve been quite terrible at doing this in the last weeks and months, but I was able to get up this morning. I was just reminded how much this needs to be routine for me. I need to be driven to the side of my shepherd every morning to ask his help and comfort through every day.

It’s so obvious, yet so true. So much of lifes complications would seem much simpler if we just went to the Lord more.

Posted in ADHD in General Tagged: grace, spiritual disciplines, techniques

the craziest distractions

elegant economy — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:28:55 +0000

I think I hit a new low in the distractions I’ve allowed myself. Yesterday, I totally planned out my highlevel objectives for homeschooling elementary school. For those of you reading this blog who don’t know me…. I have no children… though I hope that won’t always be the case. Talk about worrying about somethat that really just doesn’t matter right now. It made my husband laugh.

Any other crazy distraction stories? And yes, this is an invite for comments. I’d really rather this be more a community thing… rather than just me talking about my ADHD. It comes in different flavors for different people and Iwould love it if this site got the traffic to represent that.

Posted in ADHD in General Tagged: community, distractions

A Lament

elegant economy — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:41:15 +0000

For some reason today, I’m seized with a fit of desire to be somewhat predictable in my pursuits…. so I’m making a list of things I wish I did everyday…

Have a quiet time
Pray for my husband, family, church, friends
Memorize scripture
Read for pleasure
Practice French
Knit or work on some other domestic craft
Clean my kitchen
Do some laundry
Plan my day and refresh my to-do list

oh it’s endless….

unlike other posts, I really can’t even begin to give any answer. There some things on that list… that really, really do need to happen, every single day. Others really don’t have to happen. So I guess I’ll just do what I can today, wake up tomorrow and try to do the things that must happen tomorrow, and pray for God’s grace to prioritize correctly every day. Maybe…. just maybe? I might start doing those things that please and honor the Lord each and every day, and over time… I might be doing some of the things on this list regularly.

Posted in ADHD in General Tagged: consistency, grace, time management

Helpful Hints

elegant economy — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:44:07 +0000

I had to laugh yesterday. I was on the phone with my boss discussing a few updates on stuff going on in the team. I was rambling away about what I was working… more thinking out loud than doing any kind of status update, when my boss asked me if I was an extrovert. I kinda gave him a sarcastic remark… like “ummm, yes, I’m an extrovert”. He then took the opportunity to inform me that being an extrovert usually means that I like to process or think verbally instead of internally and then gently corrected the way I communicate professionally. He told me that my rambling is not particularly productive, as I bring people along with my train of thought when it is not always particularly coherant, therby creating a very confusing situation. I appreciated the correction, but what made me laugh was what he said next. He also noticed that this rambling had a sort of ebb and flow to it, and that he had seen a dramatic increase over the last week. Well wouldn’t you know? I haven’t gotten to Walgreens to get my Strattera prescription filled all week. It cracks me up because when I’m accidentally off my medication, I focus very hard on the things that get impacted the most dramatically, like driving or being focused during work. However, even when these things are still in place it seems that symptoms of this little extra piece of my personality are quite obvious to those around me. So I guess just a practical example of my last “do what you need to do” post.

I really need to do a post on how I think about medication with all this, because I want to be clear here: Medication is not some magic way of avoiding sin or even just human imperfection. I’m still responsible for everything I say and do while not on medication. However, since I know the medication makes it easier for me to communicate in a way that serves others or obey the speed limit, it’s something I want to make sure to stay on top of. I’m actually hoping to get this set up in with my perspcription plan to get it though the mail so I never have to remember to get it renewed.

More rambling…. my posts should be slightly more coherent next week. My husband is picking up my perscription today.

Posted in ADHD in General Tagged: feedback, medication, professionalism