Wanting to know/learn/do everything.
 

Ok, so I watched a video of a girl on youtube who was talking about her ADHD and she mentioned that she wanted to know/learn/do everything. I can identify with this as I want to learn several languages (Spanish,Japanese,Chinese first). I am also about to finish my degree in mechanical engineering but I have looked up the curriculum of computer science, civil engineering and electrical engineering and am planning to borrow books and syllabi from friends in order to provide myself with education in these fields. I've taken classes in multiple types of sports/dancing/history/art.

This is funny, because while I want to do all of this I usually just can never find the motivation to whip out a book, or just generally forget that I want to do this while I waste time on things that aren't even fun or interesting. It's why I've been in school for 10 years. If I am in the act of reading I know it's fun and I know I like to do it. It is just that I never have the motivation to open the book.

I was diagnosed with ADHD 2 weeks ago and am awaiting treatment. I was curious if my desire for all of this learning will fade with medication, or if I will actually be able to reach some of these goals.

Thanks.

Re: Wanting to know/learn/do everything.
 

Learning is stimulating for many of us, hyperfocus on that stimulation looks like this. And while I am NOT PI, I have hyperfocus, and I do this. I've felt like this, and it's a means of stimulating my (oh so different) dopamine functions in order to feel alive.

But I'm sure I must be wrong, and I can't possibly have the same symptoms as someone with PI because I'm the advantaged combined type so I'm full of ****.

Re: Wanting to know/learn/do everything.
 

Oh, behave! :grouphug:

Re: Wanting to know/learn/do everything.
 

That's why I'm a professional amateur. I have vast range of interests, but never really become an expert at any of them. :lol:

I know a little about a lot. :)

Re: Wanting to know/learn/do everything.
 

Meds, properly "tuned", won't take away your curiosity or broad interests.

They should make it easier for you to follow up/through on the reading, learning, practicing, etc. you might want to do without constantly being waylaid by distractions.

Don't expect miracles, and keep in mind there are only so many hours in a day. Even with better focus, it's unlikely you'll be able to master 3 languages, become an expert dancer/athlete/historian/artist, and finish your degree in a year.

So you'll have to prioritize.

But meds won't take away your curiosity, they'll just make it easier to direct your focus.

Best wishes!

Re: Wanting to know/learn/do everything.
 

Nope, I'm as curious as a child about most things, and often have the motivation to at least go look up the info I want- sometimes it ends in hyperfocus, sometimes not. I've always been that way though... I just want to know. I hate being 'left in the dark' so to speak. Annoys me.

Re: Wanting to know/learn/do everything.
 

I've wanted to be a physicist, work in IT, dog breeder, 3D animator, fighter pilot, aircraft engineer, astronomer, astrophotographer, comic book illustrator, and create my own social networking device.
I've learned Greek, Swedish, Polish and Indonesian - and then forgot them. I taught myself a very basic level of physics.

With medication I've made gains on becoming a fiction author and some art projects. I keep giving myself a challenge though, so to complete this project I have to learn a lot of new things. I've been meaning to get better at painting in photoshop like how mist people do fan art. And there's the hours of research for my books.

Without medication I managed to become a decent concert photographer. I gave up because it wasn't challenging enough and also strobe lights= seizures and I hate crowds.

But yes, very very curious. I want to be the smartest person in the world. I hate not knowing things. Although even when I do know things I can't always retrieve that information, so it's an endless cycle of re-educating.

Re: Wanting to know/learn/do everything.
 

I've been singing "Part of Your World" ever since I saw the title of this thread. If ever one Disney song could serve as my anthem, that would probably be it.

And ready to know what the people know
Ask 'em my questions and get some answers
What's a fire, and why does it, what's the word, burn?
When's it my turn?
Wouldn't I love, love to explore the shore up above
Out of the sea, wish I could be
Part of that world...

If I had a dime for every time I got told "Curiosity killed the cat" growing up (usually in a frenzied, yelling voice), I'd have enough savings to live on for the rest of my life. I am an intensely curious person, I have questions about everything and I love learning. So I definitely understand what you mean when you say that you have a thirst to learn about random things, not to serve any particular purpose, but just because you want to know. I have that want to know about almost every topic I come across!

If I could, I'd be a professional student. Unfortunately that would become very expensive very quickly. However, some top-notch universities are posting lectures from classes for free online now. You can find classes from Yale, UC Berkeley, Oxford, Harvard, Notre Dame and more online. The topics range from philosophy to chemistry to mathematics, pretty much anything you have an interest in you can learn for free now! Just thought I'd let you know if you weren't aware already. :)

By the way, in regards to medication, I've found that medication did not hamper my curiosity at all. In fact, it made me more capable of investigating new hobbies, interests, and school subjects, because I was more able to actually focus on them and retain knowledge.

Re: Wanting to know/learn/do everything.
 

I have a thirst for learning but the memory full of holes so I can't remember facts. So in a way I could learn something new and not gain the benefit. I have to struggle on doing the same thing and over time get better at it enough for me to notice an improvement, then I know I have succeeded.

But my desire to do lots of different things made me think am I moving on to new subjects so I avoid failing at the one I am currently doing. Hmmm.

Re: Wanting to know/learn/do everything.
 

"I've been singing "Part of Your World" ever since I saw the title of this thread. If ever one Disney song could serve as my anthem, that would probably be it."

This is funny. I sing Disney songs all the time and this is the one I sing the most. When I watch anime, the characters who touch me emotionally that I feel I relate to the most? The robots trying to fit into human society. Haha.

OP, meds make it better. Just to reiterate Namazu though, don't expect any miracles. They give some energy, you'll accomplish more than before, but the results are still a bit disappointing. Just don't set your expectations too high and try to be objective with how much they're helping you. Anything is better than nothing at this point.

Re: Wanting to know/learn/do everything.
 

This is normal for me, and meds do not take it away.

I want to learn about a lot of things, do a lot of things, go a lot of places. I will never have the time to accomplish all that i want to in life.

I have numerous interests and yet have mastered few things. I think, i should have been some kind of doctor, and be driving around in some disadvantaged part of the world bringing medicine to people who don't have it. I should have been an artist, who paints and fills the world with beauty. I should have been an archaeologist, on some dig, learning about civilizations of long ago. I should have been a farmer. I should have been a chef. I should have been alot of things. Not that being a nurse is bad, its just...I needed some kind of adventure.

When i was just graduated from college, I saw a job in the Kansas City Star, to work for the government. It would not go into it in any more detail. I went and took the tests, and answered the questions. Then, they wanted me to drive across town and pee in a cup. I knew my pee was dirty, so i never went. I planned to call them back, and tell them i got lost, and see if i could go later, but i just never got around to it, like i never got around to not smoking pot back then. I have wondered about that job a lot. I wonder if it was to be like a spy. They called my dad later, trying to get ahold of me, and told him i had done smashingly well on their tests and questionairres. He told them the truth....she couldnt get a job with her biology degree, and went back to complete a nursing degree. But i wonder, if they had called ME, if my life might be different. I wonder what the job was.

There are so many interesting things in the world.

On one hand, it takes little to satisfy me. Being a wife and mother is enough work for anyone. I don't need anything fancy, or a whole lot of money. My house is nice enough, my car is nice enough, i am able to pay bills and buy food. I have a lot to be thankful for. On the other hand, i like adventure.