It's about time! ... and ADHD
Time. We measure it, spend it , lose it, waste it, make it, we sometimes have it and sometimes run out. Time, our concept of it and ability to manage it, is a key component of our executive functions, those carefully orchestrated processes that help us get where we want to go.
If you have ADD or ADHD, your awareness of time and ability to manage it is impaired. From a developmental standpoint, we begin to develop our sense of time at a very young age, when we start to understand that our actions aren’t getting us what we want (Wait a minute… I cried but mom didn’t give me that cookie!) According to Russell Barkley’s theory of how executive functions develop, this is the point where we start to develop hindsight and use that knowledge to plan for the future (ok, last time I got a cookie, I smiled and pointed at it). So, hindsight naturally leads to foresight.
In the case of the person with ADHD, that sense of time is not fully developed. If you have a son or daughter with this disorder, you might be scratching your head (or banging it against the wall) as you see them make the same mistakes over and over. You might think, "Why can’t he learn?!" It’s not really a case of your son or daughter not being smart enough to figure things out. People with ADHD are generally pretty intelligent people, just like the rest of us. They just don’t have the same ability to mark time and to remember events or information over time.
What to do? Dr. Barkley suggests using time to help. Sounds a bit counterintuitive, but stay with me. Let’s say that your son, or friend, coworker, etc has a habit of interrupting you when you’re working or on the phone. You’ve tried explaining why he shouldn’t do this, occasionally getting angry or giving a negative consequence, but he keeps. on. DOING IT. The next time you are on the phone or trying to get something done, try to catch him NOT interrupting you - even if you have to interrupt yourself to do it- and point it out in a positive way.
"Wow, Roger thank you so much for letting me get my work done without interrupting me. I really appreciate it!" Pat on the back, smile, extra cookie for snack-you get the point. People with ADHD live in the moment, and when you choose to take part in that moment the consequences are much more powerful.
Suzanne Leon is a Certified Professional Coach who works with people affected by ADHD/ADD. Visit her website to learn more about the services she provides.
Sources:
Barkley, R.A. (2012) Executive Functions What They Are, How They Work, and Why They Evolved New York: Guilford Press
Barkley, R.A. (2013) Taking Charge of ADHD The Complete, Authoritative Guide For Parents (3rd ed.) New York: Guilford Press