Join the Fun!

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD “Go and sit in a quiet room with no distractions”

But Mother, I AM the distraction!

fififeet_aw , Imani Bahati Report

Final score:

100points

POST

Oktogal 1 year ago

OMG I RELATE TO THIS SO MUCH IM DYING 😂🤣

20points

While often associated with children, there are many adults who do at least exhibit symptoms of ADHD, even if they have not been diagnosed with it. The real numbers may remain vague, as studies show that many adults who were diagnosed with ADHD in their forties were identified as having it between the ages of 11 and 15.

In North America and Europe, where researchers have more data to work with, the estimates range from three to five percent of the population, of which less than ten percent were formally diagnosed at a young age. If this proportion holds for the rest of the world, then perhaps five percent of the human population has ADHD, of which the majority would be male.

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD “Just be yourself”

Um, no. I’m hyperactive, hyperverbal, impulsive, and extremely loud. Better advice is to read the room, pause, try to model social behavior, and pace myself.

lookingaroundxyz , Taylor Smith Report

Final score:

92points

POST

Brenda 1 year ago

As q oarent of a kid (almost 23 now), this by itself is bad advice. Coupled with the advice on the bottom, it's good. Yes, doing all this is important, but so is being yourself. Curb the actions you don't want to express (volume, talking, etc) , but don't smother your personality.

21points

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD Clear away your clutter so you have a clean workspace. Ma’am/Sir, the moment that thing goes out of sight, it ceases to exist. Then I will waste time, energy, and/or money recreating it when I need it.

Anonymousmuch2 , Humairah L. Report

Final score:

90points

POST

Barbara Kayton 1 year ago

I do need a clean workspace to function, but if it is not just right, that is almost worse. And then still, the out of site out of mind is real.

15points

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD "Just get up & try", in terms of task paralysis.

FYI, non-ADHD people: I'm not procrastinating. I'm not being lazy. I'm not ignoring you.

I am literally *unable to function* due to my brain's inability to organise & prioritise. I can't "just give it a go"; I am literally paralysed by the stress of the number of minor actions I'm going to have to follow in order to complete this "simple task" you're talking about.

I once tried to explain to my mum that progressively shouting at me louder & louder did *not* in fact help my task paralysis, & actually made it much worse.

She then told me that I'm "wrong", & that her shouting at me is meant to "snap me out of it".

Traditional-Wear6623 , Dyu - Ha Report

Final score:

87points

POST

Brenda 1 year ago

I couldn't tell my son "clean your room", because that was too overwhelming. I literally had to list each task to be done separately. Pick up trash & throw away. Put dirty clothes in hamper. Put clean clothes in dresser. Etc. Took longer, but he didn't get overwhelmed , freeze up or freak out. A small break after 20-30 minutes helped, too.

45points

Fine-Community-4535 , Towfiqu barbhuiya Report

One of the rarer cases where “general advice” and “advice for folks with ADHD” intersect is when it comes to physical activity. Aerobics in particular has been found to be an effective add-on to ADHD medication in children and also it can help adults focus for longer periods of time.

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD When it comes to cleaning: Just do a little bit at a time. That’s not how my brain works. I’m either glued to the chair, or I’m cleaning for at least an hour.

Final score:

81points

POST

Oktogal 1 year ago

Yep. As someone with adhd, when I finally start doing something, I LITERALLY CANNOT STOP until it’s over.

33points

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD Any that essentially boils down to “so I know you have a disorder that makes it hard to self-regulate, but have you tried self-regulating?”

Faust_8 , Reinhart Julian Report

Final score:

79points

POST

Ruby White 1 year ago

Self-regulating is SO HARD TO DO

20points

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD "buy a planner"

I own so many empty planners

singleoriginsalt , 2H Media Report

Final score:

75points

POST

Barbara Kayton 1 year ago

This is me…. There is no perfect planner, either!

14points

For children, the effects are even more visible. Besides simply being healthy for the body, kids that aerobic exercise alongside other treatments were found to have a host of improvements, from increased behavior and motor abilities to faster information processing speed, and better memory, which is pretty important for people with ADHD, as they can tell you themselves.

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD Basically any advice that wasn’t written by an adhd person. My least favourites are the ones around habits.
“Just do something at the same time, for the same amount of time, every day for 21 days until it becomes a habit!”

Dude, I can’t do something at the same time every day for two days in a row, what makes you think I can do 21.

It’s especially frustrating because I wish I could. There are things I want to learn and skills I want to develop, but consistency does not exist in my reality.

ChaoticKinky , Sincerely Media Report

Final score:

65points

POST

Orange Tabby 1 year ago

I made a habit of going to the gym for 1 & half years straight. Lost 18 Kgs, Felt awesome, and then I hit a weight loss plateau, lost my motivation & its been a year since that and I've gained 10 kgs back. I feel the worst. There is no consistency in ADHD. There is no forming a habit.

23points

Bored&InSchool 1 year ago

that was the same for me except with riding my bike. did 5 days in a row though recently so there's hope! :)

5points

Amanda Fondaumiere 1 year ago

I thought it was just me.

1point

Ericka Moore 1 year ago

1 year is definitely a habit. What you just described literally happens to everyone

1point

Stephanie Siegel 7 months ago

100% I get fixated on a workout routine then I get busy in something else ;’or injure myself; (CrossFit) and never can go back to normal

0points

arthbach 1 year ago

I've done things for 100 days, each and every day, and it's still not a routine. It still all requires recognition, thought, and action. There's nothing automatic about it.

11points

FaceTime Audio 1 year ago

I’m autistic. I need routine, but creating new ones is virtually impossible (ADHD). I don’t deviate from my routines if I can help it, but often they’re bad ones (go home and procrastinate for several hours), and if I get off track from a good one (get ready for bed at 10:45) it’s not coming back (my poor sleep schedule…)

5points

arthbach 1 year ago

One suggestion is to tweek existing routines. For some people adding in a little something is far easier than creating a new routine from scratch. (No idea if it would work for you though.)

2points

Sue User 1 year ago

I put a reminder on my phone to brush my teeth because i just cant get into the habit.

2points

Lex <3 (they/them) 1 year ago (edited)

For me, there is no creating habits. Unless it's a bad one-

2points

Mermeow Overlord (they/them) 1 year ago

And fun habits (that could be considered bad), like spending 10 to 15 minutes on my phone at the beginning of my credit recovery class.

1point

CrazyKnitter 1 year ago

How about "wake up/go to sleep at the same time everyday and then you'll just be able to do it!". Never has ever worked with me. Getting to sleep is hard enough, but I am a night person and waking up is horrible on the first day and the 50th.

2points

Hime 1 year ago

The forgetting I was in the habit is the hardest part. I can form habits, but it has to be accidently, usually do to circumstances I can't change. But then I wake up one day and have completely forgotten I had the habit and do something different, only I didn't realize it was different until I start doing whatever the old way was again due to the same circumstances. Then I think, I used to do it this way. Why did I change my habit? Then it's rinse and repeat. It's so annoying.

2points

Zach Heimann 7 months ago

My parents always tell me to make a list to remember things, meanwhile I’m trying to explain that it doesn’t matter if I forget to make the list.

0points

Diana Sampson 1 year ago

New habits for ADHD need to be born from existing behaviors. It doesn't matter what time they happen, and they don't even have to be every single day. For instance, one we've all done (I hope) is learn that using the toilet must be followed by washing your hands every time. Or every single time you're watching a show, you have to be productive during commercials. Make your own rules and "Pavlov" yourself. Eventually the pattern will become automatic. These things aren't constrained by rigid adherence to a clock, but to a behavioral pattern you're already familiar with. It's not perfect, but it helps.

0points

Annie Persson 1 year ago

Habits are almost impossible, ar least without lots of visual clues. I remember now to take my morning medication, but only because I keep the meds box on the sink in my cup, and now I see them when I have been to the toilet in the morning and am washing my hands. Now it is easier to switch the water to cold and fill my meds cup with it and just swallow the pesky things. And normal people worry that we get addicted to our meds LOL! I wish I was, then remember to take them would (maybe) be easier

0points

Mermeow Overlord (they/them) 1 year ago

Ha, I can't even do things one day in a row (unless I really want to do it and it doesn't take much effort).

0points

Tracy Wallick 1 year ago

ISTG it's impossible for us with ADHD to form habits

0points

A Happy Doggo 1 year ago

Habits are almost impossible for me to form. My brain just doesn't do that thing where it reminds you about stuff when you need to. I can remember things just fine, I can't remember things at a specific time

0points

Electrical-Spinach42 Report

#10

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD I think the idea of rewarding yourself after a task is a flawed one for us ADHDers. My brain just thinks "well I can just have this reward now" so because of my impulsivity I reward myself regardless of doing the task or not. I stumbled upon the concept after reading the book "Atomic Habits" by James Clear, which at first I thought was a very good book but it just doesn't apply to people with ADHD.

Final score:

64points

POST

Brenda 1 year ago

It does work for some kids when their parents are doling out the rewards. Work on your homework for (X minutes), reward of (X minutes) doing [whatever]. Son would save his rewards (gaming time) to use together once he was finished (jrhs & hs). Worked for him, but not on daughter. Every kid is different.

11points

#11

I’ve been a night owl since I was literally born and most school nights I would lay in bed tossing and turning all night til the sun came up. This caused me to miss a lot of school because I was constantly exhausted and the only advice I got for it was “go to bed earlier!” Always after me saying I couldn’t fall asleep until 6-7 am despite laying in bed all night. A lot of people seriously just don’t understand or care how adhd actually affects you.

UneasyBranch Report

Final score:

59points

POST

Orange Tabby 1 year ago

DUDE. THIS IS SOOOOOO MEEEEE. I'VE MADE MY ROOM DARK AND COOL AND I CAN THROW MY PHONE AWAY BY 8 PM BUT STILL I WILL BE TOSSING AND TURNING AND MY BRAIN WILL NOT GO TO SLEEP TILL 5AM.

22points

As the aforementioned late-diagnosis statistics show, most people simply assume that what works broadly will work for people with ADHD, even if more people have it than one would think. This means that most folks who have ADHD will need to test tips and advice themselves, as this thread shows. So it can be helpful to look online and see what works for others.

#12

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD I've always been told the best way to work/study is to find a quiet space and focus on the sole task you need to do, but recently I've found that listening to heavy/energetic music as I'm working on a task just works so much better for me.

AlexanderTroup , Thought Catalog Report

Final score:

59points

POST

lincholn6echo 1 year ago

this! so much this! psytrance, full-on, gabber... anything above 140bpm greatly enhances my chances of getting sh!t done!

13points

#13

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD Just meditate. Even worse: no screens before or in bed. Are you freaking kidding me?!

Glittering_Tea5502 , Jared Rice Report

Final score:

58points

POST

Orange Tabby 1 year ago

My mind is a computer with 78 tabs on, with movies and music and utter nonsense. I have to tire my brain with something in order to even think about sleeping. Its either binge watching 7 episodes of my already watched series and falling asleep by 2AM OR my brain being an absolute mess and keeping me awake till 5AM

34points

#14

"If they wanted to, they would."

Newsflash: There have been *COUNTLESS* times I have mentally yelled at myself to do something I know I *need* to do while being stuck on the couch doom-scrolling on my phone. Depression and anxiety doesn't help.

bandicoot4 Report

Final score:

56points

POST

arthbach 1 year ago

It's like saying to a person who is deaf, "If you just paid more attention, and listened more closely, you would be able to hear."

28points

On the positive side, the increasing awareness of ADHD does bring some more research on the topic. Recent studies show that there might be a stronger link between creativity, out-of-the-box thinking, and ADHD than previously thought. This same study suggested that Leonarda Da Vinci’s self-described procrastination and strange time management may have been an indicator that he had ADHD as well.

#15

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD "Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself".

No, it turns out people do want regular communication and birthday presents, and don't always want Fun Facts.

leafshaker , Jessica Da Rosa Report

Final score:

50points

POST

CORGI QUEEN 1 year ago

I literally am the provider of fun facts lol

13points

#16

Anything that effectively suggests treatment isn't needed.

Metanalysis has found that not treating leads to a 5-fold increase in negative outcomes compared to any other approach. Depression, anxiety, substance abuse, ... We cause a significant portion of traffic accidents (when younger), high rates of teen pregnancy, or just starting a family ~8 years earlier than the general population on average.

The idea that it's just a personality type, or that everyone has adhd, or that it's a lack of discipline, or that all you need is a planner, etc etc. All bad advice.

Tools and discipline help, for sure. But it's effectively the fact that they aren't a solution that makes ADHD a disorder in the first place..

Gr1pp717 Report

Final score:

47points

POST

everett 1 year ago

This

5points

#17

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD Time blocking. I'm sorry but do you really expect me to stop studying in the middle of a chapter just because I finished my block?? Nah, there's no break until I'm done

eekhaa , Aaron Burden Report

Final score:

46points

POST

just me 1 year ago

Especially when I'll in that almost mythical zone where SH*T GETS DONE. I love when I can find that zone and don't leave it voluntarily. Gotta ride that wave to the end.

25points

#18

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD I was in a management class and we talked about "Deep Work". She said there's absolutely no way you're able to do deep work while listening to anything.

My dude, I literally don't even pay attention to what I'm listening to, I just need SOME kind of stimulus in order to function. I am at my least focused when I'm working in silence!

One of the rules of deep work is literally "embrace boredom" without realizing that boredom often translates as depression in individuals with ADHD. I physically cannot take it, it's like someone's pulling hairs out of my skin every moment I'm understimulated. Easily was my least favorite class because it really did just hammer home that business does not give a f**k, even in health (as it was a healthcare-focused management class)

lemonspritz , Kelly Sikkema Report

Final score:

46points

POST

arthbach 1 year ago

I have youtube playlists called 'Music for Concentration'. It's music I know, that flows, and has no words, eg Hobbit sound track or Disney songs on piano. It gives a little bit of my brain something to do, and I can concentrate on other things.

21points

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

See Also on Bored Panda

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#19

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD I feel like "ADHD is a superpower" is corny and unhelpful.

VivrantMuvuh , Hiki App Report

Final score:

45points

POST

hitex 1 year ago

Most definitely! I'm asd/adhd & all sorts of books call it a "superpower" - it's exhausting AF, that's what it really is

19points

#20

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD "Don't worry about it".

As if I can switch off my thoughts. I have literally 5 trillion thoughts going through my mind at any given moment, at least a few of those thoughts are going to be worrying about "it". I wish it wasn't the case, but I'm literally worrying about everything everywhere all at once.

Sleepy_Zenitsu23 , Kelly Sikkema Report

Final score:

45points

POST

Charity Angel 1 year ago

I'm told this is a thing that's actually possible. That they don't lie awake at night thinking about that one tiny little thing you did in 1997 that still haunts you...

10points

#21

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD After talking to a therapist about my struggles with the work, she said to me "you have to be disciplined"

Lyderhorn , Kateryna Hliznitsova Report

Final score:

40points

POST

Brenda 1 year ago

This "therapist" should have their license revoked!

35points

#22

Generally any type of advice that questions why you do something a certain way when you could do it a cheaper/better/more environmentally friendly/more natural way. This messed with my ability to function for years before I got a handle on it.

Examples:

- Why would you drink protein shakes? It’s more natural to get your nutrients from food you can get that same protein from x amount of lentils!

-Why do you pay to have your car cleaned? You can do that yourself for free!

-Why are you paying for pre prepped fruit and veg?! It’s cheaper to buy the bag of whole carrots and they don’t come wrapped in plastic!

These are real life examples but it’s now absolutely everywhere especially with the rise of TikTok, a lot of content is aimed at efficiency and streamlining our budgets so I see a lot of this cropping up. Even one hairdresser making videos about ‘Why buy an airwrap? You can create this style with a hairdryer and hairbrush!”

If someone with ADHD or any condition impacting their executive function has found a way to do the thing then that is perfectly fine. The advice above led me to 1. Not eat, because protein shakes were now wrong and I didn’t have it in me to prep lentils daily, shockingly. 2. Have a car so messy I couldn’t have passengers. 3. Not get any fruit or veg at all in my diet.

Weemag Report

Final score:

39points

POST

hitex 1 year ago

🤣 yes I feel this one too closely

15points

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

See Also on Bored Panda

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#23

I have to, HAVE TO, be listening to something that stimulates my brain or I will completely zone out at work. Also while driving.

Uzielsquibb Report

Final score:

37points

POST

Phoenix(or nix)they/them 1 year ago

Frrrrr I can't do anything without music. I get yelled at for having both earbuds in and not being able to hear anyone, when I need them to focus and not get distracted. EITHER LET ME DO WHAT I NEED TO DO AND DO IT WITHOUT DISTRACTIONS OR DEAL WITH IT TAKING FOREVER AND NEVER GETTING DONE BECAUSE OF DISTRACTIONS!

6points

beepbeepsheepbot , Glenn Carstens-Peters Report

#24

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD "break a task into smaller tasks" except now I have a hundred little blocks instead of one huge block and I still have to do it, great.

Final score:

36points

POST

Bored Retsuko 1 year ago

Then I won't know which f'ing order to do them in 🤪

13points

nothing3141592653589 Report

#25

"You need to make a list and write these things down"

I have lists. I have text files saved on my desktop and documents, google docs, google sheets, google keep, apple stickies, apple notes, 2 black moleskines, a handful of legal pads, Microsoft one note, and random folder up pieces of paper in my pocket.

Final score:

36points

POST

Aisling Raye 1 year ago

I can't use any form of electronic note or reminder system. My brain likes a nice, neat, color coded schedule on my computer or phone ... but holy c**p do I need to write it all out on a whiteboard if I'm ever going to remember to do any of it. It falls into the category of "if I can't see it, it doesn't exist" Luckily the white board thing works for me. I can't lose it bc it's attached to the wall, I can't forget about it because I've put it on the wall in a hallway I walk up and down about 40 times a day. Lol.

7points

yellowleavesmouse , Dmitry Schemelev Report

#26

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD When you start to get depressed - go and do stuff! Wow, really, tell me how? Second - when depressed, I was depressed ever only because I was burnt out.

Going out and socializing just made me more overstimulated, tired and desperate due to not being able to keep up with others.

So my new advice would be - when getting depressed, first sleep and be alone for a few days, engage with hobbies/hyperfication, and then after this see people and do some light excersise.

Final score:

34points

POST

the harbinger of doom (she/he) 1 year ago

i just curl up with my pups into a burrito for 3 weeks

6points

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

See Also on Bored Panda

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#27

“Just make a schedule for the day and follow it!”

Excuse me, I’d rather rip my own eyes out, thank you.

ExtensionGrapefruit8 Report

Final score:

33points

POST

CrazyKnitter 1 year ago

It's shocking for some people that this doesn't work. I honestly can't believe that it does work for some.

7points

#28

My dad is fond of telling me: “Ya gotta want it.” I hate when he implies that I don’t want to get better. The kicker is that he has ADHD too (diagnosed or not I don’t know, but he says he does and I believe it). It’s really frustrating and makes me feel like nothing I do is good enough.

cecily61224 Report

Final score:

31points

POST

CrazyKnitter 1 year ago

I know that my mom has it, but she refuses to believe it

2points

#29

Pomodoro technique. Its the worst.

When I finally get to do the task I need to do the task. Otherwise I am again stuck in getting to do the task.

Same with 45minute school lessons. Literature begins, 30 minutes into it I finally accept that we begun literature, 15 minutes to go and now I have to transform myself into math?? How?

bonnie-galactic Report

Final score:

31points

POST

hitex 1 year ago

1st 2 years of high school, I had an accelerated block (essentially like college, 4 classes in fall & 4 in spring) - that was the best freaking thing & of course, like all education, they gotta change what works & I had OP schedule my last 2 years & just zone out for 45 mins sometimes or socialize & not get work done in class

10points

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

See Also on Bored Panda

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

#30

“I Can't ‘Just Give It A Go’”: 30 Pieces Of Advice That Fall Flat For People With ADHD "If you can't get yourself to focus on something, just take a s**t ton of breaks!" This includes all pomodoro bs and adjacent stuff.

I don't know about y'all, but if I took breaks like that, I'd never be able to focus. I need at least half an hour to even *start* focusing at all, and I'll need another half an hour after I take that break. And if I do manage to focus on something, I need to cram that s**t several hours straight because I know if I break that focus when I have it, I won't be able to get back into it. I won't put a f*****g alarm to distract me every 30 minutes, that will just kill me more.

This kind of extends to any kind of "slow, steady and consistent". People say I need to do a little bit of x every day in order to stay motivated and not burn myself out and I believed that lie until I realized that is precisely how I'll burn myself out. Doing things in intense bursts is the only thing that has ever worked for me. "slow and steady" has never done me any good. I need to do things in bursts, go as fast and as long as I want to, and then take a break when it comes to it. It's the only way I can get anything done.

_peikko_ , JOYUMA Report

Final score:

30points

POST

hitex 1 year ago

I also only work in intense bursts like this!

5points

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium

Unlimited content

Ad-free browsing

Dark mode

See Also on Bored Panda

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

#31

"Just clean on the go. If you see dirty dishes, clean it." Have you ever even considered that I don't even see the obstacles when I walking? You already saw me cooking with a whole 1 liter bottle of soy sauce in front my chest. I will dodge the bottle, move around it like it a immovable object, not even acknowledge it there until you pointed it out and remove it.

reissmosley Report

Final score:

19points

POST

Linda van der Pal 1 year ago

If I would do that, is completely forget the other thing I was doing and probably burn the food...

2points

SuccessfulMumenRider Report

#32

My wife has your type of ADHD where I'll look over and she'll be watching a show, listening to music, playing a mobile game, all while typing an email and I'll be in the kitchen paralyzed by all the simultaneous stimulus. We like to have fun around here.

Final score:

18points

POST

Charity Angel 1 year ago

Watching a show AND listening to music is serious, hardcore stimulus. The others, sure, but that's insane.

2points

#33

my favorite is "You just need to focus" like if i had full control over my ability to focus i would be taking over the world rather than trapped in a cubicle farm

Idc123wfe Report

Final score:

17points

POST

Tracy Wallick 1 year ago

"Do you also tell disabled people to 'just' get out of their wheelchair?"

4points

"I Didn't Start The Dryer": Karen Gets Taught A Lesson After Throwing Out Neighbor's Wet Clothes

See Also on Bored Panda

Guy Divorced 3 Years Ago Drops Off 3 Y.O. With His Ex-Wife Completely Out Of The Blue

#34

Stuff like "write a To-Do List" or "use a planner" make me roll my eyes every time, along with "Have you tried meditation?"
Sometimes people keep giving the same stupid piece of advice despite me having told them that it doesn't work for me. Oh, you can just get up and do whatever it is that you need to do? Cool, love that for you, but my brain is wired differently!!! Smh NTs just don't get it and it makes my blood boil.

Visible-Tree-6074 Report

Final score:

13points

POST

I am a writer at Bored Panda. Despite being born in the US, I ended up spending most of my life in Europe, from Latvia, Austria, and Georgia to finally settling in Lithuania. At Bored Panda, you’ll find me covering topics ranging from the cat meme of the day to red flags in the workplace and really anything else. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, beating other people at board games, cooking, good books, and bad films.

Read less »

As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, I indulge in the joy of curating delightful content, from adorable pet photos to hilarious memes, all while nurturing my wanderlust and continuously seeking new adventures and interests—sometimes thrilling, sometimes daunting, but always exciting!

Read less »

What do you think ?

POST

Orange Tabby 1 year ago

Finally a post for me. I related to this sooooooo much. I am in tears.

17points

SadieCat17 (she/her) 1 year ago

I always describe it as trying to walk a lazy big dog. What are you supposed to do when your brain just sits there and refuses to do anything? You can't just drag it along unless you're in a completely panicked state which is not sustainable and healthy. I hate my brain sometimes. I just have to keep poking it with a stick (entertainment/stimuli) until it gets up and moves lol.

12points

Barbara Kayton 1 year ago

Thank you for sharing. It is enormously frustrating when people insist you are lazy, sensitive, dramatic, not working hard enough, just need to buckle down, make plans and keep them, etc etc etc. Folks with ADHD are simply trying to function normally and not implode.

11points

B.Nelson 1 year ago

FYI: Anxiety disorder can cause symptoms of ADD and ADHD, and ADD/ADHD can cause symptoms of anxiety disorder. If you are on medication for one and it is not working, talk to your doctor about being evaluated for the other. Sometimes you can end up having both and have to deal with a balance between the two.

6points

Aisling Raye 1 year ago

Exactly this. ADHD is comorbid with a ridiculous number of other disorders e.g. GAD, MDD, BP, BPD, OCD, ASD, ODD etc etc. Always talk with your psychiatrist openly and honestly about your symptoms so they can work with you to find a treatment plan that works for you. There is hardly ever a "cookie cutter" catch all way to treat ADHD. It took nearly a decade for me to find a treatment plan that truly worked for me. I guess what I'm saying is that if you're struggling, don't lose hope. <3

3points

SkyDragonAerial (Aro/Ace, Cassgender) 1 year ago

I'm inattentive ADD, not ADHD, but literally this. If something doesn't interest me, I cannot make myself do it. A few days ago I was supposed to be doing my math work but because I found it easy, I couldn't do it and spent the whole class researching arrowheads instead.

6points

Charity Angel 1 year ago

There isn't any clinical differentiation between the two any more - it's that some of us experience hyperactivity and/or hyperfocus more than others. I'd like to tell you it gets easier, but... Maybe it will - maybe the world will change for us, rather than us having to change for the world. Maybe.

8points

Nice Beast Ludo 1 year ago

Medication used to work 15 years ago.... now it justs makes me worse sometimes. The worst part of ADHD is drinking coffee and it making me immensely and deeply exhausted like a sleeping pill

4points

A Happy Doggo 1 year ago

coffee definitely messes with ADHD a lot

2points

shanila.pheonix_ 1 year ago

why do i relate so much lolol. i really gotta get myself testeddddd

4points

God loves you 1 year ago

Just put everything back in the same place and why can't you just remember where you put it. My brain can't even comprehend the advice.

3points

Becky Samuel 1 year ago

What nobody warned me about is that menopause can make your ADHD symptoms much, much worse. Like "world crashing down around you" worse. Mine got better with puberty, but oh boy am I paying for it now. And it turns out that I can't have any medication because the stimulant medication almost killed me (atrial fibrillation and cardiac stress) and the Atomoxetine made me shake so badly that I could barely walk or feed myself. Now I face another 40 years of life just praying that they come up with something that can help. How do I even begin to do that?

3points

Janelle (jellybean/nellie) 1 year ago

The timing is amazing. My bf is pushing me away because he feels i will never change and that i choose to live in clutter. He helped clean and i love it, but i feel he is resenting me for his choice to do it while i was on vacation. Now he keeps rubbing it in my face and thinks his ability to work around HIS adhd is proof it can be done. I cant even finish reading these without sobbing.

2points

Cherry Knobloch 1 year ago

I'm so tired of hearing that it's not real.

2points

majandess 1 year ago

And ADHD can be a totally different experience - even for two related people who both have it. When something trips up my son, I remind him that the brain is neuroplastic and it can learn how to do things; it's just harder for him. And we often have to do lots of experimenting to figure out the best way of dealing with stuff, but I am trying to give him all the support my husband never had.

2points

arthbach 1 year ago

ADHDers and AuDHDers, let's use the comments section to give each other tips of things that have worked for US! The NT-tips so often don't work, but we are so creative. We find ways of dealing. What do you find helpful?

1point

arthbach 1 year ago

Music with high beats per minute (eg over 140bpm) charges me up, and get me ready to take on the world. There's a great site that gives suggestions based on the beats per minute: https://songbpm.com/

1point

Nancy Patterson 1 year ago

This is sooo true for me!!

1point

Mermeow Overlord (they/them) 1 year ago

This made me understand my ADHD so much more.

1point

._. 1 year ago

I need to get tested so bad 😭😭😭

1point

CrazyKnitter 1 year ago

I literally just talked to my doctor about getting tested. Mostly because I've been meaning to for years and keep forgetting, but I happened to be reading this list while waiting for her to come into the room.

0points

Star Anäis 1 year ago

I have ADHD but not medicated and I struggled hard to read all this😅

0points

Celena Camps 1 year ago

As someone with add .. i really appreciate this one

0points

Jackie Lulu 1 year ago

Nailed it!

0points

leendadll 1 year ago

I didn't think I have ADHD but rekated to all of these so...

0points

arthbach 1 year ago

A useful analogy is everyone needs to use the loo. However, if you need to use the loo 20 times a day, then you need to get it checked out. If you are relating to all of these, but don't find it stops you from functioning well, then the chances of ADHD are small. If you relate, and are struggling, then learn more, and see about testing.

2points

Mell 1 year ago

I really want to know what I CAN do or say to help!

0points

Cloudy 1 year ago

I don't have ADHD but I related to these posts so much

0points

Mermeow Overlord (they/them) 1 year ago

Maybe you should also get yourself tested.

1point

POST

Orange Tabby 1 year ago

Finally a post for me. I related to this sooooooo much. I am in tears.

17points

SadieCat17 (she/her) 1 year ago

12points

Barbara Kayton 1 year ago

11points

B.Nelson 1 year ago

6points

Aisling Raye 1 year ago

3points

SkyDragonAerial (Aro/Ace, Cassgender) 1 year ago

6points

Charity Angel 1 year ago

8points

Nice Beast Ludo 1 year ago

Medication used to work 15 years ago.... now it justs makes me worse sometimes. The worst part of ADHD is drinking coffee and it making me immensely and deeply exhausted like a sleeping pill

4points

A Happy Doggo 1 year ago

coffee definitely messes with ADHD a lot

2points

shanila.pheonix_ 1 year ago

why do i relate so much lolol. i really gotta get myself testeddddd

4points

God loves you 1 year ago

Just put everything back in the same place and why can't you just remember where you put it. My brain can't even comprehend the advice.

3points

Becky Samuel 1 year ago

3points

Janelle (jellybean/nellie) 1 year ago

2points

Cherry Knobloch 1 year ago

I'm so tired of hearing that it's not real.

2points

majandess 1 year ago

2points

arthbach 1 year ago

1point

arthbach 1 year ago

Music with high beats per minute (eg over 140bpm) charges me up, and get me ready to take on the world. There's a great site that gives suggestions based on the beats per minute: https://songbpm.com/

1point