Planning a wedding with ADHD

Perhaps now would be a good time to utilize therapy and medication. I've never been one to take Mesa myself, but several stressful life changes were all it too for me to embrace "better living through chemistry". I'm working with my doc to get a good combo on board to manage my anxiety during the day and to allow for restful sleep at night. Good luck!

I know this must be super difficult. It's tough for anyone to keep track of all the wedding planning details without adding the ADHD element on top of it. I would advise you to find a therapist that you really like and work well with. FH deals with depression and he found an amazing therapist that shares a similar outlook on life as him. I think that's the first step, and then together the two of you can decide whether medication might be the right decision.

Go to a doctor instead of asking a bunch of random people on the internet about medical issues?

I hate that I have to say this multiple times a month.

Do you have room in your budget for a planner? My wedding planning has been pretty stress free because of having one.

Thank you! This is very helpful so far. For the record, I have been seeking medical help for the last two months or so. I just haven't found the right doctor, yet. I guess I should have clarified, I'm really looking for tips on the organization front.

@allysia I wish. I've considered trying to make room in the budget for one but there is no wiggle room. My best friend is an event planner for a large non profit. I'm really hoping that she'll be able to help a lot.

If you are struggling to deal with it, then it is affecting your life and is not good. As a person who lives with multiple psychological issues and is not medicated, when it starts affecting your life is when you start going to see someone. You don't have to be on meds, but going and talking to someone is a good first step and then get your life in order. You still have a little over a year to plan, and the WW check list/ timeline is very helpful.

I make myself lists and check off when i get things done, i also made sure to use an excel sheet to track my budget and what i have spent. Also i have a folder on the computer will all of my electronic contracts and print them out as well and keep a folder of that.

I would suggest keeping decor to a minimum, try not to go too overboard with decor because there are so many things that you don't think of when you see the pretty pictures online. also if you can hire a month of planner or a DOC that will also help.

Lists are really big with me, and try to utilize the planner on here as well.

eta: i created a list on a Smartphone widget and can mark off when i complete tasks, that way its always in my face about what needs to get done.

also keep DIYs to a minimum, and utilize professionals like florists if you are worried about staying organized.

I am in my 50's and struggle with ADD. Just try and take my meds away..... it won't be pretty. Why are you trying to do this without meds? It isn't a miracle cure, but it's like it gives my brain a little breathing room to regroup and focus better. There is no shame in taking meds for this. I hope you will reconsider and discuss this with your doctor.

@jeleebeenz. In the beginning I was anti medication and therapy because I didn't think I needed it. I had a career, a home, a life. I didn't realize the impact ADHD had on my life until very recently. I'm open to trying medication but only after I try therapy. Maybe therapy will be enough. When I was initially diagnosed, I was told that my case is mild.

Wedding planning is very stressful, and if it is mild, some of these problems may just be wedding planning rather than ADHD

Use the planner on WW to know what you need to tackle each month, it really helps. Whenever you get stressed, just remember some people with your wedding date aren't even engaged yet, and its' possible some people haven't even MET yet.

I also have ADHD and can get easily overwhelmed by "to-dos". I do take meds for mine and have a therapist (for depression too). So those both help.

But so far I have just been working on one task at a time. Like on a Saturday, I tell myself "I'll find three photographers to email" and that it. And once that's done, no more unless I just want to look at Pinterest stuff or hang out on here. But no other wedding "work", I move on to other stuff for the day. Just remind yourself that you have a year still. And use the checklists. I'm already crossing stuff off and it helps a lot to be able to do so!

Schedules and deadlines are your best friend. I have to schedule everything or it doesn't get done.

I also have ADHD! I would recommend two major things, since you're already looking into treatment: first, seek out ADHD communities like actuallyadhd.tumblr.com -- they have tons of helpful advice and information on ADHD, and second, I cannot overstate the usefulness of Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, and WeddingWire/The Knot style planning tools -- especially the guest list. I use them to store information across all my devices -- the catering contract is in my Gmail, all appointments go into Google Calendar immediately and are shared with my FW, everyone's address goes into the WW guest list as soon as possible, my budget is in a spreadsheet in Google Drive.

Making it as easy as possible to stay organized will likely be really, really helpful for you. If you're a techie like me, that may mean putting everything online (privately, of course), or it may be folders and binders if you're more of a physical-storage kind of person -- just use whatever system feels most natural to you.

Thank you for your suggestions!

My H has ADHD and was not diagnosed until we started dating. I am a high school teacher and immediately recognized that he had ADHD, it was so obvious to me that that I thought it was something he already knew! He was a B/C student throughout high school and college and it wasn't until he started working an office job that he admitted to me he was really having a hard time making it all work. We went to the doctor together and he was officially diagnosed and it was a huge relief for him. He started taking a low dose (10mg) of Adderall which he takes once a day to help him get his work day started. He works a later shift (10-6pm) so usually only takes one dose rather than a second dose later in the afternoon but he is prescribed for 2x a day. Honestly, you may find that medication helps you not feel so overwhelmed. There is absolutely no shame in using/needing medication!