Never finishing anything

From what I've read, people with ADHD tend to be novelty-seeking. I think this trait interacts with my bipolar disorder. Even when I'm not manic, I start projects and never finish them. I'm always starting something new, full of enthusiasm, and then I get bored and start ANOTHER new thing without ever finishing the old thing. I have a string of short stories and a couple of longer books on the go, at least 4 acapella choir pieces and 3 or 4 of my own compositions for either choir or band started. I don't know why it feels like walking on glass to finish anything.

This is ME! I will be nearly obsessed about something, and then quickly get bored and onto a new thing that I get obsessed about. It's a combination of my asperger's (Having only one or 2 interests at a time in which I can get really obsessed about) and ADHD (in which I do not complete things). I was really into world geography like a total nerd for a whole summer and now I could care less. I wanted to watch all the Cosmos dvd's and learn relativity and string theory and now I'm not even watching Cosmos much anymore, let alone reading my book on Einstein's relativity. I know I'm weird. I've started books (I don't even start them anymore because I know I won't finish them), and when I write, I Know all I can do is poetry cause that's all I can finish. Small poems. I've even got a few of those unfinished. It is hard for me to be really into a movie the whole way through without looking at the clock and waiting for it to be over. Don't get me started on trying to read a book anymore. I need adderall just to be able to complete a task like doing the dishes or cleaning the living room. Otherwise I am so all over the place that I don't get anything done. I am going to ask my pdoc for an increased dose of adderall cause it just seems to get worse and worse!

I never complete things because they are just never perfect enough. And it doesn't have to just be that particular thing. EVERYTHING around it has to be perfect, otherwise I throw it all out and start again from scratch. Been doing this since I was a child and it is the part of my disorder I hate the most. I could have done so much more with my hobbies and intellectual/spiritual pursuits had I just been able to complete something.

Sounds like me too. I am at the point where i don't get anything done but housework. Housework to me is such a burden but has to be done. That is what keeps me going knowing i need to have a partially clean home at least. Once my meds kick in i can usually get started and i need to take a shower first thing in the morning to get me going too.

krisakira, I have really strong interests too. It was thought to be a symptom of ASD for me at one point but I no longer have an ASD diagnosis. The difference I've noticed between me and my ASD friends is that their interests last longer than mine. I could spend a week totally absorbed in the paranormal, and then randomly switch to studying world religion, and then the next week, it's tornadoes and storm chasers. I never gain an encyclopedic knowledge of anything, I don't stick to it for long enough, but I do immerse myself in it for brief periods.

The problem is I never settle on something long enough to really be good at it, except perhaps writing and music, which I've been doing since early childhood. It's like that saying, "jack of all trades, master of none". If I could MAINTAIN this hyperfocus on the same thing for a long period of time, I'd be crazy good at whatever it is I focus on.

I am the same way! Unfortunately, this has cost my family a lot of money over the years because I used to decide I was going to be the best (insert whatever company) home representative EVER! I'm going to save my family from financial ruin, earn that new car, win a trip to Jamaica for being the top salesman, etc. then after about two weeks, I'm done. I have no desire or interest in the product, company, or whatever bs prize they dangle in your face.
I do this with everything I start, but that one area has financially hurt us. Like the time I was manic and applied for a credit card without my husband knowing and ordered thousands of dollars in product that I 'had' to have to be the best consultant that company has ever seen. 7 years later, I still have boxes of unopened product.

Theatre Kid,

I realize this is an older post but I thought I'd add my two cents

I also have trouble with finishing things. I can't tell you the number of times I've started a project either work related or recreational only to loose interest and leave it lying in the dust.

It's so frustrating because I don't know what I have a legitimate interest in and what is just a passing fancy.

I'm beginning to think that the only way to really tackle this problem is with the help of a therapist or ADD coach.

It's so frustrating.

I just can't get out of my own way.