Why can I never finish anything?

[howyoulikemenow]

I struggle to finish books, hobbies, chores, tasks, TV series, everything. I'm so annoyed with myself. Nothing keeps my attention for long, so I end up just internet browsing or watching things I've already seen. I'm always misplacing stuff and feel like I'm going mad.

Is this part of my depression & anxiety, or a mum brain thing, or both?!

I am autistic and probably ADD too although latter undiagnosed formally and am exactly the same. Sympathies.

I don't know, but you could be describing me. I have often suspected I am on the autism spectrum, but was never diagnosed. It wasn't really known about as much when I was a kid.

It's a bit of a running joke in my family (at my expense)

I rarely finish anything. I find the initial enthusiasm wears off and I don't bother.
I throw myself into things at 100mph and then just can't find the motivation to keep it going.

I'd love to know how to change that.

I’m trying to get back into reading and concentrating on some tv.
I think browsing on the internet has killed our concentration skills.
Limiting time on it will probably help. Don’t get your phone out till you’ve finished your chores, tv programme or chapter.
I think it will improve over time.

Look into inattentive ADHD.

I have inattentive ADHD (as well as being autistic) and I'm exactly like this.

Thank you. I'm not physically hyperactive, quite the opposite. However mentally I pretty much fit the bill. Every school report I got said I was easily distracted, even though I was bright enough to get good grades I just found it very hard to stay focused. I used to shout out a lot in class which used to get me in trouble, more so in primary school than secondary. Not just answers but random things, sometimes swear words. I would get in trouble for talking when I wasn't supposed to a lot too, but I guess these could be normal kid things?

I was abused as a child and I just always thought that might be the cause behind my behaviour. I've suspected I might have Aspergers before, but I'm not really sure how knowing it will help me as an adult. Perhaps just to accept myself instead of feeling frustration.

Adult Children of Alcoholics can find it hard to finish things too. Don't know if that applies, it was just something I came across once.

No, he was a gambling addict. But it's interesting as I wonder if it applies to other addictions, I'll look into it further. Thank you :)

I often think addictions are all the same. Chasing away some kind of inner misery and preferring to prioritise that chasing over living human beings.

Yes, very much so. It was just me & him growing up and he always put it first. He used to leave me alone from a young age to go to the betting shop, would leave us starving because he gambled away the food money etc.

Have you had counselling and that kind of thing? Neglect is a form of abuse.