[ilovegeocities]

Hey guys, so like many of you (I'm sure) I have constantly changing interests and have a hard time maintaining passion and perseverance once the novelty of what I'm doing wears off. The longest passion I was able to maintain was painting, and that probably lasted a year, maybe less. It was the first time I ever did something that I thought I could do long-term, but, my passion fizzled out. Sometimes I can revive it, but I haven't been able to fully get it back. I've been taking Lamictal for a couple years (I also have chronic recurring depression) and it seems to have helped stabilize my interests a bit (I've maintained a come-and-come interest in art), but I STILL struggle with motivation and to sticking with anything for any extended period of time. Any tips???

[Fredeballade]

I went to over 15 different kinds of sports, while growing up. I then started playing music and I've been into that for a long time, and love it. For me the key was to feel good at it. I mostly quit stuff because I felt bad and due to my ADD lacked the "willpower" to continue. With music however it was different, because I played with people, and got good feedback. So try paint with friends, or find people with similar interest Also another thing - try to go the art galleries and become inspired. Everytime I felt like I was about to quit, I would go to a concert, and I would get so inspired I could play for hours! Try to discover more subgengres in your area, and expand what you can do with your field! And lastly, don't force it! If you need to take a break, take a break - for me the worst thing that could happen is that I would get so mad at not being able to maintain my interest that I would lose my interest due to that. So try to be relaxed about it and remember you're just doing it for fun Also the probably best and last tip is try to personalize your passion. I write lyrics in music that fit to my life. Therefore it has become such an important part of my life, because it's my way of expressing who I am - and since I develop my music (in your case art) will also develop. (these tips mostly apply to arts). Sorry for my bad english, and long post, but I hope it's useful, feel free to pm me, or ask any questions, have a good day

-Frederik

[xiare]

I just accept that my interests will widely vary. And then I look at the benefits to enjoying such a dramatic range of experiences. One year I may be into rock climbing, another year I'm learning a language.

[Diva4]

I could use some tips as well. I wake up every morning overwhelmed with what I need to do... and at the end of the day, I lament that I did not complete most of these tasks.

[Cherlicious]

I wish I knew too.
Only thing I can stick to is video games or movies (anything but drama/comedy) or I get bored easy.
I did stick to drawing/piano once in my life, a little. I try not and can't stick to it for long enough to get good. I get discourage easy..
So now I just stick to games, because I can be good at times. :-)
Hopefully seeing a Psych might help me whether by meds or a form of therapy though.

[kanasi]

Originally Posted by xiare

I just accept that my interests will widely vary. And then I look at the benefits to enjoying such a dramatic range of experiences. One year I may be into rock climbing, another year I'm learning a language.

Can I ask you about what benefit those things brought you, specifically? What about them do you cherish? Is it the memories? Or did you gain some level of mastery you could be proud of? (If so, that's awesome! I'm having trouble looking back at all of what I've tried as time-- and money! --well spent.)

I've taken interest in so many different things over the years, it's rare I've stuck with any one of them for a whole year. Usually my best seems to be a few months. I haven't become good at anything of use to myself or others. (Worst thing is I'll research the heck out of an interest at first so I get a great theoretical understanding, but then when it comes to applying what I've learned, I don't get far.)

[snoozysnooze]

Originally Posted by kanasi

Can I ask you about what benefit those things brought you, specifically? What about them do you cherish? Is it the memories? Or did you gain some level of mastery you could be proud of? (If so, that's awesome! I'm having trouble looking back at all of what I've tried as time-- and money! --well spent.)

I've taken interest in so many different things over the years, it's rare I've stuck with any one of them for a whole year. Usually my best seems to be a few months. I haven't become good at anything of use to myself or others. (Worst thing is I'll research the heck out of an interest at first so I get a great theoretical understanding, but then when it comes to applying what I've learned, I don't get far.)

I identify with this completely!!! Painting is what has held my interest the most too. All of the advice about getting involved with community and friends is really great too, but doing that is usually difficult for me. Or I wait too long and the opportunity passes. Lacking passion has been one of my biggest obstacles, I feel.

I empathize and search for answers and suggestions right along with you!

[Nike007]

Hello. With me, I have not been able to stick with things. As a child, I know that I have limited interest, but I don't if this is because of my non-diagnosed AD/HD, ASD, or both. The ones I mainly remember are certain TV shows (Stargate for 2 years, NCIS for 2 years, now mental disorders). For me, I try to combine two interest like I started my writing interest during my Stargate interest, so I would write Stargate fanfiction. I also wanted to learn German during my NCIS years, along with fanfiction/writing, so I would try to read NCIS fanfiction that was written in German. Of course, I would do each interest separately, but doing them together made me more interested in each of them and wanted me to continue to do them. I really want to get into writing again because I want to finish a novel I was working on during my writing interest that went through one of my TV show times. This works for me but it might not work for you, but you can always try. Hope this helps .

*Note* I am not diagnosed with AD/HD, but it is very likely.

[ilovegeocities]

Thanks everyone!! I've also found it helpful to get out and get inspired. Hard part: getting out. I struggle with depression also so it can be difficult sometimes. But I'm starting to take my Vyvanse again so hopefully that will help! I'm trying to see it as optimistically as possible. I know a little bit about many, many things and I don't think that's a bad thing. I'm currently applying for internships and I found a 'research assistant' position at an art gallery and suddenly I thought that could be a good idea for someone with ADD. I'd love to have a job that revolves around constantly learning/trying new things all the time.

[kanasi]

That sounds, great, ilove! Research work sounds great to me too. Best of luck with that internship.

[unbreakablej]

I have so many interests, but I realised they are kinda cylical. So for a few months each year I'd be into art - got bored - crafts - abandoned after i finish 1 part, only to pick them up years later - a new language - be obssessed with duolingo until i break my daily streak - music etc. then I'd get obsssesed with work, have no time for hobbies until I burn out, then start with the cycle all over again.

Over the years I've come to appreciate that that actually works with me.

The only thing I really hate is not being able to sit down and read a book. I used to love reading so much but whereas I can speed read as a child (my mum used to make me read with a ruler so that I would read line by line), adult books are more difficult to skim through. With this, I'm now obssessed with audio books as they allow me to listen to a book whilst doing something else (e.g. play a mindless game).

[kanasi]

Hahaha that's me with Duolingo right now (and also the crafts and book reading). xD

Hmm. Maybe I'll try audiobooks again but it's so hard to find your place when you get lost due to daydreaming/getting too into something else you were doing at the same time. I gave them up a long time ago because I was so discouraged by how often I'd have to spend time trying to figure out where I lost track. It's weird since I can't not pay attention to TV that this can happen with audiobooks (and even podcasts I like a lot, with fascinating topics).

I have a new "tip" (sort of):
If you're angry and just don't know what to do: Clean something! If there was something you were putting off, you'll either scrub it spotless or make significant headway as you attack that dirt. Then you feel much better at the end because you used that energy for something productive. Obviously you can't rely on anger to make your cleaning jobs go away (I hope). I was angry and impatient at *myself* a little while ago, and just randomly started cleaning instead of going back to what I was doing before. found myself making massive headway on scrubbing some bathroom tiles that were getting pretty ugly. I thought back to other times I was irritated at either myself or someone else, and sometimes I'd just pick up a broom or a mop or go to town on the kitchen counters. Obviously this only works with the mindless kind of cleaning I'm mentioning above. Something like carefully putting things away or sorting laundry isn't going to be quite as satisfying. But if it works like it did for me, it's not just cleansing for the surface you're cleaning but cleansing for your mental state as you watch the grime (in the case of my shower tiles anyway) rinse away.

[lavendersage]

Originally Posted by unbreakablej

The only thing I really hate is not being able to sit down and read a book. I used to love reading so much.

I feel you. I was a voracious reader from the time I was 6 years old. Took speed reading as a high school elective and I tested at reading over 700 words per minute going in to the class so Lord knows how fast I was when I came out. I still buy books...it's a hard habit to break. Because I do love reading...just now it's more the IDEA of reading than the actual ability to sit and concentrate. Haven't been able to do that in several years.

[Mic2015]

Medication works for me, mostly.

[unbreakablej]

Originally Posted by lavendersage

I feel you. I was a voracious reader from the time I was 6 years old. Took speed reading as a high school elective and I tested at reading over 700 words per minute going in to the class so Lord knows how fast I was when I came out. I still buy books...it's a hard habit to break. Because I do love reading...just now it's more the IDEA of reading than the actual ability to sit and concentrate. Haven't been able to do that in several years.

Can't believe you actually have the same experience! I've always wondered why I've lost the ability to sit down and read a book as I've gotten older. Made me wonder if I really had ADHD if I could read as a child but not now!!

[Rymo070]

I say embrace the chaos.

At any time I have 2-3 different skills or hobbies I rotate between, having those things chosen in advance but with enough variety to not get stale allows you to channel you focus when it wants to shift.

In my experience this also lets me pick up each of the skills faster overall than had I tried to soldier through and finish one before moving on, it lets you actually keep that mental momentum rather than having it go haywire trying to find something shiny and new.

[lavendersage]

Originally Posted by kanasi

I've taken interest in so many different things over the years, it's rare I've stuck with any one of them for a whole year. Usually my best seems to be a few months.... (Worst thing is I'll research the heck out of an interest at first so I get a great theoretical understanding, but then when it comes to applying what I've learned, I don't get far.)

Wow do I do this, too!! I'll learn everything about something - cross-country skiing, for example. But then I'll never actually DO it. It's like learning about it exhausts my interest in it. Then it's on to the next thing.

[lavendersage]

Originally Posted by unbreakablej

Can't believe you actually have the same experience! I've always wondered why I've lost the ability to sit down and read a book as I've gotten older. Made me wonder if I really had ADHD if I could read as a child but not now!!

I think life, as I got older, got more and more complicated plus my major depression plus the chaos in my relationships brought on, in part, by my having BPD, plus some major traumas I've experienced, plus the Adderall generic I was taking being reformulated to absolute worthlessness finally blew the lid off my controlled ADD. I'm now trying to pick up the pieces.

I do miss reading so very much though.