Why does it feel like too much effort just to go from sitting around looking at garbage online to simply watching a film or playing a video game?
Why does it feel like too much effort just to go from sitting around looking at garbage online to simply watching a film or playing a video game?
this is stupid. something about activation energy? are there any activation energy hacks?
Depression
Vitamin D deficiency as well!
Nearly 42% of adults in the United States have a vitamin D deficiency. This figure rises to almost 63% in Hispanic adults and 82% in African American adults.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-deficiency-symptoms
If your shadow is longer than you are tall, you are not getting enough ultraviolet radiation to produce vitamin D. You need about 15 minutes a day.
Some of the symptoms are fatigue and depression
I found out last doctor's appointment my vitamin d is insanely low so I started taking a supplement this week and it's made a world of difference already! Highly recommend trying it out if you feel burnt out and low energy all the time especially if you spend a lot of time inside. Its also relatively pretty cheap all things considered which is nice.
Often caused by an imbalance in brain chemicals, which can be corrected with medicine.
Get diagnosed and take your meds. It’s a world of difference.
To be clear, this doesn't necessarily mean "get diagnosed for depression" either.
No, as others have suggested, get a blood test.
Accelerating depression was surprisingly a symptom of my cancer. So being depressed can also be a symptom of something far more serious than just depression.
My depression is still bad, but the difference between taking my cancer meds (not psychiatric meds) and not taking my cancer meds, is a world of difference, depression-wise.
While I can't provide you with a proper scientific answer I can offer a basic explanation - it's effort.
Browsing through the never ending amount of content online requires no effort but provides you with a dopamine rush as if you actually managed to accomplish or do something with your time. Other stuff, like watching movies, playing games, reading books, etc. requires attention and active participation, the payoff on the other hand is largely delayed (especially compared to the lazy option).
As for hacks... I don't know any. The only ways I know how to deal with it is limiting your time scrolling through this stuff and forcing yourself to do other things - it can be rough early on but you'll eventually get used to the "normal" way of functioning.
I would also like to add motivation to the list. If you’re not particularly hyped about any game, playing games isn’t going to feel engaging. Once you do find a game you enjoy, you won’t have much time for doomscrolling any more.
That doesn't seem to do much for me unfortunately. In my case the potential time I need to reserve for a gaming session tends to take precedence over hype whenever I'm in a lazy, scroll-focused rut. Still trying to get back to a recent(ish) release I was super hyped playing during its beta period... At least I have a semi decent explanation for this one, I guess.
Being more aware of the passage of time helps me, so setting an alarm is what I do.
ADHD. A lot of people might say depression, and ADHD gets misdiagnosed this way too, especially because people are much more familiar with the way depression manifests rather than how ADHD actually manifests beyond stereotypical hyperactivity and difficulty focusing.
What you're describing is executive dysfunction and energy regulation problems. The reason you can't stop scrolling is because your brain doesn't produce dopamine enough, and it's only used to the short bursts it can produce. This creates a feedback loop where you're stuck stimulating yourself with quick, easy dopamine hits, and that's why anything that seems like a prolonged task feels like an impossible endeavor. It's also why you'll get tunnel vision if you ever do start playing that game.
We have this thing called autistic inertia, which sounds similar, and since people already mentioned ADHD, maybe start here and see if anything rings a bell and go from there:
https://medium.com/@autieadventures/adhd-autistic-inertia-and-pda-what-sets-them-apart-9d2b39a55cf7
I swear I have all three of the ADHD/autistic ones, and all three have gotten more and more difficult to deal with as I’ve gotten older
Unfortunately that's pretty common. Personally I think that the accumulation of trauma (which is unavoidable being neurodiverse in a neurotypical world) makes the brain even more defensive, making it ever harder to break through the walls it creates in "self defence". I wish I had something more encouraging or helpful to say, but I have the same struggles.
autistic inertia
I feel that, didn't know there was a term for it
I only recently learned the term, and I too felt it in my bones.. So validating each time I discover another bit of my autism has a name and is known by others and isn't just me being "useless".
First time hearing about PDA. So being viscerally protective of one's own autonomy, no matter how small or reasonable a demand is, is a problem? Damn dude
Take it a step further - even defending your own autonomy from yourself. Even things you want to do or even thoroughly enjoy become impossible once a demand is introduced. Add that to executive dysfunction, and daily life (and dealing with a neurotypical world that has no idea about these issues) becomes a real challenge.
Well fuck. I share a lot of those autistic traits and only a few of the ADHD ones. Would focusing on a medical diagnosis for ADHD still help if thats the case
ADHD and CPTSD here (how we love our initialisms!), the latter of which shares a lot of behavioral overlap with autism. From my experience and that of friends and family, yes. A proper evaluation from a knowledgeable practitioner should get you moving on both fronts. I highly recommend finding a psychiatrist versed in both.
There is a lot of overlap and comorbidity between autism and ADHD, having one definitely doesn't rule out having the other, and if you think diagnosis and or medication will help, I say go for it, just mention your suspicions about potentially having both to the doctor.
I can only speak to my experience.
Often I fall back to films or games I've already developed an emotional attachment to. Because the mental energy it takes to develop a new attachment is significant. I find I can trick it by putting something on while I do something else and then come back to watch or listen to it later where it's already somewhat familiar.
My ADHD doesn't really let me have long term (hour plus) focus easily. It wants the easy dopamine hit from something that it knows it already can drop into.
Think you hit the nail on the head with the dopamine hit thing. Online media today is essentially built around that and rewards it. Look at Youtube shorts or tiktok. I can spend hours just scrolling through youtube shorts because it's quick and random dopamine hits. no long content, something different on each scroll, move on to the next. even sites like this contribute to it. each post is something different and also a quick vomit of information.
dedicate oneself to hours of the same consistent media like a tv show or movie or even a videogame I can see as being difficult for people who are now conditioned to quick 10sec hits of info.
Others have said depression, but this can also be caused by burnout or ADHD. If you’ve tried the usual suggestions (better sleep, exercise, diet) and it’s really bothering you, then talking to a doctor could help narrow down the possibilities.
This. Way too many people these days are confusing burnout or addiction with ADHD. Literally seeing YouTubers state they are burned out and then declare it's ADHD, and how Adderall helped them be productive magically.
No shit the METH analogue is making you productive, it's fucking meth. It'll perk up anyone no matter how burned out you are. There's a reason it was commonly used by students who hadn't slept and could only afford ramen while finishing their thesis back in the day.
It sucks how that's being over diagnosed and causing a shortage in people who actually need it. Psychologists in the USA have way too much power - how can you basically prescribe meth to someone without even a blood test or further testing to rule out other non-focus causes, but a nurse can't even get you some heart medication over there?
Edit: very late, but let the record show Adderall was indeed being over prescribed in the USA:
So Adderall is an amphetamine salt. Not a methamphetamine. Not that they don't have methamphetamine drugs that are prescribed for ADHD. But they are drastically different drugs.
I do think their prescriptions are over dosing, but to say that over prescribing is preventing those that need it is the wrong conclusion. If there is that much need, then there should be increased production. However the federal government restricts the productions to a certain level.
Like most drugs to treat mental illnesses, it's a lot of "try this and report" to determine the effectiveness and the dosage. We don't truly understand the neurotransmitters or how they affect mood and mental health. We work on correlation. It's only by how the patient self reports the effects that they can adjust the dosage and potentially change to different drugs.
Then there are also people who drink or used to drink a lot or use lots of recreational drugs in higher than safe doses and call it adhd when they experience memory or attention problems… When I finally admitted I needed help, it was after years of positive lifestyle changes not having any effect. That’s very bad too because I pretty much tortured myself for too long, most of my potential went down the drain and I became a person who pretty much no longer trusts themselves and is always scared of pursuing opportunities because of inevitable spiraling into dysfunction. That scenario is something nobody should end up in and people need to feel supported to seek help to minimize such damage, but those making zero effort and completely jumping over so many first steps in helping the typical and very common symptoms is really irresponsible. Having people claim to have adhd just because they have memory problems, or attention problems from spending unrestricted and unmonitored amount on apps designed to break the brain, or a textbook burnout… It’s not just insensitive to those who are suffering from the disability, it is also detrimental to give amphetamines to a body that needs care, rest, or exercise.
Tell yourself "3 2 1 Go!" And do it.
It's fine if you need to try a couple times. Or if you need to rock yourself to a new position and time it with Go.
Sometimes I like to hype myself up and do a really loud pep talking coach type voice in my head for this.
Also very high energy affirming stuff. ‘I am here! This is my body! I choose when and how to use it!’
Yeah, it’s silly, but if it works it works.
3 2 1 laterrr
Great tip honestly
Going to try this!
There could be any number of things causing you to feel like that. Depression, burn out (very common in people on the spectrum), vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems… our bodies are kind of like really crappy cars that just show a check engine light for every problem, except with feeling tired. The only way to rule out any physical problems is to get blood work done.
Because you have ADHD.
We’re just calling everything ADHD now
We might as well change the baseline for ADHD since technology has hammered everyone's dopamine receptors
Just because a sizable part of the population has it, doesn't make it any less legitimate. So sick and tired of the stigma around ADHD. I'm tired of defending it
How fix. If this is so much effort, imagine the effort for actually solving the problem
It's kind of a running joke that if you can get yourself through the diagnosis gauntlet
- sorting it with insurance
- finding a provider
- waiting the months for the appointment
- dealing with insurance
- then doing it all over again for the psychiatrist to actually get the prescription
- and then again for the therapist (to wrangle the realization that your entire life is ADHD lol)
is something only a non-ADHDer can manage. Get someone close to you on board who can help keep you accountable, and run the gauntlet mate. Check out !adhd@lemmy.world.
It's the level of commitment. You can start and stop online activities with almost no preparation or planning. When you watch a movie, you have to mentally prepare yourself to be in one spot and paying attention to one thing for an hour and a half. When you play video games, it takes effort to turn on the console or launch Steam / Epic / whatever.
yeah there's a pretty good hack for this.
Stop having social media, if you are unable to look at it, you simply won't.
90% of your life is building an environment around you that incentivizes you to do the work that you need to do, not only to be productive, but also to be happy.
You'll be really fucking bored, but also find that you have other things to be doing, and then go do those instead, because they're more interesting.
Because your brain is naturally "designed" to maximise things that trigger happy chemicals while minimising effort to get them.
So slowly frying your neurons from scrolling an endless supply of garbage where you don't have to move or work or even use your brain to make a choice of what to watch or pay attention enough to follow a story is always going to be your brains preferred choice.
Kinda sounds like standard adult burnout.
Remove the garbage from your life.
Only hack fortis discipline. Decide what you’re going to do ahead of time, then stick to your plans.
Fortis was either a typo or a very clever conjunction of "for it is", either way I love it.
Fortuitous mistake
Consider how limited our time is and if you really want to spend it on "garbage".
(most) films and video games requires a bit of engagement from you.
This sounds like it could be clinical depression, which sometimes requires professional help.
I generally try to find things that make me laugh if I get to this point. I look up old Whose Line episodes or moments, Improv-a-ganza, and recently Dropout shows like Game Changer and Dirty Laundry.
I watch BBC panel shows. QI, 8 out of 10 cats, 8 out of 10 cats does countdown, Would I lie to you, Mock the Week, etc.
I can't speak for you, but I experience similar and I think there's a few reasons. To me, movies are tough mostly because there so many options, I spend too much time just browsing.
Games, I think it's either because starting a new game is a like intimidating, or because I feel I need at least a chunk of time and by the time I do it, it's too late. And again, options.
Plus scrolling is just kind of fun sometimes. Iunno. Humans need other humans. P
Either way, I'm on Lemmy right now because I've got a 2 year old koalaing my left arm, though. Be glad you at least have the choice to scroll! Best of luck, hope you get a game inspiration soon.
Try weed, it'll get you immersed into a game/movie. It's the best way to enjoy them.
Or you'll have anxiety about wanting to do something but be too high to actually do it.
For those that can enjoy it, cool. But not everyone can chill and get into something when high.
I had that last night. I went to finally watch Pluto, which I read the manga and seen the first episode before so knew I was love it, but when I started it I was like "Can I speed this up?" Which wouldn't have made it as good. " Do I have time for this? I could be doing something else?" When I had did some chores and didn't have anything the next day just for this. Once I was into it, I had a hard time stopping, but had to because I was too tired to appreciate it.
I think I been consuming media that not very important to me and that I don't have to pay close attention that I normalize that. When years ago I use to purposely consume a big chunk of media. So the opposite of what I do now. Making setting aside time and focusing hard to do.
Tai Chi is an activation energy hack. It's a somatopsychic effect that increases mental energy.
It could be a number of things that people have mentioned in here.
Just allow yourself to do what you actually want to do. If you feel like you actually want to watch movies or TV shows then you need to consciously stop picking up your phone.
At the same time, if you only want to watch a movie or TV show because its what you "think" is expected of a "normal" person, stop. Just let yourself lay on the couch/bed and scroll.
We place too many expectations on ourselves these days to be doing certain things, instead of just doing the things we actually want.