r/ADHD • u/SuchWowDude • 12h ago

Questions/Advice How do I actually apply myself?

I’ve always been in this position of “I can be successful in anything I want if I actually apply myself,” but I’ve never actually been able to do just that. Like my interests I’m technically “applying myself,” but it doesn’t feel that way, and the bigger issue is that those interests don’t make money lol. I’m not particularly self motivated, even when I know something is to my benefit, I need other people to keep me going as I’m highly competitive. When I’m on my own things eventually fizzle out, and problem being, many things require a certain degree of self motivation, which I basically have none.

It’s been on my mind as I’ve been thinking about going to law school, but finishing my undergrad was a real chore. even though my GPA was solid, I really struggled to stay motivated, which makes me worried/apprehensive about going back. You can’t fuck around in law school, but I’m not sure how I’ll keep myself fully focused and disciplined.

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u/[deleted] 11h ago

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u/SuchWowDude 4h ago

I am on medication as I was diagnosed last fall. My dad has had a successful career in law and thinks I’d be a good lawyer and my LSAT diagnostic score at least tells me I’m “good enough.” I guess this is all sort of just me overthinking, I could just jump right in head first and see what happens, but it’s like the whole “what if I fail” type of thing.

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u/Thepuppeteer777777 10h ago

Honestly same. I have no drive what so ever the fact that I went back to high school and finished is baffling to me. I think higher education would make me crash even though I would have loved to become a psychologist...

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u/hitmaker307 6h ago

Just got a diagnosis at age 50. I’ve had the same issue my entire life.

my 5th grade teacher told my parents that I could have a full ride scholarship to any college in the country if I’d just apply myself. It really makes me wonder what my life would have been like if I’d been properly diagnosed decades ago.

I have a good life-including an amazing career (I work for AWS and make very good money), but I feel all of my successes are due to my aptitude, if I’d work ‘better’ there’s no telling what I could do.

Hang in there. Medication will help, I’m told. I wish you all the best.