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I'm so glad you mentioned the hyperactive brain! Inattentive is just so not what I am!
I just wish I could figure out how to listen to my husband when he re-tells the same long detailed story for the millionth time. He usually has a new point at the end, but when I know how the story goes from trying to learn and remember all the details previously, I start to think about other things before he gets to his new message!
Fidgety & bored because...
Waiting in line? Solution: Play a game on my phone (poker!).
Talking to someone dull? Solution: Act interested and fake a stomach ache for an escape. Not ideal but hey, it works. Lots of people think I have IBS :)
In traffic? Solution: Make sure you drive an automatic car so you can multitask with your hands. Again, phone games. Not safe? Make sure the game allows you to look away whenever you need to. So, no timed games, like tetris.
Long car rides? Solution: make sure you're driving.
Waiting for people to get to the point? Solution 1: Don't assume you always know what they're going to say. If you do always know, then the person is overly predictable and probably really boring. Solution 2: Make sure your friends are interesting. Don't be afraid to start over and meet new people if you're not on the same wavelength as the people around you.
Sitting through a boring movie? Yikes. Select movies more carefully. But if you're stuck in the situation, medicate. Can't medicate? Do to the bathroom. Again, IBS :)
ADHD here, and of last week, my son too (just diagnosed, age 7). My poor poor wife.
I must drive - otherwise I bother the driver way too much. When I drive I see EVERYTHING that is happening on the road - and must have silence while driving or I, myself, switch my attention to something else. I consider myself a very safe driver - as long as my passengers are silent.
Listening to stories .. my wife really hates this. Just last night I was playing a game and I said "Okay - I'm free if you want to talk" .. she comes into the room .. starts talking .. and talking and talking and talking. I blurt out "Is there a point?". She silently turns around and leaves and I go back to playing. I'm so thankful that she gets me - and knows its not anything personal against her.
Even now - I'm supposed to be working on a compute program at work here - and I'm surfing the net looking up ADHD. I find it VERY hard to concentrate at work on long projects. It seems as soon as I do get engaged into something "zoned in" .. someone will interrupt me or the phone will ring .. then the mind starts zig zagging all over the place to other things.
I have problems sleeping too - I saw the Blue-Light Sleep thingy Definiately going to have to get that and try it.
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Since discovering i have ADD and then re-starting school, i've found that having a knitting or crochet project on hand is a brain-saver. Crochet is especially good for small projects, but some like to always have a sock project to carry around . . . i work whilst walking, waiting, reading (yes, it's possible), waiting for computers to run diagnostics -- and in lecture classes. i've found that if i don't, i don't pay attention to the teacher as well, and if i must take notes i can put my yarn down. (Haven't figured out how to do this during a math class, however!)
In social situations i'm usually uncomfortable; i've found that working on a project then also helps. In these instances i may also be working on a stitching project or handspinning. My circle of friends understand that i am paying *better* attention with my hands busy, and have much less anxiety.
i would really encourage folks to learn to knit or crochet (if not spin and stitch). Even if all you ever do is scarves and potholders, the mental relief is worth it!
YES!!!! I listen better, think better, read and remember better when I can knit. I wish I could get over the feeling of "looking rude" when I do it, but if others only knew how much more interested and interesting I am when I'm knitting...they would be happy to seem my needles. Ha, Ha! Also, since I hate driving and am but I'm a terrible passenger. Knitting in the car is a god-send...otherwise I'm fighting my impulse to react to my husband's driving at every curve or hill or icy road!
Knitting/crocheting whilst a passenger is nearly a must for me; i get car-sick if i'm not the driver. (i tried stitching, but i have to keep my eyes down for that - *bad* idea!)
maybe it's just the way i am; i just ignore if people think i'm being rude. If they say something, i just tell them that i'll stop if they want, but i won't be able to pay as much attention. And since i'm looking at you anyway when i'm knitting, what makes yo uthink i'm not paying attention?? 8)