[ArcheM]

Actually I have a weird problem, and the title might mislead, even though it's very accurate. I translate things into French in my mind. Uncontrollably, compulsively. Badly. I mean, I'm not 100% sure, but considering I don't know French that well, my translations aren't likely to be very good. Especially considering that I occasionally get bits of Spanish sprinkled in.

Quite frankly, it's maddening. I'm trying to listen to an audiobook and can't focus, because I get distracted by a stream of bad French, as well as trying to get it a bit right.

Maybe it's an OCD problem, although I haven't heard of anything like that. But it feels similar to counting every number in sight which I used to do when I rode public transport more often.

Well, of course it doesn't happen if I'm listening to something already in French (although my focus isn't that brilliant even then).

Or maybe it's an attention issue, because I feel like it gets easier if I put the speed up to 2.0x.

Anyway, it might seem funny, or even cool, but it's actually more and more annoying.

[MickeyCheeky]

I've never heard this before either. Have you already talked with your doctor?

[ArcheM]

I have to confess, the only doctor that I visit regularly is a dentist, and they're unlikely to be a lot of help with this problem.

I mean, what do I even expect as a resolution? I feel like my brain just abnormally refuses to tolerate things that aren't 100% stimulating (and starts adding its own stimuli on top), which seems like a classic ADHD thing. But supposedly some people thrive with that.

It just feels unfair since I recently resubscribed to Audible, and most of their selection is in boring old English, and probably is only going to be frustrating.

[unaluna]

I get this way if i am studying french, or watching a lot of french film or tv. I even dreamed in french.

I hear you about the counting, tho. If i start counting again, that usually means i need an increase in Prozac .

[ArcheM]

Gaah! It's not just audiobooks or podcasts. It's ongoing. However, I managed to listen to a few chapters of an audiobook without too much trouble today. But it's kind of a weird mindfulness exercise.

I thought maybe instead of fighting I should embrace it. But as an extreme introvert it's only available to me in written form, and for one, writing in French takes prohibitive amounts of time for me... I hope that if I do it some pressure will be released. Except to find a way. I don't have a place to write in French. And you know, I don't want some random forum where I actually could be ostracized for my poor French...

Or maybe the "mindfulness" term could be key...

[ArcheM]

I don't think I can listen to English speech anymore. It's torture. I have to focus so hard to... well, not translate and actually absorb the content of the message... And maybe actually making this thread wasn't such a good idea because I think now I pay attention to it more. On the other hand, whether I'm aware of it or not, the action itself hasn't changed (I don't think). And the end result is still that I fail to actually listen and absorb information.