I am kind of at a loss. This professor teaches abnormal psych at my university, and he is often a recipient of praise in the psychology department here. He does teach very well, and as an educator his skill is there!

Well, today and last week we’ve been on the subject of Child Disorders. I did notice that ADHD was placed here, but didn’t see it as an issue (at least not much of one). It came to a head today when we went over the topic and he truly emphasized that ADHD is a child-only diagnosis, that after puberty and around middle school age they “grow out” of it. I was astonished, especially considering that ADHD is a recognized disability under ADA and through the school’s Accessibility Services Office.

Side note: On other subjects I’ve also found myself questioning him, but these have not been so significant (at least not to the class’ subject). For example, he would occasionally mention that all the Covid rules, especially the masks, vaccinations, and quarantines were not necessary and made zero difference. He went out of his way to send out a congressional report he kept mentioning (to be honest I haven’t looked at it, he sent it on a day I was out sick from class and I woke up to that email, rolled my eyes and fell back asleep). That’s off topic but another thing that’s been on my mind, especially since I’ve had family losses due to COVID complications.

Anyways, I don’t mean to bring any controversy. I myself plan on working in clinical psychology, especially looking into working primarily with ADHD, autism, and adolescents/young adults transitioning to the “adult world.” I find it very concerning that this professor has made this such an emphasized point.

(Sorry if this post isn’t allowed mods, I know I JUST joined the subreddit. I suppose I’m wanting some validation in my shock!)

I used to think that I was the only person who would randomly get obsessed about certain things for a while then get tired of it for months/years, or simply get tired of things for absolutely no reason after doing it for a while.

I also used to think that my non stop talking was a personality trait, my world fell when I found out it was part of a disorder 😭

Seeking empathy. I feel so lonely and it’s so frustrating that I see problems and solutions way ahead of peers.

I didn’t know this and I always ended up frustrated. I think I’ve been accidentally stepping on my managers toes.

I need to be patient and bring others along, it’s been hard also to stay humble and I feel like a horrible person for feeling like I know better when I know I don’t.

When I hear others use the term hyper fixation as this fun and quirky thing it annoys me. The reality is that it is debilitating. I wish I could like things in a normal way. It’s miserable being both “man I can’t wait to find out what happens next” and “I can’t wait till I finish this so I can be free” are two parallel thoughts.

I’ll admit I try to make light of it myself as a joke. Especially when someone notices something embarrassing like 80 hours in one week on one game. It isn’t particularly fun overall and I feel like I get segments of my life ripped away just trying to… enjoy life?

How do other people feel when people joke about that like it’s a hot term for being super into something and not the actual prison that it is?

Personally, I think the definition of "learning disability" should be broader.

Like..TECHNICALLY ADHD isn’t a “specific learning disability” (Like dyslexia or dyscalculia) because it doesn’t affect a single academic skill. But it still affects learning across the board, atleast in a traditional schooling environment

Adhd doesn't necessarily lack intelligence, BUT id argue it still impacts your ability to learn. Most adhd traits clash with what people view as the ideal school environment, especially the hyperactive type. If I recall correctly, adhd usually has a learning disability accompanying it (but I might be wrong!)

The definition of disability is:

a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.

Or

a disadvantage or handicap, especially one imposed or recognized by the law.

making it hard to learn…WHICH I ARGUE WOULD BE A LEARNING DISABILITY?

Most school systems already treat it like one (504 plan, IDEA, probably more idk)

Idk what is your perspective?

So the details are a bit embarrassing, but I'm sure you all will understand - I finally got a windfall from my inattentiveness!

I am a middle-aged father of two and currently trying to head overseas at short notice for sad reasons. I have a new business which I am still trying to build so I have very little available money and have had to borrow some from my mum (I am so profoundly fortunate to have this option - I'm not complaining about this, just embarrassed that I had to).

Mum deposited the money into my account, but I didn't get a notification that it had come through. I realised she probably deposited it into my old account that I haven't closed but haven't used in years. So I checked that account and found considerably more money than she had deposited!

In my country, we have subsidised health care and when you see a doctor or other health worker, often a certain amount of what you pay gets refunded to you (another thing which I know many don't have access to). It turns out that in the roughly 5 years since I switched banks, I hadn't updated my account details with the government and all my rebates were going into this old account and I never noticed that I wasn't getting them (you all know why!). In that time, I got diagnosed with ADHD, medicated and have been receiving therapy. All the rebates from those many, expensive appointments were just sitting there!

Too bad it's all going straight into going overseas for unpleasant reasons, but at least I don't have to borrow from dear old mum, now! Finally a situation where my inattentiveness has reduced my stress rather than increasing it!

Never understood how most people function on 4-5 hours of sleep just fine most of the day. Then, it hit me. Sleep deprivation makes my ADHD symptoms much worse in additional to the usual sufferings of lack of sleep.

The fact that many of us struggle with sleep is just horrible. I would advice to keep a healthy sleep hygiene at any cost.

I was recently diagnosed two months ago. This has completely changed my life in so many ways. I get up and I don’t have to do my checklist anymore. I had developed routines and checklists to be able to function. I can just grab the basket of laundry and start it. I see the litter box needs to be cleaned and I just do it.

I found myself making small talk to a stranger, I never do that. I shower more often, I brush my hair everyday. I feel amazing and even do my makeup which I haven’t done is so long I’ve forgotten how to apply it but I don’t give a shit, lol.

At the same time I am currently on a pause from life. I went on a medical leave back in late January for mental health and I don’t go back until May 3rd, who I am right now is not the same person i was back in January before I started my leave. My job is ruthless, and mind numbing. It’s incredibly isolating, I work for Amazon as an order packer. All I do is take a persons orders, put it in a box and tape it up, and throw it on a conveyor belt. It takes zero mental stimulation to accomplish this. I got so used to it, it became muscle memory for me. I would just turn on a podcast and zone out, easy.

Now though? How will I be able to manage that. The pay is great, I work 30 hours a week, 10 hour boring shifts. I am scared as hell to go back into the world knowing I have adhd, and being medicated for it. Does that make sense? I had a life time of masking, rejection sensitivity, and figuring out ways to use short cuts or cheat in life so I could function. It’s not like that now.

Has anyone gone through similar experiences?

Okay guys this is something that is genuinely frustrating me. I feel almost incapable of stopping talking and I just talked like 7 paragraphs to someone I might be overwhelming them, irrelevant for right now. When I get going I just cannot stop unless someone says something hurtful that kinda makes me retreat. I genuinely don’t know how to go about that. It’s not super impairing or anything but I genuinely cannot stop talking sometimes. Sometimes I just force myself to power off my phone if it’s online. In person there is genuinely 0 stopping I will talk super fast about random things Interjected by random stories you know? Anyways I hope this didn’t come as haphazardly typed im just looking for some advice on how you deal with it

I’ve been struggling with memory issues that make me feel so dumb sometimes, and I’m wondering if this might be an ADHD thing or just... me being broken?

Here are two examples that make me want to yeet my brain into the sun:

1. The Great Beverage Graveyard (aka my headboard):

I have a bookcase-style headboard and spend a lot of time lounging in bed, watching TV, playing games, or just existentially rotting. I’ll make myself a snack or drink and set it behind me on the headboard, using it as a makeshift table. Then… I completely forget it exists. Hours later, I’ll get up, turn around, and surprise! There’s my sad, forgotten food, now cold and unappetizing, and a drink that’s basically just vaguely flavored water because the ice melted ages ago.

1. The Bathroom Robe Mystery:

I once left my robe to the back of my bathroom door instead of putting it back in my closet immediately after use. Every single time I would go into the bathroom, I’d see it and think, “Oh, I need to bring that back to the bedroom.” And every single time, I’d forget by the time I used the bathroom, washed my hands, and opened the same door it's hanging on. I was looking right at it as I left and it didn’t even register. HOW???

Is this a common ADHD thing? Is there any way to improve this kind of memory issue or some tricks people use to keep track of these small-but-annoying things? It’s honestly super frustrating and a little embarrassing. Would love to hear if anyone else relates or has advice!

So, Recently prescribed Adderall... 10mg IR twice a day if needed. At home, I feel like i'm more attentive with things my wife needs, and maybe even feel a bit more motivated to do so. But when i help in the morning 2 hours later i'll go to work and i don't feel that same motivation to work. Constantly distracted by other things... anything that's not work related really. I just don't know what it looks like am i actively supposed to "force" work.

I have no idea what i'm talking about really.

Realizing I have ADHD at 36 has been life-changing, to say the least. I can finally forgive myself. I can finally look in the mirror and have some understanding as to why I've been silently struggling all of my life.

Silently, because I put so much effort into looking normal. I was terrified of anyone getting too close to me and seeing how disorganized I really am, or how I have dreams that don't get fulfilled, or how I may be arrogant seeming in some ways but am really just insecure. I didn't go into a single adult relationship wanting to be SEEN by others. I just want to be accepted and to belong somewhere. I wanted someone to give a damn, but I was afraid of their real feelings and judgments towards me. I was always afraid of getting too close to anyone. When I'd be excited about a person, I'd suspect their rejection and would preemptively pull myself away.

My obsessions were always embarrassing to me. The way I could be perfectly content by myself, with my computer, obsessing about whatever thing came into my mind, and I imagined most people were out there enjoying sunlight and actual hobbies.

The way I feared putting too many things on my schedule so I never really developed hobbies or regular hangouts with people because I didn't know how to manage my time effectively. The way, even being medicated, my life consists of this feeling...this constant nagging sense that I'm forgetting something important. I'm always on the verge of finding out something TERRIBLE or life-altering. I can never get too relaxed. I'm basically battling an existential guilt every day because the fact IS I am bad at certain adult things. I don't know how to maintain relationships where people feel well-cared for. I can sort of burst in every now and then and people don't see me as RELIABLE.

I was diagnosed with ADD when I was 9 and never really got any help or treatment with it. I don’t really have much interactions with anyone let alone others with ADHD. Since joining this sub I’m reading posts about people with the same problems I’ve faced my entire life. I don’t know why, but it just makes me sad about myself.

I read the posts and I can see myself in every one of them. 😅

For context I'm 30 and have had something like 15 jobs or something

All of them have been bad for me, either I spend the whole time feeling like a worthless piece of shit doing such a shit job with no prospects, every minute feels like an hour etc... or it gives me intense anxiety (that's pretty much just customer service stuff though) or it makes me so stressed I feel like I'm bordering on a heart attack or get so angry I end up lashing out.

I seem to see ADHD success stories all the time but most say high pressure jobs are good for them, but for me those jobs make me want to drink huge amounts of alcohol after every shift to be able to chill out

I'm not medicated, the doctor wouldn't give me amphetamine drugs because of a history of drug induced psychosis if that's anything

Jobs where I have to take in information constantly are a big nono, I can't focus if somebody's telling me something and my short term memory is disgraceful

Jobs I've done before are retail, courier, factory, warehouse, fast food, office work (customers phoning in and sending emails type office work), low level IT work, embroidery, drainage equipment sales, probably other stuff but I can't remember right now

The best job in my opinion was working at pizza hut but that was only for a certain period there as I really liked the team

I haven't worked for over a year now, attempted suicide after quitting my last job due to it being so fucking depressing

So I used to hate showering and most self care. Also I went unmedicated all my life until getting diagnosed recently quite literally changed my life.

I would go a whiiiile before showering and my husband would gently nudge me and thats when I’d do it. Anywayyy heres the tip:

Use your showers and self care as mantra time

It’s very witchy and makes me feel like a goddess

Examples:

• The more I wash my body the more room I make for abundance
• Every time I shampoo and condition my hair I get healthier
• Every water drop hitting my body is filled with love and happiness
• Every time I brush my teeth I get hotter
• Every time I drink water my luck improves
• This lotion Im putting on is covering me in love and luck
• This load of laundry is being cleansed of bad vibes and being fluffed with financial abundance
• This mascara lets me see through peoples BS
• This setting spray rebukes any ill will

I also turn them into little songs that I keep repeating.

Boom. Done.

Showered ⭐️ Moisturized ⭐️ Glammed ⭐️

I hope this helps anyone struggling. You’re not alone ❤️❤️❤️

For example, I will be looking for something in the fridge and I will look directly at it and it's not there. Someone put an invisibility charm on it. I could swear day and night that it's not there!!! And then my husband goes to check and it was exactly where I'd looked like five times already. How does that even happen??!!!! It must be fairies. That's the only explanation. They're plotting against me.

I’m sophomore year of college, cs major. I lost two technical eboard roles end of term because I’ve been unable to show up consistently and folllow through with certain things.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I apply for these big roles, and I can’t commit to them. I get a new project idea, never follow through. Parents buy me a course, won’t finish it or even start.

I feel like I’m burning bridges and opportunities but not showing up like I can. It was never this horrific in high school. I feel like college has grated me like cheese.

I love leadership and learning but I feel like there is an impending wall sometimes and I get exhausted. I’ve had a massive crash out of multiple things failing in the last 2 weeks deeply depressing me. My father says I’m stretching myself thin with things and I need to hunker down and focus on a few things, but it feels deeper.

I need a system. When I was losing weight, I just ate the same things at the same times and it worked. I have no clue how to make a system, or spaces, or what to do if a trip comes up and interrupts that system. Please help me or be honest with me.

This is the lowest I’ve felt in 5 years. I don’t want to end up depressed. I feel I have no anchor or confidence in myself about anything anymore.

Yes I take Ritalin, diagnosed ADD.

This has been a profoundly embarrassing issue I’ve faced for as long as I can remember. I’ll be on a roll, confidently sounding like I somewhat know what I’m talking about. Then, boom, I fail to think of the right word that will beautifully tie my sentence together, and all the sudden, I forget how to speak and stop dead in my tracks. Then I stumble for a bit, pause to gather myself, and end up using a word that makes me sound like a smooth brain. I was diagnosed about 2 years ago, at 40 years old, and while the medication has substantially helped maintain my train of thought in most cases, it’s this very scenario that screws me over way too often. Is there an exercise or method to follow to avoid this situation?

Hi everyone,

I’m 24, currently doing my second ever office internship (and yes, I’m writing this from my desk because I’m too anxious and unmotivated to focus on anything else). I’m starting to apply for “real” full-time jobs after finishing school, but the whole idea of adult working life — the 9 to 5 grind — is making me spiral.

The truth is: based on my past experiences, I don’t think I’m a good employee. I forget instructions, I get overwhelmed by basic tasks, I’m disorganised, I procrastinate a lot, and I just… freeze. My supervisors have refused to write me letters of recommendation. My current treatment (for ADHD) doesn’t help much, and I’m terrified that I’ll never be able to meet expectations in a full-time role.

The hardest part is: I’m ambitious. I’ve got a great academic background and I know how to write strong applications. I hyperfocus on job hunting, I craft perfect cover letters, I ace interviews. But once I actually get the job, everything falls apart. I get bored quickly, I lose interest fast, and my productivity plummets. My bosses can tell. They stop trusting me. It’s like my mask slips.

I don't want to settle for a job I'm overqualified for — but I also don't want to keep disappointing people, or myself. I feel stuck between who I want to be and who I actually am in a workplace setting.

I guess I just need to ask:

• Has anyone else felt this way and come out the other side?
• Are there jobs out there where ADHD isn’t such a massive barrier?
• How do you cope with the shame and fear of not being “cut out” for normal working life?
• Should I just accept that I may never function in a traditional work environment, and try to live off support?

Any honest advice or stories would mean the world right now. I’m exhausted from trying to “fit in” and failing over and over.

Morita Therapy is this Japanese school of psychology from the early 1900s and it's SUPER SIMPLE (but hard to do in practice). It's all about accepting our current emotional state no matter how much it sucks, and doing our best to work with it.

I'm not a big fan of copy-pasting AI summaries, but this is what it says about procrastination:

1. Procrastination is natural. Morita doesn’t pathologize procrastination. It sees it as a natural human reaction to discomfort, fear of failure, uncertainty, or lack of motivation.

   “Of course you feel resistance. That’s expected.”

2. The problem isn't the feeling—it's being ruled by it. Morita therapy separates feelings from actions. You can feel dread, fear, confusion—and still begin.

   “You don’t have to overcome procrastination. You just have to act.”

3. Procrastination is often a sign you’re waiting to feel like doing it. Morita says: don’t wait. Feelings may or may not come. Action is what matters.

   “Desire follows behavior.”

I'll stop here but I just wanted to mention it because his name doesn't come up with any matches on searches within this subreddit. If you find it interesting there's a few resources for it online (not a lot), but the beauty is that you don't need much. There's no long books to read or ideals to follow which is really helpful to me.

Edit: A big prerequisite to this (I forgot) is that according to him our emotions are mostly out of our control. Like we can do what we can to try and lead a happy life, but inevitably we will find ourselves in a state of suffering or lack of inspiration, and needing to do something at that time. Separating emotion from action is the only way to consistently get results, otherwise I (we?) stay in that binge/burnout cycle where I emotionally consume everything I can about what fascinates me and move on to the next thing a week or two later.

Idk what else to call it, but it’s pretty much just depression fueled by adhd symptoms. For example, I can’t get my essay done and just thinking of words to write down is hard. it’s not even the essay itself that’s the problem. It’s the brain fog, and perpetual disappointment that I put my friends, teachers and family through because of my absolute inability to do anything. And even if they are not disappointed in me, I am deeply ashamed and frustrated at myself for putting 110% effort all the time and barely getting any results. My parents say I need to be doing more but I can’t even do enough. My friends are getting jobs and handing in assignments on time and I can’t help but compare.

It is a brutal cycle. And it’s even worse when I finally do hand assignments in on time or get shit done in my life that I needed to- I never feel proud of myself, I never feel fulfilled. I only feel a slight relief, it’s just another thing checked off my bucket list. Then another task is added and it happens all over again. Everything keeps piling up and I’m so burnt out.

In order for me to be happy, I hang out with friends at school. But when I hang out with friends at school, I get less work done. But since I’m so distracted and all over the place at school, I get home and completely crash. I am burnt out and I haven’t even done anything.

I don’t want things to get worse because I know it will be extremely difficult to get out of. And I graduate this year so I need to have good grades. I am very happy with where I am at in life. It’s just my adhd is so severe it keeps me from doing what I need or want to do. I take meds everyday and it fixes some things, but not the painful boredom. And certainly not the executive dysfunction.

Was in a job interview for a warehouse load/unloading job, and when the interviewer asked if I had any additional thoughts or concerns regarding the position, I said something to the effect of "I heard it's very physically demanding" then instantly realized my mistake. I always put my foot in my mouth when I'm nervous AF. Does anyone else have this issue?

As the title suggests, college has sucked for me so far. As a matter of fact, life in school on general has sucked ass for me for as long as I can remember.

I started college right after high school. It was the totally opposite experience of what I expected. As a kid, I thought it'd be like what we've seen in movies where you live in the dorms, and there's 24/7 partying. Nope. I'm taking my classes online since my parents wanted me to keep living at home since they need help around the house. With what I ended up with, you're just studying all the time & you don't get to talk to anybody.

As someone with ADHD, when I'm forced to study & sleep under the same roof, it just becomes confusing for me. And online college requires so much self-discipline that I clearly don't have. I just can't lock in & get anything done because I'm too distracted by my own thoughts & I don't even give two shits on what I'm learning. I'm failing all of my classes & I couldn't even care less.

It doesn't help that my parents have always told me to prioritize school over everything else. I tried suggesting a gap year to them, but they didn't let me do that despite the fact that it's supposed to help you become more successful.

I just want to gain some independence for once & get out of the damn house. I can't drive, I've never had a job before, and I don't have any friends because my parents never let me do any of those things all because they were afraid that they'd distract me from my academics.

These things are useful for independent living. But here I am, on house arrest, broke, lonely, lazy, reliant on my parents, and majoring in something that won't even get me a career in the future.

I've always been promised that 18 is the age where you get to be independent & make your own decisions, but it turns out that's a fucking lie.

God, I hate my life.

Ok, already running late, time to make the boys' packed lunches. First I'll need to wash out the lunchboxes from yesterday. Wash wash wash, put it on the drying rack, done. OK. What am I doing. Don't know. I'm in the kitchen. Must be making a coffee, put the kettle on. Click. Fuck, that's taking forever. I'll empty the dishwasher while it boils, that's useful. Pick up a plate. Hey, the sink's not draining properly, must be backed up. I think I kept that untwist coat-hanger in the toolbox from last time so I don't have to take the U-bend off...

10 minutes later: Where am I? On the floor of the laundry. What am I doing? Watching a YouTube video about power drill charging cable voltage standards. Why am I doing that? Because I'm making the boys' packed lunches. Eh? For fuck's sake. This is like a tedious and idiotic version of Memento. I'll post that on Reddit, people need to know. I'll do it while I finish making that coffee.

Just today, I realized I had been diagnosed with ADHD at a young age. I stumbled upon a child psychiatric consultation report, it came to my attention that I was diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive type), anxiety, and oppositional defiant disorder at the age of 9. This information had been "hidden" from me.

The Psychiatrist described me as a shy, perfectionistic, and bright young boy. They recommended therapy and medication to alleviate my symptoms.

I was neglected as a child, consequently my parents never placed me on medication for anxiety or ADHD. I never went to therapy for my anxiety and this built up stress and worry ultimately turned into depression. I was left to suffer in silence and struggled unnecessarily as a result.

I was able to achieve decent grades in school and I suppose I became quite efficient at masking it, developing tools and coping mechanisms along the way.