Have you tried just starting?
this post was submitted on 22 Jul 2025
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Non-adhd people are like "just tell yourself you're gonna do it for five minutes, then it's easy to start." No, the getting started at all is the hardest part. It doesn't matter if it feels like a huge task or one i could complete entirely in 30 seconds. The getting started at all is often the seemingly impossible part. Depending on the task, once i get started at all then i often can keep doing it for many hours.
Non-adhd people don't understand what "executive dysfunction" means. It's precisely the directing of my actions that's dysfunctional. Once I've started i often can keep going because then i no longer have to direct myself to do the task, in fact now i would have to direct myself to STOP doing the task, which is also executive function.
“just tell yourself you’re gonna do it for five minutes, then it’s easy to start.”
Five minutes later, the task is completely forgotten. But don't worry, I'll remember it - when I'm driving to work the next day and won't be back home until 9 hours later (at which point I'll have completely forgotten it again.)
Non-adhd people are like "just tell yourself you're gonna do it for five minutes, then it's easy to start." No
This should be the first thing we say when explaining ADHD
This should be featured in the sidebar of this community
I'll get right on that after I've started
Literally me, the very moment I clicked on this.
For me, it actually started working a couple of years ago. E. g. cleaning the apartment feels overwhelming, but when I ask myself "What CAN you do?" - "I can put ONE piece of garbage into the bin." it works.
But I understand that different things work for different people. For my child, this method does not work as well, for others not at all.
Me and suicide atm
Wanna talk about it?
Nah I just wanna die
Hey buddy, you alive?
Unfortunately
Hang in there man. I know times are tough and we're insignificant internet people, but we still care about you.
Just tired. Like every month I'm scrambling for rent, usually because of bills and rent that haven't been fully covered by my roommate. She's changing that but I'm still short for rent slightly this month and still stressing the almighty fuck out.
"It gets better" is probably the most heinous lie I've ever heard in my life.
It might.
It might.
only one way to find out
The what ?
I got off Zoloft and it got a million times easier to start stuff. Unless it’s chores. My major problem is finishing or following through.
Oh, interesting... Can you tell me more about your experience with Zoloft (and having ADHD)?
I was really sad because my dad was slowly rotting away so I got on zoloft. I completely stopped being creative and I am constantly making things or thinking about making stuff. I got off Zoloft and my motivation came right back.
Thanks for sharing ❤️
Not OP, but if you're curious about other medication effects, I found an interesting, beneficial side effect to my Lexapro. Without it, I easily get songs (and sometimes phrases) stuck in my head. It can get to the point where I can't concentrate on writing, because my brain won't stop repeating the same line(s).
But with my meds, such things don't loop in my head as much. Even if something catchy attempts to cling onto my brain, I can more easily extinguish the thought and move on. It breaks up anxiety loops and obnoxious earworms with the same force, which is an absolute game-changer for me.
Forgot what I was going to get started on and now I'm anxious about it
Idk if I actually have ADHD, but what works for me now is breaking the task down and start with the easiest thing. That usually get me going
It can take literal hours for me to find out what is the actual first step to do something.
Me at my desk this morning until I realized I forgot my focalin
Me, getting started: Eh I don't feel like it right now, I'll do it tomorrow
I'm currently here