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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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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.

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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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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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