The lighter side of ADHD
Dr. K. put it like this in a video: Habit forming is not in the frontal lobe, and is not directly affected by ADHD.
It has not worked for me yet, but I'm currently trying again. I suspect that, indirectly, ADHD does play a role, and additional tricks are needed, but I have hope.
Isn't the current scientific understanding that ADHD is a result of neurotransmitter dysfunction? Neurotransmitters work across the whole brain.
I don't understand why the "location" of "habit forming" in the brain should matter, considering that neurotransmitters function across the entire nervous system. Is there more context to that phrase?
I don't see how how "neurotransmitters work across the whole brain" disproves this; it's still neurotransmitter dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex that are mostly responsible for ADHD. (Could be very wrong there, not an expert.)
Here is the context: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq6K7yxaNaM&t=266s
I would guess that starting the habit is harder wirh adhd. Something doesn't become a habit after just doing it once, you need to do it for a while first. Adhd can make that harder both because you might simply forget and because of executive dysfunction.
I would think that for people without adhd the "forget it once and suddenly it's gone" also applies (seems consistent with my understanding of human memory), but restarting it might be easier so it doesn't feel like it.
Why i gotta see this now, when I'm trying to avoid forming a habit by not going and getting a membership to the gym less than a mile away from me?
Don't let the internet tell you what works for you. Defeatism is just more engaging than success stories.
Just a word of warning. If you don't want to do it, you're never going to. I don't mean "I want to want to do it", but actually desire to do it. I paid for a membership for years before I actually went consistently. That money could've been spent a million different ways that were better than paying for something I had no desire to use
I bought a treadmill and stationary bike a few years ago.. weight training is less of a concern for me than cardio and getting in shape to use a bike as transport.. also the treadmill is meant to make VR less nauseating for me, and I haven’t wanted to play VR since getting it because it’s so nauseating..?
I’ve used the stationary bike a few dozen times, but the treadmill is still in the box.
I want to use them… well no, I want to want to use them…. Which means I don’t.
I was right there with you for most of my life. Antidepressants changed that for me but I know not everyone is depressed/has access to psych care. Hopefully it clicks for you one day
Thanks!
This isn’t depression.. I mean that’s probably some of it, but not the bulk of it. I’m actually in a much better headspace now than I’ve been for the last 15 years or so. It turns out my baseline happiness is that of a relentless optimist. Everything is going to be good, even though it really isn’t right now sort of thing. I have zero basis for that assertion, because my life is a complete shitshow, but I won part of the gene lottery on that one.
I was dx adhd at 5 (35 years ago) and pretty sure there’s a heavy dose of autism in there that wasn’t picked up because I’m AFAB and old, and getting screened for that now serves no purpose unless I want to be in a “work camp”.. (American)
The problem is object permanence. Most of the time I don’t even remember I have a treadmill, and when I do, like when I see the box, I never want to set the damned thing up. It’s not pressing or important, nor is it something I want to do, so it doesn’t get done.
I just built a chicken coop tho, so I’m capable of doing things I need to do, just not things I should, but would rather not tbh, do.
I guess I'm the exception.
I'm not medicated. The only control I have over my life is by doing exactly this; making things into habits. I'm a creature of habit and I'm on autopilot most of the time. Integrating daily challenges into that autopilot mode has changed my life.