:juggle: ADHD :juggle: sigh
- Grew up with a sibling that had both sides.
- I have a child with the attention deficit
- and although never formally diagnosed, Mom (and my wife) is certain I have a mild form too.
HYPER FOCUS (read here) can be your friend. Anyone with ADHD knows what I mean, you start a task and 6 hours later it only seems like 5 minutes and the tornado has removed half the town including the streets and sidewalk - but you didn’t even notice it happen
. The trick here is how to get prayer to be something to be something that provides some sort of feedback. This is why I try to use the Rosary beads and why I will use the book form of the Breviary instead of an App when praying LOTH. These give a physical feedback.
- I tell my students, any prayer, from the heart, is good prayer. A simple “THANK YOU” from the heart, said to God, is a good prayer. Sure we would like to have the “In the name of…”, we’re not Pharisees. Don’t get bogged down in the ritual extemporaneous prayer is a good thing.
- Start small. Yes, I know, every little thought intrudes. Small successes. Instead of trying to pray the Rosary in one session, take 5 minutes, pray the intro, then later pray the first mystery, etc… I would print out an image of the rosary and colour in each bead (physical, visual, auditory, kinetic) to keep track of where you’re at in the Rosary, and hang it up where you will see it throughout the day (kids version, but I like it
(Link to PDF) )
- PRACTICE makes perfect!
The more senses and kinetic you can involve the better.
- Try to find a place with minimal stimuli. I keep a Holy Hour, tends to be the best time to pray, read the LOTH, prepare for lecturing, etc…
For the Rosary, I find that in the morning when the Catholic Radio station has the Rosary on, it helps, also I’m in the car; however, thoughts about work still intrude. I don’t worry about it, when I realize what has happened, I pick-up where the program is and keep going. Mary is a Saint and a Mother, if anyone would understand I am sure she does. The beads also help to keep focus; more than one physical sense being used (touch and sound) and kinetic action. Best thing about the beads, if you lose focus, you know right where you were and can pick up where you left off.
Divine mercy chaplet, find your Rosary, please click on the link in my sig… turn the volume all the way up… set aside the next 20 minutes. Having the volume up helps me to literally drown out the distraction. It’s a single sensory overload. Doesn’t hurt that I really, really, like Mrs. Gibson’s version. (website
www.donnacorigibson.com or any good Catholic bookstore)
Liturgy of the Hours… Love the ribbons! HATE the ribbons!
I start out with the correct reading, remember something in one of the other readings, turn to that one, opps… I eventually get back on track. Been many a day I’ve ended up praying three different readings
I eventually get back on track. Here, I’m praying, and as I am only laity, I don’t have to worry at all about the timing.
General prayers, some will suggest a journal, it can help, either paper form or electronic. Set up a second google or icloud calendar that you enter “prayer events”
Personally, I don’t do this; however, daily planners are one method used to help ADHD stay on task.
With all of these, the longer I’ve done them, the easier it has become to stay on track. It is the habit, the routine, that helps - with ADHD, establishing the routine helps us to stay on task.
Most of all
BE PATIENT with yourself!
