this post was submitted on 21 Oct 2023
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ADHD

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Hi,

I am coming here seeking advice. I am 21, studying and am currently doing an internship. But it's not going well. I am struggling so much with getting disctracted and watching youtube. Even though i often do want to do someting, i often don't do anything except watch youtube. When i do actually do something it's often not what i need to do. It's getting really tiring and i just want to be able to do the shit i want and need to do. I often watch youtube to have some sound, but i can't turn it off after, it is also often the same with listening to podcasts. Often when i try to improve it only works for about a week and then i fall back into my same habbits. Do many of you struggle with this, and what do you do about it?

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[–] clockwork_octopus@lemmy.world 21 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I don’t think that ADHD “gets better” when people grow up. I think that life and circumstances change, and change affects ADHD. But this is a problem with neurodevelopment and brain chemistry, it doesn’t magically go away.

That being said, it sounds to me like you might not be medicated. That’s ok, if that’s your choice, but know that medication is the single most effective treatment for ADHD that exists right now. On its own, it’s not enough, but without it, shit gets real. Dr. Barkley has some great informative videos that really help to explain how ADHD works in our brains, and the role of medication. So. In that regard, I suggest you reach out to your doctor.

Smaller things that might help though, I always find that if I really need to concentrate, or if I really need to get something done, voices distract me (podcasts, videos, anything where someone is talking). So, I will listen to music instead, particularly music without lyrics. Lo-fi works well for this for me, or piano music, or whatever. I just try to keep the lyrics (voices) to a minimum, and it seems to help.

Something else that helps when I really need to focus is a fidget toy in one hand (give your mind monkey a banana) while I read/learn/concentrate. It’s such a small thing, but it helps SO MUCH!

Good luck, hopefully these work for you!

[–] youpie@lemmy.emphisia.nl 1 points 1 year ago

thank you. I will look into dr Barkley and I think the idea of using like a fidget toy is a great idea as I often find myself playing with little pieces of metal or other things when I try to work. and I can also completely find myself in getting distracted by voices. but I often can't turn them off once I start because it feels nice to constantly have voices around me haha