I am new to this ADD thing and still waiting on a confirmed diagnosis from a psychiatrist but I think it's pretty much a given that I have ADD inattentive type.

So, here's what's making me curious. Is it unusual for you to be able to focus sometimes but not all the time? For instance, I had a meeting here at work and I was completely focused when everyone else seemed not to be. I was "getting" what the facilitator was trying to accomplish but no one else seemed to. Also, I do well at work, I excel and perform pretty well and often excel. However, I am intimidated by the idea of moving up to a position of more responsibility because I'm not sure I could be organized enough to manage it.

I have always been in jobs where they were pretty structured (call center, customer service work) so there isn't much room for me to screw up and not focus. I have to but things still slip through the cracks. At home I'm a mess though. I can't keep anything organized on my own initiative.

Does this sound normal for ADD?

Hi Titanica,
Mixed overattentiveness and distractability is common in ADD. Interest and motivation are key factors here. ADDers can become totally immersed in something that interests them - to the point of tuning out everything else. In my case, it gets so intense that I 'snap' at anyone that interrupts me! Not a good thing.

On the other hand, ADDers can have a very difficult time getting focused on something that isn't very interesting - at least at that moment.

Welcome to the forums, Titanica.

We all have our strengths and weaknesses. As you said, your job is well-structured. Some ADDers do very well with well-structured jobs (including the military) because their surroundings facilitate focus.

Home doesn't. It's just there. A looming, glaring responsibility that just sits and offers no insight or guidance. Also, the meeting may have interested you. I can focus on stuff that interests me, like pulling together some skits for the kids. Ask me to get the math done...blech...I only do it because I have to, and even then it's easy for me to fall into the procrastination hole.

I'm also intimidated by promotion. It's not that I'm not smart enough but it requires my mind to be attentive to more things, which makes it easier to confuse me. I used to work in fast food a long time ago. I was a good crew person, a good crew trainer, and not half bad at being a crew chief...but management? I totally stunk. People I trained went on to become managers.......I got my Mrs. degree instead.

Chel..that is totally me. YES the meeting was TOTALLY interesting to me.

Oh that is soooo my home...a looming, glaring responsibility....as long as my surrioundings facilitate structure I can do it. But the minute that is lifted I fall apart. My husband is a sales guy and he is very self motivated and I could NEVER do his job. I have so little motivation but such desire at the same time for it to get better...you know? I hate the fact that my home is chaotic and disorderly and a mess. But I can't muster up the motivation or skill to pull it together.

But aren't boring topics hard for anyone to focus on? I mean, it seems normal to me to not be interested in a topic that bores you. Is it just harder for ADDers?

You have got me totally confused, are you saying that you think you have ADD but you don't or something because I am lost. I think I have read your post wrong but here is what I think. When you pay attention is that in the morning or is that at random parts during the day?

Titanica, you described me to a tee. I too have an amazing ability to "hyperfocus" on my tasks at work ( telephone prospecting) which is a VERY STRUCTURED
PROCESS, my ability to hyperfocus has enabled me to experience great success at work HOWEVER the prospects of a promotion which would entail a tremendous amount of additional responsibility scares me. My organization skills are non-existant and i simply dont pick up on new things very well. Its interesting that we both do well in call center enviorments

I'm ADD limbic. That means I tend to be a little hyperactive, and I have sensory overload issues. Sometimes I focus better than others. If I am having sensory problems I will usually be a bit overwhelmed and thus, more ADD-ish and distracted. Much of the time I tend to skip around a lot and I am not focused so tightly unless I am hyperrfocused. I can sometimes hyperfocus at will, but at other times It seems to be random. When I am hyperfocused, I am REALLY there and very much ON. It is a bit of an endorphine buzz for me , so I like being hyperfocused. I try to use this ability in my work.

I also take mental trips.... I "check out" sometimes. I go somewhere else mentally and think about one thing for a while, sometimes a long while... When I do that I am still aware of what is going on around me, but it is as though the volume control on the outside world is turned down. A friend of mine had a way of communicating with me when I was in that state... she did so very gently.... she would ask me where I was at and what I was thinking about... and I'd tell her... Most of the time , something rudely pulls me back to whatever is going on around me and I just return to whatever was going on at the time. Every now and then someone catches me doing it and I end up a little embarassed. I have always been this way, and my friends know me and accept it.

I was in a restaurant one day and did it, and a fellow caught me checking out. His reaction to me was kind of amazing. He said he wished he could do it. Apparently he knew what I was doing.

When I am at home , I can use that tendency to think very deeply to work out problems, and ideas for use at work, etc. I'm expected to be the idea person, the "out of the box" thinker, so I try to use my tendencies to my advantage.

If I'm going to be ADD, I'm going to make it count for something, as much as possible.

Me :D


I am new to
this ADD thing and still waiting on a confirmed diagnosis from a psychiatrist but I think it's pretty much a given that I have ADD inattentive type.

So, here's what's making me curious. Is it unusual for you to be able to focus sometimes but not all the time? For instance, I had a meeting here at work and I was completely focused when everyone else seemed not to be. I was "getting" what the facilitator was trying to accomplish but no one else seemed to. Also, I do well at work, I excel and perform pretty well and often excel. However, I am intimidated by the idea of moving up to a position of more responsibility because I'm not sure I could be organized enough to manage it.

I have always been in jobs where they were pretty structured (call center, customer service work) so there isn't much room for me to screw up and not focus. I have to but things still slip through the cracks. At home I'm a mess though. I can't keep anything organized on my own initiative.

Does this sound normal for ADD?

Welcome to the forums, Titanica.

We all have our strengths and weaknesses. As you said, your job is well-structured. Some ADDers do very well with well-structured jobs (including the military) because their surroundings facilitate focus.

Home doesn't. It's just there. A looming, glaring responsibility that just sits and offers no insight or guidance. Also, the meeting may have interested you. I can focus on stuff that interests me, like pulling together some skits for the kids. Ask me to get the math done...blech...I only do it because I have to, and even then it's easy for me to fall into the procrastination hole.

I'm also intimidated by promotion. It's not that I'm not smart enough but it requires my mind to be attentive to more things, which makes it easier to confuse me. I used to work in fast food a long time ago. I was a good crew person, a good crew trainer, and not half bad at being a crew chief...but management? I totally stunk. People I trained went on to become managers.......I got my Mrs. degree instead. Home, a looming glaring responsibility that just sits there. That's a great discription. I agree wholly. I've halfway turned my house into a studio because of this and it's a giant disaster!

I get bored at work it's become too routine. I used to absorb myself in this and constantly add tasks to my routine when I took Adderall. Now I'm gettin' lazy and burnt out.