DAE...
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I have to, I mean HAVE to, get paperwork done today.
So far today I have mowed/weed wacked the yard, weeded and watered my garden, pulled meat from the freezer to defrost and planned dinner for tonight, and took one phone call in regards to said paperwork. They called me, of course.
I'm now on break and it's nearly noon. This paperwork is over my head and I am overwhelmed. I could start on other chores just to avoid it, instead I uh, am taking break. I have to get this done, and I am annoyed as to why I have to do it at all.. I might just pull it out to look at it. That's step one no?
Hey, checking in. I know what this paralysis feels like. I do encourage you to JUST take it out. Maybe skim it if you can. Nothing else, then take another little break for a time. You got this
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I have to, I mean HAVE to, get paperwork done today.
So far today I have mowed/weed wacked the yard, weeded and watered my garden, pulled meat from the freezer to defrost and planned dinner for tonight, and took one phone call in regards to said paperwork. They called me, of course.
I'm now on break and it's nearly noon. This paperwork is over my head and I am overwhelmed. I could start on other chores just to avoid it, instead I uh, am taking break. I have to get this done, and I am annoyed as to why I have to do it at all.. I might just pull it out to look at it. That's step one no?
Yes definitely pull it out. Celebrate any progress in the right direction. Write down one word. Fill out one tiny section. Now positively reinforce it - that section was easy, nice. If that's what you get done today then so be it. The next section will be easier.
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I’ve learned that my brain’s ADHD department needs the opposite. It needs constant stimulation to keep it distracted so that it leaves me alone to have some semblance of executive function.
Audio stimulation works best. I used to always listen to podcasts, but I’ve found that specific types of music are best for getting work done. (in my case, it’s upbeat energetic thrash and groove metal)
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I’ve learned that my brain’s ADHD department needs the opposite. It needs constant stimulation to keep it distracted so that it leaves me alone to have some semblance of executive function.
Audio stimulation works best. I used to always listen to podcasts, but I’ve found that specific types of music are best for getting work done. (in my case, it’s upbeat energetic thrash and groove metal)
wrote last edited by [email protected]This! Thrash metal or some good electronic music is the only thing that helps. Chiptunes too. I can pump out shitloads of work that way. Unfortunately, ever since Teams was introduced, people keep calling me without hesitation. People invite me to (recurring) meetings faster than I can decline them. I fucking hate the post covid era. I can't listen to music for more than 2 minutes before the next interruption.
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I've seen this mentality way too much on Reddit subs. Often by the same people that say they are just "neurospicy" and that ADHD is quirky and makes up their entire identity. God that shit is cringe.
Even saw someone recently ask people if they would cure their ADHD if scientists came up with a cure. 90% of the responses were by sane people saying, "WTF question is that? Yes, I would cure it, it's a disability!" and the op was just replying to them that ADHD was the reason they were creative and was their identity... Bro... Sometimes, I feel like some of these people aren't even real.
To be fair, if you've been diagnosed as an adult, ADHD is a huge part of who you are. You've lived with it your entire life and you've developed coping mechanisms accordingly.
But I get what you're saying!
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Maybe I'm the odd one out, but I need some form of background noise to concentrate on anything. Whether that be music or someone endlessly yapping with a monotone voice in a video. Just anything that drowns out my endless stream of thoughts that have 0 to do with my task.
Excellent username really unique I like it
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This! Thrash metal or some good electronic music is the only thing that helps. Chiptunes too. I can pump out shitloads of work that way. Unfortunately, ever since Teams was introduced, people keep calling me without hesitation. People invite me to (recurring) meetings faster than I can decline them. I fucking hate the post covid era. I can't listen to music for more than 2 minutes before the next interruption.
Hell yeah, some electronic & industrial sounds are always welcome. I do have chiptunes represented on my playlist too. There’s at least Strike The Earth from Shovel Knight.
Fortunately mr job is pretty good about leaving me alone to work on things. (or not, as is often the case)
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Me with distraction: feeling fine, barely getting work done
Me without distraction: rumination HELL, feel like shit, still barely getting work done
Give me interesting work and I will give you unlimited output
Same. I don't struggle with difficult tasks that I can dig into and use my knowledge and problem solving skills to resolve. I spent 2 hours writing a script last week that will save me 2 days of work and didn't get distracted once. What I struggle with is tedious bullshit.
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Yup. Getting tired of people saying "just write notes and reminders!"
Okay, my brain immediately deleted the memory of the reminder once it popped up, now what.
I carry a notebook around for this and that works pretty well. If I need to do something I write it in there first and that way even if I get sidetracked it's there. It also helps prevent getting sidetracked because I can put whatever is sidetracking me on the list instead.
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This! Thrash metal or some good electronic music is the only thing that helps. Chiptunes too. I can pump out shitloads of work that way. Unfortunately, ever since Teams was introduced, people keep calling me without hesitation. People invite me to (recurring) meetings faster than I can decline them. I fucking hate the post covid era. I can't listen to music for more than 2 minutes before the next interruption.
hmm maybe headphones with transparency mode would help? you can still listen to music while having the call on speakers. just an idea, don't know if it's feasible
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By "wall" I assume this means smartphone. Because if you're sitting for 6 hours doing nothing but staring at a wall I think there's something else going on.
EDIT:
I get that the meme is being hyperbolic, but I find it kind of misleading. As someone who likely has ADHD or/and is on the spectrum, the idea of “sitting still and staring at a wall for 6 hours” doesn’t match how ADHD usually works. If I remove distractions, I don’t just freeze - I end up doing something else entirely, like watching YouTube or pacing around. The paralysis is real, but it’s more about being stuck in a loop of avoiding the right task while still seeking stimulation. So the meme's wording just doesn’t land for me because it confuses task paralysis with total inactivity, which feels more like depression or burnout than ADHD. Maybe I’m just being too literal, but this is why it doesn’t click with me.You may be thinking of (stereotypical) hyperactive ADHD. ADHD inattentive type has little issue sitting still and retreating from reality into the brain (which is why it often goes unnoticed).
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hmm maybe headphones with transparency mode would help? you can still listen to music while having the call on speakers. just an idea, don't know if it's feasible
At least for myself, music is great at helping me concentrate on non-verbal tasks, but the second I'm expected to pay attention to speech or (god forbid) talk to someone, it makes it impossible too. That may be the autism causing that as well but I'm not sure.
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To be fair, if you've been diagnosed as an adult, ADHD is a huge part of who you are. You've lived with it your entire life and you've developed coping mechanisms accordingly.
But I get what you're saying!
If you can make it so I never had it, I'm in. No idea what that would mean for me, how I'd suddenly be a different person, but if it means I get to not have all the bullshit memories from my childhood and instead have had a nOrMaL life, yes please.
Just "curing" it, as in, I don't have it anymore starting now, wouldn't do me any good.
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I've seen this mentality way too much on Reddit subs. Often by the same people that say they are just "neurospicy" and that ADHD is quirky and makes up their entire identity. God that shit is cringe.
Even saw someone recently ask people if they would cure their ADHD if scientists came up with a cure. 90% of the responses were by sane people saying, "WTF question is that? Yes, I would cure it, it's a disability!" and the op was just replying to them that ADHD was the reason they were creative and was their identity... Bro... Sometimes, I feel like some of these people aren't even real.
wrote last edited by [email protected]I mean many "sane" people, myself included, wouldn't "cure" their disabilities because it is part of who they are. I'd rather society cure itself of its ableism than me have to change who and what I am. I have more issues than just my ADHD though, and "curing" all that would fundamentally make me a completely different human being. To each their own though.
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I’ve learned that my brain’s ADHD department needs the opposite. It needs constant stimulation to keep it distracted so that it leaves me alone to have some semblance of executive function.
Audio stimulation works best. I used to always listen to podcasts, but I’ve found that specific types of music are best for getting work done. (in my case, it’s upbeat energetic thrash and groove metal)
That’s interesting. I kind of go back and forth. Sometimes I’ve got the TV going and three other devices plus headphones in, sometimes I need everything quiet.
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Even with relaxing. Just yesterday I told myself, “Hell yeah it’s Sunday I’m having a gaming day for myself!!”
I turned on my game and sat there for 5 hours doing nothing. I hate it.
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In school, because I was disruptive, I was often told to copy parts of the dictionary as "punishment." I can only assume this was meant for normies. I would instead actually read the dictionary as that was far more interesting than writing it down.
Anyway, afterwards when I hadn't written anywhere near enough they'd ask what I did instead of writing. "I read it." So they'd take it away and quiz me on what was there. Naturally I was able to answer their questions as I had actually read it. Eventually they decided that the TAG program was the best way to keep me from interrupting the kids who needed the class.
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Me sitting on the couch listening to my clock and making it go from "tick tock tick tock" to "tock tick tock tick" back and forth in my head for 27 minutes straight.
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That’s interesting. I kind of go back and forth. Sometimes I’ve got the TV going and three other devices plus headphones in, sometimes I need everything quiet.
One of my absolute favorite things to do is just lay on the bed in a cool dark room with the fan blowing at me. It’s both for cooling down because I’m heat sensitive (completely separate medical issue) and for the sensory deprivation and recharging.
Sometimes I will still put on something to listen to, even in that case. Usually it isn’t typical music though. It will typically be a long form video of a video game speed run or some kind of asmr video with people talking in japanese.
And at work, on days I’ve stayed late for whatever reason, it gets very peaceful and productive for sure.
Being absorbed in my music while working brings that kind of peaceful productive feeling with it, actually. By occupying a certain part of my brain, it must prevent certain anxieties and distractions from getting that attention.
