The lighter side of ADHD
I think all people have a search for novelty, but with ADHD it's probably worse. I often don't want to initiate an activity because the novelty has worn off, or rather, I think I know what the activity will be like, and calculating the dopamine hit often makes me think it's not worth it. Anywho, I've enjoyed doing "grownup" activities more recently, like just peeling potatoes and vacuuming and stuff like that, because I realize my "novelty meter" is broken.
Omg the dopamine hit from emptying and refilling the dishwasher cannot be equaled.
Did you know the human brain is the only thing in existence that chose its own name?
Wouldn't that imply that you know that there are no other intelligent life forms in the universe?
Seems reasonable to me, you ever met any other intelligent life forms?
I call this shit Evil Boredom.
It's the worst and it makes me feel angry and guilty and dumb and broken. Evil. Evil Boredom.
For me it helps to think of this kind of boredom not as "nothing to do", but as a lack of purpose. I sometimes go on a walk (to get the sensory input my head needs to work properly) and try to figure out what feels meaningful at all as I do it. That helps escape this hole, if the meaningful thing I can think of is something I can currently do.
For anyone looking for an answer, put on some music and dance like an idiot. Helps.
I've found it's the movement and change of context that helps me. Taking a walk, going for a ride, or even just moving to a different room helps my brain kick out of one of these ruts. Dancing is a high energy option that I'm not always ready for but, when I am, it's very cathartic. 🙂
ADHD is a spectrum (as is all neurodiversity) but one of the neurochemical commonalities between people who meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD is disregulation of norepinephrine. Getting on meds that work and engaging a therapist who can help develop better emotional tooling and coping mechanisms can be life changing. One of my coping mechanisms is changing the scenery. Norepinephrine is a precursor for a whole bunch of essential chemistry so engaging other systems that need it seems to help other areas.
Everyone is different but I've found that if my brain is stuck then my body is usually stuck as well. Unstick the body and, after a while, the brain wants to follow.
When nothing sounds satisfying and I have no gumption whatsoever I can introduce something locally novel in an attempt to kick things into gear again. Executive dysfunction can make choosing from options tough (or temporarily impossible) but, on not-the-worst days, I can at least stand up and start walking aimlessly until I start to feel different. Walking outside tends to help the most.
It's nothing strenuous or fitness focused. Just a leisurely stroll around the bedroom, yard, neighborhood, etc. After a bit I usually feel like doing something. Even if that's just more walking at least it beats mean mugging the wall until I want to cry or sleep. Usually I end up doing something I wanted to do earlier in the week though.
I really like and appreciate this well-written and thoughtful comment! Thank you for it. I'm not able to put it into words, 'cause my brain is broken, but it's helped me. Thank you! :)
The first step is always the hardest
But then the executive dysfunction kicks in and your brain locks up trying to do the first step
This is what I learned about my brain. It usually puts up one huge barrier but once I can get over it there usually isn’t much more resistance and I can just enjoy what I’m doing. Or at least not hate it when it’s a chore. But it needs to be physical, like get up and get dressed or pick up the controller and turn on the tv. It won’t work just thinking about it.
The correct answer is sleep. Brain will disagree with that too.
I usually try to just make myself do one of the "boring" things listed (like watch a show or play a game), if it's so insanely boring that I'd rather do nothing then I'll stop but even if I don't find joy out of the activity I initially picked it'll usually tell me what I do want to do.
Me: I'll jerk off and decide with a clear mind!
later
Brain: borrrrreeeeed
The worst is when masturbation gets boring.
When masturbation's lost its fun you're fucking breaking.
When masturbation's lost its fun, you're fuckin' lonely.
I'm just fuckin my hand. Fuck.
That just means it's time for round two, bro.
Brain is looking for low effort activity.
sigh 4 hours of doomscrolling it is then
Usually it means it wants drugs or some stimulant that you eat, drink, smoke or inject that will give immediate satisfaction
If you are ever in this situation .... go for a walk, run, exercise or lift weights ... the dopamine hit from the effort will immediately satisfy whatever it is the brain is feeling and also make you forget about other things for a while. Physical activity immediately relieves those bits of stress.
Because if you don't ... you're on the path to wanting to satisfy these cravings with a pill or drug ... either legal or illegal and you're on your way to more problems.
... and if we don't get a dopamine hit from exercise?
PUSH PUSH PUSH
Games (plenty of options, anyways) aren't low effort activity?
It's a commitment. How do I know that's a good way to spend my free time?
Physical, no. Mental, varies by game, but usually a bit
There is an inertia to even open the game
I found it helps to drag yourself into a physical game
I'll put on my VR helmet, and be like:
"I am too tired to spend another day in a post apocalyptic hellscape, I am full of burrito"
And then the edges of my vision will fill in with color, and I'll dig my boots into the gray ashes, listen to the howl of the wind, gaze out at the two huge planets hanging over the horizon, and observe the whispers of a civilization built upon successive graveyards, gliding my fingers over carvings, wondering about the lives of the ancients.
Brain: I'm sorry what the fuck was the question? Holy shit.
Edit: The game is Kenshi. Into the Radius (VR) is another experience.
Wait...you play Kenshi in VR?
No, I have to start them and/or get out my console.
And decide what game to play.
An endless stream of short vertical videos with mundane content at best?
Brain: Son of a bitch, I'm in!
Confirmed: brain is cat.
TikTok it is
4 hours later: oh no