ADHD also is genuinely being bad at keeping your attention to your book
I remember how frustrated my mother got when the school told her I needed to be in remedial reading. My parents were both teachers so she thought "I got this"
She told me to read a book and she'd ask me some questions about it. I couldn't answer a single one.
So she had me read the book out loud to her. I did. Still couldn't answer a single question. Blew her mind that I could read a book out loud and not even be paying attention to it. That's when they got me diagnosed with ADHD.
Every doctor I've been to since hasn't even needed me to tell them. They notice on their own.
Or reading a book that you loved and then forgetting about its contents entirely after a few weeks.
I've been in a reading slump for several weeks, it sucks. So many books I haven't gotten to yet that I want to...
Yup, few days ago it took me the whole day to read one chapter. Executive dysfunction was particularly bad.
I need to know if a person who doesn't have ADHD also struggles with this. Every post that I see from any ADHD lemmy instance makes me believe that I DO have ADHD :(
I have not been tested for ADHD but also have no reason to think I have it. I'm pretty sure anyone who is being distracted from the content of what they are reading has experienced what the OP is saying. I can't imagine why anyone would think this is strictly an ADHD thing. My coworker on the other hand has ADHD and he can read/listen to audio books without being distracted in a situation where I would be. Maybe everyone is just different.
This is not a strictly ADHD thing. Many, many people have difficulty focusing when reading. It is just harder with ADHD to monitor and refocus.
The best way to figure this out is to get tested.
I was in the same boat where many adhd things resonated with me, been officially diagnosed since December now.
If you can afford the diagnostic/have insurance to cover it I’d recommend going for it. I started the process by talking about my concerns with my pcp and getting a referral. Ideally you’d move in to therapy/ medication to manage it, but just knowing that you have adhd can help you to reframe your perspective on your past to be kinder to yourself and to develop healthier coping mechanisms
Same. I was also talking with some friends that have it and they also think I might. I already got a mess of other issues. I guess I'll ask at my next psych appointment and see if I need to add that to the pile.
I could read endlessly as a kid. But now when I start reading my mind wanders almost instantly. I have found audio books to be slightly better, but even then it's a struggle at time. I have to start chapters over or rewind somewhat frequently. I wish I could turn off the part of my brain that jumps tracks so effortlessly.
If I do something to keep the other part of my brain busy — something not involving language processing, like cleaning, driving, or playing certain video games like rocket league or Mario 3 — I’m able to pay much more attention.
Yeah 90% of my Audio book listening was fine during dishes and other chores. Problem is those tasks are even better with music so I just end up not "reading" much anymore.
I rewatched Anthony Jeselnik’s latest hour because I was convinced I never finished it only to realize I knew the premise as it came up
I have done that so many times. Even with whole movies. Someone will ask me if I have seen it and I'll say no and then about 15 minutes in I start having constant deja-vu moments until I realize that I have already seen it I just wiped it from memory for whatever reason lol.
Is it by any chance the kind of book? I’m mostly the same, but a well written thriller or fanfiction will keep me up all night reading. My favorite book tends to send me daydreaming occasionally, so it’s not exactly a quality or taste thing imo. Those aren’t necessarily the best literature or even my preferred genres, but they just pull me in, which I sometimes want more than the actual story. It does feel a little like junk food though. Especially with fanfiction, because that isn’t always edited super well and it’s easy to internalize mistakes that you see repeatedly.
I pretty much only read fantasy growing up. I still only try to read fantasy although I did really enjoy "how to build a car" by Adrian Newey. If anyone even sorta into F1 or motorsports at all I would highly recommend that book.
But yeah mostly fantasy books.
I like using my finger to read certain things. If I have both my eyeballs and my hand working on the same thing, it helps a lot.
I switched to audiobooks. Do a mindless task while listening that keeps me focused enough that my mind doesn’t wander, but l not using so much that I can also pay attention to the book.
I wish that worked for me. Instead, I've gotten used to hitting that 30sec rewind button!
I've been listening to audiobooks while having the ebook on my tablet or computer. Somehow it keeps me busy enough to force me to pay attention. I read the last 3 expanse books in under a week
