Hyperfixation is the most intrusive of my adhd symptoms in my daily life - sometimes it’s fun, especially when it’s something that I actually need and want to get done. I had a great time on my trip to Rome because my ADHD said: “let’s do everything! Fuck sleep and health and everything else - that can wait until we’re home!!”
Now I’m home and I can’t focus on my chores or prepping to leave for college or even enjoy podcasts or books that I like because my brain is still stuck in “indulging in hyper focus” mode and latched onto the first enjoyable thing I did since I got home which happened to be starting Star vs the Forces of Evil - which, fine. I like it. But I’d like to listen to a podcast while I fold laundry and I can’t. I’d like to listen to a musical and I can’t. I’d like to pack so I can be ready to leave for college in three weeks and I can’t.
And my mom doesn’t get it - like genuinely. She doesn’t understand how I can push myself for things I want to do like having a good time in Rome but not for things like cleaning my room. And I don’t know how to explain that it’s paralyzing and awful and exhausting physically and emotionally to even start. I don’t know how to explain that it’s not just “things I want to do” because I have a lot of things I love and am excited about that I can’t even look at.
I’m medicated and it’s better - the full on executive function paralysis happens less often and generally only when I don’t take care of my body, but it’s still exhausting to have to be constantly monitoring my physical and mental health, knowing that if I slip even a littler that my brain will pull me into a spiral that it’ll be miserable to get out of.