Help- How to overcome executive dysfunction?

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As the topic title suggests: does anyone have any ideas for overcoming executive dysfunction?

(I'd really appreciate it if the ideas were something other than "just try harder": I'm already trying as hard as I can. It's not working.)

Thanks in advance.

Myebe you should keep a booklet along with you. Write everything you have to do on that and follow the plans you have made. As time goes by, you will have a plan in your brain about what you should do.

I have similar problems. I solve it partially by writing on the back of my hand, with a pen which ALWAYS hangs around my neck. I also have paper on the same lanyard (hanging around my neck) for the same purpose. Lanyards are cheap. If I lose it, I can get another one.

When I get home, and I have no idea what I was supposed to do, I'll flick through my little pad of paper which will hopefully remind me.

I am also developing a routine for what to bring with me at all times. In my schoolbag (which I bring everywhere) I have
- small notebook
- diary (I never write in this during the day, only during the weekends when I plan out what I'm doing with my week. During the day I look at this for reference if I suddenly have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing.)
- keys
- phone
- wallet
- spare earplugs

I think I just have to develop routines and "automatic" lists so I don't need to remember them. Visual processing is also a relative strength of mine, it may or may not be yours, so when I have everything in the same place every time, I can just look in there and see what is missing from the usual picture.

Hope that helps.

EDIT: Ooohh how exciting! I am a snowy owl now! and it is 11 minutes past midnight and I forgot to go to sleep. This is why I need a list... and a clock :(

Also your phone can be your friend. Most have organisers. I'll set alarms or notes for important things.

Try cutting out starch/complex carbos for a few weeks. See my thread at: http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt91412.html

A recent study found that immune system activity produces depression and impaired memory function. The immune system is increasingly being recognised as having an effect on brain function.

And AS have different/dysfunctional sulphating pathways which impact on our ability to produce amylase, the enzyme which digests starch. Undigested starch causes proliferation of pathogenic bacteria which produce endotoxins, which trigger immune system activity.

Thus starch/complex carbos in our diet may well be provoking constant/chronic immune activity, seriously affecting our ability to function.

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Do you have a set place where you put all the stuff you need for the day?

We've found having a drawer with our keys/bag/wallet/mp3player ipod thingy/rings(Macbeth has to wear them out or he feels wrong, me too but they're next to my bed) helps. We go to that drawer when we are going to work or going to the shops and it's all there.

We also have a dry-wipe weekly planner board, but it's too small to really pay attention to. We need one like in Snow Cake (can't find a picture of the one in the film but here's a good example):



I want to put it up in the hall, next to the stairs and near the door so I see it when I come downstairs in the morning, and when I'm leaving the house to remind me again.

Also, it's handy to set yourself tasks and reward yourself. For instance, if I'm not working, I make myself go do the washing up, or dry some clothes before turning on the TV for my favourite programme. If I have finished the task I set myself, I enjoy it all the more.

I also have a year planner in the form of a book, where I have put in all important birthdays (I know them anyway but never know what day it is today, so it works if I check it every week or so), and certain events.

I use my phone to let me know when I have work (set for an hour before, just in case I've forgotten, that way I have 30 minutes to get ready), and appointments at places or with ppl. I know you do that too, but what if your phone runs out of battery? What if you forgot to charge it? This is where the drawer and the weekly wall chart come in handy.

Hope this helps.. think about it though - you're only one person with ED.. there's two of us in one house! Gets extremely messy sometimes!

my AS psychologist was inferring the other day i may need lists.
the funny paradox is my executive dysfunction is so prevalent in certain areas it THWARTS my attempts at a systematic approach to list writing.

at 46, i've had half a lifetime of it.
with my special interets/career i make sure i try to do things straight away. that is only partially successful.

i cannot give many tips.
i wish you well and hope you do not end up leaving the dam washing in the machine for several days......

You can't get over executive dysfunction, you will always have it..

but since we like routines, make up routines that incorporate keeping up with your life, like some of the suggestions above.

Keeping a notepad and calendar close-by help a lot.

The thing is: prioritizing and organization often can't be done on your own. You need someone to look over your lists sometimes. That's why it's good to have a casemanager or therapist..

That is, if your ED is as bad as mine is.