ADHD and
the vicious circle with Hobbies.
Step #1 Something really grabs your attention and you become interested in it.
Step #2 You need to get everything you need to make it perfect – only the best is good enough… and sometimes it can cost you quite a lot.
- I want to start running! I need to buy running shoes, some sports clothes... yeah, and a smart watch too, so I can track everything!
- I want to do photography! I need a camera, lenses, and a tripod! It won't work without it.
- I want to start painting! I need canvases, pencils, watercolours, acrylic paint... what else? Yup, I should get the best brushes, so it looks perfect.
(These are just 3 personal examples from the thousands of other hobbies I had)
Step #3 - You try to convince yourself that this is the hobby you will finally stick to this time.
Step #4 You're getting tired of it.
Step #5 You stop doing it.
Step #6 A new hobby comes along, and you start the circle again.
Why is it so hard for us to stick to something? Dopamine in the brain – which helps us focus, affects our mood, sleep, and especially our ability to find things interesting – is much lower in people with ADHD.
Our brain is constantly curious and always wants to do something new, something more interesting, something we really get fired up about. But eventually we reach a point where it all changes again. The thing that we once were so passionate about may have been repeated so many times over that it became boring, or skills needed to improve exceeded our level of patience.
I always wondered what was wrong with me and why I no longer enjoyed what used to make me so happy. You feel like you've disappointed everyone – and yourself – again.
But I want you to know and realise that you are not lazy, you are not a quitter, and most importantly, you are not alone. All your interests and skills actually shape who you are now. Unique, creative, and talented.
