620
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by blueskiesoc@lemmy.world to c/adhd@lemmy.world

Thank you Nome @NomedaBarbarian

For the visually impaired, the images are a series of Twitter screenshots.

Full transcription of text below images.

Full transcription of text below images.

Full transcription of text below images.

Full transcription of text below images.

@NomedaBarbarian on Twitter:

Thinking about how I've been lied to as an #ADHD person about what habits are.

That apparently is not what neurotypical folks get to experience.

Habits are things that they do without thinking.

They don't have to decide to do them. They don't have to remember to do them. Things just happen, automatically, because they've done them enough for that system to engage and make them automatic.

That system...which I lack.

Every single time I have brushed my teeth, it's been an active choice. I've had to devote thought and attention to it. It's not a routine, it's not a habit, it's something that I know is good to do, and hopefully I can remember to do it.

Every single time I exercise, or floss, or pay my rent, or drink water, or say "bless you" when someone sneezes,

It's because I've had to actively and consciously engage the protocol.

It never gets easier.

Just more familiar.

It's part of my struggle with my weight--exercise never becomes a habit, and every single time I do it, it is exactly as hard as the first time. It takes exactly as much willpower & thought.

I got lied to about how it would just "turn into a habit". And blamed, when it didn't.

Drinking water isn't a habit. Feeding myself isn't a habit. Bathing isn't a habit.

I spend so much more energy, so much more time, so much more labor on just managing to maintain my fucking meat suit.

And now you want me to ALSO do taxes?

ON TIME?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] Aviandelight@mander.xyz 17 points 1 year ago

Neurotypical here. I don't call it habits, I prefer autopilot. My autopilot is so strong that I've made dinner/cleaned house while on the phone without even realizing I did it. Like seriously get off the phone and look around and wondered when did I do that? I also have driven to work instead of shopping because I am so used to only leaving the house for work. You can set a clock by my daily routine down to the minute.

[-] blueskiesoc@lemmy.world 19 points 1 year ago
[-] trafficnab@kbin.social 8 points 1 year ago

Sometimes I finish showering, and I was so heavily on autopilot while thinking about other things that I have no memory of if I actually washed my body or not, I just trust that I did

[-] riskable@programming.dev 3 points 1 year ago

I have ADHD and sometimes when I get out of the shower I'm like, "wait: did I wash my hair?" Then I reach up to feel it and sure enough, it feels greasy; I forgot.

I can physically feel when my body isn't clean so that's easy (water rolls off me like a duck, LOL!). Hair is different 🤷

[-] trafficnab@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

The only time I ever forget is if something goes awry (like I find out my shampoo bottle is empty and have to pause the shower to get more), causing ShowerAutopilot.exe to crash and behave in strange unintended ways

this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2023
620 points (88.2% liked)

ADHD

9694 readers
4 users here now

A casual community for people with ADHD

Values:

Acceptance, Openness, Understanding, Equality, Reciprocity.

Rules:

Encouraged:

Relevant Lemmy communities:

Autism

ADHD Memes

Bipolar Disorder

Therapy

Mental Health

Neurodivergent Life Hacks

lemmy.world/c/adhd will happily promote other ND communities as long as said communities demonstrate that they share our values.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS