Hyperfocused, Obsessive, Impatient | ADHD Information

Anyone else have issues with getting a wild idea in their head and then obsessively going for it?

I get idea X (usually something I can barely afford or have time for) and then it wont go out of my head - it's eased somewhat with my meds but it drives me nuts. I am now an expert on X and know that this wont ease up until it happens..

Anyone got tricks on how to distract yourself to another topic?

I'm that way, also. I end up spending the money on the idea and then pinch pennies until the next paycheck :(
How I wish mine were a 'next paycheck' issue. No, mine are things like 'I'm going to learn X which is 00+'.

Fallen38536.3703125Hmm yeah, I guess I'm talking about something being 'The Greatest Idea Ever'. Nothing dislodges it from my brain. It's been 3 days on the new X so far, I've driven everyone nuts :-/

Waiting for it to pass just sucks.
I'm the same way especially for my drawings. I get these wild ideas in animated-like images in my head all day and if I really like it, I'll say "Yeah! I wanna draw it!" But then I don't draw it..and eventually I let it fade away...or if I'm lucky it comes back to me. But yeah, I get those every once in a while, like when I'm listening to music or watching television. How to distract yourself...hmm..I don't know, just move on to something else or go to another activity. Sorry if this doesn't make alot of sense.

Fallen, your situation fits me to a 'T'. No magic solutions that I've found. Awareness of ADHD has helped me spot these episodes sooner, but not 100% so far. Keep writing, I enjoy your posts...

Fallen, tell me the idea?
pm me if you don't want to do it here.
very curious.
Matt - Absolutely. My wife was originally very upset and would get angry because of the speed I'd move from idea -> investment -> result. It can be just days.

Examples:

At 26 I got bored on a tuesday night, emmigrated to the US on Thursday with two pairs of pants and 5 tshirts and a guitar. That was 10 years ago.

8 years ago deciding to become the best linux guy I could become, building my own ISP in my basement over 2 days - at least that led to a position where the crazy ideas werent totally out of reach.

2 years ago: decided at 30 to become a professional wrestler, found a school and paid out k - it's a major part of my life.

last year, decided I needed to skydive, was at a dropzone 24 hours later (blowing a day off work), paid out a lot of money and did a lot of jumps. For someone with ADD its the perfect sport, after a jump my mind would be quiet for 3 days.

Thats the major life altering ones give or take a few, but between that there's the guitars and amps, the lessons and courses I've taken, the video equipment, tv show, yadda yadda.

Current crazy thought? my mind has decided that buying my own skydiving rig makes perfect sense (it costs to rent a rig per jump). That's great, except that 1) I haven't jumped so far this season, 2) I dont have the 00 I need to buy a safe rig.

Knowing I dont have the money on hand doesnt stop my mind whirling at a thousand miles an hour on ways to solve the problem.

Then, as usual, something weird happens and I get an email from a friend I haven't seen in a year who's offering me some consulting work in my spare time, at my own rate..................rig potentially paid for.

Yesterday was horrible, the entire day and my mind was roaring louder than the air does during a dive.

I count myself lucky, I guess my wife has done a little reading recently, instead of the usual tension that this behavior causes she was very understanding and supportive, knowing that it wasnt a voluntary state to be in and rather than pushing hard to get my mind to get off that track, making suggestions gently that actually helped the noise calm down.

I totally agree about experimenting if it isnt going to mess things up. It can cause a lot of friction if you're in a relationship with someone with the normal wishes of financial stability and security, who's good at planning, compared to my 'LETS GO CRAZY' attitude.
I am that way too. I love music and can learn almost anything. The problem is instead of picking one instrument and mastering it. I focus intensely on for example the clarinette for a short while. Then all I can think of is learning the trumpet. The guitar is the only one I spent a lot ot time on, but should be better than i am. I have been like that with school. I want to finish my degree, do well for a short while then I am bored!! Idea x is a constant problem.

Wow Fallen, and I thought I didn't really fit in on this board! We are one and the same!

I started my business 6 years ago dropping k in borrowed funds. The idea came to me and within a month I had spent the $$. Now I get ideas on how to improve my business all the time and I continuously "reinvest" my profits. Even if it is not something that absolutely needs to get down, I'll get fixated on it and go for it.

I have a garage full of previous experiments and a head full of knowledge for things that I'll rarely if ever need to recall again. As long as it is not bankrupting you, what's the problem?

Yeah after 11 years together, my wife has figured me out. She instituted a rule in our house that any new idea must pass a 2 week test. If I am still high on it after 2 weeks then I can proceed. There have been some crazy ideas that I have had but usually I am on to something else by the time the 2 weeks have passed. She saved me a ton of $$ with that rule

While I haven't tried skydiving, I know what you mean about the adrenaline rush. That seems to be the best medicine out there for me. When I exercise or do something really exciting, my blood gets pumping and I can really get focused in. It is a great natural feeling.

Two weeks!?!? You realize I have no sense of time, right? :)

Actually yeah, I have something similar, mostly because it takes me that long to convince others that it's a great idea.

Still, its 14 days of sheer hell in the meantime.

For me Skydiving is the best medication ever. Three days of mental silence after a jump, just totally calm and unflappable. Of course, its more addicting than crack :)