Something Weird, even if seemingly arbitrary

[Conner42]

I've looked this up online to see if anyone has the same problems I do and I'm consistently seeing it fall into some sort of ADD kind of disorder. The thing is, I'm not entirely sure if I have that. I mean, sure, there are a couple of symptoms I fall into, but you could probably look up any kind of disorder and find at least one thing you can relate with.

Anyways, here we go.

I have a hard time reading. Or, at least, I have a hard time reading certain things.

It's weird, I have no problem reading things like essays, reviews, critiques, opinion pieces, or anything like that. But when it comes to books with stories and complex stories and even short stories, even if its about stuff I like, my mind doesn't seem that capable of doing it.

One time, I was reading a book that I really, really liked. Though, because my mind can be a dick to me sometimes, I'll often have to go back and re-read things because I sort of have this bad habit of reading in autopilot mode. Meaning I'll read through the words, but my mind doesn't really register the information because it'll go off and start thinking of other things for whatever reason. But, what's particularly weird is that, even though I really like the book, I can't really bring myself to finish for some reason.

This happens with a lot of books that I attempt to read, even if I'm enjoying it.

What's weird is that I'm not entirely sure if I've always had this problem. I mean, I think I remember times when my mind would wander off while reading certain books, but there were others that kept me engaged all the way through. I read Flowers for Algernon once back in 8th grade, and I can still tell you things that happen in the book in detail. And that book isn't exactly an 8th grade book either.

I think I have this sort of problem with other things involving stories as well. My mind will just play a game or watch a movie in auto-pilot mode. It just watches or does stuff without even thinking about it until something finally comes up that might be interesting to me. Most of the time, my mind will start thinking about a lot of unrelated things wile I sit through the movie and watch stuff happening without really understanding what's going on or while I play a game to progress through it as if it were a reflex that I didn't have to think about, meaning my mind can focus on thinking about other things. This doesn't happen as much as it does for me with reading, but it might be something to mention.

I guess the main thing about this is that I feel kind of bad about this. Intelligent people like to read and they like to read a lot of books and stories and what have you. But, for me? I have such a hard time doing it that I'm really embarrassed by it. My dad things that I just out right hate reading, even though I there are books and stories that I like, I just have a hard time actually reading it.

This might seem like something arbitrary and not too important, especially compared to people who might actually have problems involving more serious matters, but this is something that bothers me and I feel like I need at least somebody to say what they think about it.

 

[AWAR]

I think it's more or less natural and it has to do with the way you read stuff. Try reading slower, picturing what you read in your mind and repeating what you read in your head. The trick is to avoid focusing on just skipping along the lines but to understand the actual content of what you're reading.

 

[Nomad]

I guess the main thing about this is that I feel kind of bad about this. Intelligent people like to read and they like to read a lot of books and stories and what have you. But, for me? I have such a hard time doing it that I'm really embarrassed by it. My dad things that I just out right hate reading, even though I there are books and stories that I like, I just have a hard time actually reading it.

Don't feel bad about it. My understanding is that it happens to everyone - it certainly happens to both me and my fiancé, and we're both postgraduate students. As you say, it's not a matter of "liking to read", but a matter of your mind involuntarily wandering. I do think it is an issue with your ability to concentrate (as implied by your search results relating to ADD), but that it's an issue with your ability right now as opposed to your ability in general.

For me, it tends to happen more frequently when I'm tired, bored or haven't read a lot in a while. The first few hours of reading after a break is always a chore for me, where I frequently have to skip back and re-read whole chapters because I suddenly realize I haven't actually been reading them, but have rather just been turning the pages and looking at the symbols. After those first few hours, however, the issue tends to recede and eventually disappear. It goes away faster if I'm well-rested or the book is entertaining.

This also relates to you not having this problem earlier in life; because you were probably more in a habit of reading at that time. I didn't have the problem either at that age, since I would read on average 3-4 books per week. Now, I rarely read anything "voluntarily", but only as a part of work or studies, which means I have to establish a new rut every time I crack open a book.

 

[Terminal Blue]

The fact that you're aware that this happens and have thought about it suggests to me that you don't have ADD. None of the people I know who actually have diagnosed ADD have the remotest clue how it affects them, because for them all their behaviour is completely normal.

But we all hit points where it's difficult to concentrate on something. I mean, I've been watching my way through MST3K lately but I can't sit through a full episode at once, so I tend to watch about an episode a week just by having it on in the background while I eat and stuff, and it's kind of weird because it's not a general problem. I can play games for 6 hours on my day off, I just can't bring myself to watch a whole film in one go.

So I think what you describe sounds pretty normal, although if it bothers you you could go see a doctor and talk about it. I have no idea how strict the diagnostic criteria are, but people take neurostimulants all the time now so it's not going to do you any harm if they prescribe you something.