why can’t I do literally anything?

[u/TeaComplex947]

I can go to work and do what I have to do there (thank you meds) but that it’s quite literally the extent of it. I get home, can’t clean or cook or do uni, but I also can’t do anything that I actually enjoy? I love to read, crochet, play computer games, watch my favourite shows and youtubers, ect. It’s somehow worse on weekends - I wake up so excited that I have a whole day to do all of my favourite things and just relax, but 9/10 times i end up doing nothing but scroll on my phone and waste the entire day.

Most of the time i think it’s a guilt/shame thing because the house is so messy and i can’t do anything else out of guilt - but today we had to clean the whole house for visitors and after they left, I STILL spent hours doing absolutely nothing when I had planned to do some fun things/hobbies today.

Has anyone else been through this? why does this happen? any tips for breaking out of this cycle?

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[u/Raketjohnny]

You are not alone, feels like everyday thing for me too. And worst is when ppl ask you: What did you do during your weekend or whats your weekend plans? The shame.. Its just a stab in the guts, cus i know what i will do every weekend. Nothing. Hang in there my man.

[u/Upbeat_Measurement_9 → u/Raketjohnny]

I know the feel oh too well. The last several years however I've changed to brutally honest answers. "I don't have any plans" "I actually don't like even making plans. " I did nothing this weekend, absolutely nothing" like they say in office space. " I didn't do shit, all weekend and I loved it"

I get funny looks, and someone might say " no wonder why you're single. " I love being single too

[u/Raketjohnny → u/Upbeat_Measurement_9]

Yeah, these answers are good and i agree! But deep down it hurts and i some what feel shame. I know i shouldnt feel shame, cus why.. but the ADHD dont help here. I wish i could stop caring. It all feels like a mask ontop of the ADHD-Mask.

[u/scissorsensei → u/Raketjohnny]

I saw your comment in another reddit. Message me pls.

[u/Dansden181]

I also suffer with this exact thing. I go to work come home eat dinner and go to bed. It's not much of a life is it.

[u/-Ukiyo_]

Anhedonia is common with adhd (among other conditions like depression) I would speak to your doctor about it and maybe adding a medication to help combat it for you.

[u/fortunesofshadows → u/-Ukiyo_]

What’s that

[u/TheJollyShilling → u/-Ukiyo_]

I learned, today. Thank you.

Have yet to come across this term until now, and the glass slipper is a perfect fit.

[u/TritiumXSF]

Same. I'm lined up for Autism testing since this feeling, my inclination towards rigid repetitive tasks/events, and RAADS-R of 165 (it was administered by myself, I know it has a high false positive rate, I know it's not to be taken as fact, that is why I am lined up for proper testing) has got me suspicious.

[u/LeKingStone]

The big thing that has worked for me is treating my bed as a location that I may only be in for sleep. Thus, can’t bed rot if I’m not in a bed. Another step is to make the rotting location uncomfortable. So for me, I got rid of my bed and started sleeping on the hard floor

Also getting another person with you for stuff, whether they be kith, kin, or support worker. It takes me weeks to finally start and finish an even a tiny project. But give me a whiteboard and a friend who says “huh?” whenever I constantly speak paradoxically, and all 2,000 words will be done within the next 20 minutes

For tidying, I force myself to reinterpret it all as something fun. I fixated upon interior design and cleaning, thus whenever I had a hint of energy to tidying, I launched into it, then that snowballed into my entire living space

i try to ensure that whenever I use technology/the internet, I have a purpose for it. If there is an end goal for scrolling through Reddit, such as sparking interest in a topic or novel to analyse and then write what I learned, then whence I’ve done that, I’ve satisfied my desire, y’know. I move on and feel accomplished, instead of woeful

consultation with your psychiatrist to improve your medication routine

Improve sleep, diet, water, exercise, emotional security, stress; the usual, y’know. And yes, catch 22, but any little thing can make a massive difference

[u/firethornocelot]

I notice I can get this way when my medication is wearing off. Maybe try a different med? The downside might be more trouble actually falling asleep. This kind of state can be so frustrating - all kinds of things I need to do, or that I know I want to do, but everything sounds like a chore.

One thing that has consistently helped - if I can get myself moving - is a bit of exercise. Go on a walk, even if it's late at night. I love my VR headset for this, I think a Quest 3 can be such a great tool for ADHD folks to get in frequent exercise. Even just 10 mins or so gets the blood flowing, and usually I feel more ready to take on tasks after.

Or, if you don't already, get a dog, and treat it like a person (I love cats too, but dogs take more physical work). Having another creature counting on you for survival is a pretty good motivator, and if you get in the right headspace, they could even act as a co-"worker".

Just know that what you're feeling isn't at all unusual, I think most people with ADHD struggle with this at least once in a while!

[u/iceorcus]

Aren’t you depressed?

[u/pizzalurker69]

Daily, I have a limited amount of energy to cope with tasks. Once that runs out I can't do anything, even have fun, as you say. It gets worse the older I get. I can't even figure out how to get the energy to work anymore. I don't know how or if I can change this, so sadly I have no advice but can definitely sympathise.

[u/imemine8 → u/pizzalurker69]

Are you me?

[u/pizzalurker69 → u/imemine8]

I don't even have the energy to be me. Please don't make me be you as well 😆

[u/Sapphire_Starr]

Same.

Music helps. I blast mashups (BYNX on Soundcloud has the best) or ADHD BPM (youtube playlists)

I miss my pre-medicated nearly manic energy and inspo (not that any of those projects are done)

[u/davisriordan]

I wish I knew

[u/spudmcloughlin]

you're literally me. sorry you're going through it too :( I wish I knew how to combat this bc I always end up wasting my weekends away which makes me feel incredibly worse.

i have online classes which I usually do after work, but the past couple weeks I haven't been able to kick myself to get them done. my plan was to catch up today, but here it is, almost 3pm, and all I've done is make a to-do list and scroll on reddit.

i saw that comment about getting an animal to talk to like it's a person so I'm gonna grab my cat and see if that helps

[u/OkPerspective2465]

The work eats all the spoons for the things you want to do.  So all the fuel is gone by the weekend.  then it's rebuilt and since you're fixed to not do it the urge to want increases and it cycles to keep you going.