Passive Forcing and ADD/ADHD

[MckinkyMcormic]

Hello, i'm not sure about the demographic of the users here so i'm just going to post something blind.

 

as a sufferer of one of the most common first world mental illnesses, i find it hard to maintain active forcing for more than a few minutes. i have such short attention span that i tend to not finish things, which can be a problem for wonderland/visual imposition. what are your experiences with ADD/ADHD and forcing?

[Quilten]

Active forcing is actually much easier for me than passive forcing is, because I don't focus hard enough when passive forcing compared to when I actively force.

 

I take Concerta, which helps a lot, but I still have problems with keeping my attention on Q for a long time in a situation with a lot of distraction, class being one example.

[FurryBlueNaki]

I've actively forced for 2-3 hours at one stretch, and ended up with mental exhaustion the next day. So had to dial things back a bit. My tulpa means a lot to me, so he's definitely worth the effort. Thankfully I can focus for that long. I just tend to get restless.

 

Lately I've had to do a lot of passive forcing because of being busy. Like when I'm at work. I don't have ADD. I have schizophrenia, but it doesn't stop me from the tulpa creation.

[SakuraSky]

I have OCD along with some symptoms of ADD. I have a tendency to get lost within my thoughts and have probably more intrusive thoughts than average.

 

For me, I find that forcing a little at a time is best. Trying to do a long forcing session will either end with me completely off on a tangent or falling asleep. I put a reminder on my phone for the notification light to go off every half hour or so. At that time I'll talk to Sarah for a while. I have other things to remind me, like a bracelet. Passive forcing like this throughout the day seems to work best for me.

[sushi]

What Sakura said. Forcing for five minutes twelve times a day is just as good as forcing for sixty minutes once a day.

[Akecalo]

I don't have ADD/ADHD but I do have Asperger's syndrome. I am able to concentrate on one thing for a significant length of time as a result. I have noticed however that when I do end up going off on a tangent Maya is at a point where she can say "Ahem, what about me?" or "Hey! You're supposed to be paying attention to me!" and that usually gets me back on track :). TBH I have used both mega sessions and the little and often method and Maya doesn't seem to have suffered for it. Just keep it up as best you can and I'm sure you will be fine.

[Castl3]

I have ADD and honestly, once you understand how your particular "flavor" of the disorder works you can leverage it to you advantage into a positive. For me, 90% I'm grossly undertasked and get distracted out of sheer mental stagnation. Flip that around though, and I'm a multitasking pro. I'll typically run 1-2 mental tasks that I have to actively focus or concentrate on, while doing a menial physical task that required little concious effort. So say, plan the budget and schedule for the week while doing.dishes or cooking or something. Gaming works pretty well too. Just give the hands and eyes something shiny to keep them occupied while I get the heavy lifting done mentally to cut down on noise. If you're gonna be distracted, may as well do it on purpose...

 

As for forcing, passive works well for me this way, as I can either share the experience of the physical task, mental task, or both while forcing ans still not lose any time in the process.

[MckinkyMcormic]

I have ADD and honestly, once you understand how your particular "flavor" of the disorder works you can leverage it to you advantage into a positive. For me, 90% I'm grossly undertasked and get distracted out of sheer mental stagnation.

 

interesting, I get distracted and get fidgety when i'm either not doing something i need to, or when the teacher is having a lecture. otherwise i do well to focus. also, what do you mean by "Flavor"?

 

I'll typically run 1-2 mental tasks that I have to actively focus or concentrate on, while doing a menial physical task that required little concious effort. So say, plan the budget and schedule for the week while doing.dishes or cooking or something. Gaming works pretty well too. Just give the hands and eyes something shiny to keep them occupied while I get the heavy lifting done mentally to cut down on noise. If you're gonna be distracted, may as well do it on purpose...

 

i do a similar thing, although maybe not gaming, as i do have to concentrate quite a bit when i play most games. i've found driving is the best place for me to passive. i'll drive around town about 3-4 times aday for 15 minutes and i'll force the whole time passively.

 

I can either share the experience of the physical task, mental task, or both while forcing ans still not lose any time in the process.

 

could you elaborate on this? how are you sharing the experience?

[Castl3]

Just like with depression & other disorders, no two cases are exactly alike. Different people, different triggers, different behaviors. Understanding how add/adhd has manifested in you goes a loooong way in developing coping strategys. I just used the term flavors bacause I'm weird, and staunchly refuse to not be.

 

We're still in the pre-sentient/speech stage, so by sharing I mean "this is what we're doing and how/why we do that," not like merging because laundry is just. that. awesome.