eli5 – Can someone explain ADHD? Specifically the procrastination and inability to do “boring” tasks?
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You know how when you’re really tired–like haven’t slept for 36 hours–how you have a tougher time focusing on mentally demanding tasks? And not in a squishy, subjective, just-try-harder way, but I mean it is *physically, chemically* harder to focus? Because your brain is operating differently at that moment?
That’s what having ADHD is like. It’s chemical imbalances in the brain that impair executive functioning, so things like focus, task-switching, and time awareness are made more challenging than they are for the average, neurotypical person. Often to a degree that significantly impairs daily functioning in a thousand little ways.
As for the “boring tasks” thing — most people with ADHD have areas of selective hyperfocus in their lives. Things they find richly rewarding, and their brain doesn’t offer as much friction with (whether that’s a chicken or egg thing is anybody’s guess).
Like for me, as a writer with ADHD inattentive subtype, I can sit down in front of a script and go tunnel vision for 6 hours straight, forgetting to eat, drink, use the bathroom, etc.
Ask me to fold laundry?
Sits in a corner until the Clean Clothes That Need Folding pile becomes a Dirty Clothes That Need Washing pile.
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