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starkid
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19 Apr 2017, 12:56 am

What can I do? This has been going on for a month or two, and it's getting worse. I can't focus on any of my interests and I'm slacking on work-related stuff too. I struggle just to read a few paragraphs. I just keep re-loading the same damned web page a million times per day and posting spam.

I don't feel sick or mentally ill (I am a little worried about money though). I workout and eat well, but I have trouble sleeping at night. I don't know what has caused this.



NikNak
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19 Apr 2017, 9:32 am

The poor sleep is likely causing the focusing issues. It might be worth visiting your doctor to address the sleep issues. You could also try out some sleep hygiene techniques- there's loads of tips online.

Have you had sleep issues before? Low melatonin can be an issue for a lot of us and it really messes with your sleep.


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Corny
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19 Apr 2017, 9:57 am

Since the poster above said it might be because of your lack of sleep. You could try over the counter medicine. My grandma uses benadryl sometimes to get her to sleep. Maybe you could try Nyquil or even ZZZQuil since it's made to help people go to sleep if they're having problems sleeping.



starkid
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19 Apr 2017, 11:47 am

I've had insomnia on and off my entire adult life and never had this problem before. My sleep problems aren't even very serious; mostly I just take a while to fall asleep (or back to sleep if I get up to use the restroom), and I feel like I should have slept another hour or two when I wake up.



shortfatbalduglyman
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19 Apr 2017, 10:13 pm

"The poor sleep is likely causing the focusing issues."

lately my sleeping has been great. focusing not good.



Jensen
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20 Apr 2017, 8:12 pm

Stress!
Stay away from the screen for a while and get more daylight. Screen-light is pulsating and stirs up the brain more than we are aware of.
Do simple things - small walks, draw or photograph if you prefer, or do DIY projects - one at a time - or what you want. Drop the ambitions and just focus on small things, you like - small islands of peace during the day.
That will slow your brain down and normalize things, so you can focus.


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starkid
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20 Apr 2017, 11:37 pm

Jensen wrote:
Stress!
Stay away from the screen for a while and get more daylight. Screen-light is pulsating and stirs up the brain more than we are aware of.
Do simple things

That sounds like good advice but I don't know if I'll be able to follow it. I quickly get bored with things. That's why I like being online; there's always something new to read and look at. Except for sex I've always found concrete and physical things kind of boring and preferred to be in my head.



ElabR8Aspie
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21 Apr 2017, 3:21 am

Do you feel in a rut?

And are you consciously or unconsciously,sick of repetitive mundane,day to day living/tasks/responsibilities,feel as though just existing and feel there should be so much more?

Maybe loss of direction too,at this point in time?

Just throwing it out there.: p


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starkid
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21 Apr 2017, 3:52 am

Yes I am in a rut.



ElabR8Aspie
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21 Apr 2017, 3:59 am

Make some subtle changes to habit and routine,mix it a up a little and find what suits you.

Take it day by day and look at it as a work in progress,don't stress,things will come.


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starkid
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21 Apr 2017, 4:10 am

ElabR8Aspie wrote:
Make some subtle changes to habit and routine,mix it a up a little and find what suits you.

Take it day by day and look at it as a work in progress,don't stress,things will come.


I think I have the opposite problem: I'm not stuck in a routine, I'm stuck with no structure. Work comes sporadically, there are no regular events I can attend in my town, I can't focus on doing my hobbies regularly, and I can't stick to a schedule cleaning the apartment. My day is one amorphous chunk of unmanaged time.

I'm afraid nothing will change until I either move away or make more money.



Jensen
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21 Apr 2017, 4:42 am

I recently suffered a stress-induced breakdown and ended in hospital.
Because of a portion of ADHD (and anxiety), my brain is prone to racing, so I had to de-stress it.
Here is the advice, the psychologist gave me:

Concrete stuff to do each day - each morning: (and evening before bedtime).
Sit comfortably with eyes closed.
Take five-ten deep, relaxed breaths and exhale slowly.
Think of three nice, reasuring words to repeat in your mind while doing it - like "loved", "safe", "welcome".
(these words help calming your subconcious). You will probably feel your pulse going down.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My advice:
If you get bored easily and don´t know what to do away from the screen - then write yourself a list of small, not too time-consuming things, you could do to get away from the screen and regain your calm and focus.
Even things that take a couple of minutes.

Idea-bank: Take a container and some small scraps of paper.
Write each idea on a bit of paper and put it in the box. Come up with a little thing each day.
Very soon, you will have a box with single ideas - of your own making - on what to do away from the screen and in daylight. Even dishwashing would be an idea as long as it is done in daylight.
Look away, scramle the paperbits, choose one and DO it - whatever it may be :-)

Continue "brainstorming" a little each day to come up with ideas for the box, so the bank expands.
This process alone is of help too.

Think this over:
What could your interests be, besides the net? Bushcraft in a small scale? Make a knife for yourself? Small repair? Photo? Listening to music? (not techno, please!)
Modelling in play dough to see, what your brain could make up (sense-stimulating as well).

You can take a walk and listen to music.
You can bring a camera and try to catch unusual things happening in the street or where you are - or sit in outside and read a good book. If you can concentrate on one chapter - it´s fine. No hurry.

Sharpen your ears for nature-sounds. Nature our original environment, so it calms us down.
For instance: Take 20 minutes trying to decide what bird you are hearing now. Try to catch it with your camera. Read about it. Examine a plant.

Anything, that could help you focus and take your mind off things - even shortly - and be done in daylight and without "hurrying".

You might discover new interests :)


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ElabR8Aspie
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21 Apr 2017, 4:45 am

Essentially though in a rut.

I do understand where your coming from.

Make small changes,be it small,focus on what you want to be,and what you want from life,essentially how you want to live life comfortably and happy in this world.

Work with what you got,within your means and essentially what you can stomach.

Do as can do and work with that.

We ALL dream of more money,but they ain't feasible,it's a lottery after all,a wish,a pipe dream.

Keep on dreaming though,strive and do what you wish for,by doing.

Don't wish for the unattainable and by doing nothing.


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You are very likely neurodiverse (Aspie)

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." --Ralph Waldo Emerson


starkid
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21 Apr 2017, 5:00 am

ElabR8Aspie wrote:
We ALL dream of more money,but they ain't feasible,it's a lottery after all,a wish,a pipe dream.

Ok but a lot of people want fancy cars, clothes, and gadgets. I want to be able to pay my gas and electric bill. I'm very poor and comparing my desire for a basic level of comfort to others' materialism hurts me a little bit.

Thank you Jensen. It seems much easier to do now that you've given examples.



ElabR8Aspie
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21 Apr 2017, 5:06 am

Who in there right mind wants to follow the sheep?

Essentially work with what you got and where you want to be.

Only you can make inroads,quit complaining if your not.


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Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 159 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 75 of 200
You are very likely neurodiverse (Aspie)

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." --Ralph Waldo Emerson


starkid
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21 Apr 2017, 5:12 am

ElabR8Aspie wrote:
Who in there right mind wants to follow the sheep?

Essentially work with what you got and where you want to be.

Only you can make inroads,quit complaining if your not.

This has nothing to do with what I posted, ok? Just let it go if you aren't going to pay attention to what I'm literally saying. I took what I could from your advice but took issue with one small detail. That's all. We're done.