Stress and lack of sleep make my symptoms a lot worse.. Ironically, although I am a neontatal intensive care nurse, my job doesn't stress me.. I can function ok at work, although I am overstimulated most of the time with the alarms, phones, babies crying etc.. My stress comes when my electric or water is turned off because I didn't pay the bill.. and the time my car was reposessed a few weeks ago because I didn't pay the car payment (even though I had more than enough money in the bank!). Under stress I get worsening headaches, difficulty finding words, difficulty concentrating on tasks at home and work, easily distracted, lightheaded ness, easily overstimulated etc.. If I can keep the stress at bay after a few weeks I go back to my new norm (for past couple of years) of still having symptoms, but more tolerable..

Your problems are classic Post Concussion Syndrome. Nothing sounds like ADD.

At work you have the alarms to keep you on task. The over-stimulation leaves you more symptomatic at home where you do not have the alarms and other system.

There are two PCS symptoms that are difficult to live with. The poor memory makes it difficult to use memory only to remember to complete tasks. The easy distractability just makes it worse. You can start to do a task but see something that distracts or redirects your attention.

So, if you can set up systems at home that make it so you do not need to use cognitive thought or memory to get bills paid, you will do much better. You are focusing on the symptoms not the causes.

Accepting the causes as who you are for the time being and developing the work-arounds will give you skills that will serve you well for life.

Hope you understand this.

My best to you.