What Clutter Does to Your Brain ADD/ADHD

Love It, Use It, or Lose It

 

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By Susan Lasky, M.A.,  BCC, SCAC
Clutter-shame is a complaint of many adults with ADHD.
1. We have many interests and find it hard to set boundaries (on what we buy, what we keep, and where we put things).
2. It is easy for us to see possibility and potential, so we tend to hold on to things “just in case.”
 

3.We struggle with systems and getting things done, so it’s easy to wind up with stacks of mail or piles of laundry.




https://www.psycom.net/adhd-and-relationships/

Work on Communication Skills

Communication often breaks down when one partner has ADHD. More often than not, the behaviors on the surface (i.e. she’s always late for dinner) mask a deeper issue (he feels underappreciated because she never shows up on time.)
Couples also tend to fall into a “parent-child” dynamic, where the non-ADHD partner feels responsible for everything and the ADHD partner feels like a child. This chronic pattern of micromanaging and underachievement can result in feelings of shame and insecurity for the ADHD partner. It also increases the risk of depression.
When couples work to improve communication skills, they can restore balance to the relationship. Try these strategies to communicate effectively with your partner:

• Use “I feel” statements to focus on feelings and avoid blame
• Communicate face-to-face as often as possible – nonverbal cues are important
• Repeat and rephrase – to avoid allowing your mind to wander, repeat what your partner says and rephrase for clarification
• Ask questions
• Text yourself important takeaways from the conversation (especially if your partner asks you to assist with certain tasks)
• Talk about how your symptoms impair your ability to remember things or follow through on tasks. Sharing your struggles helps your partner understand how ADHD impacts your behavior
• Hold eye contact when listening
• For long conversations, consider a fidget toy like a squeeze ball to keep your mind engaged

• Focus on teamwork. To create balance in a relationship, two partners have to work together. Having ADHD doesn’t mean that you can’t find balance; it means that you have to rely on open and honest communication and feedback to find ways to help one another.
  
  
  
  
  

  What Clutter Does to Your Brain ADD/ADHD

   

  
  https://addcrusher.com/what-clutter-does-to-your-brain/
  
  Do you have a fortress of solitude where there is no visual noise to interfere with your budding big-ass ideas and potent problem-solving? I do.
  
  I always say, Peace of Mind requires Peace of Place, and in this second blog post on clutter, I’ve gathered up some of the science that shows just how visual and physical clutter can make our adult ADD/ADHD seem worse.
  But to get us started…In which of these two bedrooms do you think you’d fall asleep faster and get a better night’s sleep?
  
  
  
  

  Visual Clutter’s Impact On Your Brain

  …which is of particular importance in your office or other workspace.
  Research shows that any excess items in your surroundings can have a negative impact on your ability to focus and process information: Neuroscientists at Princeton showed that physical clutter in your surroundings competes for your attention, resulting in decreased performance and increased stress.
  
  Why is this? What are the mechanics of this? Writing in Psychology Today, Dr. Sherrie Bourg Carter does a nice job of explaining. She says that,
  
  
  
  

  • Clutter pelts our minds with excessive stimuli (not just visual, but olfactory, tactile), causing our senses to work overtime on unnecessary or irrelevant stimuli.
  • Clutter distracts us by pulling our attention away from where it should be.
  • Clutter constantly reminds us that our work is never done.
  • Clutter inhibits creativity and productivity by invading the open spaces that allow us to think, brainstorm, and problem solve.
  • Lastly, clutter makes it harder to relax, both physically and mentally.

  Now many of you may look around your office and say, “Hey, I like my stuff, I can find my stuff, and I’m pretty productive, so don’t mess with me or my STUFF!”
  Well, I hope the evidence-based info above will have you thinking a bit more about getting rid of a bit more! Cuz as I say in the first post in this clutter series, You don’t have to be a hoarder to benefit from some de-cluttering!
  And by the way, just as a cluttered desk can slow us down….so can a cluttered computer desktop!

  ---addcrusher