Last week, I mentioned on Facebook that my husband believes he suffers from Intention Deficit Disorder.
Greg just told me he has Intention Deficit Disorder.
Now, if we discover that Intention Deficit Disorder runs in our family, that would explain a LOT of things, you guys. Like the filth. And most of the squalor.
(We intend to clean our house. I swear we do!)
Sometimes having the diagnosis is a relief, ya know? It’s like the confirmation that we’re not crazy. There IS a problem, and it has a NAME.
Although I’m not at all new to having intention deficits, I’m entirely new to it as a recognized disorder. I thought you might be, too, so I decided to become an advocate. An activist. A raiser of awareness! Woot!
I thought about what I might do. I pondered. I watched 4 episodes of Downton Abbey. And I decided all the way last Friday to make this week – June 18-22 – National Intention Deficit Disorder Awareness Week.
Every day this week, I meant to post on Intention Deficit Disorder, you guys. The highs. The lows. The stories of our fellow sufferers. The ways to reach out. The ways to find help.
But, then, well, life happened. And I didn’t get around to it. And I thought it was too late to start National Awareness Week mid-afternoon on a Wednesday in the summer. And that’s when I realized that I was wrong to continue to put this off. I can tell my own story, imperfectly and late, and highlight how very prevalent this disorder is. It seeps in, you know? It takes away time. Intention Deficit Disorder makes me feel unproductive because what I meant to do is not what I did. Even worse, it discounts the mountain of work I did do as worthless just because I didn’t intend to do it.
Well, pffttt on that!
Naysayers to the back of the line!
Onward and upward, I say!
That’s why I am thrilled to announce that this week is
National Intention Deficit Disorder Awareness Week
June 18-22
And that’s not all!
I’m not just paying lip-service to this effort. Oh, no. I created a pamphlet.
I know! A whole pamphlet! Believe me, I understand your excitement, because we all know that the first step to getting help is reading a pamphlet.
And so, without further ado, I present to you The Intention Deficit Disorder brochure.
Contact me to order piles and piles of pamphlets so you can join me in blanketing the streets with them.
And, before you leave to do the things you intend to do today, take some time share your own stories and struggles with Intention Deficit Disorder below.
xoxo,
B
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28 responses to “It’s National Intention Deficit Disorder Awareness Week! (I meant to tell you sooner.)”
My problem is that I intend to make a list so I’ll remember what I intend to do today. I somehow never can get around to making that list, so I have an excuse for my IDD!
My husband and I both suffer from IDD. It’s the reason why we still don’t have a dishwasher after 8 years in this house, and our garage is full of junk that we intend to give to charity.
The water damage on the kitchen ceiling still being there after so long might actually be the result of NGRAD though.
Lists. Definitely a symptom of IDD. I find myself writing them all the time to “help” myself get things done. Then when the time comes to clean, I just end up writing more lists…
Beth, you’re crazy and hilarious! (And I mean both as the highest of compliments!)
I have to confess that I suffer from IDD too! Being more intentional is a challenge that I’ve taken on recently, in 10-minute increments throughout the day. So I’ve asked my husband to keep me accountable to pray for 10 minutes per day, exercise for 10 minutes per day, practice violin for 10 minutes per day, and (most recently) study the Ukrainian language for 10 minutes per day. So far, I haven’t done all four on the same day, but we’re talking baby steps here. At least my intentions are in place . . . ?
Seriously, though, I think I may have found what works for me, by setting my intentions low. I can usually squeeze in 10 minutes here and there throughout the day, and because it sounds doable, I’m much more likely to attempt it rather than simply intend it. But I like you idea about also giving ourselves credit for all the things we do that we didn’t intend to do.
Thanks!
Sharon
I think I may have IDD. I intended to read this post six days ago when you first posted it, but just read it now as I am intending to clean my house. Is this a symptom? I am also curious to know if IDD is contagious because I did live in your house for about a year and a half.
Holy crap, that was awesome!!!!!!
Love the lists from you fellow IDD sufferers. You know how to make a girl feel less alone. Mwah! xoxo
I love spoofy official-looking things. Last Christmas I bought some Ferrero Rochets, affixed some home-grown Drug Information, and gave them to friends. My problem actually isn’t IDD, it’s more ADD (Accomplishment Deficit Disorder) but that acronym’s already taken. Maybe IAAID (Intention and Accomplishment Imbalance Disorder)? But some days I actually do suffer from IDD and just start the day off right, with absolutely no intention to do anything. On those days I sometimes surprise myself because maybe I did one thing I hadn’t intended to, like raked last year’s leaves and put them in the compost pile. Then I thought, wow, I really went the extra mile today. Then I get a false sense of how good I am at accomplishing things and so next day we get IAAID all over again.
Loved the mascara post, too. It was a peek at a frustrated human. Thanks.
Beth? Where’s the PDF for that pamphlet? I need to print it. Thanks. xo
Yes, I also have IDD. My church has had 3 garage sales–for which I have sacked up enormous amounts of clothing, toys, etc. Which still sit in bedrooms, garage, and the basement. NOW I know why. Thank you sooo much. The relief of knowing this is a true, identifiable disorder is enormous!! So pour me another cup of coffee and let me finish reading my blogs and then I’ll see about maybe calling my doctor for help. (Oh wait, have to wait until 7:30 Monday morning to do that.). Ok. how about a cookie then ?
Oh my starz, this post is so hilarious!!!! You’re great Beth!!!!
My floor is disgusting and never gets cleaned. I haven’t officially been diagnosed with IDD nor do I really think I suffer from it. I believe in fairies who clean the floors and I think they’ve gone on strike, since basically the beginning of time. But I believe it them, that helps, right, and clapping too?
Sitting down now with a cold beer to contemplate the points you’ve raised.
“Sitting down now with a cold beer to contemplate the points you’ve raised.”
Amen, sister.
FINALLY – now you know. You were in the eighth grade and living on the north coast of New Guinea. I promised to build you a bed. It never got built. I was a sick man.
It’s not too late, Dad. I believe in you. (And two of my kids need beds. You could pay it forward! ;))
Thank you so much for giving my illness a name. I have been intending to sort through all the crap in my attic, paint my living room, lose some weight, etc. for so long. I’m not quite sure I’m looking for a cure, though………..
Put your house on the market!
That’s the way we completed 15 years worth of house projects, cleaned the windows, purged our stuff, and finally had that yard sale.
We can never move. Our house gets more like an episode of Hoarders every day. They will have to burn this house down around me. I’m sure of it.
Me too, on everything. (I want your wall of laundry basket shelves. Saw it and thought to myself… That. Is. Genius.)
Hi! My name is Melissa and I have IDD. Seriously, this would explain SO MUCH! Like the piles of papers that I intended to put away. Or the puzzle that’s been about 1/4 of the way done for about a month and a half now because I had planned on sitting down and doing it. Or the… or… Or… There are just too many things to list!
Hahahaha! Love this! Hilarious.
I intend to print this out to stick on the fridge just as soon as I’ve got round to purchasing a replacement printer cartridge 😀
Is there medication available to treat this? I mean, sure, natural treatments like caffeine are great, but is there a pill I could take?
Yes. It’s called speed. I’ve been meaning to track some down for YEARS now.
I don’t think there is enough room to write all the intentions I had today. I always say “I’ll do that tomorrow.” I thought my middle name was procrastination, but I never get to what I’m hoping to. So now I realize I have IDD.. Thanks for this hysterical post. I enjoy reading your posts. I think I’ll print the flyer. Maybe later, or tomorrow.
Just read the pamphlet. My sides hurt from laughing so hard. I read a magazine this afternoon instead of using child-free time to catch up on housework.
I moved into my apartment 6 years ago. One wall in the bedroom is painted a hideous eggplant or maybe brown colour . . . I hate it. I intend to paint it. Now I know why I haven’t, I will ask my Dr. if I can get sick pay from work for this disorder. Maybe if I stay home for a few months, the wall will get painted.
Excellent idea, Gaylin. Next step in IDD awareness = petitioning for paid federal IDD medical leave from work. I intend to get right on that..
Most days of late, I intend to be productive. But then I’m not. And most of my unproductive time is wasted reading nothing of consequence on the computer. This morning I finished a book. I told myself if I finished my novel, then I would be able to be productive on other things that need to be done. But that was hours ago and the only thing slightly productive I’ve accomplished since then is feeding my children lunch. I definitely suffer IDD.