r/ADHDmemes 7d ago

Not happening

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20.7k Upvotes

94 comments sorted by

287

u/ArcticTyphoon 7d ago

I fucking HATE when this happens, especially when the topic is going to be on an exam.

106

u/AdministrativeOne7 6d ago

It's especially annoying when you know you can do it. It's just your brain that doesn't want to cooperate.

30

u/Duo-lava 6d ago

that means you cant do it. you cant say you can do something then say a reason why you cant. its effectively the same. its like saying i can lift a car if i was just stronger. i could fly if i had wings

15

u/mattwan 6d ago

Seconding. I just wish it's realized that before I was almost 40.

3

u/Durbinatti 4d ago

I am 42 and my family still doesn't realize this.

10

u/revwaltonschwull 6d ago

well, yes....if you can't you can, but other times, depending on the situation, you can, and sometimes well! but at the same time it's like being able to lift a car sometimes, and at other times, not even able to lift a pencil. its quite a deceptive creature.

4

u/AdministrativeOne7 6d ago edited 6d ago

Nah dude, I perform very well in. Math and physics. I was even 1st in my middle school's physics team. When high school came that changed. My interest was much bigger in math than in physics. For me doing math felt like a reward compared to any other subjects. Studying physics and concepts went from taking minutes to hours. Interest has a heavy impact on my ability to absorb information, for me at least.

When I said I could do it, I meant it. I'm a good student and even now my physics grades are still good still near the top of my class. It's just that I used to finish an entire physics book and enjoy it, but now it feels like a punishment.

IMO motivation and interest plays a major role in how well you do something. It can make certain things unbearable while other things are so palatable that it feels like a reward to do it. Concepts absorb much easier when you're interested too. Idk maybe it has something to do with focus and whatnot, but this was my experience at least.

Btw if you think it's because high school physics is hard, it's not. My physics comp regularly studied highschool level physics and it wasn't a problem. And also my performance also fluctuated across the year, heck I have a much better time studying physics the week after I watched interstellar. It really depends on the mood tbh.

3

u/South-Delay-98 6d ago

I think semantically speaking, they meant why they "aren't" doing it, rather than why they "can't". I know it sounds oxymoronic the way they said it, but you gotta kinda read between the lines

22

u/DuntadaMan 6d ago

I hate when it IS something interested and I can already tell my brain is going to delete it.

7

u/Time-Conversation741 6d ago edited 6d ago

Have ypu tride slaming your head agenst the text books to force the information it in? didin't work for me but you never konw.

Here is a real tip ADHD is a primeraly dopamine balacing problem. Takes a bit less then your precribed amount of meed and use mussic and coffee to have a more fine tued controll over your dopamin levels.

If yoir strugaling to studdy form a book try watching a vidio on it or use karn acadamy.

6

u/RonnieJamesDionysos 6d ago

I think both D's in your ADHD diagnosis stand for dyslexia.

5

u/CosmicM00se 6d ago

Make notes into a song or rhyme or anagram to remember

1

u/RowBoatCop36 6d ago

“I just don’t need to know that.” -me

1

u/krelpwang 6d ago

You just have to make all other options even less desireable.

58

u/colormeashes 7d ago

This is... Gold.

4

u/Shot-Needleworker175 6d ago

Gold Jerry! GOLD!

60

u/TheQuadBlazer 6d ago

Not even just that.

If the manner in which someone wants me to learn something is chaotic and makes no sense ,my brain can't handle it.

23

u/s1ravarice 6d ago

Or if they TELL you to learn it

9

u/prairiepanda 5d ago

"Just memorize it!"

Well, now that you've said that I'm definitely going to forget it, even if it's actually interesting.

7

u/StorMPunK 6d ago

Everything's chaotic when I don't listen because I was thinking about something else despite my best efforts.

38

u/beepbeepsheepbot 7d ago

Even when it IS something I'm interested in my brain still says no.

4

u/CH3MS 6d ago

Same... ugh...

4

u/Shamanduh 6d ago

I’ll learn a thing one day, and then the next be like.. WTH was I even doing?? And like need to refresh my brain on its subject, even though I was basically a savant at it the day before.

18

u/Tuperwearo_0 7d ago

I dont have aDHD but gosh dang it if this aint relatable to doing some things i dint know what is

1

u/pmMEyourWARLOCKS 2d ago

The key difference between typical behaviors like this and ADHD behavior is that you can overcome this situation using internal motivators like "its good for me", "I need the grade", "I need to know this for my job", etc. That gets the dopamine flowing a bit to get you through the tough stuff. ADHD brains are assholes and don't pump the dopamine for internalized motivators like that. So for you its hard. For us its impossible.

15

u/ElevenEleven1111- 6d ago

Im tying to learn how to edit videos and Im just lost —-sad face

5

u/LickingSmegma 6d ago

I usually bruteforce my way through simple things, ignoring any fluff, and apply what I learned immediately. Like, cutting and glueing clips together without anything like transitions. Then go on to the next steps I'd like to do, again brushing aside anything harder.

Alternatively, I read through a whole tutorial or a book end-to-end, without doing anything, just to absorb all information I can through osmosis. Then I go back to doing the simplest things, but I'll also have some advanced stuff in the back of my mind, and can return to it when I know I need it.

5

u/T-nagger 6d ago

Once you figure out the overwhelming part - its a lot easier from then on, but you have to apply it somewhere. I learned editing montage videos for fps video games, just cause I wanted to show off my gaming skills on youtube. At some point I was genuinely working for hours straight till like 2AM concentrated on it even if I had piles of school work to do 😂

10

u/Budderfingerbandit 6d ago

Sucked hard for school, those first 2 weeks or so I would be making great progress, then it felt like that nice level path all of a sudden became a 70° slant I needed to be walking up constantly.

7

u/ADHD-Fens 6d ago

Except instead of an error message it's a pop-up window with Baulder's Gate 3 running in it.

5

u/diamondthedegu1 6d ago

Is this not common amongst all people though? I don't have ADHD, but I struggle with trying to make myself learn something that I have zero interest in actually learning. It's not impossible, had to do it enough times during my school years, but it's much more challenging and misery inducing 😂

1

u/AGayBanjo 6d ago

With ADHD (and other neurodevelopmental conditions and some mental illnesses like personality disorders) it's not that the average person doesn't experience this, it is to what degree.

5

u/AGayBanjo 6d ago

I wasn't able to grasp algebra until I was working on a grant. It was asking for statistics that weren't directly measured in our district, but could be ascertained by using some of the other statistics we did measure.

The information that the (missing) statistics could tell me (related to poverty and housing) is very interesting to me. With that as my motivation, my brain scraped together all of its algebra knowledge and found the missing numbers (despite moderate to severe combined-type ADHD).

It was still hard, but possible.

What I'm saying is: try to relate things that are hard for you to retain to something you have an intrinsic interest in. ADHD-ers seem to have an intense curiosity about the things we do find interesting. Use it to your advantage.

2

u/TheJpow 6d ago

Now do about learning topic of interest

2

u/DeltaRed12 6d ago

Instead, my brain decides its time to sleep at noon in the middle of class during a lecture, no matter how much I got last night.

2

u/GirthyRooster69 6d ago

Lmao ok this ones hilarious and spot on.

2

u/Durbinatti 4d ago

I wish that more people understood this. It is called Yearn to do and it is a real thing. If I am interested I will go out of my way to learn. If I am not interested it might as well be turd sculpting.

3

u/SpiderHack 7d ago

It sucks, but this is the #1 learned skill that allowed me to go into my PhD program. Just focusing on stuff even more when i don't care about it, mainly to just get it done and over with.

Not sure if my exact spectrum/adhd combo or more the great nurturing environment I had as a kid with medication (that is sadly no longer available because it ruined some livers) that enabled me to be able to do that, but it really is the single thing that I credit being successful to.

3

u/yizzyv 7d ago

I do that too. Hyperfocus is a well-documented coping mechanism.

2

u/Little-Chromosome 6d ago

But when I find something I’m interested in, I no-life it

1

u/Rhourk 6d ago

realy hated it, when i was in school and for fucks sake could not learn most of the time, because my brain just said "thats not interesting, you dont need to learn that" i had realy good grades in subjects that were interesting for me, but god damn there was math or some boring topic, and my brain just fucked off, and you could do NOTHING about it, because people didnt know what the fuck is even wrong. Im glad people are now more aware of adhs and there are threatments.

1

u/lovelypeachess22 6d ago

I felt like ripping my hair out trying to finish my IT class (my degree is in accounting so...). I just passed so I'm in brain cooldown for a week

1

u/DuntadaMan 6d ago

The most infuriating part is knowing right away this thing I want to remember is gone while I still remember it.

"Okay I repeated this like a dozen time in the last 30 seconds to make sure I hold on to it. You got this brain?"

"Fuck no. Deleted."

1

u/DarkCreeperKitty 6d ago

algebra (i cant "see" the math so no)

1

u/ichizusamurai 6d ago

The reason I'm about to fail this fucking degree ;-;

1

u/AwkwardInsurance4970 6d ago

I love it when this happens to me while trying to learn something, even if it's something I like. I had to reread books a lot before what I read actually stuck ;_;.

1

u/TechnicalLaw4863 6d ago

I should currently learn calculus so ig mood

1

u/Mad_Mark90 6d ago

Also stuff that I am interested in

1

u/ostapenkoed2007 6d ago

same. and back in school days my mom would make me sit with her and try remember the lyrics and formulas for school.

1

u/cam94080 6d ago

Relatable content is relatable.

1

u/Comfortable_Sea_91 6d ago

Wait, do I have ADHD? Because that’s exactly what my brain will do. I really need to get my brain tested.

1

u/lostsleepyfox 6d ago

WHY IS THIS ME?

1

u/Hakudoushinumbernine 6d ago

Especially if its in a book... Play that shit for me at 2.5 x speed on a loop for three hours, then I got you. Boom. I'm a phd graduate. But make me read it, with my own brain... and i would rather run into a brick wall head first... repeatedly.

1

u/Neither_Relation_678 6d ago

Yeah, nope. Right into the recycle bin. Which probably needs emptying.

1

u/beaniebooper 5d ago

"Oh, you have this really important assignment due for your degree? Lol, be stressed but do nothing"

1

u/BunnyBeansowo 5d ago

Literally me the other day. It was a special ed class and I was the only one who showed up(online school). I told my teacher about it and she explained the concepts very simply, and then just let me put "I talked to Mrs. So-and-so" in the drop box. She's one of my favorite teachers.

1

u/Vjigar 5d ago

I want to prepare for government job cause current job requires more physical work but my adhd just don't care. I just can't prepare for government no matter whatever I try to convince myself.

1

u/Vjigar 5d ago

I couldn't learn microbiology in my first semester in my 1st year of college but just after exam of that subject my mind suddenly got too interested in the subject. I just couldn't understand that time what is happening with me as I was good student during my school days.

1

u/MeltyFrog 5d ago

Literally anything with a number in it. My brain shuts off, even if I'm sobbing begging myself to focus- 'that's a 6 and this is division. So what we do is- dial tone

1

u/f_leaver 5d ago

That describes my entire schooling history 100% accurately.

1

u/weird_cactus_mom 5d ago

Chat gpt telling me I'm rocking and I'm amazing is the only thing keeping me going on software testing certifications

1

u/Intelektual-Sage 5d ago

Sometimes you can't do things Not because you can't do them but because you can't do them

1

u/shroomfarmer2 5d ago

neurotypical people are also like this tho.

1

u/Squeeze_Sedona 5d ago

i can literally go from the smartest person on earth to the stupidest person on earth in the same day depending on how interested i am in the subjects

1

u/3veryTh1ng15W0r5eN0w 4d ago

I think this happened to me wayyyyy too many times when I attempted to learn about database management.

IT can be boring as shit

1

u/mrkingstin 4d ago

this happend in well 3 days ago. i had a important essay. that invovles reading first and i cant get past the reading because my brain isnt fucking braining. so i get distracted or i read it but dont retain any info and its so annoying

1

u/HelloFromJupiter963 4d ago

Does this also apply to conversations? Because it makes me always ashamed of myself for being selfish because I struggle to listen to people when they don't talk about things I care about...

1

u/EB_or_Raven 4d ago

I don’t even have ADHD (I do have autism though), but this happens to me too sometimes and it’s so fucking annoying

1

u/NotFredrickMercury 4d ago

You didn’t have to call me out like that

1

u/AdElectronic6550 4d ago

I sure do love when I read and revive no knowledge and then read it again and again just to still get it wrong in the end! :3

1

u/pearl855 4d ago

Everyday at work soooo overstimulating 😩

1

u/Altruistic-Funny5325 4d ago

Same when trying to read a paragraph with a thousand other things going on beside me. I suddenly can't read

1

u/ManicGun 3d ago

Me in an MOS i cant stand

1

u/kusti4202 3d ago

ever read a whole book and not remembered anything besides the title?

1

u/haikusbot 3d ago

Ever read a whole book

And not remembered anything

Besides the title?

- kusti4202


I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully. Learn more about me.

Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete"

1

u/Spaciax 3d ago

feels like reading with my eyes instead of my brain

1

u/Decidioar 3d ago

And that's another point on the "I may actually have ADHD" list

1

u/Discarded1- 3d ago

It’s the WORST. I know I can understand it if onnnly it was interesting in any way shape or form

-17

u/sleepyeye82 7d ago

This isn't ADHD. It's just laziness.

7

u/m_rain_bow 6d ago

How come u on this subreddit

3

u/ADHD-Fens 6d ago

It's involunary laziness driven by genetics and neurochemistry that happens to be classified in the DSM and is treatable with a variety of medications in combination with therapy and exercise, yes.

Similarly, depression is just apathy, and narcolepsy is just random sleeping.

-2

u/sleepyeye82 6d ago

"involuntary laziness"

lmfao

5

u/ADHD-Fens 6d ago

I see you're confused.

Your executive functions are like the air traffic controllers of your brain, they coordinate the different processes that are required to execute tasks that require abstract thought, planning, and temporal coordination. Task initiation and working memory are two of the important executive functions of which humans are capable. With many types of ADHD, the brain does not recieve appropriate stimulation when successfully initating tasks or keeping track of information.

This isn't something the brain chooses, to do, but it is unable to do these things appropriately most of the time. Sometimes this can be caused by significantly accelerated seratonin or dopamine reuptake, but in any case, the lack of appropriate reward pathways for these executive functions basically trains the brain to ignore impulses to do those kinds of things because there is no mechanism to reinforce that behaviour.

As a result, people can often find themselves unable to initiate or keep track of a task that is insufficiently stimulating, whether it is a task they want to be doing or not. Alternatively it can result in people switching tasks so frequently that nothing of significance actually gets done.

In this way, ADHD manifests as a sort of "involuntary laziness", in that people with ADHD often have trouble beginning or completing tasks whether or not they are interesting in completing them.

Interestingly, this laziness also manifests in the opposite way of what you might expect. ADHD can also create a very disruptive inability to stop doing a task or focusing on something. That's how you can end up with long ass comments like this one, lol.

I know your intent was to be dismissive but I am earnestly trying to explain this to you.

-1

u/sleepyeye82 6d ago

nah man, I believe ADHD is a thing. I'm not denying that. What I don't buy is that if you have ADHD it somehow makes it so that you can learn stuff you're interested in, but not stuff you aren't.

That's normal. It's utterly, totally normal to find it far easier to learn things you're interested in. It has nothing to do with ADHD, which is what this meme implies.

5

u/ADHD-Fens 6d ago

What makes ADHD a disorder is not that you experience things that normal people don't experience. It's that you experience more of these things than normal, and to a higher degree. You experience these normal things to such an extent that it is disruptive to your ability to function.

Anxiety is really similar in this regard. Anxiety is normal, but an anxiety disorder is when you experience anxiety to such a degree that it disruptive to your daily life.

Everyone daydreams, everyone fidgets, everyone forgets things, everyone gets distracted, everyone has trouble starting things they aren't interested in, everyone has trouble containing strong emotions, everyone gets sucked into projects sometimes - all of these things are true. People with ADHD aren't aliens, we're dealing with the same shit that everyone deals with, but our brains are worse at certain parts of it, for whatever reason.