I am in Australia, and I had an NDIS cleaner. she used to come once a week and my house was mostly pretty clean. I lost her, and now I have to apparently do the cleaning myself. I really am incapable of doing it. They told me that I am physically capable of doing it, so i have to do it. I can’t do it. My house is a fucking mess. stupid government. Anyone have any suggestions? Like to get over the executive dysfunction crap? I tried habitica, and it worked for a short while, but now I’m back to chronic ED.
thanks.
Maybe try to divide “cleaning” into smaller, seemingly more doable tasks? And get to them throughout the week? “Today I’m doing all the dishes and organising the cupboards, tomorrow I’m cleaning the bathroom, I’ll take the bin bags out the following day…”. Maybe give yourself a little treat after cleaning?
I have my habitica set up so that it’s not one big task, but littler tasks. it doesn’t really help :( But thanks for the advice. I ALWAYS do what my cats need, like feeding, cleaning tray etc, but it appears I put them above my own well-being. so i dunno
I’ve often found in my life that the unavoidable things drain my executive function enough that I’m not left with any for the important but technically ignorable. My solution was ultimately ADHD meds, Adderall. It gives me the executive function I need to do mandatory things, get work done, clean something in my apt, and still have the energy to stay out of bed after I’ve done all that most days (without it, sometimes the thought alone of knowing I need to do xyz but don’t have the energy/function for it is enough to send me back to bed and asleep).
It’s not perfect and sometimes an especially bad mental day can’t be overcome with meds but the daily average has been life changing.
I got assessed for ADHD, and the doctor (whom I’d met only twice, for 45 minutes each) said no. But my psychologist (whom I’ve known for 3 years) is adamant i have ADHD. So i might get a second opinion, if ever i can afford it. that’s what i want. I want a life changing med. Something that can get me back to work. :(
Anyway, I’m glad you have something that helps you a lot of the time :)
Anyone who looks at crippling executive dysfunction and goes nah that’s not ADHD or treatable with the stimulant meds prescribed specifically for that struggle to millions of people to great success regardless of any arbitrary ADHD label is a bad doctor and should absolutely be ignored in favor of a second opinion.
thanks for the reassurance. I’m on welfare, so until the GPs can do adhd assessments (which is happening, but i have no idea when), or i win the lotto, a second opinion is not gonna happen. Hopefully GPs can do it very soon, because then it will be either free, or very low cost. I just paid $1600 for a no to ADHD. I’m wrecked financially.
That sucks and sorry that happened to you but keep advocating for yourself and asking about the GP assessments as that will likely be a big break for you. At the same time, meds are no magic bullet so everything you have already tried will also still likely be part of a medicated future, you will just get better at making use of and sticking to them to keep you in check.
Sorry, hope someone comes up with better advice. And I do the same thing! Can’t just let that poor living being suffer the consequences of my poor executive function. 🥲
My cat is happier when things are clean. She has more space to run around and can lounge wherever she wants. Maybe use your cats as motivation?
If you could find a way to involve the cats with all the cleaning tasks, or train the cats to do the cleaning!
haha. I’d love if my cats cleaned up after themselves! they’re always leaving litter behind after they go dunny. rascals!