I have a hard time talking to people. One of the reasons is that I tend to interrupt instead of letting people finish their sentences or their stories. I tend to pipe in with "Oh, yeah, that happened to me too..."

Has anyone succeeded in stopping this behavior? I really, really want to learn to listen.

I think you're asking other infirms for help. I'd like to think I could 'count to 10', but by the time I'd reach '3' I'd have stopped listening.

when you figger it out, let my sister know. I am not so much of an interrupter, but my sister, yowzaaaaaa.

I wonder if you can talk to some friend or family member in practice conversations? Where they talk, and you l-i-s-t-e-n? And if you jump in they bring you back to l-i-s-t-e-n-i-n-g? Practice it and work on stretching out your times. I don't know if this would help but it seems worth a try.

Now, my problem of not listening is just, not listening. And I drag myself back by remembering that this person matters to me, and I want to be part of my family's lives, I want to be the one they tell their troubles to and the only way to be that person is to listen to the little trivial stuff, day in and day out.... and that helps. I mean, thinking about that person you love, rather than, "why is he bothering me with THIS?" which of course sometimes is very tempting to think.

I had to consciously tell myself that it was not all about me. When I piped in a one better, or a well this happened to me story, I came to realize I was taking away from their life experience. I was devaluing them.

My friends and I have an agreement. If they call me, it is all about them and I have to let them talk. If I call them then it is all about me, and they have to listen to me. If they interrupt me to talk about themself, it is a rule I can tell them, "It is all about me, because I called you." When I am done talking about me, then I switch the focus over to them. That is just the way I had to do it, because I knew I was guilty of interrupting. Also be aware of the many times others are guilty of the same interruption. How do you feel when you are interrupted?

We are just sensitive human beings... I also had to think, why did I have the urgency to make the conversation about me? What if I didn't put in my .02 cents? Maybe I would have learned something about them if I had just listened.

just thoughts rambled....

ohhh yeah, I will interrupt someone who is trying to interrupt me and say, "Let me finish! Your interruption make me lose my focus."

Yep, that's gotta be an ADD trait.
I do this on occasion.
I have to work at it so I'm not practicing this all the time.
Somehow I managed not to do it during my interview yesterday.
I guess because I was focusing on the questions.

Interrupting, well thats something I always have a hard time dealing with. Especially now at work. My supervisor, who is a drill sergeant for the marines, aside of just being my boss, loves to tell me to listen. For example, if I am trying to tell him something about my work, after about 30 seconds to a minute, he turns to me, and interrupts me saying to listen to him. But as he is saying that, I have already added about 10 more words before realizing and hearing what he just said. Then he comes out saying KEYWORD: LISTEN. Which I really hate, and want to tell him off, but I know I can't. I just wish I could just say my point right away and then listen. But its tough, because the more I try and listen without interupting, I end up doing it anyways.

I finish people's sentences sometimes if they show the least difficulty in finishing it, because obviously I know what they are trying to say.

I don't have the interruption problem per se, because I'm usually too busy trying to look like I'm listening, nodding like an idiot and saying "yeah" "oh yea" "mmhmm" "right" etc. Actually talking to people is a chore. Ritalin helps this quite a bit.

I'm usually too busy trying to look like I'm listening, nodding like an idiot and saying "yeah" "oh yea" "mmhmm" "right" etc. Actually talking to people is a chore. Ritalin helps this quite a bit.

I do this exact thing, except I am so concerned about nodding at the right time, I completly stop listening to the words! I hate when all of the sudden they ask a question.... and it is over. This is why I hate to socialize with anyone who is not familiar with my many issues.

Oh, and I also interrupt like crazy. Like the world just has to know every little detail about my life. When will I learn that the less I say, the better I sound!

I realized that I was never actually "listening", I was really waiting for my turn to talk by letting the other person finish all the while thinking about what I was going to say next.

I also had to realize it's not fair to the person if I keep "one-upping" them with my own personal stories. It's something I'm trying very hard to work on. Instead of talking about myself when it's my "turn" to speak I ask them a question about their story, it helps a lot.

I ask them a question about their story, it helps a lot.

Hells yeah. People love talking about themselves, we ADHDers need to exploit that to our advantage so we don't seem like complete social ****-ups.

I have a hard time talking to people. One of the reasons is that I tend to interrupt instead of letting people finish their sentences or their stories. I tend to pipe in with "Oh, yeah, that happened to me too..."

Has anyone succeeded in stopping this behavior? I really, really want to learn to listen.
beleive it or not one thing that really helped me was I took an actual college course called the art of listening. It really helped me understand just how active listening, not just hearing is.

I do this also. My boss says I talk over her and my hubby says I interrupt. I also, although I don't mean to be a "one Upper"...Me: "really!, cause this happen to me...blah blah blah..."
Luckily my boss knows I don't mean to and my hubby will stop me sometimes.
Or I am just pretending to listen, smile and nod, pick up enough info to ask a vague question to let them talk more..I do this at work a lot with clients.

If I am not really talking I am probably not really interested.

i have this problem also. The interrupting. Makes my DH crazy.

I'm trying... Not too successful, I'm afraid. And I HAVE to tell people things I should've kept to myself...! People know too much about me. I hate to open my mouth - words comes pouring out! Even when I've decided not to over-talk. Too often. Too often... Do people get in a word? NO. And when they do, I interrupt. Cut them off. I feel so bad about this. :(

I have a hard time talking to people. One of the reasons is that I tend to interrupt instead of letting people finish their sentences or their stories. I tend to pipe in with "Oh, yeah, that happened to me too..."

Has anyone succeeded in stopping this behavior? I really, really want to learn to listen.

I do that ALL THE TIME.
In a group I can never wait my turn and let other people talk, i always cut into their words.
Altho i recently started meds and noticed when i was on them (concerta 27mg) i had an awesome group conversation (4 people), talked just the right amount and had no impulse to interrupt, and enjoyed the convo, feeling happy at the end of it and relaxed
Take meds, they help.

i feel ya im the same way

LMAO at this thread.:D

I just stare between the centre of the eyes as apparently it looks as though your listening..... all the time just hoping they can't see that glaze appear...sunglasses are good for this :cool:

Also really bad with the inappropiate details thing.....especially at work...not so :cool: