Do you find that your distraction is internal or external?

When you are having trouble doing something that you meant to do--

is it because you have a drive to seek out more stimulating activity, or maybe because something more thrilling catches your attention and you follow that whim? Like you are so alert that you are hyperaware of everything in your environment and anything can potentially catch your eye and capture your interest?

Or is it because you get lost in your own mind, whether in a sort of daydreamy languor, or some kind of thrilling and inspiring daydreamy state, you go off in your own world and you just aren't paying attention to the task or activity you are actually doing?


Do you find that your patterns resemble either the first option or the second option, but not both? Or do you find that you are sometimes like one of the options and sometimes like the other? If neither description fits how you experience distraction, please decribe how it is for you. (I guess it doesn't make much sense to call my descriptions "options", since whatever we experience, it certainly isn't an option we choose!!)

Wow... I dunno... I find it both actually... but more on the daydreaming side...

Do you find that your distraction is internal or external?

When you are having trouble doing something that you meant to do--

is it because you have a drive to seek out more stimulating activity, or maybe because something more thrilling catches your attention and you follow that whim? Yes. I do this. I have found that I must have my mind latched on to something! I either have some project going on in my mind or it can be pretty negative with lots of ruminating, yucky stuff. Like you are so alert that you are hyperaware of everything in your environment and anything can potentially catch your eye and capture your interest? I definitely can get like this. I find this happens when I get overstimulated from too much noise or activity. I guess it happens too when I am overly enthusiatic over some new something. With the stimulation from noise it doesn't take much then for me too go too far and get too wound up. That brings on anxiety.

Or is it because you get lost in your own mind, whether in a sort of daydreamy languor, or some kind of thrilling and inspiring daydreamy state, you go off in your own world and you just aren't paying attention to the task or activity you are actually doing? I can do this too! :D I usually have my overly active imagination going on about my next new project.


Do you find that your patterns resemble either the first option or the second option, but not both? Or do you find that you are sometimes like one of the options and sometimes like the other? If neither description fits how you experience distraction, please decribe how it is for you. (I guess it doesn't make much sense to call my descriptions "options", since whatever we experience, it certainly isn't an option we choose!!)
I think I would be discribed as easily distractable on one hand and a one track mind on another. Such is life with ADD!

Thanks for the responses. Here are some additional/follow-up questions:

How about this-- do you like the stimulation of highly interactive activities where you have to use your intellect/creativity/be mentally "on your toes", or do you find yourself constantly on autopilot so that you make lots of mistakes when you are faced with an activity that requires the involvement of your mind?


Or how about this question-- how would you relate to the task of raking the leaves in a yard that would take about an hour and a half to rake? Would you do it? Could you do it? Would you mind it? Would you like it?

i would say im the first way you described and the 2nd as well but mostly the 1st

Thanks for the responses. Here are some additional/follow-up questions:

How about this-- do you like the stimulation of highly interactive activities where you have to use your intellect/creativity/be mentally "on your toes", or do you find yourself constantly on autopilot so that you make lots of mistakes when you are faced with an activity that requires the involvement of your mind?
I think I would answer this question yes to the first statement if I amin a good, positive mood. When I am up I am UP! I like to pile my plate full and love digging deep into whatever it is I am involved in. I would have to answer yes to the second statement when I am in a negative mood in which I am very focused on some internal distraction.


Or how about this question-- how would you relate to the task of raking the leaves in a yard that would take about an hour and a half to rake? Would you do it? Could you do it? Would you mind it? Would you like it?
I happen to like mindless physical labor! :D I am weird that way! I like to do something physical so I can just go off into my own mind. I do my best thinking when I do this kind of thing. I like to garden for this reason. I also like to mow. I have horses and one of my daily choresis to clean stalls. I enjopy this because I can just drift away in my mind while I do this mindless physical work. I find it very relaxing.

I don't daydream that often, but I feel my distractions start internally.

Ex: I sit down at my computer to do homework. I open Word. I don't daydream, but instead of working on my paper, I'll check my e-mail, play a game and I'll sit there thinking about things to do instead. And then make the conscious effort to do them, while everyonce in a while opening Word and uselessly thinking about my paper.

Ex: I'll start walking to do the laundry, and run through a huge chain reaction of "I forgot to..."'s. I don't see anything to distract me, but my brain works faster than my body, I guess.

Hi Way too Flighty.......that sounds like me:),

I thrive on busy busy highly stimulating activities---interactive, creative and mentally challenging......you hit the nail on the head and if that is in a text book, then that is my adhd.

Raking leaves....let's see. First, it would be likely to not fully complete the task, be it 1/2 the yard or 2ft of yard.
I'd randomly rake around the yard, stop to pull up weeds...etc.etc. Many, many ideas to improve the yard.

Rhyme and reason are not my strong points. But I will say that I get an awful lot of useful thinking done while doing a task where I am able to stay put. It is more of a trance-like state than an auto-pilot, and I feel like it enhances the creative process. So I look at that as a positive.

That was a good question!

Rake leaves for an hour and a half.
Can I get someone else to do that? lol
For me that is a boring task that I would daydream through.
The second option fits me.

I love artsmartbabe's remark--"Many, many ideas to improve the yard."


This makes me smile because I get lots and lots of ideas too! :o In fact I've started an 'idea' book. I just started to write down some of my ideas. Whatever idea I have on whatever project I am currently working on. My h is not an idea person. He's a 'how do I get it done person' (thankfully!!!) He reminds me all the time that people like him need people like us because they don't have any of their own ideas. Just another way to look at things....