I’m addicted to my electronics!!! | ADHD Information

Please, can someone help me with some advice on how to deal with these mind suckers?

I own a PS2, a television with cable, and computer with internet. When I get home, they suck me in, and I end up spending all my time going from one to the next. I miss appointments, stuff piles up all around the house, floor gets dirty, kitchen messy. It's like I have no willpower once I sit down to these things, I just sort of zone out and enjoy the flashy images and sounds until hours have gone by. I hate wasting my time like this.

I unplugged my television and PS2 because I don't need them to work but my computer is essential for papers, assignments, etc. I just surf the internet instead. I can't turn it off, I have to find a way to DEAL with this problem. I have this egg timer in front of me but it went off 1/2 hour ago and i'm still here

I don't study or pretty much anything unless i'm out of the house. Does anyone have a tactic for dealing with this high stimulation, low activity sort of stuff?
I was 'addicted' to computer programming through much of my teenage years, in itself not a problem (since the coding made me about an hour when i was 14).. however, once i went to college, it started becoming a problem.

So, what i did was pretty simple, we got a lot of electronics classes in college and i discovered that, for me, MAKING electronics instead of using them was a lot more 'satifying'..

So, instead of having the hobby of using it, why don't you try MAKING them? (It's not as easy as you might think!) Hell, you might just find a new way to make some cash. We ADD/ADHD folk are often highly creative and that comes in handy (i found out that i am absolutely NOT creative with anything apart from electronics).. In the end all my electronics knowledge even helps me at my job.

 

This may sound silly, but try setting your desktop resolution up real high. The writing gets real real small, then your eyes get tired of trying to read the writing for more than 15 minutes, and then you put it away. LOL it works, try it.

You just need to get it less comfortable and enjoyable, and it will be easier to put down. Then you will only be browsing the web when needed.

It's interesting to read different threads where people mention a pseudo-addiction to technology and will spend untold amounts of time doing whatever the obession-of-the-week is. For me, it's been solitare off and on, euchre on yahoo, whatever... It's nice to hear I'm not alone.

I'd agree that ADHDers are so creative and when we are able to focus that in useful areas (such as building electronics, etc) it is so incredibly satisfying. I love the feeling of accomplishment and generally I feel like I do everything well and won't even get into something I think I won't do well. Personally, I find that if I can not spend too much time doing the wasteful things (hours playing solitare) by just not even starting, and doing something more cerebral, I'm in a state of total joy. Expression has a way of dissipating any depression/anxiety brought on by my ADHD. I love music so much and play drums, piano and guitar. Playing music has a way of instantly grounding me and making me truly happy. I also draw from time to time and have a million unfinished novels. Now, when I actually get one of those novels, it will be a beautiful day!

For the everyone, but especially for someone with ADHD, a sense of genuine accomplishment is an amazing and truly empowering thing. It is so hard to get for us and when we do, it is something hard to explain...FAllen, i'm going to fix my dad's old acoustic guitar :) Have to restring it; been meaning to for 2 1/2 months now, but maybe i'll get around to it now.

I love that accomplishment too. Especially if I manage to push hard enough to get something done that I put down a long time ago. :P I have yet to finish my dresser.
omalley actually I'm trying to simplify . . I just feel overwhelmed by everything I have, my laptop and pda and tv with satellite programming . . . I can't keep up with anything and it's making me insane!  Too much stimulation -- I'm thinking of getting rid of everything!

[QUOTE=Brookelea]what you don't have an ipod??   [/QUOTE]

I knew there was something I was missing! I've got a 20G Rio Karma which holds more music than I even own.

Argh i'm still here.

Maybe I need a sort of productive stimulation replacement. Like the patch, only for TV and internet.

Me too!!!!!!!! However, I'm only addicted to tv in that it is like white noise that makes it possible for me to do other things like clean, etc. I can't stand to sit and watch tv and do nothing else but if I have paperwork to go through or cleaning to do, the tv gives my brain focus.

That said, I'm addicted to my laptop with wireless internet, my DVR (like Tivo), my Palm Tungsten T5 (pda), my CD burner (music is my love), and anything else I get my hands on.

I've decided that a lot of ADHD adults are 'early adopters'. We are really open to innovation because it's another form of stimulation. I don't know anyone with ADHD who would like to go back to horse and buggy (too slow). Feel free to let me know if I'm wrong... it would be an interesting informal survey.

what you don't have an ipod??   no sorry 

whoever comes up with a real solution will become a millionaire though!!

I was up until 1:30am last night trying to figure out why my router suddenly wasn't working with my laptop. I'm up again this morning working on it. Rediculous?! (or just ADHD adorable?)

Tv was easy to get rid of, forget to pay the bill. Buy lots of books.

Computer stuff I can't really help you with as I'm almost constantly connected unless I"m out skydiving or wrestling. I started playing soccer with my kid on weekends which gets me away from the computer without me noticing.

Find an outdoor hobby, start learning an acoustic instrument (my next move is to pick up an acoustic guitar rather than my electrics).

i have the odd compulsive cycle on the puter, but on the whole I've found that other hobbies are more absorbing, aimless surfing occurs only during hours I can't pursue my other interests now, rather than the 20 hours per day (including work duties) it used to be.