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I am unfortunately doing it right now.
I'm on holiday in asia, been waiting ages to come here, and I've been just lying in bed all day, haven't even eaten or anything never mind actually going out and seeing stuff.
I hate it. Such a waste of time. And the fact we are super aware but incapable of changing.
Just make your first goal to eat. Go on Google, take the top nearest place. Once you eat, your senses will be thrilled and maybe along the way you'll find interesting people or corners.
Thanks for your kind words. I went out and got food (wasn't that good but at least it was food haha). Gone to a bar for a few drinks, better than nothing
Oh come on, lol. I’ve never been, but it’s insane to think it’s impossible to have bad food on the worlds largest, most populous continent, especially when “Asia” is all they specified haha
Edit: sorry probably took things too seriously lol
Im currently on vacation experiencing the same thing. I've had to tell my family to just leave me behind while they sight-see. I feel so ashamed, but so powerless.
What helps me sometimes is to forgive myself.
I tell myself it's understandable that I struggle with these things. It's normal for someone with ADHD. I'm okay. I'm worthwhile. It doesn't make me a bad or lazy person. It's okay. I'm enough, even if I struggle with "simple" things.
The shame is often what keeps me stuck. When I practice self compassion instead, it helps me take the baby steps.
Shame is a weapon both wielded against us and by our own mind. Nothing can ever hurt us as badly as we hurt ourselves.
If you are able, please check out Brené Brown’s work on shame. The Gifts of Imperfection is a good start. I struggle to get through reading a book but I am able to use audio books when I drive, run, or do chores. I find the side benefit is that the audiobook engages my brain in a way that keeps me from…. How do I describe it…. spinning? Running away with my attention and focus?
Please be kind to yourself as best you can. I would say forgive yourself but I don’t know how to do that. The best I can do is to notice when I am beating and shaming myself and stop or reduce it.
On vacation is the only time i'm able to overcome this. Maybe because there are so many new impressions and so much to see so that my brain is constantly getting its dopamine rush.
Same!
I think the thing this person is describing here isn’t really executive dysfunction on its own, it is probably coupled with like some depressive tendencies. Vacation is like the only time I’m too on my shit because I’m so excited to try everything our destination has to offer. But I also aggressively plan for vacations so that may be something of my systems keeping me from falling into executive dysfunction hell.
Unfortunately not. I self diagnosed over a year ago, haven't had an official one because the waiting times to get a diagnosis is ridiculous (around 2 years apparently).
Same - sometimes I'll just decide "Imma watch a movie" and spend the whole evening looking through and failing to watch a single one. Or I'm gonna make some music, load up my software and just decide "I haven't got it".
It's a difficult thing to overcome, and seems to me to be more difficult when I've had a "better" day. Like yesterday I did a few things I've been putting off (cutting my hair, three weeks after I planned to) - after that I struggled to do anything else. My energy was gone, but my brain was saying "DO MOAR THINGS!"...
Been learning to try and balance it - spread out that energy but I'm still at a very early stage of this.
> I'm gonna make some music, load up my software and just decide "I haven't got it".
That's me in a nutshell, I too make music for fun but not sure what genre or chord progressions to use. But it's me with any task I choose what to do, sometimes my tasks are short-lived and never completed. I can start things but have trouble finishing them.
It's the classic "details of a project" symptom. I have so many great ideas started and saved, or anything I have to do and zero ability to actually do anything with them. I ***want to***, but just... can't.
I feel exactly that with coding. I'm working on my own game engine and there are some days I'm hyper focusing on overdrive and stay up coding like 5 hours longer than I meant to.
Then other days I'm just sat starting at my monitor doing nothing. So frustrating.
Ugh I do this. Just scroll through movies for like an hour and never pick one.
This is why I recently started going back to movie theaters. I pick the movie in advance from a much more limited selection, go there, watch the entire thing, can’t use my phone the entire time. The ability to shut off the noise and just focus on the movie is incredible.
it rules, this series is what comic book movies should have been the whole time
I will warn you that the movie is a part one of two, so it's a bit of a set up but it is done well. hope they can deliver!
I get stuck sometimes scrolling through Amazon Prime. I just hate when I'm excited for same-day delivery but then end up scrolling too long before finding the right whatever it is I'm trying to order or sometimes just completely distracted by something else, then I miss the same-day delivery deadline to order, then I'm like "well dam I missed it for today, looks like I'll just have to do this tomorrow when I'm actually ready to order it then". as much as i hate wasting my time with this, there's probly 50/50 chance I repeat this at least once more.
And on the other hand goes this... hyper fixation is hell. I can't put the game down, literally can't. There's so many "oh look, there's smoke, let's go see what that is!" that I get off track like 10x trying to do one quest line. I'll tell myself "one quest then go eat, shower and straighten up" and that quest takes 6 hours to get done.
Haha same open-world games just allow me to save money by spending 100+ hours in it lol, I feel weird playing more linear games now cause I’m like “did I find everything I needed to find before moving on?
Hahah I feel this so much. It's a catch-22 because either I don't check every corner and I can't stop thinking about it, or I do and my brain feels like it's almost tensing up when I'm checking all these little corners and finding nothing and it feels like there probably isn't anything but at the same time I can't be sure so I have to keep looking.
I got really into Death Stranding. While it's open world, I like that the quests are straight forward(just deliveries) and that during the deliveries it's rather peaceful, almost meditative. I still hyperfixated on some stuff but I think the game was good for me overall. I might go back and play the Director's cut
My brain, with a Fallout, Death Stranding, Vermintide 2, and Tears of the Kingdom waiting to be played:
"Nah let's do another Stardew Valley playthrough."
I have 20 or 30 games installed on my laptop,just in hopes something will spark interest, but I'm still here on reddit or playing 2 different stupid merge games on my phone.
I have over 100 games installed on my computer. I scroll through them, start one, decide I don't wanna play that one as soon as it loads, then doomscroll on my phone for the next two hours. I hate it here.
>I have 20 or 30 games installed on my laptop,just in hopes something will spark interest
I have 14 games installed and emulators and all I do on my PC is scroll through YouTube and then, watch some anime. Currently hooked on My Hero Academia
Yup and I've seen many psychiatrists in the past and done fuck all for me, all they do is pretend to listen, and at the end, here take this, or keep at it with the same dose or try something else. They all looked at me as a dollar sign rather than an actual patient. I was diagnosed in my early 20's
The anime kick is so strong here, too. I canceled Netflix because they kept bailing on all the good stuff and got Crunchyroll... Plowed through FMA:B, Cowboy Bebop, Attack on Titan, Moby Psycho 100, and now watching Vinland Saga. There's so much good stuff!
This comment, the post, and the other few top comments all have dopamine-inducing phone as a huge negative influence to their lives, including mine. Starting to see a pattern…
I decided to just get a cloudgaming account. No need to install anything. Removed everything from my pc. Now I just boot up geforce now, stare at the few 100 games I could play. Have the same experience as not being able to find something to watch in Netflix except they're all logo's of games.
So that didn't help, but at least my SSD is happy now.
It is horrible isn't it. I have the same issue watching TV, some of the time.
At the moment I'm catching up on Succession. I really want to watch it, it is really good and compelling watching, I really want to know what happens next, but...
...some nights I'll put an episode on and it will take me three hours to finish watching a one hour show 🙁
I really must remember to use this as an example next time I'm trying to explain ADHD to someone when we get to the "everyone has chores they don't like doing" stage of the conversation.
Idk, for me it wasn’t much of a problem until I had a smart phone or my own computer. I used to be pretty good about just watching what was there. I think having too many options kinda fucked me up.
Yeah I treat my interests like food cravings. I KNOW I'll enjoy something but not right now, like you said. Sometimes I don't know what I want and end up trying to watch multiple youtube videos or shows and not finish any of them.
I'm kind of like this. Also have a SUP and was really into it the last 2 summers, but now it's sitting in storage. Should probably bring it out with the better weather.
I find routines and accountability really help. A lot of my exercise routines usually involve a friend. The same thing with gaming either cooperatively or competitively online. I try to cook or prepare food with my wife.
It's been really hard having a baby though... most of my routines are out the window, always sleep deprived, and up odd hours so hard to meet socially.
But I've been creating new routines. Been watching True Detective, Severance, and now Succession while feeding the baby, picked up the new RE4 remake and been playing that at night, and so on.
Sometimes I am actually too paralyzed by choice to start playing anything, then my window of time to play evaporates. It's both infuriating and depressing.
I think this is what a lot of people are missing. I've been denying it for years because my first depressive episode was so intense I vowed to never experience that again... But I've had low level depression for years, just didn't wanna admit it cuz "if I pretend I don't have it then I don't have it". But the endless cycle of putting all my self worth into the tasks I complete, then not being able to complete them, causing self loathing & leeching away more of my already low energy dysfunctional brain; it's so draining.
It seems like a cycle you'll never escape, and to be honest I haven't gotten out yet. But there have been moments when it was better, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel is all it takes.
Yeah I have ADHD, depression, anxiety, PTSD (I include this only because I’ve recently been triggered), and OCD. I’m fuked 🙃
Oh! And I recently found out I have a folate deficiency
It’s really important that you have genetic testing done to see what if any medication your body will respond to ( I recommend genesight) it’s also important that you try adhd medication not just depression medication
Sorry what's the difference between this and regular depression w adhd? I've been heavily depressed since a kid, meds help it go from suicidal to just feeling down/tired/unexcited by things. For severe depression does this apply that you could have meds for both adhd and depression that could successfully get you to a point where what this guy discussed isn't an issue?
Sry Ik that's a jumble but ik adhd can cause depression but for the severity of it can there actually be a medicinal cure or is it just for some that those right meds can do that. (while for others there's no correct mixture and as such this mid depression w adhd is the best we can get?)
So adhd can cause depression, and depression medication isn’t always going to solve it while adhd medication might. However genetically not everyone responds to all medications I’d really speak to your doctor about genesight it’s genetic testing to see which(if any) medications your body will respond to
I switched from adderall to concerta because I could actually get the latter in my area - I was out for 3 months with adderall and I’m thankful that I didn’t lose my job during that time. While having the meds is amazing for getting things done, I hate how they make me feel. But what choice do I have? Be depressed, but have a job and be present for my kids; or switch the meds back, hope I can get them, and if I can’t, hope I can keep my job (and be mentally exhausted at the end of my day) and not be present for my kids.
Those choices are lose-lose.
Speak to your doctor about your concerns sometimes they can do a low dose adderall (10mg or under which is currently much easier to get in the US) mixed with a different med
This is the worst. It’s one thing to have executive dysfunction for a work or cleaning thing. It’s another to have it for something Fun that you want to do! Watching yourself just run out the clock on your free time while you scroll mindlessly is the worst. I feel for you
Yup been sitting inside with nothing to do on all the sunny days recently and I live in a country where it's like half the rain we get rain and 75% of the year it's grey so I feel so guilty but I just can't work up the motivation to do anything and I've been awake too long now and need to sleep lol I go out for a walk or something and it's just not fulfilling and feels so lonely 😐
I wanna have water balloon fights and go camping and hiking and swimming like the good old days. But my friends have moved away or are too adult and I'm scared to talk to people to make new friends.
Executive dysfunction has got to be the worst part about ADHD. There are things you want to do, but you just ***can't***. It isn't like laziness where you can't be bothered to do anything, with executive dysfunction you can do pretty much everything **except** what you're supposed to be doing. There are many times I was looking into hobbies, try them out for a bit, then flat out bail on them later because I couldn't get myself to commit to them. I will say this, medication **DEFINITELY** helps.
I can relate to this. I managed a whole 30 minutes of Modern Warfare 2 this weekend. I was ultra excited for some downtime so I could enjoy my new consoles but I literally spent a tiny bit of time on them.
I also did this tons a few years back, massive impulsive purchases which were exciting up until the thing actually arrived, then my excitement and joy flatlined.
Hope you find some peace OP. It seems that this is more common than I guessed.
Disclaimer: it was a World Press Photo awards book lol but I had it for 26 years. Also I've been feeling bad about myself today so I really appreciate this win.
I'm really surprised by myself and am on a high seeing the instant results.
I have a million things I should be doing right now. I even have several things I wanted to do today. But at this moment, I can't even get up to go to the bathroom. I seriously have to pee.
This is me with a lot of games. I go in wanting to play it, get started and then my brain just shuts off.
Minecraft is the worst for this, because it is so open ended that I end up just basically wandering around doing nothing because idk what TO do. Get bored then quit.
There are other times where I want to play a game, but my brain locks me onto the couch to doomscroll YouTube videos that aren’t the slightest bit interesting to me and I’m basically in this purgatory until my wife gets home
For some reason, my wife being home acts as this weird trigger in my brain to “do” easier. She’s basically like a body double, she also helps me with doing chores by telling me which chores to do when.
Ok this is why I asked, because I kinda feel the same way with my partner, and that everything is just easier, more rewarding, I'm more at peace etc. I say kinda because I don't actually live with my partner yet lol, but I will in 2 weeks!
I have been trying to get myself to do my guitar lessons. I really want to learn to play, but can't get myself to regularly do the lessons.
I used to read a lot of novels. Now I have trouble focusing long enough to read a chapter.
I used to do drawing and painting, now I mostly can't. It's hard to focus.
I want (and need) to exercise and it's super hard to just get myself to start it.
Exercise is next to impossible for me and pretty much always has been in my 31 years. I'm not even overweight or anything either and never have been, but exercise/working out is like the hardest fucking thing for me.
Not to diagnose you, but for me when I realized I started to put off even things I liked, I realized I have depression as a comorbidity. It was helpful to come at it from that angle instead of just ADHD
It is hell. My money is running out and I’m not job hunting. I have a MFA class final due and I’m not finishing it. I hate when I’m like this. I have a small freelance project and I’m not getting to it.
Just start, start, start…
It’s like sheer terror takes control knowing how much time was wasted and how helpless I feel about the future. And feeling blocked creatively and in the bravery department.
*get home from work*
“Ah, time to relax and play some video games I enjoy.”
***spends 7 hours staring at the home page of YouTube before depressingly shutting off my PC and going to bed***
Problem with video games for me is that deep down I know I'm no better for having played.
Instead, I'm gamified getting my shit together. How can I better structure my day? Experiment with different schedules. Etc.
Gaming is fine, but no fun when IRL is deteriorating while you play.
The worst part is, I don’t know how to fix it or at least make it a little more bearable. I can’t get anything done because of executive dysfunction and it’s ruining my life.
I’m doing the same shit. I have the game but I can’t bring myself to play it. I’ve had many opportunities but just don’t play it. I’ve played it twice lmao
I end up sitting on the front porch watching the birds and the clouds in the sky till i can make a decision to get something done. If I make a to do list it helps sometimes.
Same, but I realized I do it with games that feel more like work and less like fun, I just gave up trying to play them, though I love them in theory. Ended up playing same 3 multiplayer games that dont feel like progress but I enjoy interacting with other players there.
If it helps at all, I have only played the tutorial once for maybe 5 minutes, and I got it shortly after it came out, lol. At least you've made more than one attempt ;)
I think for me it's more a fear of not finishing other things if I get too hooked on it, with a generous portion of also fearing that I won't ever finish it anyway (because I never finished Breath of the Wild).
I’m forgiving myself to play through Breath of the Wild when it’s known as like the best game ever. I just wanna jump in to a game of Omega strikers (it’s like MOBA air hockey and games take like 10-15 minutes).
it took me like a week after i bought that game to finally force myself to start playing it and now it's been a little over 2 weeks and i have almost 90 hours on the game and have done almost nothing productive since then
it really is just all or nothing huh
Been trying to finish my paper, the few things left are so easy to do and I want it done...but here I am
I can only manage like 5-10 mins of work every like 30 mins
Put some music or show in the background a bit. Then get a mindset or smol goal in Zelda TOTK. Nearest tower, figuring out wtf is down below, or an interesting device design! I found this too but then getting getting curious about fuse interactions and trying to seduce Mr yiga leader who wants me dead (but seems sooo obsessed w me).
(but I fucking suck w dysfunction for life things, studying, getting things done around the house, applying to jobs etc. No blame buddy take your time and find what works)
Story of my life, and literally right now. My work computer is bricked today and i could actually run out and grab a burrito, maybe swing by the office for quite literally the absolute easiest task, I could go for a walk.. anything. But no, I'm sitting here paralyzed with anxiety because I can't bring myself to do anything, mostly because I can't help but think my bosses think I'm just making up an excuse or something. And somehow that thought is actually manifesting a lack of action. It blows.
I’ve come to realize I do this because I feel guilty for allowing myself to play and have fun. I feel like if I’m not being productive I’m being bad and don’t deserve to rest or enjoy myself. So then the bad feelings drive me to try and distract myself, ergo the doom scrolling. I’m still working on allowing myself to just be and to just have fun.
Man I am so sleep deprived I read the title as erectile dysfunction and was so confused as to how this post is even related to it. I then looked at the comments and saw no one picking up on it and thought I'm truly missing out on something here
log out of your social media accounts. if you make it harder for yourself to access social media you will have no choice but to either do the things you like or do productive things
Or you will end up staring at the ceiling hating yourself for a few hours, getting rid of “easy dopamine” doesn’t make getting yourself to do something any easier
Ive been doing this a lot too. Im a stay at home dad and by the time my daughter is in bed Im so excited to be able to do what i want for a few hours and end up wasting it scrolling instead of playing the games Ive been wanting to play.
I'm in the same boat, it went downhill since 2019, before that i used to be able to concentrate to the things i enjoyed, in the last years i became stupid, i wish i could get meds, but they told me i need parents to make a test for stimulants...
I also think part of my worsen symptoms are antidepressants medication combined with alcohol use.
I got this as I got older for some reason...as well when I got on paroxetine. The older I got the worse it got. Adderall gives me back my will and want to do things I like like gaming. At least if I don't have weed for a min of 2 days. Weed affects Adderalls efficacy inversely for me it seems.
Going through the same thing too, OP. I’ve been wanting to play TotK on my own, but can never bring myself to do it, so I’ll just watch my partner play it instead. I’ve also been wanting to finish watching the anime Trigun, I legit only have like 4 episodes left, and I WANT to finish it so bad because I fucking LOOOVE this anime, but I just cannot being myself to finish it. Same with the Castlevania anime on Netflix - I finished the second season like 2 years ago, but never watched the third and fourth seasons even though I thought the show was fantastic. Both executive dysfunction and hyperfixation are hellish, and you can’t possibly try to explain these behaviors to someone who doesn’t have ADHD. It’s so fucking awful.
Same, but with Cult of the Lamb for me. All I have to do is turn it on right now, but I'm scrolling Reddit, and playing this cat cooking game on the phone.
I woke up this morning to play some anno 1800. I loaded it up and I’m still on Reddit.
Why. Like actually why is this a thing? Funny I’m not the only one here and how timely of Reddit to feed it to me. But why. Why do we get trapped
It really is. I feel the same. I can barely hold conversations anymore because I just feel so bored. Nothing gives my brain the stimulation that it’s craving. Know you’re not alone
I've been struggling with this for a long time. I always thought it's something distimia related but my doctor recently suggested ADHD-PI. I was hoping that, once diagnosed, the meds would help.
Now I'm worried that it won't :(
Are you still suffering of this while on ADHD medication?
I know that everyone's experience with meds is different, and it might take a while to find the right ones, but I'm wondering if I don't get my hopes up too high :(
I have it really bad as well.
I also have bipolar and I don't know if it is related to that or past trauma but I am constantly disassociating. It pretty much controls my life at times. Apparently what I am feeling is depersonalization but I haven't brought it up to my psychiatrist yet. Its gotren really bad so I am bringing it up when I see him next.
Same reason I never watch tv or movies. Can’t choose, can’t stay focused when I do, can’t finish a series I start. Even if I liked it. It leaves me a pop culture void because I can never talk about what other people are super into.
Caffeine + nap helps me. Like I'll drink a cup of coffee then hit the bed. Wake up when the caffine kicks in But that'll cost about 45 minutes of my day :( . I think my recent post-op hypothyroidism is making my adhd tiredness 10x worse.
Oddly I had the exact opposite effect with the new Zelda. I don't play video games for this very reason anymore.
I didn't initially care all that much about playing but once I turned it on... I obssively played in for the next two weeks literally. It was all I did, all I thought about, had dreams about it.
Every day, by the end of the day, I just felt dead inside, all of my dopamine was gone.
Thank jesus I finally beat the main story and that allowed me to mostly move on.
Yup, I hate that feeling. Wake up on a day with nothing on your calendar, be like, "I've got all day to play this game / work on this hobby / binge this show" and then suddenly it's like 2 hours to bedtime, you have no idea what you've done all day and you're like, "Well I can't start that thing now or I'll get too caught up and throw off my sleep, guess I'll just kill time until bed."
Exactly. I even experienced the same thing playing the new Zelda game - I bought the game, played it a lot for three days and then stopped for like three weeks. And I just loaded it up again and attempted to fight a boss like twice before I gave up and went somewhere else in the game. Luckily you can do that in the game, just skip shit. I’m like that with anything in life.
I opened my ipad to draw and spent longer looking at the app then drawing. Executive dysfunction is definitely the symptom I hate most. Sometimes listening to binaural and/or 8d audio can help but unfortunately not always.
Oooft… I feel this so hard.
I put my Nintendo switch on last weekend and looked through the shop, updated my games, turned on some sim city type game - couldn’t work out how to build a city in a perfect grid within 20 seconds and sat on pause and watched TikTok for hours instead.
I’ve never finished Zelda or FFVII. I get bored at the thought of even switching it on, and I REALLY want to play it….
Getting past the wall of awful, even for things we want to do, can be such bullshit. It's important to remember you're not getting on to play the whole game in one sitting, you're getting on to just hit new game and give it a try. The switch also lets you turn it off whenever and it will be waiting for you when you get back.
No advice, just solidarity. I live for reading and right now I’m *forcing* myself to read 10 min /day if only to keep my Kindle streak going. It’s so hard!
It’s so hard to explain that I DO WANT TO PLAY games, I just literally cannot bring myself to start doing it. Which is odd as I didn’t have this problem as a kid. I also just end up browsing reddit a lot  Trying to buckle down and finish FFXIV, maybe I’ll finally finish the story after 2 years of faffing about..
I feel that so hard with TOTK. There’s so much to do that I get overwhelmed. I’ve been able to play, and enjoy it, when I narrow down what I’ll be doing. If I start to explore too much, or try to do the main quests then I can’t and I freeze.
I feel this. I used to be an avid reader. Like I would real all weekend when I was a kid. I could read for hours up until about 10 years ago (when I was around 25-26) then suddenly, I couldn't focus on it. I'd read the same line over and over, or I'd think I was reading it but not taking anything in. And suddenly something happens and I'm like how the heck did that happen?! It's so sad. And now even a long text can be taxing.
I also used to love writing. Since I was a kid I wrote songs, poems, stories. I even wrote an 800 odd page book. Again, these things rarely happen anymore. Even on my meds, I can't do it. I've always been artistic in that way and now... I'm not and it feels like I'm losing a part of who I have been since I was a young child
I'm on my *fourth* attempt to get Steam Support's help fixing/replacing my borked Index vr headset. I **fucking love** this thing, but each time I get a few exchanges into troubleshooting, I start postponing the umpteenth step or so until the ticket closes again : | The two year warranty ends in about a month. I've been opening these tickets since around the winter before last. I feel so fucking useless hah
I would remove the phone maybe? I find I look at it during periods of boredom of watching a movie or something and it's a stupid addiction because of that stuff.
Anyone else stare at what they need to do and just think “panic panic panic panic panic panic panic” but make no moves toward doing the thing, until you just give up three hours later and go to bed stressed over not doing the thing?
My favorite is when your partner is also frustrated because you are stressed over the thing and emotionally distant and they don’t understand why you can’t just do the thing.
I recommend some time off of social media, or at least a reduction in that time. People are almost acquiring executive dysfunction from stuff like TikTok and Instagram, adding that shit on top of ADHD just makes it worse. I know I can think better when I haven't been on Reddit half the day, it really fucks with my brain.
Seriously just delete the app and try a day or two to start with - could even do it over the Reddit blackout on the 12th when loads of people are doing it to protest API changes.
I overly hyper fixated on Zelda before the release of TOTK by re-playing BOTW and skyward sword in anticipation of release day. We’re not talking speed runs, we’re talking 80ish hours each. I finished skyward sword the day before TOTK released. ..
Well now I’m burnt out on Zelda and can’t hype myself up to play it. Im guessing im about 15% in and im not desiring to immerse myself in it, which really sucks. I’m probably going to have to take a break and restart the game in a couple months
It sucks... I've been putting off cleaning my room for **two fucking years**
How/why did I start??
My therapist gave me a homework assignment that **needed** to be done, but it caused me severe mental distress (✨trauma✨) and didn't wanna... So I cleaned part of my room lmao
I feel this. With a lot of stuff, but video games in particular.
Step 1: Power on SteamDeck
Step 2: Play game? No! Browse through whole game collection for hours
Step 3: Play game? No! Browse through the steam store without buying anything
Step 4: Play game? No! Put down SteamDeck because playing a game seems like too much work.
Seems especially true of Open World/RPG games. It took me about 5 years to finish the Witcher 3 despite the fact I absolutely loved it and desperately wanted to play it often. I have a category in my steam library called 'Long RPGs' which may as well be called 'Games you will never play'
Someone once told me about a thing in which you give yourself 5 seconds to break out of whatever you're doing and start something else. Maybe you're sitting on the couch messing about on Reddit but you need to get up to do something. Just say to yourself, "Ok, I've gotta get up to start doing the thing in 5-4-3-2-1." and then you get up and do it.
Sometimes it works for me.
Actually, it usually works, but sometimes I need to repeat the countdown.
I dunno, it can be hard to get started, but the hardest part is just that, so, get ready to close Reddit (and lock your phone!) in... 5-4-3-2-1
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I am unfortunately doing it right now. I'm on holiday in asia, been waiting ages to come here, and I've been just lying in bed all day, haven't even eaten or anything never mind actually going out and seeing stuff. I hate it. Such a waste of time. And the fact we are super aware but incapable of changing.
Just make your first goal to eat. Go on Google, take the top nearest place. Once you eat, your senses will be thrilled and maybe along the way you'll find interesting people or corners.
Thanks for your kind words. I went out and got food (wasn't that good but at least it was food haha). Gone to a bar for a few drinks, better than nothing
Bad food in Asia? Where are you?
Oh come on, lol. I’ve never been, but it’s insane to think it’s impossible to have bad food on the worlds largest, most populous continent, especially when “Asia” is all they specified haha Edit: sorry probably took things too seriously lol
I think it was in jest
Good call, I added an edit
Man, seeing someone immediately fix an error without getting defensive still gives me whiplash, good on you dude
I’ll admit, it’s easier to do in a subreddit that focuses on mental health, but thanks all the same.
Asian food: bringing people together since forever.
Im currently on vacation experiencing the same thing. I've had to tell my family to just leave me behind while they sight-see. I feel so ashamed, but so powerless.
What helps me sometimes is to forgive myself. I tell myself it's understandable that I struggle with these things. It's normal for someone with ADHD. I'm okay. I'm worthwhile. It doesn't make me a bad or lazy person. It's okay. I'm enough, even if I struggle with "simple" things. The shame is often what keeps me stuck. When I practice self compassion instead, it helps me take the baby steps.
Thank you for sharing this, this helped.
Pop your earbuds in and let your favourite music lead the way!
Yes SAME
Shame is a weapon both wielded against us and by our own mind. Nothing can ever hurt us as badly as we hurt ourselves. If you are able, please check out Brené Brown’s work on shame. The Gifts of Imperfection is a good start. I struggle to get through reading a book but I am able to use audio books when I drive, run, or do chores. I find the side benefit is that the audiobook engages my brain in a way that keeps me from…. How do I describe it…. spinning? Running away with my attention and focus? Please be kind to yourself as best you can. I would say forgive yourself but I don’t know how to do that. The best I can do is to notice when I am beating and shaming myself and stop or reduce it.
On vacation is the only time i'm able to overcome this. Maybe because there are so many new impressions and so much to see so that my brain is constantly getting its dopamine rush.
Same! I think the thing this person is describing here isn’t really executive dysfunction on its own, it is probably coupled with like some depressive tendencies. Vacation is like the only time I’m too on my shit because I’m so excited to try everything our destination has to offer. But I also aggressively plan for vacations so that may be something of my systems keeping me from falling into executive dysfunction hell.
We arent incapable of changing we just have to set realistic expectations
This. So much of this sub is “just give up” because something is hard.
I get this way as well. I end up just falling asleep because I feel powerless.
You reminded me I haven’t eaten yet
Are you on medication?
Unfortunately not. I self diagnosed over a year ago, haven't had an official one because the waiting times to get a diagnosis is ridiculous (around 2 years apparently).
Same - sometimes I'll just decide "Imma watch a movie" and spend the whole evening looking through and failing to watch a single one. Or I'm gonna make some music, load up my software and just decide "I haven't got it". It's a difficult thing to overcome, and seems to me to be more difficult when I've had a "better" day. Like yesterday I did a few things I've been putting off (cutting my hair, three weeks after I planned to) - after that I struggled to do anything else. My energy was gone, but my brain was saying "DO MOAR THINGS!"... Been learning to try and balance it - spread out that energy but I'm still at a very early stage of this.
> I'm gonna make some music, load up my software and just decide "I haven't got it". That's me in a nutshell, I too make music for fun but not sure what genre or chord progressions to use. But it's me with any task I choose what to do, sometimes my tasks are short-lived and never completed. I can start things but have trouble finishing them.
It's the classic "details of a project" symptom. I have so many great ideas started and saved, or anything I have to do and zero ability to actually do anything with them. I ***want to***, but just... can't.
Ironically 5 minutes ago, I attempt to work on a music project. and got stuck in an 8-bar loop. ALWAYS happens to me.
I feel exactly that with coding. I'm working on my own game engine and there are some days I'm hyper focusing on overdrive and stay up coding like 5 hours longer than I meant to. Then other days I'm just sat starting at my monitor doing nothing. So frustrating.
Amazon Prime is terrible for this, I waste so much time scrolling through that. Netflix and others are the same.
Ugh I do this. Just scroll through movies for like an hour and never pick one. This is why I recently started going back to movie theaters. I pick the movie in advance from a much more limited selection, go there, watch the entire thing, can’t use my phone the entire time. The ability to shut off the noise and just focus on the movie is incredible.
That's a great idea, really looking forward to the new Spider Man movie.
it rules, this series is what comic book movies should have been the whole time I will warn you that the movie is a part one of two, so it's a bit of a set up but it is done well. hope they can deliver!
Same thing with DVDs from the library. I watch what I got or nothing. lol
I get stuck sometimes scrolling through Amazon Prime. I just hate when I'm excited for same-day delivery but then end up scrolling too long before finding the right whatever it is I'm trying to order or sometimes just completely distracted by something else, then I miss the same-day delivery deadline to order, then I'm like "well dam I missed it for today, looks like I'll just have to do this tomorrow when I'm actually ready to order it then". as much as i hate wasting my time with this, there's probly 50/50 chance I repeat this at least once more.
I spend so much time watching trailers on prime. I’m okay with it though, trailers are like mini-movies anyway lmao
And on the other hand goes this... hyper fixation is hell. I can't put the game down, literally can't. There's so many "oh look, there's smoke, let's go see what that is!" that I get off track like 10x trying to do one quest line. I'll tell myself "one quest then go eat, shower and straighten up" and that quest takes 6 hours to get done.
Yes! This is why I both love and hate open-world games.
Haha same open-world games just allow me to save money by spending 100+ hours in it lol, I feel weird playing more linear games now cause I’m like “did I find everything I needed to find before moving on?
Hahah I feel this so much. It's a catch-22 because either I don't check every corner and I can't stop thinking about it, or I do and my brain feels like it's almost tensing up when I'm checking all these little corners and finding nothing and it feels like there probably isn't anything but at the same time I can't be sure so I have to keep looking.
This is why I always run out of time in super Mario
I've done this with linear games, too. Binged the Mass Effect triology over a long weekend.
I got really into Death Stranding. While it's open world, I like that the quests are straight forward(just deliveries) and that during the deliveries it's rather peaceful, almost meditative. I still hyperfixated on some stuff but I think the game was good for me overall. I might go back and play the Director's cut
Just got that free through Prime and have been eyeballing it - but of course I already have a dozen+ games on-going already...
My brain, with a Fallout, Death Stranding, Vermintide 2, and Tears of the Kingdom waiting to be played: "Nah let's do another Stardew Valley playthrough."
I can't *wait* for Haunted Chocolatier! SDV is such a comforting game.
I bought breath of the wild when it first went on sale and still have not played it. Now Totk is out...
I have 20 or 30 games installed on my laptop,just in hopes something will spark interest, but I'm still here on reddit or playing 2 different stupid merge games on my phone.
Relatable. Even with insane PC specs, the second there's a loading screen, I swap to browser & watch some YouTube, or google some shit.
I have over 100 games installed on my computer. I scroll through them, start one, decide I don't wanna play that one as soon as it loads, then doomscroll on my phone for the next two hours. I hate it here.
>I have 20 or 30 games installed on my laptop,just in hopes something will spark interest I have 14 games installed and emulators and all I do on my PC is scroll through YouTube and then, watch some anime. Currently hooked on My Hero Academia
Are you me? Low effort post, I blame executive dysfunction.
Yup and I've seen many psychiatrists in the past and done fuck all for me, all they do is pretend to listen, and at the end, here take this, or keep at it with the same dose or try something else. They all looked at me as a dollar sign rather than an actual patient. I was diagnosed in my early 20's
The anime kick is so strong here, too. I canceled Netflix because they kept bailing on all the good stuff and got Crunchyroll... Plowed through FMA:B, Cowboy Bebop, Attack on Titan, Moby Psycho 100, and now watching Vinland Saga. There's so much good stuff!
I use a free streaming service to watch my anime :) But according to the subreddit rules, I cannot post the link to it.
Oh, this is totally me. I have to basically put "play a real game" on my list to actually start doing it. Glad to hear I'm not the only one!
This comment, the post, and the other few top comments all have dopamine-inducing phone as a huge negative influence to their lives, including mine. Starting to see a pattern…
I decided to just get a cloudgaming account. No need to install anything. Removed everything from my pc. Now I just boot up geforce now, stare at the few 100 games I could play. Have the same experience as not being able to find something to watch in Netflix except they're all logo's of games. So that didn't help, but at least my SSD is happy now.
It is horrible isn't it. I have the same issue watching TV, some of the time. At the moment I'm catching up on Succession. I really want to watch it, it is really good and compelling watching, I really want to know what happens next, but... ...some nights I'll put an episode on and it will take me three hours to finish watching a one hour show 🙁 I really must remember to use this as an example next time I'm trying to explain ADHD to someone when we get to the "everyone has chores they don't like doing" stage of the conversation.
I’ve struggled with this my whole life, this is an ADHD thing? I had no idea at all
Idk, for me it wasn’t much of a problem until I had a smart phone or my own computer. I used to be pretty good about just watching what was there. I think having too many options kinda fucked me up.
[удалено]
Yeah I treat my interests like food cravings. I KNOW I'll enjoy something but not right now, like you said. Sometimes I don't know what I want and end up trying to watch multiple youtube videos or shows and not finish any of them.
I'm kind of like this. Also have a SUP and was really into it the last 2 summers, but now it's sitting in storage. Should probably bring it out with the better weather. I find routines and accountability really help. A lot of my exercise routines usually involve a friend. The same thing with gaming either cooperatively or competitively online. I try to cook or prepare food with my wife. It's been really hard having a baby though... most of my routines are out the window, always sleep deprived, and up odd hours so hard to meet socially. But I've been creating new routines. Been watching True Detective, Severance, and now Succession while feeding the baby, picked up the new RE4 remake and been playing that at night, and so on.
Sometimes I am actually too paralyzed by choice to start playing anything, then my window of time to play evaporates. It's both infuriating and depressing.
If you’re already on medication I think it’s time to reassess and try a new one. Your adhd may be causing so low profile depression
I think this is what a lot of people are missing. I've been denying it for years because my first depressive episode was so intense I vowed to never experience that again... But I've had low level depression for years, just didn't wanna admit it cuz "if I pretend I don't have it then I don't have it". But the endless cycle of putting all my self worth into the tasks I complete, then not being able to complete them, causing self loathing & leeching away more of my already low energy dysfunctional brain; it's so draining. It seems like a cycle you'll never escape, and to be honest I haven't gotten out yet. But there have been moments when it was better, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel is all it takes.
What do you do when you have adhd + severe depression (amoungst many other things), my life is no life
Yeah I have ADHD, depression, anxiety, PTSD (I include this only because I’ve recently been triggered), and OCD. I’m fuked 🙃 Oh! And I recently found out I have a folate deficiency
It’s really important that you have genetic testing done to see what if any medication your body will respond to ( I recommend genesight) it’s also important that you try adhd medication not just depression medication
I don’t have the money for that if I’m honest. I’m already on 70mg of Elvanse
It’s actually covered by insurance!! Like ALL ,even state insurances. My pharmacist recommended it
This is exactly what happened to me, started meds and I realized I was mostly depressed and not leaving the house just doing the same thing every day
Sorry what's the difference between this and regular depression w adhd? I've been heavily depressed since a kid, meds help it go from suicidal to just feeling down/tired/unexcited by things. For severe depression does this apply that you could have meds for both adhd and depression that could successfully get you to a point where what this guy discussed isn't an issue? Sry Ik that's a jumble but ik adhd can cause depression but for the severity of it can there actually be a medicinal cure or is it just for some that those right meds can do that. (while for others there's no correct mixture and as such this mid depression w adhd is the best we can get?)
So adhd can cause depression, and depression medication isn’t always going to solve it while adhd medication might. However genetically not everyone responds to all medications I’d really speak to your doctor about genesight it’s genetic testing to see which(if any) medications your body will respond to
I switched from adderall to concerta because I could actually get the latter in my area - I was out for 3 months with adderall and I’m thankful that I didn’t lose my job during that time. While having the meds is amazing for getting things done, I hate how they make me feel. But what choice do I have? Be depressed, but have a job and be present for my kids; or switch the meds back, hope I can get them, and if I can’t, hope I can keep my job (and be mentally exhausted at the end of my day) and not be present for my kids. Those choices are lose-lose.
Speak to your doctor about your concerns sometimes they can do a low dose adderall (10mg or under which is currently much easier to get in the US) mixed with a different med
Yeah I think this also has some depression mixed in, especially if that low energy mood has been around for some time...
This is the worst. It’s one thing to have executive dysfunction for a work or cleaning thing. It’s another to have it for something Fun that you want to do! Watching yourself just run out the clock on your free time while you scroll mindlessly is the worst. I feel for you
Yup been sitting inside with nothing to do on all the sunny days recently and I live in a country where it's like half the rain we get rain and 75% of the year it's grey so I feel so guilty but I just can't work up the motivation to do anything and I've been awake too long now and need to sleep lol I go out for a walk or something and it's just not fulfilling and feels so lonely 😐 I wanna have water balloon fights and go camping and hiking and swimming like the good old days. But my friends have moved away or are too adult and I'm scared to talk to people to make new friends.
Same. Moved back home to help take care of aging parents and have 0 friends here. It's rough, but I'll come have a water balloon fight with you!
Dude same exact thing here. Shit is so depressing man.
Saaame exact thing. Same exact game.
Executive dysfunction has got to be the worst part about ADHD. There are things you want to do, but you just ***can't***. It isn't like laziness where you can't be bothered to do anything, with executive dysfunction you can do pretty much everything **except** what you're supposed to be doing. There are many times I was looking into hobbies, try them out for a bit, then flat out bail on them later because I couldn't get myself to commit to them. I will say this, medication **DEFINITELY** helps.
I can relate to this. I managed a whole 30 minutes of Modern Warfare 2 this weekend. I was ultra excited for some downtime so I could enjoy my new consoles but I literally spent a tiny bit of time on them. I also did this tons a few years back, massive impulsive purchases which were exciting up until the thing actually arrived, then my excitement and joy flatlined. Hope you find some peace OP. It seems that this is more common than I guessed.
After responding to a comment here, I went on to a Focus Mate session and I finished a book!!!
That’s awesome!!!
Disclaimer: it was a World Press Photo awards book lol but I had it for 26 years. Also I've been feeling bad about myself today so I really appreciate this win. I'm really surprised by myself and am on a high seeing the instant results.
I had never heard of Focusmate. This looks neat.
Focus mate is amazing for when you can’t motivate yourself to do anything, especially for work.
I have a million things I should be doing right now. I even have several things I wanted to do today. But at this moment, I can't even get up to go to the bathroom. I seriously have to pee.
Same. Zelda is in the night stand next to me. I can’t even reach over to grab it. More Reddit I guess
This is me with a lot of games. I go in wanting to play it, get started and then my brain just shuts off. Minecraft is the worst for this, because it is so open ended that I end up just basically wandering around doing nothing because idk what TO do. Get bored then quit. There are other times where I want to play a game, but my brain locks me onto the couch to doomscroll YouTube videos that aren’t the slightest bit interesting to me and I’m basically in this purgatory until my wife gets home
Then what happens once your wife gets home?
Then what happens once your wife gets home?
For some reason, my wife being home acts as this weird trigger in my brain to “do” easier. She’s basically like a body double, she also helps me with doing chores by telling me which chores to do when.
Ok this is why I asked, because I kinda feel the same way with my partner, and that everything is just easier, more rewarding, I'm more at peace etc. I say kinda because I don't actually live with my partner yet lol, but I will in 2 weeks!
I have been trying to get myself to do my guitar lessons. I really want to learn to play, but can't get myself to regularly do the lessons. I used to read a lot of novels. Now I have trouble focusing long enough to read a chapter. I used to do drawing and painting, now I mostly can't. It's hard to focus. I want (and need) to exercise and it's super hard to just get myself to start it.
Exercise is next to impossible for me and pretty much always has been in my 31 years. I'm not even overweight or anything either and never have been, but exercise/working out is like the hardest fucking thing for me.
I do this all of the time..
I feel it’s a severe disability. Sending you a big hug!
Not to diagnose you, but for me when I realized I started to put off even things I liked, I realized I have depression as a comorbidity. It was helpful to come at it from that angle instead of just ADHD
It is hell. My money is running out and I’m not job hunting. I have a MFA class final due and I’m not finishing it. I hate when I’m like this. I have a small freelance project and I’m not getting to it. Just start, start, start… It’s like sheer terror takes control knowing how much time was wasted and how helpless I feel about the future. And feeling blocked creatively and in the bravery department.
*get home from work* “Ah, time to relax and play some video games I enjoy.” ***spends 7 hours staring at the home page of YouTube before depressingly shutting off my PC and going to bed***
Problem with video games for me is that deep down I know I'm no better for having played. Instead, I'm gamified getting my shit together. How can I better structure my day? Experiment with different schedules. Etc. Gaming is fine, but no fun when IRL is deteriorating while you play.
I hate this shit. Executive dysfunction is fucking whack and I hate it. It makes me not able to enjoy the things I love
The worst part is, I don’t know how to fix it or at least make it a little more bearable. I can’t get anything done because of executive dysfunction and it’s ruining my life.
Is that what this is called? I just figured I was depressed with my life and am just hoping I don't starve before I die.
I’m doing the same shit. I have the game but I can’t bring myself to play it. I’ve had many opportunities but just don’t play it. I’ve played it twice lmao
Sorry, OP. I feel you. I am often like this too.
I end up sitting on the front porch watching the birds and the clouds in the sky till i can make a decision to get something done. If I make a to do list it helps sometimes.
Yeah, I've been trying to make a to do list for 3 months now. Anyone else symptoms get really bad after COVID?
Mine got REALLY bad after I had the Flu last year. I also notice a big improvement when I take probiotics like FLorastor and Align ant the same time.
Try colostrum.. it’s like I’m a new person! I was able to buckle down and get started cleaning my bedroom and took out eight big black bags.
Getting COVID made my depression and ADHD symptoms SIGNIFICANTLY worse. Always am tired
I'm sorry. I'm always exhausted too. I think it's from acting like I have my shit together
I hyper focused today and sewed a new shirt!!!! Now I feel like I can take on the world. For the next twenty mins or so anyways
Do anyone know why we’re like that ? What’s wrong with us ?
Told my psychiatrist the same thing and he tried to tell me it's depression I have and not ADHD. I hate ED and that it's ruining my life
I haven't done my taxes. I have everything I need. I've had the time. I don't have the motivation.
Same, but I realized I do it with games that feel more like work and less like fun, I just gave up trying to play them, though I love them in theory. Ended up playing same 3 multiplayer games that dont feel like progress but I enjoy interacting with other players there.
You live and you learn, coping mechanisms will come in clutch :>
Felt. Literally doing that every night when trying to start a new show lately.
If it helps at all, I have only played the tutorial once for maybe 5 minutes, and I got it shortly after it came out, lol. At least you've made more than one attempt ;) I think for me it's more a fear of not finishing other things if I get too hooked on it, with a generous portion of also fearing that I won't ever finish it anyway (because I never finished Breath of the Wild).
I’m forgiving myself to play through Breath of the Wild when it’s known as like the best game ever. I just wanna jump in to a game of Omega strikers (it’s like MOBA air hockey and games take like 10-15 minutes).
I'm right there with you
it took me like a week after i bought that game to finally force myself to start playing it and now it's been a little over 2 weeks and i have almost 90 hours on the game and have done almost nothing productive since then it really is just all or nothing huh
Been trying to finish my paper, the few things left are so easy to do and I want it done...but here I am I can only manage like 5-10 mins of work every like 30 mins
I wish this place on the spectrum of ADHD was shown more
Put some music or show in the background a bit. Then get a mindset or smol goal in Zelda TOTK. Nearest tower, figuring out wtf is down below, or an interesting device design! I found this too but then getting getting curious about fuse interactions and trying to seduce Mr yiga leader who wants me dead (but seems sooo obsessed w me). (but I fucking suck w dysfunction for life things, studying, getting things done around the house, applying to jobs etc. No blame buddy take your time and find what works)
Story of my life, and literally right now. My work computer is bricked today and i could actually run out and grab a burrito, maybe swing by the office for quite literally the absolute easiest task, I could go for a walk.. anything. But no, I'm sitting here paralyzed with anxiety because I can't bring myself to do anything, mostly because I can't help but think my bosses think I'm just making up an excuse or something. And somehow that thought is actually manifesting a lack of action. It blows.
Bruh, before I got back on meds, I had trouble standing up to give my wife I hug. It was agonizing.
Stop scrolling. Just sit and do nothing. You're just trickling your dopamine away when you scroll.
I’ve come to realize I do this because I feel guilty for allowing myself to play and have fun. I feel like if I’m not being productive I’m being bad and don’t deserve to rest or enjoy myself. So then the bad feelings drive me to try and distract myself, ergo the doom scrolling. I’m still working on allowing myself to just be and to just have fun.
Man I am so sleep deprived I read the title as erectile dysfunction and was so confused as to how this post is even related to it. I then looked at the comments and saw no one picking up on it and thought I'm truly missing out on something here
Put your phone down. Just put it in a drawer for a few days and notice the difference.
Not sure what ED has to do with ADHD but it may be time to consider making some healthy lifestyle changes such as hitting the gym
Not that ED!
Well.. shit 😅
Even if it was, that’s extremely harmful to say to someone with an ED, fix up
log out of your social media accounts. if you make it harder for yourself to access social media you will have no choice but to either do the things you like or do productive things
Or you will end up staring at the ceiling hating yourself for a few hours, getting rid of “easy dopamine” doesn’t make getting yourself to do something any easier
My hyperfocus is meditation. Staring at the ceiling is my favorite pastime
Ive been doing this a lot too. Im a stay at home dad and by the time my daughter is in bed Im so excited to be able to do what i want for a few hours and end up wasting it scrolling instead of playing the games Ive been wanting to play.
I'm in the same boat, it went downhill since 2019, before that i used to be able to concentrate to the things i enjoyed, in the last years i became stupid, i wish i could get meds, but they told me i need parents to make a test for stimulants... I also think part of my worsen symptoms are antidepressants medication combined with alcohol use.
Hello me, it’s us!
I’ve been trying my best to limit phone scrolling. It’s a tough habit to crack!
This is me most of the time but factorio always seems get me hyper focused, Epic game with endless possibilities for my mind to get sucked into
I got this as I got older for some reason...as well when I got on paroxetine. The older I got the worse it got. Adderall gives me back my will and want to do things I like like gaming. At least if I don't have weed for a min of 2 days. Weed affects Adderalls efficacy inversely for me it seems.
Going through the same thing too, OP. I’ve been wanting to play TotK on my own, but can never bring myself to do it, so I’ll just watch my partner play it instead. I’ve also been wanting to finish watching the anime Trigun, I legit only have like 4 episodes left, and I WANT to finish it so bad because I fucking LOOOVE this anime, but I just cannot being myself to finish it. Same with the Castlevania anime on Netflix - I finished the second season like 2 years ago, but never watched the third and fourth seasons even though I thought the show was fantastic. Both executive dysfunction and hyperfixation are hellish, and you can’t possibly try to explain these behaviors to someone who doesn’t have ADHD. It’s so fucking awful.
Same, but with Cult of the Lamb for me. All I have to do is turn it on right now, but I'm scrolling Reddit, and playing this cat cooking game on the phone.
This happens to me a lot. It is the worst.
That sounds rough. Been there with Minecraft.
me on reddit instead of playing Boltgun... yeah.
I woke up this morning to play some anno 1800. I loaded it up and I’m still on Reddit. Why. Like actually why is this a thing? Funny I’m not the only one here and how timely of Reddit to feed it to me. But why. Why do we get trapped
Did you recently stop or reduce a medication?
It really is. I feel the same. I can barely hold conversations anymore because I just feel so bored. Nothing gives my brain the stimulation that it’s craving. Know you’re not alone
I've been struggling with this for a long time. I always thought it's something distimia related but my doctor recently suggested ADHD-PI. I was hoping that, once diagnosed, the meds would help. Now I'm worried that it won't :( Are you still suffering of this while on ADHD medication? I know that everyone's experience with meds is different, and it might take a while to find the right ones, but I'm wondering if I don't get my hopes up too high :(
I have it really bad as well. I also have bipolar and I don't know if it is related to that or past trauma but I am constantly disassociating. It pretty much controls my life at times. Apparently what I am feeling is depersonalization but I haven't brought it up to my psychiatrist yet. Its gotren really bad so I am bringing it up when I see him next.
Same reason I never watch tv or movies. Can’t choose, can’t stay focused when I do, can’t finish a series I start. Even if I liked it. It leaves me a pop culture void because I can never talk about what other people are super into.
Caffeine + nap helps me. Like I'll drink a cup of coffee then hit the bed. Wake up when the caffine kicks in But that'll cost about 45 minutes of my day :( . I think my recent post-op hypothyroidism is making my adhd tiredness 10x worse.
I can’t seem to concentrate on ANY TV program or movie recently:(
Oddly I had the exact opposite effect with the new Zelda. I don't play video games for this very reason anymore. I didn't initially care all that much about playing but once I turned it on... I obssively played in for the next two weeks literally. It was all I did, all I thought about, had dreams about it. Every day, by the end of the day, I just felt dead inside, all of my dopamine was gone. Thank jesus I finally beat the main story and that allowed me to mostly move on.
Mood follows action.
Yup, I hate that feeling. Wake up on a day with nothing on your calendar, be like, "I've got all day to play this game / work on this hobby / binge this show" and then suddenly it's like 2 hours to bedtime, you have no idea what you've done all day and you're like, "Well I can't start that thing now or I'll get too caught up and throw off my sleep, guess I'll just kill time until bed."
Exactly. I even experienced the same thing playing the new Zelda game - I bought the game, played it a lot for three days and then stopped for like three weeks. And I just loaded it up again and attempted to fight a boss like twice before I gave up and went somewhere else in the game. Luckily you can do that in the game, just skip shit. I’m like that with anything in life.
Feeling called out 💀 I’m doing the exact same thing right now actually, same game.
Scrolling Reddit for hours while TOTK is on the TV?…. I am doing this exact thing
I opened my ipad to draw and spent longer looking at the app then drawing. Executive dysfunction is definitely the symptom I hate most. Sometimes listening to binaural and/or 8d audio can help but unfortunately not always.
Oooft… I feel this so hard. I put my Nintendo switch on last weekend and looked through the shop, updated my games, turned on some sim city type game - couldn’t work out how to build a city in a perfect grid within 20 seconds and sat on pause and watched TikTok for hours instead. I’ve never finished Zelda or FFVII. I get bored at the thought of even switching it on, and I REALLY want to play it….
Getting past the wall of awful, even for things we want to do, can be such bullshit. It's important to remember you're not getting on to play the whole game in one sitting, you're getting on to just hit new game and give it a try. The switch also lets you turn it off whenever and it will be waiting for you when you get back.
No advice, just solidarity. I live for reading and right now I’m *forcing* myself to read 10 min /day if only to keep my Kindle streak going. It’s so hard!
It’s so hard to explain that I DO WANT TO PLAY games, I just literally cannot bring myself to start doing it. Which is odd as I didn’t have this problem as a kid. I also just end up browsing reddit a lot  Trying to buckle down and finish FFXIV, maybe I’ll finally finish the story after 2 years of faffing about..
*Reads two pages of a book I’m extremely interested in* “NOPE! :)” *pick up phone*
This is so relatable haha
I do this a lot and it’s so frustrating. The whole “loss of interest” made me wonder if I was really depressed 😵💫
Dude I feel you. I used to love reading and now I’m just…”well I’m out of high school time to read all these in read books” and still have not yet.
I literally had all day to do a few small chores done And I did zero. Instead, I read And watched endless TV. I am currently in bed panicking.
I feel that so hard with TOTK. There’s so much to do that I get overwhelmed. I’ve been able to play, and enjoy it, when I narrow down what I’ll be doing. If I start to explore too much, or try to do the main quests then I can’t and I freeze.
Yesssssssss. I spend at least one day per weekend asleep, even though I hate doing so. I just cannot get out of bed.
I feel this. I used to be an avid reader. Like I would real all weekend when I was a kid. I could read for hours up until about 10 years ago (when I was around 25-26) then suddenly, I couldn't focus on it. I'd read the same line over and over, or I'd think I was reading it but not taking anything in. And suddenly something happens and I'm like how the heck did that happen?! It's so sad. And now even a long text can be taxing. I also used to love writing. Since I was a kid I wrote songs, poems, stories. I even wrote an 800 odd page book. Again, these things rarely happen anymore. Even on my meds, I can't do it. I've always been artistic in that way and now... I'm not and it feels like I'm losing a part of who I have been since I was a young child
Whyyyyyy, why did you have to mention the game I pre-ordered and have only managed to play a couple hours of for that very same reason 😔 lol
I had to unplug all my game consoles in order to be productive
I'm on my *fourth* attempt to get Steam Support's help fixing/replacing my borked Index vr headset. I **fucking love** this thing, but each time I get a few exchanges into troubleshooting, I start postponing the umpteenth step or so until the ticket closes again : | The two year warranty ends in about a month. I've been opening these tickets since around the winter before last. I feel so fucking useless hah
Same. And nobody else understands
I would remove the phone maybe? I find I look at it during periods of boredom of watching a movie or something and it's a stupid addiction because of that stuff.
Anyone else stare at what they need to do and just think “panic panic panic panic panic panic panic” but make no moves toward doing the thing, until you just give up three hours later and go to bed stressed over not doing the thing? My favorite is when your partner is also frustrated because you are stressed over the thing and emotionally distant and they don’t understand why you can’t just do the thing.
I recommend some time off of social media, or at least a reduction in that time. People are almost acquiring executive dysfunction from stuff like TikTok and Instagram, adding that shit on top of ADHD just makes it worse. I know I can think better when I haven't been on Reddit half the day, it really fucks with my brain. Seriously just delete the app and try a day or two to start with - could even do it over the Reddit blackout on the 12th when loads of people are doing it to protest API changes.
I overly hyper fixated on Zelda before the release of TOTK by re-playing BOTW and skyward sword in anticipation of release day. We’re not talking speed runs, we’re talking 80ish hours each. I finished skyward sword the day before TOTK released. .. Well now I’m burnt out on Zelda and can’t hype myself up to play it. Im guessing im about 15% in and im not desiring to immerse myself in it, which really sucks. I’m probably going to have to take a break and restart the game in a couple months
Thats not adhd at that point
It sucks... I've been putting off cleaning my room for **two fucking years** How/why did I start?? My therapist gave me a homework assignment that **needed** to be done, but it caused me severe mental distress (✨trauma✨) and didn't wanna... So I cleaned part of my room lmao
I feel this. With a lot of stuff, but video games in particular. Step 1: Power on SteamDeck Step 2: Play game? No! Browse through whole game collection for hours Step 3: Play game? No! Browse through the steam store without buying anything Step 4: Play game? No! Put down SteamDeck because playing a game seems like too much work. Seems especially true of Open World/RPG games. It took me about 5 years to finish the Witcher 3 despite the fact I absolutely loved it and desperately wanted to play it often. I have a category in my steam library called 'Long RPGs' which may as well be called 'Games you will never play'
Someone once told me about a thing in which you give yourself 5 seconds to break out of whatever you're doing and start something else. Maybe you're sitting on the couch messing about on Reddit but you need to get up to do something. Just say to yourself, "Ok, I've gotta get up to start doing the thing in 5-4-3-2-1." and then you get up and do it. Sometimes it works for me. Actually, it usually works, but sometimes I need to repeat the countdown. I dunno, it can be hard to get started, but the hardest part is just that, so, get ready to close Reddit (and lock your phone!) in... 5-4-3-2-1