Frozen . . . | ADHD Information

Placed in this perspective, now I understand your topic. I also wouldn"t call it "favourite" but "pervasive"or possibly pre-occupative disruption of thought of being "frozen" in a situation where you can't seem to qualify or quantify what is so important about the task at hand. please excuse the prior post as needed, you do have a valid point as I have experienced this feeling and problem often, it's simply communication that was not properly framed in context, which is also ADHD of both of us ! My apologies, I understand your "frozen" term now.All is good Repairman, the medium is, without a smirk nor smile,
somewhat restrictive in conveying meanings. Plus as noted we both have
this "problem." I can often look at a task/problem and my mind will race
through the needed things to do . . . yet the body stands there
dumbfounded and unmoving. If one can not do things of pleasure . . . to
be able to go to the mail and or such . . . can be beyond me (us) at times.
A most intriguing and interesting problem.

Regarding the health care professionals, yes I have them and have noted
same in my session(s). There seems to be a real fight going on inside of
me (us) that, LOL, is worth noting and at least enjoying what humor such
a paradox may bring. Time can, as noted above, slip by without many of
us being aware of it.

This is especially bad in those rare projects/tasks which I micro manage. I
envelop myself into these enjoyable things and the world could pass away
without my knowledge. In this I (we) are truly gifted . . . another paradox.

It's kinda like when you press on the gas pedal and nothing happens . . . I think, ok, what's the very first step I have to take to accomplish xyz. Ok, stand up, go over there, pick up that, write this down. Yikes ! It's almost like my brain needs to be micro-maneged every second.

UPWings,

I go through the same thing. The weird thing is that I can't sit still without doing something, but I can't force myself to do things I want to do. I know exactly what you mean.

I will keep telling myself that I have to do something and put it off until it is too late or at least the last minute. If it is something I need to do like go pay a bill, I wait and sometimes don't get to it. I don't know why but I just hate to go pay bills or even go to the post office.

Something else I have a problem with is if I don't take my shower as soon as I get up, I could literally stay in my pjs for days because of this. I get on the computer or reading a book or doing something and the day is over and I am still thinking that I need to get my shower and get dressed.

Its like I live in a dream world that is parallel to this one, but time just sort of floats along very quickly without my being aware.

Have you considered Depression/ anxiety/ Panic disorders or researched them? I've actually thought of six impossible things before breakfast, and accomplished one before dinner!(Like a raise, or a whole weekend off).

Anyone who posts here usually has problems with their life they would like to change, whether it be self, or others. I'm not too professional with specific topics you've described, and not sure i would've used the word "enjoy" for any problem worth mentioning (unless it's having too much money. Have you spoken to a healthcare professional about this?

I would like to enter into a discussion regarding of one of my favorite
'dysfunctional' traits, being FROZEN. By this I am referring to wanting to
do something, and for reasons not known to me, NOT being able to do
same. From simple things like eating lunch, my drink runs out and I need
to get up and refill my glass to finish enjoying my meal, and I can not. I
am blocked from doing so . . . frozen.

Or wanting to travel a few miles to photograph an area, something I love
to do and has been my life saver . . . but I sit home.

If one can not DO the things they enjoy, how can one ever overcome the
fear, (your choice of words here) to do things one does not like to do?
Putting things off is something I am good at, head in the sand so to
speak. Things will get BAD enough that one will be forced to respond, but
in lieu of this . . .

Do any of you enjoy this trait? Either the good or bad side of it? Tips on
how to overcome either . . .

Frozen is a nice way of putting it. I used to call myself lazy. I am so bad that sometimes I will avoid going to the bathroom because I am too lazy to walk down the hall and struggle with pulling down my pants!! I'm really not joking there - it's the truth.

I'm sure everyone experiences this both ADDers and "normal" people. But I think it definitely effects us more. People sometimes call me a hard worker- I have them well fooled. If they only knew how lazy I really am - or Frozen - they would be horrified.

I think the only "good" thing about it is, if I can get my act in gear sooner rather than later, I can usually accomplish the task rather quickly. So, though it may have taken 3 weeks to "finish" a project (what it would take a normal person) I was able to do 3 days before the deadline.

[QUOTE=UPWings]I would like to enter into a discussion regarding of one of my favorite
'dysfunctional' traits, being FROZEN. By this I am referring to wanting to
do something, and for reasons not known to me, NOT being able to do
same. From simple things like eating lunch, my drink runs out and I need
to get up and refill my glass to finish enjoying my meal, and I can not. I
am blocked from doing so . . . frozen.

Or wanting to travel a few miles to photograph an area, something I love
to do and has been my life saver . . . but I sit home.

[/QUOTE]

My friend - it's called inertia. The tendency for a body (or our body ) to want to stay at rest. Remember - we with ADHD are creatures of comfort and habit.

Doing things that require going somewhere and living up to our commitments - be they fun or tedious - are anxiety filled. We want to avoid that - and what better way to avoid anxiety than to do nothing but sit and watch TV? No way you can get anxious there!

As to freezing in mid-step with sandwich in hand - been there and that's a whole other game. We get a seed of an idea - a lot of time for me it was the realization that I needed to do something - but what? Also - when I'd get a bad memory of something I did or didn't do - a smell or visual gets that going - then I'd freeze in almost panic.

I find myself sometimes urged to freeze - but now I am in charge - ADHD is my bitch! I say where I go and what I do. I don't do much other than work and talk here right now - but if I decide to do it it gets done! The meds let me say bugger off to the urges - and my therapy tells me how to get to moving. It's not a bad system!

The more you are aware of what is ADHD and what is your natural tendencies - the less control the ADHD will have. Stop, think and ask yourself "is this me - or is the ADHD telling me to stop?". If you seriously think honestly at those times (we lie to ourselves way more than to other people - you'll have to actively work at being honest with you), then you can filter the ADHD out most times.

Good luck - and fantastic thoughts! Brings back lots of ideas and memories there.

Thanks for the input and replies . . . all of you.

I am new to this, new to the board, but have had the 'problem' for some
many years now. I supposed it is so, but as long as one functioned as
some level, so what. It was only after the 'crash' so to speak that I got the
Dr. to say you have a problem . . . .

ADD or ADHD or whatever you guys call it.

I am very interested in what role Anxiety plays in all of this. I need to put
this part of the complex puzzle into place and or perspective. The
Lexapro the 1st Dr. gave me worked on the Depression and I found out
later Anxiety. I had no idea I even had Anxiety. Why would I have that,
LOL?

So I have a problem with this thing we call Anxiety. Is it a part of ADD? Or
a side kick that tags along? Is Depression a part of it or is it a side kick as
well? They seem to run in threes, and I have had them all. Still got the
ADD and the Anxiety.

As noted it just kills me, in my dry whit of ADD humor to leave a
restaurant with a dry mouth needing a drink. And can't manage to talk
myself into getting up and filling my glass. Does it harm me, no. Does it
amuse me, LOL, yes to no end. To be somewhat uncomfortable seems no
match for a locked up brain. I mean, heck, get up, walk over, fill the
glass, drink, what is so hard with that. I can see how, lol, yet the NO side
can win over common sense. Even over the comfort of the body. I just use
this as a simple example of the occurrence.

Do you think this stems from the ADD or the Anxiety side?

Oh, in regard to watching TV, nope not here. Way too slow for me.

absolutely. i get caught in my head, and sometimes it is impossible to turn thought into action.

from a mental point of view, in a way, just thinking about a task or an idea makes it kind of real to me, and part of my brain acts as if i've already done the thing.

then there is a huge mental conflict to say "hey- it isn't done yet. you still have to get up and do it !"

but frozen i often stay. it sucks when i'm trying to work, and i plan it in my head, and have the picture of it being done. then i can't get myself to get moving to do it. i'm ready to move on to a new idea.

[QUOTE=barb]

UPWings,

I go through the same thing. The weird thing is that I can't sit still
without doing something, but I can't force myself to do things I want to
do. I know exactly what you mean.

I will keep telling myself that I have to do something and put it off
until it is too late or at least the last minute. If it is something I need to do
like go pay a bill, I wait and sometimes don't get to it. I don't know why
but I just hate to go pay bills or even go to the post office.

Something else I have a problem with is if I don't take my shower as
soon as I get up, I could literally stay in my pjs for days because of this. I
get on the computer or reading a book or doing something and the day is
over and I am still thinking that I need to get my shower and get
dressed.

Its like I live in a dream world that is parallel to this one, but time just
sort of floats along very quickly without my being aware.

[/QUOTE]

Did I post this????
Did you get inside my head???
I'm soooo sorry for you!

I am you. You are me.

So I have a problem with this thing we call Anxiety. Is it a part of ADD? Or
a side kick that tags along? Is Depression a part of it or is it a side kick as
well? They seem to run in threes, and I have had them all. Still got the
ADD and the Anxiety.

See, here's the thing that I have found with myself. I don't think I have Anxiety, but I feel that I am anxious. What's the difference? To me, when I think of Anxiety, I think of things like Panic attacks. I don't get that. But, rather, I could be sitting there watching tv and know that I should be doing something else - thus the frozen thing - and I get anxious to DO that thing - but yet can't seem to move. So I become anxious in trying to get myself to move.

Or sometimes I'm anxious to recall to mind all the things that need to get done - like "don't I have something to do? hmmm, what was it?" The recall never comes to mind, but that anxious feeling is always there.

At that point I will start to get up, move around, come back to sitting, sigh out loud, repeat all over again. My hubby will ask what's wrong and the only way I can answer him is by saying that I feel "verschmeckled". I don't know if that is a real german word or not (like fahrvegnugen), but it's the only thing that can describe how I feel.

As for depression. I don't feel I suffer from it, but I can get depressed on occasions - again, usually because I know there are things I need to do but can't seem to get into doing them, so the bad thoughts start "I'm so lazy, what's my problem? I'm a failure, I'll never be happy." etc.

So, in my humble opinion I think that anxiety or anxiousness and depression tend to tag along with ADD/ADHD but I don't think you have to "have" either of them, if you know what I mean.

About the anxiety... I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder along with the ADD.

Found out that, in my opinion, the anxiety was CAUSED by the ADD. Almost what you were describing, UpWings.

I would have all of these lists in my head... things I had to do, all the things that I have been putting off, feeling overwhelmed, wondering if I am doing a good job at work... All of these thoughts invading my mind... gee, no wonder why I was anxious!

Every evening I would come home and would ask hubby for a back rub. My neck and back were so tight.

I began treatment for ADD, and WOW! what a difference! I had this really cool sense of calm.. everytime the meds would wear off, I would get some of the anxiety back. BUT, after 2 days, I noticed that the anxiety began to be a little less each day..

After 2 weeks, I stopped asking for back rubs

Please, I'm not saying that this is what would or will happen for everybody.. this is just me..

I think that some people with comorbid anxiety may get worse on meds.. it just depends on the person and the cause of the anxiety.

Sherry

Panic Attacks suck

[QUOTE=valzap]

[/QUOTE]

verschmeckled? Sounds more yiddish (old jewish german) to me. They have awesome words for emotions we don't have an equivalent for. Like verklempt- choked up with emotion. I hear yiddish and it makes me smile - they have an almost musical cadence to it and I would bet verschmeckled is a yid word.

anxious is what we all feel. I can understand when you hear anxiety and associate it with attack that you don't like to call it that. But we are all under the influence of it. Anxiety makes us do a lot of what we do. Some towards it for the adrenaline - others away from it for fear. But it makes us a part of what we are.

GlenW . . . you give me some hope. Thank you for working the board.