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Starting But Not Finishing Behavior

by Michele
(Georgia)

Is there a diagnosis for people who start things, but never finish them? To start out excited and enthusiatic, spending money to get the project start or to start a class, but very soon after starting, lose interest very quickly.

This has not happened one or two times, but all the time. Commiting to groups, committees etc, but after attending a few meeting, never going back. Also, never keeping in contact with friends or family members even though they call or come by, but never returning the actions.

It is very unnerving to not know why these behaviors are exhibited! Is this possibly a kind of personality disorder?

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ADHD?!
by: Di

I have for many years been filled with enthusiasm to start many projects and either never start them or stop very soon after starting them and still do ! It has never ever crossed my mind that I could be on the ADHD spectrum ? Who knew

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Two Suggestions
by: Anonymous

Me too!

I am thinking of two things

1. may be the concept of project or study or business operation the traditional way is not the optimal scenario for people like me and may be such activities should be formulated in a different way.

2. May be having a buddy (with expertise) to take my hand and support me would be the solution. I sometimes think my brain stops completely.

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It’s an awful feeling to never finish
by: Hope

Hi. Often I look around my home and find unfinished projects. It doesn’t make sense to me. And, it’s sad, and overwhelming. Why can’t I simply finish x,y, or z?

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ADHD
by: Jane

Yes, there is a diagnosis for people who consistently start things but have difficulty completing them. It is called "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Inattentive type" (ADHD-I), formerly known as ADD.

People with ADHD-I may struggle with sustained attention and have difficulty staying on task, leading to a pattern of starting projects but never completing them. They may also have trouble with organization, forgetfulness, and procrastination.

It's essential to note that not everyone who struggles with completing tasks has ADHD-I, and many factors can contribute to difficulty with task completion. Still, if you're consistently experiencing these symptoms and finding them to be problematic, seeking a diagnosis from a medical professional can be helpful in identifying strategies to manage and overcome them.

Related Information

ADHD in Adults: What You Need to Know

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Don’t know…
by: Anonymous

I’m 54 years old, and I have always exhibited this behavior. I would very much like to change it. I think it’s deeper for me than just losing interest. I think my mind imposes hard blocks that are very difficult to overcome.

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What is ADHD?
by: Anonymous

What is ADHD? I seem to have a similar problem. I quickly lose interest just when the project or business takesoff. Help!!!

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Multipassionate
by: Anonymous

Scanner, Renaissance soul, multipotentialite, etc. etc. Finding out about this concept literally changed my life. I was always so hard on myself about my procrastination, beating myself up for moving on to different projects or interests before completing them, even though it wasn't always the case with all projects. I'm a free woman now :)

I gave myself permission to explore freely and loose myself in subjects for as long as it feels good. Don't have to be good at everything, but I am enjoying the ride.

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Procrastinator
by: Victor

I have been like this since I got out of High School and it is really frustrating and makes me sad because I can never finish what I started and I wish I can change this behaviour.

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Start finish behavior
by: Anonymous

How is it treated ?

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Overhelmed by Projects
by: No Finish Line

After reading the first contributor, I am a bit nonplussed about feeling so smothered by unfinished work/projects/ideas. I am the polar opposite of them.
My table is overflowing with papers and problems I need to address. My craft room is littered with bins and multiple organizing containers full of amazing projects that never got past stage 1 as well as a bin of unfinished/unpublished manuscripts. My shelves are full of unread books and unlisted merchandise for my online store. Meanwhile, I spend a lot of time just trying to keep the house tidy while my unfinished piles and discontent grow every day.
Maybe I should see if one of those self-help tomes collecting dust in my living room would help ... :)

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HELP
by: Anonymous

My husband has all of these symptoms/behaviors and more.This is very frustrating and has caused a lot of ongoing issues within our marriage. It has also caused a lot of broken relationships including family,friendships as well as issues with his children. It has become an overwhelming ongoing cycle. How do you get someone to see that this is an issue and to seek help?

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finishing is a radical idea
by: Anonymous

I am trying to figure out why my husband has an
aversion to finishing things. As in,he doesn't shut the coat closet door. Had two classes to get a college degree. Leaves one swallow of a drink in a glass. Makes the bed 1/2 way. Folds only half of the clothes. Lays tile and doesn't grout it. Etc., Etc. After 40+ years I am getting really grouchy. Maybe it is too late for him to change.
If there is a way to help him, I would like to know what it is.

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Never finishes anything.
by: Anonymous

My neighbor is always spending money on big outlandish projects and never follows thru. I have tried to encourage her but she shuts down and doesn't come out of her place for days. She also makes plans for an outing and then either is sick or no show. How does one handle this??

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It's quite frustrating for us too, not just for those who have to deal with us.
by: Kat

Yikes. This sounds exactly like me. I've never thought the lack of calling and visiting people was correlated, but you've touched on something there. I personally have no idea why I am like this but I think I've been this way since childhood. I recall never being allowed to take music, dance, anything lessons because I was told that I would quit after a week. I do often lose interest or feel like my current project is fruitless so I abandon it, fearing I'm wasting time. Defeatist attitude, I suppose(?). Regarding the other situation--it sounds horrible and insensitive to say, but I feel like I tire of people or lose interest in them easily. I get very excited and maybe intense, then become completely over project/person just as sudden. I have noticed this getting worse with age. I'm almost 28, I can't imagine how much worse it will get which is why I'd like to control this somehow now. I don't like that I am this way and always feel terrible when I lose interest/patience with people.

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Human nature
by: Anonymous

There doesn't have to necessarily be a diagnosis for everything. We are human. We are not perfect. Starting something and not finishing is a classic melancholic temperament trait. I'm one of those. We just have to learn what type of temperament we are and fight the negative aspects and turn them into something positive. We have to discover what our positive traits are and use them to the best of our abilities. Obviously, there are genuine psychological problems in people, but I don't think the posts I've read above fall into that.

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What's wrong with that?
by: Anonymous

I have been like this all of my life. I really think for me it is because I have so many interests that I am constantly moving forward. I do spend the money for supplies, take classes, do lots of research - in essence - get very, very involved in new interests. For me, I think I get what I want out of it - the knowledge and an idea as to how well I could succeed in that area if I continue. That seems to be enough. (As an aside to that I keep all of those supplies and info because I think I may go back to that particular interest). Oddly, as I get older I find that my enthusiasm goes away pretty quickly - sometimes before I invest time or money into it. It's almost enough to simply conceive of an idea. That is creative enough for me. I would like to wave a wand, make the painting or book appear, and move on. I will probably never be wildly successful at any one thing, but as a friend of mine once observed, most people go for the main entre in life - I go for the smorgasbord.

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What can I do?
by: Anonymous

I am the same way it is so frustrating - I wish I could change.

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Perfectionist
by: Anonymous

As you know the mind is complex, what appears is not what is always happening. I have this problem and, my Sister with a masters in education mentioned, my not finishing projects is my problem with the finished project not being perfect when done. I don't consider myself a perfectionist however, am acutely aware of flaws along the way. Seldom do I complete something started unless I had no difficulties along the way or, am on the fifth version and, have worked out the difficult parts to manage completion. Some managers appreciate people who are project starters, then hire most anybody to finish what was started.

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Starting but not finishing behavior
by: Mena

Good Morning;

I think it's adhd...My son has the same thing. He starts a project, and then looses interest in it very quickly. I am not a doctor, but I do know the signs of ADHD.

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