Where’s the off switch?

Where’s the off switch? Well, simply the answer, there is none. There are moments I wish there were. Many moments, in fact. Oh how I wish there were. And I keep looking for it, and I still can’t find it, even after more than twenty years. How is it that someone’s brain can be this active, ALL the time? For all that is holy, close the mouth, be quiet, please stop talking, can you please be quiet? For ONE minute. Just ONE minute. Well, maybe for thirty seconds. Maybe….. Ummmm, nope.

This is typical of someone who has ADHD. They just have to get it all out. Much to the annoyance and impatience of the neurotypical person. And much to the annoyance of every single person in the family. I know it can’t be helped. We all know it can’t be helped. But even with that knowledge, it’s still so very difficult to live it and accept it.

Some days are easier to listen. Others, not so much. What makes one day different than another? Energy, patience, strength, willingness, etc. It’s like having a perpetual toddler, who now knows how to talk and wants to know everything there is to know about everything. And then wants to share everything that they know about everything. And if there’s something exciting going on? Good luck. The mouth becomes somewhat of a racing car. And the racing car has bicycle brakes. There’s no chance of stopping it once it’s started.

Do I have any advice for anyone else out there who has been blessed with a motor mouth? Whether yours or someone else’s? Not really. Medication only helps to a certain degree. Too much medication and you’ll get a zombie, and that’s just not acceptable, it’s just cruel, because you’re medicating your child for you and not the kid with ADHD. Working hard at maintaining your own cool head is the best thing you can do, and also know how you’re feeling before spending time with your beloved child, so that you can try to manage your own responses to the chatterbox. You can tell them before you get in the car, that you’re already feeling frazzled, or tired might help. (I repeat, “might”.) Asking them if they can be quiet for a bit after they finish telling you their story can possibly help. Taking quiet deep breaths can help. One thing that has helped me, is after I get home, I just find a quiet place for myself and give myself a bit of downtime. Whether it’s reading, or writing, or just closing my eyes and breathing.

It’s not easy. And I’m going to stop right here.  After all, I don’t want to “talk” too much.  The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree…….