Focus for some things but not others?

[jansson]

Hi all,

Recently diagnosed with ADHD at a late stage (46) and will introduce myself properly at some point, but for the moment, I have a question that I'd like your views on.

I am taking Concerta XL, 54mg. I started at 18, then went to 36, and felt that things were improving, but not hugely.

At 54mg, I discovered the ability to focus, at least on some things. I ended up obsessively painting my house for almost two weeks and ignoring everything else. But it felt amazing to be able to focus on something for the first time in my life!

However, I'm finding that at work, I'm still the same as always: multiple lists on multiple Post-Its, telling myself I'll get started on work in a few minutes (and then an hour or two passes without me noticing), starting something and then I'm off doing something else within 5 minutes. I still feel the same sense of dread, and feeling of being overwhelmed.

So although I feel like I can finally get on with the more mundane things in life without getting distracted (making dinner, doing the washing up, etc.), for things that require planning and cognitive effort (reading work documents, writing emails, etc.), I'm just as bad as I was without meds.

I am wondering if increasing the dose might help (and have an appt with psych soon to discuss dosage), but a part of me just feels terrified that maybe this is as good as it gets. Given how despondent I have felt for years as a result of trying to cope with ADHD and pretending everything was fine, I'm not sure I could face it.

Has anyone else experienced this?

[Raye]

Sounds like it could be hyper focus- I do this. Tend to focus on things that interest me, anything else is boring and doesn't hold my attention.

[tudorose]

I used to be like this. After 12 years of meds and being more consistent I find myself no longer interested in getting obsessed with one task to the exclusion of everything else. Probably coz it takes so much energy to function within normal expectations now that I 'can'. I don't even play nintendo games anymore.

[Drewbacca]

Originally Posted by Raye

Sounds like it could be hyper focus- I do this. Tend to focus on things that interest me, anything else is boring and doesn't hold my attention.

I spent the last three hours reading about Mars.

[sarahsweets]

welcome to the land of hyper focus

[hollywood]

yeah I think its boredom actually not so much hyperfocusing. Chances are if you are driven to an activity and enjoy it then you actually will pay attention to it. For example, an adhd person who works for a company will never excel. It's not who we are. We are innovative and creative and we are independent motivation driven people. Work for yourself and you will soon realize this hyperfocus take charge and then pay attention to every livid detail of work..Why? All the profit is now yours. Sometimes my friends it has nothing to do with adhd or the drugs and more to do with what your doing.

[jansson]

Thanks for the responses!

Before meds, I was unable to focus (or hyperfocus) for more than a few minutes on anything, even the things that I was passionately interested in. That was frustrating, as I kept reading that people with ADHD can nonetheless focus on things that motivate them: for me, nada.

Then came the house painting marathon, so I think it might be hyperfocus rather than interest based focus.

I just hope it extends to some of the things I need to do every day, otherwise, I'll have to think about giving up the day job and start painting other people's houses.

[Ipsofacto]

I can relate to this. When I first started taking Adderall, I soon realized that it could

easily just make me focus on distractions even more. Without learning some way to

consciously intervene and bring myself back to the present, there would be much less

benefit to taking meds. I use "mindfulness". It helps me have some control over my

focus. As I understand it, mindfulness uses different parts of the brain and uses

conscious awareness instead of the parts of the frontal lobes that are impaired by

ADHD.