Being organized has never been more important. We must organize our time, our space, and our stuff, or we will become overwhelmed with too much stuff, too little time, and too little space!
Do you have trouble focusing on one task at a time? Do you feel as though your entire life is disorganized and you can't get anything done? Is your child all over the place with distractions and getting in trouble in school? If so, you or your child may have ADD or ADHD. At least that's what a doctor may suggest.
Do you have trouble focusing on one task at a time? Do you feel as though your entire life is disorganized and you can't get anything done? Is your child all over the place with distractions and getting in trouble in school? If so, you or your child may have ADD or ADHD. At least that's what a doctor may suggest.
Please don't take this personally, but for a long time I've considered ADD to be a fake disorder that only benefits doctors and prescription drug companies - BIG PHARMA...
You've probably seen stories on social media with images of Dr. Leon Eisenberg, the alleged "inventor" of ADD and/or ADHD, confessing on his deathbed that "ADHD is a prime example of a fictitious disease." If you read about the story on Snopes, it's claimed to be "partly true", stating "Dr. Eisenberg wasn't asserting that ADHD isn't a real disorder, but rather that he thought the influence of genetic predispositions for ADHD (rather than social/environmental risk factors) were vastly overestimated." He sees the problem as more of a psycho-social one and that psychologists should ask questions such as, "are there fights with parents?", or "are there problems in the family?". Determining the route cause and correction of a behavioral issue can be time consuming, so doctors instead prescribe a pill for a quicker solution.
So, is it a fake disorder or is it not? I think the jury is still out on that one. Either way, one thing is for sure, the symptoms of the condition are real:
As a Professional Organizer, I get calls from so many overwhelmed individuals that struggle with these symptoms and just feel total CHAOS around them.
CHAOS: Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome (FlyLady.net)
Because of this, I am making an effort to learn more about the "disease", how it relates to organizing (or lack thereof), and how to overcome the symptoms and organize your life.
As I read the book, ADD-Friendly Ways To Organize Your Life, by Judith Kolberg & Kathleen Nadeau, PH.D., I will be blogging on the subject. My hope at the end of this series is that both myself and my readers, who may have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, will understand the "disease", learn how to overcome the symptoms, and get organized!
Have you or someone you know and love been diagnosed with ADD? What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear them!
Read Post 2: The Age of ADD
Nicole
Professional Home & Office Organizer
So, is it a fake disorder or is it not? I think the jury is still out on that one. Either way, one thing is for sure, the symptoms of the condition are real:
- an inability to develop, maintain, and organize daily life
- impaired functioning in everyday life
- significant problems with planning, organization, and follow-through
As a Professional Organizer, I get calls from so many overwhelmed individuals that struggle with these symptoms and just feel total CHAOS around them.
CHAOS: Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome (FlyLady.net)
Because of this, I am making an effort to learn more about the "disease", how it relates to organizing (or lack thereof), and how to overcome the symptoms and organize your life.
As I read the book, ADD-Friendly Ways To Organize Your Life, by Judith Kolberg & Kathleen Nadeau, PH.D., I will be blogging on the subject. My hope at the end of this series is that both myself and my readers, who may have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, will understand the "disease", learn how to overcome the symptoms, and get organized!
Have you or someone you know and love been diagnosed with ADD? What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear them!
Read Post 2: The Age of ADD
Nicole
Professional Home & Office Organizer
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