[rdgrad15]

I've always been this way but in a way it seems worse now that I'm an adult, but I noticed I can't seem to focus for long periods of time and I zone out a lot, way too much. Enough that some people will notice from time to time. It happens while I'm being talked to, reading something, working, or even watching something. Sometimes while I'm even writing something my mind starts wandering a lot. I get easily distracted too. I've wondered if this could be a sign of depression or anxiety or even a combination of the two. I do tend to feel sad and lonely a lot as well. It is way worse when I am feeling down, but even when I am happy I still struggle with sustaining attention for long periods of time.

I am rarely late for things, in fact, I am always super early since I hate being late, and I am not too forgetful when I'm happy, but when I'm sad, it is way worse. I do struggle with learning new things more so than most other people learning the exact same thing. I also have trouble putting my thoughts into words and trying to explains things quite often. The fact that I am hearing impaired also doesn't help since people may think that I am just ignoring them and since I can't hear as well I am more prone to missing information that I really need to try to listen too. There has been times where I've wondered if I have ADD. When I was a child I felt like I always had to run or constantly walk around, like I just can't sit or stand still. I still feel this way at times but not as much. I don't feel hyper though so I'm not sure if it is ADHD or depression and anxiety causing ADHD-like symptoms. I never told a doctor since I am afraid of being judged by my family but now that I am older and I obviously go to the doctors alone now, maybe I can now discuss my symptoms to him.

I am tired of constantly feeling sad, lonely, and just can't seem to sustain attention and zone out a lot. Also the fact that I have sleeping problems makes things worse as well. I feel like now that I am older, I can seek a solution without getting my family involved. I annoy people because I have to constantly ask people to repeat what they say due to my hearing loss and the fact that I can't stay focused and zone out a lot doesn't help matters. I would love to be happy again and less anxious too. I've always had the problem with zoning out and inattentiveness, but I feel like it affects me more now. Also completing difficult, especially boring, tasks can make it hard for me as well since I constantly delay starting or take a while completing it.

I rarely finish things late but I do struggle, and I struggled academically a lot too, especially during my college years. At work I complete tasks that I'm asked to do but I still zone out a lot and lose focus a lot, as well as being easily distracted. I never got in trouble but I have had some coworkers get annoyed with me when I ask to repeat stuff which makes me feel bad. Also sometimes someone will ask me what I'm looking at when I'm zoned out which is embarrassing. I've always had these problems, but I feel like they are happening too much now. Some people have thought I was autistic but I'm not, but I know that ADHD, depression, and anxiety can have some similar symptoms which is another reason I feel like I should tell a doctor since multiple of people, including family members, have said something.

[healingme4me]

Originally Posted by rdgrad15

. I've wondered if this could be a sign of depression or anxiety or even a combination of the two.

maybe I can now discuss my symptoms to him.

Also the fact that I have sleeping problems makes things worse as well.

I feel like now that I am older, I can't seek a solution without getting my family involved. .

Definitely, now that you feel able to do so, address this with your doctor.

[rdgrad15]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

Definitely, now that you feel able to do so, address this with your doctor.

Yeah i agree.

[healingme4me]

I didn't used to realize that zoning out could be anxiety related until after my own diagnosis and curiosity to know more. And it wasn't until teachers began mentioning anxiety in regards to one of my sons that I started to realize that anxiety can cause fidgeting behavior, pacing behavior that isn't"quite" an attention disorder. Anxiety, as I'm discovering can have its own spectrum, in a way.

I think, where discussing MH goes with family and friends sometimes, is beyond what as a society we call stigma. It's this great shrowd of fear and unknown for many. It's hard to talk about. It's not tangible. You cannot look at it on an xray.

Or sometimes knowing 1 person who has xyz and may have left a negative impression then in turn clouds perception. One person's depression just isn't another's.

So, you hide it from your family? I know I hide mine.

[rdgrad15]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

I didn't used to realize that zoning out could be anxiety related until after my own diagnosis and curiosity to know more. And it wasn't until teachers began mentioning anxiety in regards to one of my sons that I started to realize that anxiety can cause fidgeting behavior, pacing behavior that isn't"quite" an attention disorder. Anxiety, as I'm discovering can have its own spectrum, in a way.

I think, where discussing MH goes with family and friends sometimes, is beyond what as a society we call stigma. It's this great shrowd of fear and unknown for many. It's hard to talk about. It's not tangible. You cannot look at it on an xray.

Or sometimes knowing 1 person who has xyz and may have left a negative impression then in turn clouds perception. One person's depression just isn't another's.

So, you hide it from your family? I know I hide mine.

Yeah I do a lot of zoning out, trouble staying focuses, constant sadness, and anxious a lot. As well as feeling like I have to move around at times too. Yeah I hide it because many years ago my parents caught on that I was feeling depressed and went on a two hour lecture on why I need to stop being sad and that there is no reason for it. Ever since then I never told them anything personal, especially involving my emotions, to them.

[healingme4me]

Originally Posted by rdgrad15

Yeah I do a lot of zoning out, trouble staying focuses, constant sadness, and anxious a lot. As well as feeling like I have to move around at times too. Yeah I hide it because many years ago my parents caught on that I was feeling depressed and went on a two hour lecture on why I need to stop being sad and that there is no reason for it. Ever since then I never told them anything personal, especially involving my emotions, to them.

Ugh.. With the snap of a finger, poof, no more sadness or melancholy or what have you, eh?

My experience was two fold back then. On the one hand I had a mom who though she meant well, believed that all you needed was family for support and to talk it out. Well, that's partly true in terms of being supportive and encouraging but she painted psychology and meds as completely off limits. She eventually came around as her aunt, my cousins mom "educated" each and every one of us about bipolar disorder in my early adult years. My cousin has that. That was a couple of decades ago.

My dad on the other hand thought nothing of sending me to therapy during the divorce years, I was 10. To him it was chic and he could rack up points in his newfound bachelor years for being a doting single dad.

My diagnosis came well after all of that. But, I don't talk about mh with my family. I brood still at times. Certainly, utilizing a grateful list helps with the brooding. At the same time, life isn't always a bed of roses, why pretend? (as that stop being sad it's easy mentality does come accross)

[rdgrad15]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

Ugh.. With the snap of a finger, poof, no more sadness or melancholy or what have you, eh?

My experience was two fold back then. On the one hand I had a mom who though she meant well, believed that all you needed was family for support and to talk it out. Well, that's partly true in terms of being supportive and encouraging but she painted psychology and meds as completely off limits. She eventually came around as her aunt, my cousins mom "educated" each and every one of us about bipolar disorder in my early adult years. My cousin has that. That was a couple of decades ago.

My dad on the other hand thought nothing of sending me to therapy during the divorce years, I was 10. To him it was chic and he could rack up points in his newfound bachelor years for being a doting single dad.

My diagnosis came well after all of that. But, I don't talk about mh with my family. I brood still at times. Certainly, utilizing a grateful list helps with the brooding. At the same time, life isn't always a bed of roses, why pretend? (as that stop being sad it's easy mentality does come accross)

Yeah a lot of people think you can just snap out of depression or other disorders which is not true.

[healingme4me]

Originally Posted by rdgrad15

Yeah a lot of people think you can just snap out of depression or other disorders which is not true.

Their numbers may seem many when in the throws of an unsupportive network, but I'm starting to doubt that's majority.

[rdgrad15]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

Their numbers may seem many when in the throws of an unsupportive network, but I'm starting to doubt that's majority.

Ah okay. Who knows.

Hi.
A lot of this resonates with me too..
I’m quite bad today with it.
As a result short replies..

I don’t wish this on anyone but it’s kinda good to know I’m not alone
🌺🌼🌺😊

[rdgrad15]

Originally Posted by Red daisy

Hi.
A lot of this resonates with me too..
I’m quite bad today with it.
As a result short replies..

I don’t wish this on anyone but it’s kinda good to know I’m not alone
🌺🌼🌺😊

Oh I agree, I am glad I am not alone too even though I don’t wish it on anyone.

[MoxieDoxie]

I call it maladaptive daydreaming......when I am in a low spot my mind starts to go into fantasy world as an escape I guess. I have to do tasks in small time increments like I set a timer for 15 minutes to study and then allow myself to gaze off into la la land for a bit. yes it takes me longer memorize new material for a test. I am smart it is just the holding onto information. It just does not stick when I am in a heavy state.

[rdgrad15]

Originally Posted by MoxieDoxie

I call it maladaptive daydreaming......when I am in a low spot my mind starts to go into fantasy world as an escape I guess. I have to do tasks in small time increments like I set a timer for 15 minutes to study and then allow myself to gaze off into la la land for a bit. yes it takes me longer memorize new material for a test. I am smart it is just the holding onto information. It just does not stick when I am in a heavy state.

Yeah I am the same way, holding onto information is very tough for me.

[avlady]

I call myself a space cadet-i'm always spacey daydream alot sad alot, hurt easily, you name it! my parents put me in the psych ward as they didn't know what to do with me. 20 years later i'm in my own home with my husband and son, while on 10 differrent meds that do work although. take it from there...

[rdgrad15]

Originally Posted by avlady

I call myself a space cadet-i'm always spacey daydream alot sad alot, hurt easily, you name it! my parents put me in the psych ward as they didn't know what to do with me. 20 years later i'm in my own home with my husband and son, while on 10 differrent meds that do work although. take it from there...

I’m glad you were able to succeed despite difficulties.