Managing ADD Is Like Riding a Bike

Remember when you learned to ride a bike?

You probably started out with a tricycle when you were very young. At some point, you got the coveted two-wheeler with training wheels. And most likely, one day, one of your parents told you that you were ready to take those training wheels off.

Excitement and joy arose when a sunny spring day appeared and you knew it was your time to shine...to be a "big kid." And you probably resented the adult who held on to the back of the bike as you started riding.

But when they did eventually let go, what happened?

You fell.

Splat! Right over on your side. You thought you could do it, but it turned out balance on two wheels is a lot different than balance on four. That adult was right.

Maybe you cried. Maybe you skinned a knee or an elbow. Perhaps you found your little self completely disappointed and frustrated about what you thought you could do without effort.

But no matter how you felt, you got up and got back on that bike.

Maybe right away, and maybe a week later. But you got back on the bike. You practiced. You fell many more times, but you kept getting back on.

And now, as an adult, you know how to ride a bike. You may not do it very often, and you may fall every now and then, but you know how to ride a bike.

So what makes you think that managing your ADD is any different than riding a bike?

What makes you think that the minute you set your mind to something, you can accomplish it instantly?

Organization, time management, better focus and concentration, emotional regulation...they all require practice. They all require the willingness to try again in the face of failure.

Managing ADD is like riding a bike. Expect a learning period. Expect quite a few falls. Expect a hard time finding your balance.

And no matter what, always get back on the bike.