Everything Under the Moon

does anyone else with ADD or ADHD sometimes find it difficult to slow you brain down enough to meditate? or have a hard time sitting still to begin with?

I don't always have trouble but sometimes my brain just wants to be doing 5 thousand other things at that exact moment... I do have this isue other times as well, but i've found sometimes it makes meditation impossible at that time.

Wow, do I ever! I just found out (at the age of 44) that I have ADHD (inattentive and hyperactive) with traces of OCD as well. Mom and Dad always said I was an overachiever :). I started meditating about seven years ago during my mediumship training. I did so every night for two years. I slowed down and eventually stopped because of a job commitment that really threw me off schedule. I've tried to get back into it, but for the life of me just can't seem to make it happen. In its place (at the allotted time) I've managed to switch all the furniture between two of my children's bedrooms, remodel our closet, paint, chill with my husband doing absolutely nothing productive, work on the yard, check out a few social/learning opportunities and etc.

I can't figure out why I'm so hesitant to meditate. The only thing I can theorize is that in the past the meditation was goal based; I needed to do it in order to suceed at something I wanted. I've learned this is huge with ADHD. I was also being held accountable, another ADHD trait; we had to journal our experiences and turn them in each week for the first 8 weeks. After that time I suppose the habit was set. The problem now is I'm the only one to hold me accountable and that doesn't seem to be working out too well.

I've taken on a new task that I really want to do and I know that I and the others I want to assist would benefit from my having meditated. I thought that would be enough. Unfortunately, like you said, my mind is in at least 5,000 other places and I can't do more than look at my meditation area and promise my guides that I'll try harder tomorrow as I slink away in shame and frustration. I have medicine that quiets my mind, but the problem is that it quiets my mind. Does that make sense to you? Have you tried medicine for your ADHD (May I ask, are you hyperactive, inattentive or a bit of both?)? Any success?

mine is actully a little bit of both also & I have tried medication but am not still on it because my schooling was basicly a joke so was never hindered by it & my job has been okay with how i work off it. and yes I understand exactly what u meen about your mind quieting being distracting, I couldn't handle that any better so that's another reason im off the meds.

This may sound weird but I actuall bought a crystal the other day and just holding it while I attempt to meditate has helped me focus more and more. I still haven't gotten there yet but I think having somethingin my hands helps make them feel more occupied. & like u said the accountability helps too, I have a good friend who now check up on if I've tried to meditate or not each evening.

Definitely, meditation is something I've always had a hard time with simply because I'm wired the whole time.

Here's what helps me:

1. Consume as little caffeine and sugar as your body can manage.
2. Think of the meditation as a way of neutralizing or expelling the hyperactivity from yourself.
3. Listen to some music, it's got a really tranquilizing effect.
4. Meditate after exercising. Your body will be relaxed and the natural high from intense activity will feel really pleasant as you relax.

I find that caffine helps my ADHD a lot.