Hello,
I am not sure whether this is the right forum to post in or not but here I go.

I have absolutely no motivation in anything I do. Unless there is a deadline or someone screaming at me my mind does not work. Even as a child I never used to be interested in games. Even when I played it just used to be because my sister was playing . I used to play with a half hearted smile.

I cannot pay attention when people are talking even when it is something fun. Imagine the trouble I had in school listening to a teacher teach lessons and the trouble I have now at work and paying attention in meetings!

Sometimes I think its laziness or that I am irresponsible or lack of interest but I am starting to think that maybe I have a problem. Lately its getting me into trouble.

Unless I am absolutely in trouble (like going to fail) if I don't shape up I don't do well in exams. Similarly at work. Unless theres a deadline with bosses screaming at me my brain doesn't work.

Fortunately I'm still young and have not had too much work experience. But now I am trying to get a full time job and I don't think I can go through everyday-life like this. I will either have a heart attack or be fired within a month.

Please help!

wow, that sounds like some kind of problem to me. Do you have any goals in life besides getting a job? It is nice to have something to strive for. But if you really just don't care, then maybe its just depression. Even if you think your not depressed, you just might be. Lack of motivation, laziness, could be depression. Go see a dr. and get evaluated, and see what they say. It sounds like you might need some medicine to get you in line with reality.

Maybe you need to listen to some motivational tapes, like Anthony Robbins, some of them are pretty good. Look them up, but being you dont have the desire to do anything, maybe you do need medicine.

Sounds like ADD symptoms. I am still very much a newbie. But some people with ADD are not hyperactive but the opposite. You could be depressed or depression could be masking other problems such as ADD.

If it is interfering with your life, your relationships you should seek help. Lack of focus in life is not just being able to finish your homework but not being able to focus on your future as well. And this can ultimately affect your self-esteem when you see your life passing you by.

Heabc,

One of the characteristics of many ADDers is that we need stimulus in order to focus. If you havent developed the skills to learn how to focus on a task (do it right now!) and plan ahead (that's what notes and datebooks and such are for!), then it's very easy to get that stimulus by creating drama in your life. When you're panicked that you'll fail the test or be fired because you were supposed to do a task yesterday, the panic and adrenaline will help you at least pay attention to what you were supposed to be doing all along.

We get used to this. Until we learn ways to schedule (create structure on the outside to make up for the lack of structure on the inside), we set up the emotional turmoil of panicking -- that'll make any brain finally take notice! Drama queens or kings -- that's us!

Unfortunately, it's not a very productive way of doing things, and we lose friends and jobs and treasured possesions because of it, but it's the only way we know. The parents and teachers from our childhood don't understand that we need other means to help us to focus, so we don't learn how to do that as children. These skill CAN be learned as adults, but they have to be tailored for us.

Two suggestions:

One, look for some guidance from someone who knows about how to help ADDers get organized, and in the beginning will coach you (that means set you up with a way to organize your most pressing tasks, and then meet regularly with you to remind you of these new skills which are so new to you because you forgot since the last time the two of you met!).

Two, look for a job or profession where deadlines are always looming and the adrenaline rush is constant and therefore you can enjoy the "high" of the adrenaline, and you and the job will be a perfect fit.

--Rheanna