Is there something wrong with me? Or am I just lazy?

thegmann — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:39:56 -0800

I exhibit many, if not all, of the symptoms of ADHD-I AKA "ADHD predominantly inattentive". After further research I also exhibit many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Should I see an endocrinologist, a general practitioner, a psychiatrist? Or all of the above? Long explanation follows. I have always been a skeptic when it comes to ADHD as well as most medications for mental or mood disorders. The epiphany came the other day when it was pointed out to me by a close friend that over the past few years I have begun and only half finished dozens of projects. I had straight A grades and very high test scores throughout elementary and middle school, in high school though I failed most every class, occasionally ditched school entirely, but still managed a 1540 on the SAT and managed to graduate (just barely). I ran a small IT business and a few money making web projects while in high school and I still run the IT business. Looking back now I have had related ADHD tendencies for years... I went to CC straight out of high school and I would go to class, excited for a new beginning. The conversations were great, and the classes interesting. Eventually though, in every course, I would manage to get behind on homework and eventually just give up on trying to catch up. I watched my girlfriend of the time (who I met at CC) manage the same average party lifestyle while succeeding in class, and I would fall behind because I would get so anxious about catching up. I wouldn't show up to class in order to make up work which I would procrastinate on and it just piled up. I took a year off and worked, partied, and had another girlfriend. When I came back I remained motivated for a longer period of time due to discovering Ayn Rand's writings but eventually I fell into the same cycle again. I took another semester off, came back, and after a few weeks I realized it was going to be the same cycle again in a matter of days and dropped all of my classes before I could damage my record further.

I have moved around quite a bit in an attempt to get myself motivated, to no avail. I have begun a ton of other ideas I've had but I always lose my motivation half way through. The most frustrating part is that I remember a time when I was so passionate and excited to take all of my plans through to completion, and now it's like all that drives me is that memory of having passion for the ideas I have.

I am now 21, have sold all of my worldly possessions, moved to Vegas with a friend, and saved up a good amount of cash while my businesses continue to run on autopilot (IMO the 4 hour workweek was made for ADHD people). This is very recent, so I don't have a doctor, and I haven't even seen one in probably 4 years, except a dermatologist for hair loss who prescribed me propecia.

I have early onset male pattern baldness.
I have a small amount of grey hair on the side of my head.
When I workout it takes me eons of consistency to see results.
I gain weight quickly, and even though I've been eating 1000x healthier for more than a year I haven't lost much fat.
I took two rounds of high dosage accutane in my teens, which I believe is when my hair loss began.
I tend to lose focus on people when they talk, I "feel bored" with conversations very quickly, though I don't find myself to be anti-social, I can sometimes feel anxious in social situations, which is the complete OPPOSITE of how I was in high school, in high school I talked to anyone and everyone.

Due to my business and the things I have managed to keep moving my life has not been affected much. If I were in a more "average" situation of a 21 year old I would be completely screwed with the way I've treated my education and career path. Regardless, I KNOW that I have lost a ton of energy, drive, and focus. I have found myself considering myself depressed recently but I can't really call it depression as much as lethargy, I have fun on my own it just requires more stimuli than it used to. My sex drive also has fallen considerably, though it still definitely exists.

I would like to gain my energy, drive, and focus back. I would like to stop or reverse my hair loss (no one in my family has as much area hair loss as I do, all grandparents included). I want to follow through with the things I begin. I want to stop the occasional feelings of being "flustered" and "foggy". I plan on seeing a doctor regardless, just because I should get a checkup one way or the other, but mefi, do you think I am a candidate for anything? Or am I just being a Wikipedia hypochondriac with an asshole friend?

Keep in mind that while I've managed to keep my businesses alive through good business sense, I have done very little to continue to grow them. Around the same time I remember losing my motivation and drive I also stopped growing them. I'd say I was around 17 at the time.

Thanks MeFiers!

LifestyleDesignFilter - Is the Four Hour Work Week Feasible?

wisdom-seeker — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 06:52:12 -0800

I have finished reading Tim Ferriss' "The Four Hour Work Week" and I am curious, has anyone out there who has read the book actually implement the strategies mapped out in the book? I am in the process of creating a business that I can run from virtually anywhere on the planet and want to know if others have done it.

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Is there something wrong with me? Or am I just lazy?

LifestyleDesignFilter - Is the Four Hour Work Week Feasible?