Michelle's friends called her lunatique. "Mom, isn't my lunch ready yet? I have to go back to school!" "Michelle, did you get my suits from the dry cleaners? You are at home all day and I still have to do everything!"

Michelle had no idea where the day went. She'd start the housework, but nothing ever seemed to be finished. Life passed her by, unrecorded in memory, while her mind floated on the wings of dreams. Unbeknownst to Michelle and her husband, she had an Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) without hyperactivity. ADD-inattentive type (without hyperactivity) affects women more than men, and it appears very different to the hyperactive type. It is characterized by low energy, slowness, dreaminess, and difficulty focusing and following through on tasks.

Michelle had difficulty connecting and functioning effectively in the world around her because her brain functions differently from "normal" brains. She had a problem organizing stuff like daily tasks and papers, managing time and getting to the end of whatever she started.

ADHD is a neurological difference in the brain. The ADHD brain can be very effective when following a passion but shuts down when doing the daily grind. Medication is helpful for some but often not sufficient. Coaching provides positive support and guidance for anyone with ADHD but especially for those who don't want to take medication.

For Michelle, housework seemed like a mountain of quick sand. Like many people with ADHD who are faced with a multitude of tasks, she didn't know where to start or how to continue. She would start here, go there, but at the end of the day nothing was finished, and Michelle was exhausted.

With coaching, she created a list of needed supplies and stored them where they would be used. She also made and prioritized a list of tasks for each room and posted it in a discreet corner. With the help of the lists she was able to do the housework efficiently. She could go to the starting point without having to make a plan or decide what to do first. Once she was able to cope with the housework, she discovered more energy and was able to move on to other aspects of her life.

In her daydreams, Michelle was creating a world of her own; she vaguely thought she would like to write, but she had no idea how to start. With coaching Michelle tried to write down her stories, but she had difficulty capturing her thoughts with a pencil. She tried using a tape recorder and found that she could "dream" out loud.

She revised her weekly schedule to make time to take a creative writing course. The support and encouragement she got from other creative writers gave her energy to soar. Her first short story was soon published and many more followed.

To most people the tasks which caused Michelle so much grief seem trivial and obvious, but they are typical of what makes life so difficult for people with ADHD.

So Mom, if life is a nightmare instead of a dream because you can't keep up with the piles of stuff and the busy schedules, start here.

1. Acknowledge the problem. This can be difficult for people with ADHD.

2. Get help.

3. Prepare to change your thoughts and your habits.

Don't let the ADHD monkey distract you. Act Today!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Jane Keyser worked for many years with computers as programmer, analyst, and user trainer, but her struggle with inattentive ADD kept getting in the way of her plans and dreams. Once ADD was identified and the great need that coaching filled, she added ADD Coach training (ADDCoach Academy) to complete her preparation for a new career as ADD Coach.

Learn more about ADHD at http://www.CoachingKeytoADD.com or sign up for Zebra Stripes, a free E-zine for ADHD at http://www.coachingkeytoadd.com/newsletter/newsarchive.html