Help! ADHD and prayer

  • Thread starter Thread starter St.BJLabre
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

St.BJLabre

Guest
I have had ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) pretty much my whole life. I have found, especially recently that it is effecting my prayer life. I find the Rosary particularly difficult because it is next to impossible to keep my mind focused enough to meditate on the mysteries. I will say the first Hail Mary and by the time I am at the 8th, I have thought about pretty much everything except for that mystery! It isn’t just the Rosary though, I find it hard to concentrate at mass also. I feel like I am only praying with 1/2 of my heart! Does anyone else have this problem or have any recommendations??? 😦
 
Do you say it silently or out loud? I find that when I say something out loud I’m less likely to lose focus. If you’re in the car, maybe you can use a Rosary tape or CD to help keep the focus. —KCT
 
I have similiar problems I think, and it can be hard to do the Rosary faithfully.

I’d say firstly, think of it as a cross to bear. Suffer through it for God and Mary.

Secondly, maybe incorporate music or videos of people doing the rosary, something like that.
 
Hi! Is there someone with whom you can pray the Rosary? My middle son has ADHD and I find that if I pray it with him, he does much better (from what I can observe, anyway). Another person can help to keep you on track with the numbers, decades, which mystery it is, etc., and you can concentrate on thinking about the mysteries themselves. The CD/tape idea was a good suggestion that might have the same effect, but that in itself might be distracting. At the least, I wouldn’t worry so much about being able to concentrate 100% all the time; I know I don’t. Just bring yourself back when you can and remember that you’ll still get the graces from doing what you can and what you’re able to do. Jesus and our Blessed Mother understand. They don’t demand us to be perfect; just faithful! 👍
 
I don’t think that I have ADHD, but I still find it easier to say a rosary while actually looking at a picture of the mystery and saying the prayers aloud. It is hard to forget what mystery you are on if it is right in your face. Also, when I first began practicing this devotion I used a tape and the book.

Have you tried something less strenuous than a rosary like saying ejaculations like the name of Jesus or some short piece of scripture over and over to calm your mind? You might also try the chaplet of divine mercy which can be said on regular rosary beads but it is less complicated. It comes on EWTN daily and I got it on cd from their website.

If something jumps into your mind during your prayers like a person or a particular situation, then maybe that is God’s way of giving you something to pray for? I talked with some sisters from an order of intercessors and that is what they advised I do when those “random” thoughts pop up. It really helps me to focus on them for just a moment and say something like, “Lord I offer up Joe and his needs to you.” Then I just continue the prayers that I was doing.
 
Yep - I have the same thing.

I like to ask the Blessed Mother for help in focusing me. I visualize Her next to me during the rosary, holding my hand as if I were a young toddler trying to squirm away.

How about breaking up the rosary into it’s decades and spreading them through out the day?

Heaven knows this gift of ADHD that you have, and we are asked to do the best we can in our prayers.
 
Have you tried saying it with Mother Angelica and her nuns on EWTN? I especially like that one as Mother Angelica says the words slowly and meaningfully, AND there is a small picture on the bottom of the screen to look at.

Also, don’t beat yourself up over this. God knows your heart.
 
I think, if you want to pray the Rosary, that the “Rosary Walk” was made for you.

I find two things go on with kids who are ADHD and the Rosary:
  • If they can move while they pray, they can pay attention to what they’re doing. In short, ADHD folks MIGHT be a different type of multitaskers.
  • If kids get some exercise before saying the Rosary, they don’t move as much.
All that said, I guess you’ll just have to try different situations and see what works best for you.
 
My favorite book on prayer: *Prayer Primer * by Fr. Thomas Dubay. He suggests not to be so attached to finishing rosaries, but to allow yourself to meditate on a mystery if “it” catches hold of your imagination. Also, if sustained prayer is difficult for you, I’d suggest adopting your own version of perpetual prayer. The *Practice of the Presence of God * by Brother Lawrence is a classic on this type of prayer. I’m sure that you can find it on audio tape. It involves bringing whatever you are doing into the presence of God. Or, conversely, inviting God into whatever you are doing.

God knows your personality and is pleased with your prayer esp. if it is difficult for you. Persevere!! Even one Hail Mary is pleasing to Heaven when it is heartfelt.
 
Thanks a lot. I found an audio on EWTN’s website called the “scriptural rosary” that helps a lot!
 
If, during prayer, you do nothing but bring your mind back from distraction, even if you must do so again and again, it is time well spent.

~~St. Thomas Aquinas
 
A couple of days ago I read this reply by Verbum and it has helped me focus on the mysteries better.

"It is not necessary to meditate on the mysteries all the time. Sometimes when I tend to be distracted, I just announce the mysteries and say each Hail Mary for a different person.

But there is an easy way to keep your mind on the mysteries. It is the suggestion of John Paul II to add a sentence after " and the fruit of your womb, Jesus". For example, in the first Joyous Mystery, you can say, “and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus, who, for us, became man.” This has the added advantage of keeping the Rosary Christ-centered."

Verbum
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top