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Anyone have trouble going to work because of ADHD?

For the last few jobs I’ve had every morning I wake up ready for work and my brain just freezes, like total paralysis and all I want to do suddenly is just go back to sleep. And usually that’s what I do. I’ve used alarms to shock you awake and still nothing. No matter what I do I can’t get out of bed even though I want to.

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User Profile: Spiritriver
Spiritriver May 14th

@faithfulGlobe3505

That's not something I've heard associated with ADHD. Yet it can be a contributing factor.  For example, if ADHD is causing stress, one of the stress responses is the kind of mental shut down you're describing.  One kind of stressor is the dread of facing something extremely unpleasant. If that "thing" is what first comes to mind upon awakening, the drive to shut down can feel reflexive.  

I have ADHD, and one of my stress responses is as you've described it, and yes, and at times, the difficulty of managing ADHD has played a role.  

Are there other times when you've had this feeling?  

2 replies
User Profile: faithfulGlobe3505
faithfulGlobe3505 OP May 14th

I get this feeling about 3-4 times a week, like my brain shuts down and body soon follows

1 reply
User Profile: Spiritriver
Spiritriver May 15th

@faithfulGlobe3505

Are there any other things you can correlate, for example, does it happen shortly after a meal, or about the same time of day?  I tend to get super tired and sleepy between 3 and 5pm.  Typically, young adults require far more sleep than they think they do. I remember not feeling quite human unless I got 10-12 hours a night.  

Correlation doesn't necessarily mean one thing is causing the other, but maybe it's a starting point. Experimenting with whatever variables possible, potentially can reveal something that will help.  

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User Profile: eternaleye
eternaleye May 14th

This happened to me a lot when I was in college. It often felt like paralysis. I struggle still to go to work but I think the circumstances of being late and possibly losing said job are what end up motivating me to get up.

User Profile: DancingDaoist
DancingDaoist May 17th

I have had it happen for many years it hellish. I had to stop studying because of it. Sorry hugs.

This tends to come from a dopamine deficiency. Do you go on your phone right from the get go?

This tends to come from a dopamine deficiency. Do you go on your phone right from the get go?

@faithfulGlobe3505

This can be low dopamine, do you go on your phone from the get go?

@faithfulGlobe3505

This can be low dopamine, do you go on your phone from the get go?

User Profile: Jaynguzo
Jaynguzo May 27th

That sounds really exhausting to go through, especially when part of you wants to get up, but your mind and body just seem to shut down instead. I’m glad you shared it instead of carrying it alone.

Sometimes when people feel emotionally overwhelmed, burnt out, anxious, depressed, or mentally drained for a long time, even simple things like getting out of bed can start feeling impossible. It doesn’t mean you’re lazy or weak.

You don’t have to solve everything at once. Maybe start very small, even sitting up in bed, drinking water, or opening the curtains can be a first step. And if this keeps happening often, it might help to talk to a mental health professional or someone you trust, because you deserve support too.

Be gentle with yourself today. You’re trying, even if it doesn’t feel like enough.