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"as is the inability to get excited about projects you simply don't want to do - " Why is this ADHD and not just being human? This sounds so basic I have a har

"as is the inability to get excited about projects you simply don't want to do - " Why is this ADHD and not just being human? This sounds so basic I have a hard time believing this is because of a condition.

kdkdkskdn 5y ago
I have an ADHD diagnosis (honestly I think my case is rather severe, even) and I agree. Procrastinating is something everyone does. Being completely unable to sit still for more than a few minutes is an experience neurotypicals don't share. ADHD is really one of those disorders that's both under and over diagnosed
forz877 5y ago
To someone without ADHD it doesn't make sense at times. If you have certain types of ADHD and you aren't excited about something, you just have a huge resistance to doing it and you likely won't do it. Many don't even do the work with a deadline. On the flip side, when you're intensely interested, you often times are completely absorbed into it, at the expense of other human needs.
- ksaj 5y ago
  > On the flip side... Also, when that hyperfocus runs out, that absorption is lost, possibly forever. Onto the next fleeting thing.
borski 5y ago
It's not about not getting excited; it's about literally being unable to. Someone with ADHD can sit there and really mean to get excited, and yell at themselves to, and they simply can't do it; their brain won't let them. Someone neurotypical can usually convince themselves to at least do it, and "will" themselves into it. But you're somewhat right, and this is why getting a real diagnosis from a professional is so important: lots of people have some of these symptoms. What distinguishes the ADHD brain from the neurotypical brain is the duration and frequency of these symptoms, and an inability to adjust for them even with disciplined effort. And it's not about medication, necessarily, though for 80% of people with ADHD, medication is extremely helpful; often, just learning about the syndrome and finding a therapist/coach to help build tools and stop blaming yourself for the things you cannot change is extremely helpful on its own too.
- conductr 5y ago
  That helps a lot. I know I'm 100% able to do the thing, I'm just a lazy bastard some days
  - ksaj 5y ago
    People with ADHD have a hard time starting and then completing even things they do want to do. Everyone with ADHD has a dozen unfinished recent projects they adore, but will probably never finish. Hyperfocus gets them started, and they go REALLY far with the project, and then it wears out, and the project is neglected thereafter. Even if the person still adores the project and hopes to finish it. Without the hyperfocus, nothing gets done.
    - yazaddaruvala 5y ago
      This also sounds like the 80/20 rule and/or procrastination. 80% of the thing takes 20 % of the time, and then a feeling of diminishing returns blocks us from doing the other 80% of the effort. > the project is neglected thereafter. Even if the person still adores the project and hopes to finish it. I am also curious why this is labeled ADHD. To me this seems to just be “the human condition”. I guess from what I’ve read in this thread, using the term “ADHD” seems to allow people the ability to forgive themselves for the very human condition of procrastination and/or “not achieving perfect completion”. For anyone reading this, you can also choose to forgive yourself for not being perfect without the professional diagnosis. At least I definitely do.
      - borski 5y ago
        It really is hard to describe and, to be fair, is certainly only one symptom of ADHD and a dozen other things. This is why a diagnosis needs to come from a professional, but if someone has been struggling to put together the pieces of their own puzzle, there are likely far more behaviors that have driven them to consider this.
      - ck425 5y ago
        You may be right and indeed there's many psychiatrist who openly say that the definition of ADHD and where you draw the line between having it and not is somewhat arbitrary. But if people are struggling and having this diagnosis and these treatments helps with minimal downside then why not use them? I recently got diagnosed and it may just be that I'm naturally very distractible and bad at paying attention. But if the diagnosis and meds make my life significantly better at minimal risk/cost then what's the harm?
meej 5y ago
It's ADHD when it seriously negatively affects your quality of life.
Sophistifunk 5y ago
The difference is that even if you want to do something, often you simply cannot if the rest of your brain isn't playing along.
bdowling 5y ago
> Why is this ADHD and not just being human? Because most people can work effectively on a project that they don't want to do by, for example, focusing on the positive benefits of doing the project or the negative consequences of not doing it. Someone with ADHD can go through the same reasoning and still not be able to pay attention and effectively work on the project.
testmasterflex 5y ago
Agreed. Everyone and their uncle has ADHD nowadays. All their arguments are complete BS and imo it’s derived from stressful contemporary life styles. “ADHD is wanting to do something but can’t” No, you don’t do it because it’s hard/boring/overwhelming/menial, not because you can’t. These people will pay later for the central stimulants. My friend is numb after starting with them but sure, he is productive.

kdkdkskdn 5y ago

I have an ADHD diagnosis (honestly I think my case is rather severe, even) and I agree. Procrastinating is something everyone does. Being completely unable to sit still for more than a few minutes is an experience neurotypicals don't share. ADHD is really one of those disorders that's both under and over diagnosed

forz877 5y ago

To someone without ADHD it doesn't make sense at times. If you have certain types of ADHD and you aren't excited about something, you just have a huge resistance to doing it and you likely won't do it. Many don't even do the work with a deadline. On the flip side, when you're intensely interested, you often times are completely absorbed into it, at the expense of other human needs.

ksaj 5y ago
> On the flip side... Also, when that hyperfocus runs out, that absorption is lost, possibly forever. Onto the next fleeting thing.

borski 5y ago

It's not about not getting excited; it's about literally being unable to. Someone with ADHD can sit there and really mean to get excited, and yell at themselves to, and they simply can't do it; their brain won't let them. Someone neurotypical can usually convince themselves to at least do it, and "will" themselves into it. But you're somewhat right, and this is why getting a real diagnosis from a professional is so important: lots of people have some of these symptoms. What distinguishes the ADHD brain from the neurotypical brain is the duration and frequency of these symptoms, and an inability to adjust for them even with disciplined effort. And it's not about medication, necessarily, though for 80% of people with ADHD, medication is extremely helpful; often, just learning about the syndrome and finding a therapist/coach to help build tools and stop blaming yourself for the things you cannot change is extremely helpful on its own too.

conductr 5y ago
That helps a lot. I know I'm 100% able to do the thing, I'm just a lazy bastard some days
- ksaj 5y ago
  People with ADHD have a hard time starting and then completing even things they do want to do. Everyone with ADHD has a dozen unfinished recent projects they adore, but will probably never finish. Hyperfocus gets them started, and they go REALLY far with the project, and then it wears out, and the project is neglected thereafter. Even if the person still adores the project and hopes to finish it. Without the hyperfocus, nothing gets done.
  - yazaddaruvala 5y ago
    This also sounds like the 80/20 rule and/or procrastination. 80% of the thing takes 20 % of the time, and then a feeling of diminishing returns blocks us from doing the other 80% of the effort. > the project is neglected thereafter. Even if the person still adores the project and hopes to finish it. I am also curious why this is labeled ADHD. To me this seems to just be “the human condition”. I guess from what I’ve read in this thread, using the term “ADHD” seems to allow people the ability to forgive themselves for the very human condition of procrastination and/or “not achieving perfect completion”. For anyone reading this, you can also choose to forgive yourself for not being perfect without the professional diagnosis. At least I definitely do.
    - borski 5y ago
      It really is hard to describe and, to be fair, is certainly only one symptom of ADHD and a dozen other things. This is why a diagnosis needs to come from a professional, but if someone has been struggling to put together the pieces of their own puzzle, there are likely far more behaviors that have driven them to consider this.
    - ck425 5y ago
      You may be right and indeed there's many psychiatrist who openly say that the definition of ADHD and where you draw the line between having it and not is somewhat arbitrary. But if people are struggling and having this diagnosis and these treatments helps with minimal downside then why not use them? I recently got diagnosed and it may just be that I'm naturally very distractible and bad at paying attention. But if the diagnosis and meds make my life significantly better at minimal risk/cost then what's the harm?

meej 5y ago

It's ADHD when it seriously negatively affects your quality of life.

Sophistifunk 5y ago

The difference is that even if you want to do something, often you simply cannot if the rest of your brain isn't playing along.

bdowling 5y ago

> Why is this ADHD and not just being human? Because most people can work effectively on a project that they don't want to do by, for example, focusing on the positive benefits of doing the project or the negative consequences of not doing it. Someone with ADHD can go through the same reasoning and still not be able to pay attention and effectively work on the project.

testmasterflex 5y ago

Agreed. Everyone and their uncle has ADHD nowadays. All their arguments are complete BS and imo it’s derived from stressful contemporary life styles. “ADHD is wanting to do something but can’t” No, you don’t do it because it’s hard/boring/overwhelming/menial, not because you can’t. These people will pay later for the central stimulants. My friend is numb after starting with them but sure, he is productive.