Adult ADHD and Relaxing

I have a three day weekend and I think it's time to talk about the interaction I've experienced between having Adult ADHD and being able to relax. Let me start off by defining the word "relax." This is the definition I found during my quick internet search:

• make or become less tense or anxious;
• rest or engage in an enjoyable activity so as to become less tired or anxious;
• cause (a limb or muscle) to become less rigid; and,
• straighten or partially uncurl (hair) using a chemical product.

I'm going to address the first one today and the next two next week. As someone with insanely curly hair (when long) I've tried the fourth and felt no less anxious after, [insert smiley face here] so it will not be discussed. The first two definitions of "relax" are really one in the same; though I suppose you could tease them out since the first requires something more internal and the second something more external. Here we go ...

Make or Become Less Anxious

Let me say before I get into anything real, if you had the use of Jedi mind tricks you would be able to relax easily and fully. I am unaware of anyone other than my brother who has these powers.

Ommmmmmmmmm. Ommmmmmm. If you guessed my technique for this would be meditation, you would be correct. You've learned well at my blogging, young podawon. My therapist and I were discussing, this past week's session, how difficult it is for those with ADHD to be comfortable and "good" at meditation. Bear in mind, she and I both agree that there is no true "good," only functional.

Functional meditation, or mindfulness, means that it gets done for you what you need it to. For me, I practice mini episodes of mindfulness. I can't be mindful while brushing my teeth, because Moo really likes being on the sink while I brush. I've chosen to be mindful in my shower. I feel the conditioner in my hair and the water on my face. I even went so far as to put a candle in my shower to give me a smell to focus on - yum, orange mojito flavor. My therapist reminds me, and I believe it's true, that this mindfulness can generalize to the rest of my life. If I can become more attuned to showering, I can become more attuned to when I'm anxious and learn to feel the futon when I sit - to be in the moment and be happy.

I hope you can't wait to hear the rest next week. Have a great start to February!