I'm having trouble listening to instructions - how do I get better?

I'm having trouble listening to instructions. My mom says not to touch food items until after she's washed them but for some reason today I forgot and she got bad at me. She thought I was going to contaminate the food. It wasn't intentional, but I felt pretty embarrassed because she got mad at me. I've had problems like this in the past and it has upset my parents. It's frustrating for both of them that they have to repeat instruction I want to become a better listener but it's hard. I think I'm mentally retarded or have something like ADHD. I think something is wrong with me.

And for the record, I have been very careful about social hygene and safety during the quarantine period, but sometimes I'll make a small mistake and Mom makes a big deal out of it.

Please no negative comments. If you have something negative to say, don't say it.

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4meAndyou · F

Well...it does sound like a small memory glitch. I have had the same problem all my life. When I was in 2nd grade, I forgot to do something my mother told me to do. I couldn't believe I forgot. I beat myself up about it, and I thought something was wrong with me, too.

But really, something was wrong with my Mom, who terrorized me and yelled at me and even chased me trying to hit me all through my childhood. It could be something more like PTSD than ADD...but you don't want to "diagnose" yourself and then find out your Mom is just...mean when she's stressed or scared.

In YOUR case, it just sounds like your Mom is really scared you will get sick or get members of the family sick.

After all this virus mess is over, why don't you see if you can get hold of an intelligence test, or aptitudes test. They have them at the department of employment and training. They will be able to tell if you have a learning issue.

curiosi · 61-69, F

I can relate, for me it was more about being fearful of my mom. It really messed with my head. My suggestion to you is to not blame yourself, breathe and say to yourself "I am doing the best I can and will try to not let the fear get to me.

ThePerfectUsername · 70-79, M

I've got a pal who received a brain injury when she was about your age. She'd twice your age now, and for the last 20 years she's been carrying a pencil and notepad so she can scribble a quick reminder of things she needs to do later. There's no shame in having a worse than average memory. I'm at an age now where I'm beginning to forget things myself but the trick is to find a way to cope with it that doesn't make it out to be a bigger deal than it is.

BloviatingBuffoon · F

Maybe count 1-10 after listening to the instructions. Maybe it will help you understand better. And tell your mom to read more and educate herself better when it comes to serious contaminations. (Oops)

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