maltedmilkchocolate:

Time blindness is the weirdest aspect of executive dysfunction and so weird as an experience to live with.

It’s like you see the clock, the clock says 3pm, you look at the clock again and it’s 3:02, then 3:05, and then you look again and it’s 8pm and WHAT THE FUCK.

You don’t even need hyperfocus. But hyperfocus is like the Warp Speed:tm: version cause when that hits, it’s 3pm and then it’s the next day and why is the sun rising and when did i last eat and oh god i need to use the bathroom. And oh, also, you’re EXHAUSTED. The act of your brain tunnel visioning on something drains you (but that’s another topic).

Time blindness is…. having the general knowledge that today is Wednesday, and you need to do something on Thursday. Thursday is logically tomorrow, but the mysterious void of time is like ‘that’s like next week or something.’ 

It’s knowing you have to do something in three weeks on the 21st. And as the days creep closer, the 21st is stuck in a constant state of still being 3 weeks away, despite the fact it’s now tomorrow.

It’s wild. ADHD is literally living in a constant state of “There is Now. And there is Later.” and there’s no in between; no dates, no times; no hours, weeks, or months. It’s just Now and Later, and oh god why is is X o’clock already!?

Edit:

I honestly was not expecting this post to blow up. But I’ve seen a dozen comments and tags on this saying “There’s a word for this?!”, “That’s an ADHD* symptom?!”, “This explains so much!”, and so, so many similar things. 

(I want to also include that things that fall under this are also: “Man that was like last month” – it was yesterday. And “When I think about the future, I can’t see that time.” – this falls under the whole “there’s now & there’s later” thing. ‘Later’ is that nebulous thing in the future that doesn’t really exist at all.)

I’m happy this could help and/or be relatable to you. I thought I’d add some links in relevance to this:

Time management & perception is a part of executive dysfunction. Which impacts literally every aspect of our lives. (There’s a really cool diagram here).

adhdhomestead.net – Time Blindness  // How it feels
additudemag.com – Time Blindness // Time Style
Dr. Russell Barkley – Time Management (Youtube Link)
chadd.org – Beat Time blindness (PDF)
Psychological Studies – A // B 
Elaine Taylor-Klaus from Impact ADHD – Executive Function (Youtube Link)

There’s a LOT of helpful info/advice @actuallyadhd – Time Management // Executive Dysfunction, and @autism-asks on Executive Dysfunction.

For ADHD Awareness Month, I also reblogged a lot of information here.

Executive function issues also exist as a symptom that can come alongside mental health issues such as depression, and anxiety, and others etc. For those of us with developmental disorders, we’re born with it. For those with mental health conditions like depression that can arrive at any time in life, it develops as a symptom.

But all the tips, tricks, and resources are all the same. The only differing thing is whether or not medication can help you, a la neurotransmitters.

(*I’m aware that executive dysfunction is also common with other neurodivergent disorders: The primary one being its own disorder “Executive Function Disorder”. It’s also common in Autism Spectrum Disorder, but not every autistic person experiences it. However, it’s a core primary component of ADHD. And, I’m ADHD and can only speak from my experiences & frame of reference.)

*** This post has been updated frequently, but all these resources lead to good places! Check them out, go do your research. You might not have ADHD, or EFD, or ASD, but maybe you have something else, or you aren’t diagnosed. So go talk to your doctor about the symptoms you experience. ***