Difficulty shifting tasks

[Gembeano1993]

So as well attention shifting onto other tasks a lot does anyone have a lot of difficulty taking their attention off tasks. Or not so much tasks just things that get their attention or they find more interesting than doing anything else. Like if you sit down to do something you kind of forget you have a strict time limit. I often find no matter what I have to do or where I have to be I always end up doing the same thing and it usually involves my computer. I can sit for hours and hours on my internet just googleing randomness. None of it's productive but I just forget everything else. It's so distracting, it's like I get carried away. Sometimes I will think I should really get ready or whatever but it's as if i'm stuck and I just can't get myself to move. Then of course when I realise my day is half over I have achieved nothing I feel incredibly lazy. Is this normal teenage behaviour? In work as well if i'm in the middle of doing something and someone distracts me I forget what I was doing and have some kind of brain overload. I find it difficult to multi task on certain things that usually require a lot of detail or attention because I need to be focused on that one thing.

[sarahsweets]

Welcome to the world of hyperfocus my friend.

[ginniebean]

If you have something to do sitting down at the computer is a sure fire way to make sure it doesn't get done.

[ginniebean]

You have a very nice nick, I like it.

[Gembeano1993]

Obviously I am going to get tested for add and I am aware of hyperfocusing just was unsure if this could be hyperfocusing or I am just lazy and unmotivated. I have all the symptoms of ADD but I'd hate to think it was just a character flaw argh well only time will tell I suppose. I'm going to the doctors in a week or so, wish me luck. Also what do you mean a nice nick?

[Gembeano1993]

Ooh I get you now hehe thanks so do you

[OvertheRainbow]

Originally Posted by Gembeano1993

Obviously I am going to get tested for add and I am aware of hyperfocusing just was unsure if this could be hyperfocusing or I am just lazy and unmotivated.

I've thought the same thing about myself. But then sometimes I think about the things I've accomplished and wonder how I could have done them if I were lazy and unmotivated, then I'll look at the clock again and see how much time I've spent futzing around and not getting anything done... This is just one of the many perplexities that go around and around in my head. Sigh.

Good luck at your doctor appointment!

[Flia]

I use alarms on my mobile. Lunch is one of them, so if I'm stuck all morning I at least lift the bum for lunch.
If I'm going somewhere I set the alarm for when to leave.
And all my alarms have snooze, so I can finish what I'm doing.

[sarahsweets]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3VuV5Jvazs

watch this its interesting.

[Gembeano1993]

Thanks for your replies and thanks sarah for the video. I actually found that same video on youtube the other day. It's very interesting. It does seem I am very unmotivated. I have tried many things to motivate myself but I just can never stick at anything. I know I can't be lazy because I want to do well in life. There are so many things I want to achieve. My mother did not bring me into this world to fail. I feel like I have let myself down. This video makes a lot of sense to me. Every time my dad calls me lazy it makes me feel 100 times worse. I keep trying to pick myself up and start over but I always end up back at square one. I really hope things will change. Even if it turns out i'm not ADD I really hope I can find something to stick at and stop wasting my days. x

[Monkey Bean]

It's one of those crummy life things that people with ADD are sandbagged with the "lazy" label. Once you are diagnosed, your parents can be educated too that what you are is not lazy.

I am in my early 40s now and have a career that many people would consider to be quite succesful, but I have some weeks where I spend easily 30 hours of a 40 hour workweek tooling around the internet. And that is even on meds! I like to size it up like this (as it relates to work): most workers can be categorized like horses -- 1) workhorse -- they work at a steady pace and get that tedious stuff done that a lot of people wouldn't enjoy doing; 2) the show pony -- those schmoozy show offs do their best work when the boss is watching; 3) the old nag -- workplace complainers that drag everybody down; 4) the mule (okay, not exactly a horse) -- don't ask them to do anything outside their job description; 5) the racehorse -- requires upkeep and praise, but can bang out some pretty impressive stuff for short stretches.

Yeah, I'm a racehorse. At crunch time, when difficult, challenging work needs to be done brilliantly and fast, nobody does it better. But don't ask me to properly file anything or to keep an organized desk. Don't expect me to fill out forms properly or get something in the mail by myself. I'll sit in my chaotic mess of a space producing brilliant moments, but I'm never gonna be that workhorse. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of ADD folks are like this.

[ToneTone]

Difficulty shifting tasks is totally ADHD.

You better bet your sweet bippie (anyone remember Laugh-in) we have that. Of course!!!

The worst for me is when I actually plan on doing X task on Y day at Z time. I sit down to do the task, and the brain throws a tantrum. I WANNA PLAY. WHY CAN'T I GO OUTSIDE? Why do I have to do this now? Frustrating and baffling, but I have learned to be really gentle with myself ...

Tone