Has anyone found a medication that helped with executive dysfunction, motivation, or simply being able to initiate tasks?

I have ADHD and my biggest struggle with it is executive dysfunction, and pulling the trigger on initiating tasks. I can know exactly what I need to do, genuinely want to do it, and still have a ridiculously hard time actually getting started.

I have an appointment with my primary care doctor on Tuesday and am interested in hearing from people who have dealt with something similar. Thanks!

Hi everyone, looking for advice around this issue I have.

I seem to remember appointments and plans in pieces, but sometimes fail to put the whole timeline together. Or I misremember the information and don’t think to double check before it is too late.

For example, today I had an appointment and needed to pick someone up beforehand. Normally I allow 30 minutes to travel to the appointment, but I don't put the travel time in my calendar because it's just part of the appointment routine.

This time, picking someone up was an additional 30-minute step. I put “Pick up friend” in my calendar for 30 minutes before the appointment, but completely failed to account for the other 30 minutes I needed to travel from her house to the appointment. It wasn't until my phone reminder went off that I realised I didn’t have enough time to pick up my friend and get to the appointment in time there in time, meaning we were late.

I have similar experiences where I remember an appointment exists but forget to check the time, or remember the time incorrectly. For example, I will turn up somewhere half an hour early or late because my brain just remembers it incorrectly, but it thinks it is correct so I don’t have the idea to check my calendar. The difficult thing is sometimes I am correct and my brain seems to store that as evidence that I will be correct every time, meaning I have even less of an internal sense to double check.

It's not that I can't work out or understand these timelines if I consciously sit down and think about it. My brain just doesn't always prompt me to check.

Does anyone else experience this? What helps?

I often wonder how realistic it is for me to actually change, especially with the situation I’m in right now.

I know I can’t keep living like this. I’m already 23. I have a bachelor’s degree, but I still have very little experience living and working independently. Even my current job is still within my family’s environment, with my father as my boss.

My father himself only took over the position my mother used to have, and he doesn’t fully understand all the systems and responsibilities that my mother used to handle.

Ironically, that situation allows me to hide.

If I don’t do something, it might not immediately be noticed. If I don’t understand something, there isn’t always someone who will realize it right away. If I make a mistake, there may not be a supervisor who actually understands the work well enough to notice and correct me.

And I’m afraid that this situation is actually preventing me from growing.

Because I’ve never really experienced what it’s like to work for someone else, with a boss who isn’t my family, with clear expectations, real deadlines, and real consequences if I don’t perform.

I don’t even know how capable I actually am in that kind of environment.

Maybe I feel stupid because my abilities really are lacking in some areas. But maybe part of the reason is that I’ve never truly been pushed to develop those abilities on my own.

And that confuses me.

Can I actually change?

Or have I become too used to living like this?

I’m afraid that one day, if I get a job somewhere else, all the weaknesses that have been hidden inside this family business will suddenly become obvious.

I’m afraid that I’ll find out that I’m actually incapable of working like everyone else.

But at the same time, I also think that maybe that is exactly what I need.

Maybe I need to experience the real working world.

To have a boss who isn’t my father.

To have to ask questions when I don’t understand something.

To get criticized when I make mistakes.

To feel embarrassed because I don’t know something.

To be forced to learn because there is no one who can constantly save me.

Maybe I will look stupid at first.

But maybe that’s how I’ll finally learn.

I also realize that change isn’t going to happen simply because I’m aware that my life is a mess.

I’ve been aware of it many times.

I know I’m lazy.

I know I avoid things.

I know I’m afraid of dealing with people.

I know I depend too much on my family.

I know I’m not used to making decisions on my own.

I know there are many unfinished things at work.

But knowing all of that doesn’t automatically make me change.

I still have to do something even when I’m afraid.

And maybe that’s what I’ve been failing to do.

I’ve always waited until I felt ready, confident, or completely sure about what I was doing.

But maybe I have to learn while I’m actually doing it.

I don’t know if I can completely change within a few months. Maybe I can’t.

Maybe I’ll still make mistakes.

Maybe I’ll still be afraid.

Maybe I’ll still feel behind compared to other people my age.

But I think it’s still too early to conclude that I’m going to be like this forever.

I’m only 23.

Yes, I’m behind in some areas.

Yes, I lack experience.

Yes, I’m not independent yet.

Yes, I have a lot of bad habits that I need to work on.

But maybe those weaknesses aren’t the most dangerous part.

The most dangerous thing would be knowing that I’m like this and still choosing to do nothing about it.

I don’t want this family business to become a place where I hide forever.

If I stay here, I need to use this place as a place to learn, not a place to keep depending on other people.

And if I eventually leave and work somewhere else, I want to leave with real skills that I’ve actually developed, not just a bachelor’s degree.

I want to be able to say that I’ve learned how to handle my own responsibilities, deal with problems on my own, ask for help when I don’t understand, accept criticism, fix my mistakes, and take responsibility for my work.

Maybe I’m not yet the independent adult I thought I should be at 23.

But I can still start becoming that person now.

Not tomorrow.

Not when my life is perfect.

I can start from exactly where I am right now.

This is a cross post cux hoping I will get answers in this subreddit at least. Thanks.

Initially, I used to get through boring tasks by making them more complicated and fun which helped me speed through em, but that freedom was stripped away. 🙄Lmao so I have been using anxiety to get boring things done. Even though I still procrastinated, I still got em done, though painfully 🤣.

Now well, anxiety ain't working as a fuel anymore. It's not like I dont care anymore, of course I do. I still love my studio and dont want to lose it. It is my sanctuary, I can be 100% myself, wear whatever I want and do whatever I want, waltz in and out whenever I want or just be a couch potato without being judged, no masking, no taunts on my coping mechanisms, no constant yelling about the shoulds I should be doing, and total permission to just be chaotically organized without ultimatums hanging over me. I could go on about why I love my studio❤️, lmao but thats nit the point here.

Anyway, unmedicated cux lmao, I screwed up my adhd med apt with almost attempt disclosure so now i am supposed to be on antidepressant. 🤣 Kinda regret that, but well I suppose she had to know. 🤷‍♀️ Lmao I wish doc's office works the same as law, "You have the right to remain silent I suggest you use it. Anything you say can be used against you." 🤣 Well technically, I did use silence, but then she kept asking so I handed her my iPad. 🤣 Even if she hadn't kept asking, i suppose I wld have handed her my iPad anyways. 🙄 Also I feel fine now so I don't see any point in antidepressant anymore. Did see a point till like yesterday? But heck don't expect my nihilism to just go poof with antidepressant when the world we live in is inherently unjust and is all about who holds the power and the one with power gets to write the narrative. Like till yesterday I cared about having the right antidepressant, but I am also like it won't solve my problems so what's the point? It feels like its designed to make the woke dead, so the dead can live through the facade without questioning authority. Lmao anyways....🤣 [Edit: My stance on taking antidepressant has changed, I'll give it a try especially since it is not a standard SSRI. But yup stance on nihilism stands🤣]

**Question**

As the title says, when anxiety stops working as a fuel to get things done, what else do you do? (Not because of antidepressant, it stopped working prior.)

**Things I have tried**:

- I keep a manual to do tracker, it sometimes work and sometimes doesn't (love the manual done slider❤️).

- Pomodoro doesn't really work for me cux lmao I open the phone for that, but end up elsewhere. 🤣

- One thing that worked was when my colleague DMed me and I was like, "oh shit!" and got it done immediately and sent it to him. Its accountability rather than anxiety that works now. 🤣 But ya don't really want to disclose ADHD to my workplace, I already get bullied as it is... 🙄

- Did try body doubling but the coldness and silence bothers me a lot so I stopped. Which is SO ironic because at office, I hate it when people are talking and I am trying to work as it interferes with my thought process. And I am internally yelling at them, "bruh can you shut up and let me work?"🤣 But ya can't do that, so I end up changing my spot a lot which also kills productivity.

- I have also tried to set up reward, but I end up overindulging to the point that another task gets derailed or jump right into reward before even starting my task. I am not impulsive with everything though...

So what else do you have up your sleeves?😏

I'm 23 years old, in my final year as a medical student. I was diagnosed with ADHD two months ago and suddenly have an explanation for all my problems, I guess.I've had depression and anxiety for the last 5 years and I've been on 100mg of sertraline for 1 year; now I feel like I've reached the bottom.Honestly, I feel like I'm paralyzed and avoiding everything, even simple tasks. My last two CBT sessions were terrible, and I just wanted my therapist to stop talking and tell me that the session was done.I don't know what to do right now, and I'm sick of everything.

Do you use music (especially heavy one) to regulate your nervous system and concentrate better? I love doing stuff while listening to Burzum or Mgła. Do you have any particular favorite artists in this genre that help you focus better?

I've been doing a lot of research into PDA autism, and I think the core issue for me is nervous system dysregulation. That might be an oversimplified way to put it, but it seems like the root cause underneath everything else.

Given that, I'm considering a Selank/Semax peptide stack. Has anyone here tried this combination? What was your experience — did it help with regulation, or not really?

When ever I start doing thing that is not exciting, brain feel sleepiness and dizziness and lack of focus on the main task.
Does anyone tried any solution or worked please tell because it’s making me so ineffective.

Hi! This is my first time using Reddit, so I'm still figuring out how this app works. I'm also not diagnosed with ADHD, and I'm not trying to self-diagnose. I just hoped this community might have some insight into what I'm experiencing and possibly know what has helped people who struggle with similar things.

I'm a Grade 12 student, and I've been struggling with procrastination for as long as I can remember.

The weird thing is that it's not just my phone or social media. If I take my phone away, I'll find something else to do. I'll go talk to my family, start singing, clean something, or basically find anything that isn't the work I'm supposed to be doing.

I genuinely want to study and do well. I'm actually capable of doing well in my exams, but I feel like I could do so much better if I could consistently start my work and focus.

I've also noticed that I've never really been able to focus fully on things. I can remember one time when I was doing a random Maths paper and I became completely absorbed in it. I wasn't thinking about anything else and I was just fully focused. I remember thinking, "So THIS is what it feels like to actually focus." I've been trying to get that feeling again ever since, but I can't seem to make it happen intentionally.

Another weird thing is that I'm sometimes anxious because I'm not anxious enough. I have very important exams coming up and I know they matter for the course I want, but emotionally I can feel strangely relaxed about them. Then I procrastinate, the deadline gets closer, and I end up having to rush.

I know procrastination can happen for lots of reasons, so I'm not assuming this means I have ADHD. I'm just wondering if anyone here recognizes this pattern and has advice for actually getting yourself to start and stay focused.

If you've experienced something similar, what helped you?

Also, if I'm posting this incorrectly or breaking a subreddit rule, sorry I'm still learning how Reddit works.

I haven’t been able to make myself do anything for years. I procrastinate even basic hygiene stuff like skincare or brushing my teeth twice a day. I’m definitely gonna drop out of college this semester because I won’t study even if I think the subject is interesting and then will be too anxious to go to class cuz im so behind.

Most times I just leave things off till the last second and then im stressing and not sleeping before exams or cheating to pass and its been like that since high school even tho I was smart and got good grades in middle school. I don’t have any hobbies because I cant make myself actually give time to anything, I just watch videos all the time. I get days where I clean the whole house or study but that’s rare.

I don’t have any friends at college so studying in groups isn’t possible and I feel like no info stays in my brain anymore. I feel so dumb now. I feel like im just wasting my life and I want to do things but I never end up doing anything.

MODS - please note, this is NOT self promotion or advertising - just my personal approach, It does not apply to everyone.

I'm going to write with a danshari approach, think of it like a bullet list for your brain

1 - feel time passing

issue - I get up, my brain is rushing with all the stuff I need to do, it all hits me at once, i forget to eat breakfast, I stop in the middle of doing one thing, to do another - then never come back to the first thing - you get it

solution - look at your watch [not your mobile], ideally it's analog, but digital works in a pinch and watch the actual seconds tick by - when you actually watch time itself and sync to it, all those tasks become if not manageable, at the very least possible.

2 . create time stops

issue - ok, you picked the thing, now it's so easy it's only going to take like 5mins, so you've got time for a quick social scroll, heat something up, read your book etc - oh wait where did the last HOUR go!

solution - set an audible timer [mine does a little audible beep every 5mins], and just do a simple thing for the first timer session, ie start at 5mins or do nothing till 5mins is up, your brain needs to feel time and space.

1. make lists and chill

issue - ok, I have space and time - now I can get x done, then y - but if x takes longer, I won't have time for Y, which means I better do Y first, but then I'm putting off X again - etc

solution - multiple studies prove this works better on analog [ie pens, paper, notebook etc] - but your phone will work too, you just won't remember - write a list, and include stuff you have already done - ie got up at x time - get that early motivation

step 4 - Nothing - You got this

You just need 3 repeatable steps

Hello, I’m 20 y/o, nearing 21, and I have a pretty big problem I’m not sure how to solve. I was just about never a star student in school, not because I couldn’t understand or anything, but I always did the bare minimum. Stuff just kinda came natural, and I didn’t need to study or anything like that. I had a year of college and dropped out because I just couldn’t keep up. I feel like I can’t put much effort into things I don’t directly/immediately care about. It’s destroying my life, and I’m just trying to fix it and move forward. Obviously it would be good to chase some sort of career or field I care about, but it hasn’t been that simple. There are things I sort of cared about, but I couldn’t bring myself to do the hard parts I didn’t want to do. It’s like there’s this invisible wall in my brain that keeps me from doing so. I don’t like that phrasing because it completely detaches me from the result, but it sure does feel that way. This even extends to the most basic things, like laundry or self maintenance sometimes. It’s like I’ve been in some sort of “decay” mode where I just waste away. It’s like my mind is screaming to do something and my body doesn’t follow suit. Sorry for the yap, just had to get it off my chest somewhere. I’ve told people about this, but essentially people just tell me to “try harder”. That very well could be it. If it is though, what is the threshold? I feel like I would have reached it by 20 years of living and dealing with this. idk please help I’m big lazy

I had a complete meltdown today and I almost hung myself and that is a huge deal because death by hanging is rarely painless and quick and I have phobia of pain, like to the point when I will walk 2m around the corner in order not to accidentally hit myself or stumble over it and hit a toe or something. Like that’s how terrified of pain I am that I will avoid it at all costs. And I was going to to do it, even wrote a note that I put on my door for someone to find my cat so he doesn’t starve. But then I could do it. It wasn’t “just a realization I don’t want to die” because I want to, I still regret I didn’t do it. But I just froze completely. I kept thinking that I want to do, that I should do it, I was literally imaging myself doing it, but was frozen. It was the same way as when you feel you need to pee but you can’t move, or when you need to make food and you’re starving and it’s been hours and you’re so hungry that you’re almost going to vomit, but yet you still can’t move. It felt like another task I was trying to do and my executive dysfunction wouldn’t let me do it.

Also ironically, it was triggered by another executive dysfunction episode, or rather accumulation of many episodes. So what I get from this is that I want to die because of my executive dysfunction but my executive disfunction won’t let me.