Object Permanence (or more accurately, object impermanence), simply means out of sight, out of mind.
For people with ADHD, if we don’t see it, it doesn’t exist!
This can look like:
- forgetting to pay a bill because you put the letter away instead of on the fridge,
- forgetting to take your lunch with you because it wasn’t somewhere you could see it,
- forgetting what you need to work on because your todo list isn’t in front of you,
- consistently finding rotten veggies in the crisper drawer,
- buying multiple items that you already have, because you forgot that you’d already bought them.
Object permanence can relate to items, notes/reminders, and even people. Yes, we can forget people exists if they are not front of mind.
It’s important to note that just because something (or someone) isn’t visible, doesn’t mean it’s any less important.
In your own life, it may help to consider how object permanence can present in different domains.
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