Does ADHD mean you can’t focus? | Experts Answer

Does having ADHD mean you can’t concentrate at all? Psychologist Dr. Andy Kahn is here to break things down.

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[MinteyToast]

I once got told by a psychiatrist that I can't have ADHD (despite already being diagnosed) because I was "paying attention to our conversation"

The misconceptions run a lot deeper than just the public, sadly.

[twilightgardenspresentatio]

I found that to keep focused in grade school I needed to be working on multiple subjects at once

Do some math problems, read some science, spell some vocabulary and switch every few minutes

My teacher hated it but if I wasn’t doing that, I’d draw instead of working on the single sheet on my desk

[tigernotwoods]

In my opinion in my experience I would say we were there kind of there’s no such thing as we because I have a theory that ADHD is on the spectrum in the same way autism is a spectrum so no two individuals are the same but I would say this sums it up we can super hyper focused on something that we genuinely find interesting and in my own experience it’s usually things that are useless to my every day life that don’t make me money which is sad but these are things that are interesting or being focused on everything at the same time outside of myself

[Tobreakthecycle]

It actually does mean you cannot focus. What makes focusing difficult for ADHD in the first place is lack of proper dopamine levels, which is the neurochemical responsible for motivation. In other words, you cannot maintains focus because the thing you’re attempting to focus on is not stimulating enough, causing you to be distracted by other things or daydream in an attempt to get the dopamine your brain is craving

[orelliaorellia]

I'm unable to focus on something my brain deems boring and can't stop thinking about a subject I find interesting. I never struggled to much in school because I loved it but it really makes it difficult in my job now when I need to do tasks I find unappealing (especially grading papers, I feel like my brain dies every time). I have never been diagnosed but I am thinking looking for a proper test. But it took me 10 years to book an appointment at the dentist

[tiggtiggs]

The ability to focus is a gift from our creator. What we choose to focus on is a gift/curse too ourselves.
Body autonomy is, a thing. Peeps' should focus on themselves & stop controlling what other's are focusing on. Unless it causes harm, loss or injury, mind 👏your 👏own 👏business.

[ChuncheeCat]

One way a friend of mine with adhd explained it, is having trouble directing their focus to what needs it.

[NareshKumar-ycem]

Its the inability to "regulate" the focus/attention.

[blanchec]

Well focusing on everything is literally not being able to focus… so not a myth in my perspective (?)

[AlexMercadoGo]

Maybe is “attention deficit” wasn’t in the name, this wouldn’t be a problem

[faygo_cupcake]

You either dont focus at all or hyperfocus on something for way to long 😅

[petronellaeiksson]

That's stupid. My hyperfokus is excellent ❤ good to adress the rumers...

[debracarltock]

Focusing is part of the problem, Because I continuously get distracted by every Thing,
Anything that moves?
Noises that I hear, My body when It has an itch, or becomes UN.
Comfortable, In some way, With so many things going on at the same time around you.... One of the things I tried to do when I was a little younger and was not able to read because of all the distractions that I discovered that were affecting me, Was that I took a paper backbook that had words in it that I was able to read but at that time it wasn't that meaning, I would time myself how long I was able to read without any kind of distractions and stopping me, And I would write that time down and then I would try again and do the same thing over and practice I'm trying to make.
My concentration time a little longer. And a little longer, By the time I went through a quarter page I would have at least twenty 5 two, thirty five distractions . At the end of that time, I was mentally and physically worn out. That was at the age of forty, Now i'm going to be seventy in august, And after finding little things that I could try that would help, I am now able to read pretty well, I now have actually Read the new testament, I always wanted to read the Bible.But I would try to start from the beginning and become overwhelmed because.
Of how many pages that were in the holy, So after I got baptized for the third time, I was able to read finally, I asked the lord where he wanted me to start! So I expressed it.I would stick my finger in the bible and that's where I would start with some of his direction... And without realizing it, My finger was at the start of the new testament... I asked god why he wanted me to start there, And he explained that the New Testament is all the things that are going to happen to us in the short Future.... And they are happening, , ,
Each day it becomes a little more scary, But that's where faith and trust comes in!!!😮

[dustytrayl]

Things OTHER people want you to focus on…. Ain’t happenin’. 😑

[darkwoodmovies]

I mean this is just everyone though. You gotta build discipline to be able to focus on tasks you don’t enjoy

[minoltaaraya]

That last bit was an ah ha moment for me! I can in fact focus; it’s the focusing on things others want me to— important things, that’s where I check out. 🥹

Write an essay on a topic from the textbook for half my grade?

Wait till last minute, excruciating.

Write an essay on a fact from some random news story, spend hours researching, decide you’ll submit it as an opinion piece but don’t bc…?

Yes, absolutely.