r/ADHD•
isaacyoustay

How do I get through reading a book chapter or watching a documentary?

Questions/Advice

One of my most impairing symptoms, besides lack of motivation, is mind-wandering, zoning-out or distractibility (please correct me if I'm using wrong terminology). I start reading an article and a few sentences later realize that I have no clue what I just read. As though the neural connection between my eyes and brain was broken for a few seconds. I have to read the same thing multiple times before it registers. Sometimes, I'm aware that my thoughts were elsewhere as I was reading and other time, I have no clue why the text didn't register. This makes finishing a book nearly impossible and reading articles time consuming.

It's not only reading. Sometimes, the same happens with movies making me have to rewind a few seconds every other minute. Same with podcasts and YouTube videos. Some pods and shows are often an exception but with reading, it's almost universal.

I just want to add that I was diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive type) a few months ago but my symptoms were there all along. On VYVANSE 40mg, the motivation skyrocketed but the mind-wandering stuff was only somewhat improved.

Posted Jun 3, 2025, 7:54 AM UTC

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