GaijinRanger wrote:
I have a rigid routine for doing the dishes too. It's tougher when I can't stick to that routine.
I don't wash the dishes all that often. But really, can you blame me?
I've also had a look at how well I can do math in contrast to how well I can do in english. I think a lot of my math troubles arise from things affected by Executive Dysfunction; it might be doubly harder for me to do because math relies on putting data through a series of steps and formulas to reach a 'solution', where as english has less steps involved and is more of a 'formula' in itself. Does any of this make sense?
No, I don't blame you. I only do it because I have to, and it's not as hard for me as for you, but still harder than for your average NT.
My friend came and stayed with me recently and she volunteered to help with the dishes. It was so easy for her, I couldn't believe it! She had an easier time washing dishes in someone else's kitchen that she'd never been in before, than I have in my own kitchen. She pretty much ended taking it over. I hadn't really realized how hard it was for me until then - I mean I didn't know it was supposed to be easier.
I realized that one of the hardest things for me is getting out of the door to go anywhere. I have to:
-find my shoes and then put them on
-decide whether to bring purse or knitting bag, then find them, then if necessary transfer items from one to the other
-check to make sure that I have, in addition to wallet and keys, sunglasses, ear plugs, reading glasses, tissues, protein bar (in case of food emergency - which happens almost daily and is also related to executive dysfunction) and any books or other things I might need for the specific occasion
- actually find said items
-find the specific sweater that I need based on what I'm wearing***
-make sure the cat has food and water if I'm going to be gone for a long time
-put things in car
-lock the house door
-unlock door and go back inside to get something that I inevitably forgot
-find keys ... where the heck are they? Oh, still in the door ...
-lock door again
-get in car, start engine
and then, if I'm going someplace i don't go to everyday, it usually continues
-realize that I don't know how to get to where I'm going and that I need directions
-try to go back into house
-realize that I can't unlock the door because the keys are still in the car since I left the engine running
-go back to car
-get keys
-unlock house door
-find already printed directions or print them out ....
Ok, you get the picture. And it's like this every single day. It never gets easier or smoother.
No wonder I am often late! Aaargh.
***(in order to avoid making daily decisions, I usually select my sweater automatically based on what I'm wearing - which means that if I can't find the sweater that I usually wear with my current outfit, I can't put on another sweater even if it matches the outfit equally well. If I get a new article of clothing, this really throws things off and makes it much harder for a while)
10 Nov 2010, 12:56 pm
