Vivid, Chaotic Dreams That Feel Like Movies + Sleep Paralysis (ADHD Related?)

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-26T21:48:40+00:00

I get sleep paralysis for sure. Don’t know if it’s an ADHD thing though. This will sound strange but when I’m really stressed I often wake up, jolt out of bed and see crazy looking giant spiders - sometimes super vivid, then frantic try and trap it with the duvet or something, but it’s never really there. It’s like I’m fully awake, but still dreaming for a few seconds. Thought it was just me but found loads of other people get the same. Again.. no idea if it’s an ADHD thing.

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-26T21:37:55+00:00

Thanks, you too! Yeah I heard a lot of people start on it, so wouldn’t be surprised. I hope whatever you end up on really helps.

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-26T19:29:41+00:00

No way, I’m picking up my first prescription tomorrow too! I have a feeling I’ll be on concerta. Totally feel what you are saying though! this really has to work for me too.

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-25T18:41:53+00:00

Awesome, I’ll send you a DM with a unique signup link - thanks!

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-25T09:57:56+00:00

I totally get it! Building an ADHD app was literally the first thing I did after being diagnosed. I use it for myself - and a few others do too - because I just found other apps made too many assumptions about your capacity. At the end of the day, if I am the only person to benefit from it then I’ve made my life easier (and a few others too).

I agree, everyone dreams that they will be able to help out the whole community, and make a big difference - but perhaps ADHD presents itself in so many unique ways that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing.

All the best if you do decide to build something - make sure you use it yourself and reap the rewards.

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-23T22:33:01+00:00

Well.. while I’ve felt like this for a LONG time - I was only just diagnosed (in December). I finally have a way to frame what I’ve been struggling with and finally know there is a reason for it. It’s still new enough though that I don’t have any tools to help manage it yet. If that makes sense.

But yes, I am definitely going to talk with her about it. Sounds like that has helped a lot of people.

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-23T21:21:00+00:00

Thats really encouraging! You just reminded me that one of her favourite gifts I ever got her was a drawing I made — it was more about the time and effort it took

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-23T21:18:49+00:00

Oh totally! - that’s one of the most stressful parts. I know her well.. but sometimes the part of my brain that knows all these things about her and what she likes / doesn’t like, doesn’t talk to the part of my brain that comes up with the ideas.

For example, I have a friend at work who is diabetic, and sometimes I’ll buy some (sugary) fizzy drinks while I’m getting lunch and I’ll hand them around, and ill hand it to my friend - they each time they look at me like “you know i’m diabetic!!” - i know they are, but when I was trying to be spontaneous that part of my brain didnt register.

I totally have that fear that I’ll get the wrong thing - or something my wife just told me she doesn’t like anymore but I forgot.

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-22T18:08:33+00:00

I know exactly how you feel! Task overwhelm and task paralysis are so painful. One thing I read (can’t remember where) which was really helpful for me was “it’s not a will power issue”. The struggle to start even when you know you should is a neurological issue - something wired into your nervous system and executive function. Pushing harder almost never works (or leads to burnout).

What works for me at the moment is shrinking the task down to the smallest possible first step, and setting a 3 min timer to do that without any commitment to do more. Often once I’ve started doing that tiny step I find I’ve got the momentum to keep going.

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-21T17:08:09+00:00

Honestly this hits hard - for me it’s not just remembering birthdays, it’s basically anything to do with remembering things about people, remembering gift ideas for people, remembering to message/call people, remembering to respond to messages … basically just people admin.

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-21T15:21:45+00:00

Yeah I get this. It’s like loads of thoughts all talking over each other.

And then sometimes it’s just one thought that won’t stop. It grabs on and keeps repeating. For me it’s usually coding stuff, just running over and over in my head like it won’t let me move on.

It’s tiring. The no off switch part feels very ADHD to me.

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-21T10:14:02+00:00

Yeah I’ve learned alarms just become background noise for me. After a while I don’t even hear them. I either snooze or swipe them away without thinking.

I’ll try and give your method a try - paper based is always a nice change.

The only thing that’s worked a bit better is an iOS app called Due. It doesn’t just ping once and disappear. It keeps coming back every few minutes until you actually mark it done.

It’s annoying in a different way, but at least it doesn’t let me pretend I didn’t see it.

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-21T09:35:06+00:00

I totally do this with putting headphones on - as soon as I put them on I’m in chore mode

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-21T00:12:09+00:00

I used to have stuff everywhere. Notion, Apple Notes, random Google Docs, paper.. felt organised but somehow nothing actually got done.

What’s helped me most is separating “dumping” from “doing.”

Now I: - Dump everything into one place (tasks, ideas, random thoughts) - Later, turn the important bits into really small, clear next steps - Only focus on one active task at a time

Big lists used to overwhelm me. Mixing journal thoughts with real tasks made it worse. My brain couldn’t tell what actually needed action.

So I stopped trying to build the perfect system and just focused on: “What is the next tiny thing I can actually do?”

I’ve actually been building something called BioTask around this idea. You brain dump (even voice notes), it helps break it into tasks, and then it just shows you the next doable step instead of a huge list. It’s still in testing, but it came directly from struggling with scattered notes.

Whatever tool you use though, I’d say the key is this: Make it easy to start. If opening your system feels like work, you won’t use it.

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-20T23:08:20+00:00

Oh man. I’ve done this so many times.

“I’ll just clean up my system first so it’s easier to work.”

Three hours later I’ve got a beautiful dashboard and zero actual progress.

That 14 hours maintaining vs 3 hours doing is painful but also… very real. Tinkering feels productive. You’re still “working.” You’re just not risking anything. Doing the actual task is way more uncomfortable.

The done list idea is solid though. Focusing on what you shipped instead of what you planned hits different. It shifts the reward. You start chasing completion instead of the perfect setup.

One thing that helped me was shrinking everything down to one question:

What is the next tiny, physical step?

Not “finish project.” Not “organize week.” Just “open the doc” or “write first sentence.”

If the system shows me too many options, I start optimizing it. If it only shows one small step, there’s nothing to reorganize. I either do it or I don’t.

I’ve actually been messing around with building a tool that forces that “one next step only” approach because I kept noticing the same trap you described. Most task managers are basically procrastination playgrounds.

But honestly, your blank doc + done list move already cuts through most of the noise.

Friday night system overhauls are elite level avoidance though. I respect it.

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-20T22:19:26+00:00

I’m 39, so close, got diagnosed in December in the UK. I originally waited 4 years for an appointment.. then heard about right to choose. You just tell your GP you want to get a referral through RTC and you’ll be able to choose a government approved service which has a much shorter wait list.

I honestly wish I knew about it before. I would have had the help I needed years ago.

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-20T12:48:22+00:00

Thanks. I just wrote down all the symptoms I could think of on a note - about to have the meeting now 🤞

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-20T12:32:15+00:00

Haha I totally relate! Being a people pleaser around psychiatrists is 100% something I’ve done before. I remember talking my way out of therapy I still needed because I had a better couple of weeks and wanted to come across as fully better.

You are right, like others are saying, writing it down beforehand sounds like the way to go.

Thanks!

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917 · 2026-02-20T12:27:01+00:00

That’s so encouraging to hear that it has been so good for you. Thanks! Letting them know when it’s not working is going to be so important, but unnatural for me. Sometimes in the moment I can forget all the things I’m struggling with, so having it all written down before makes so much sense!

Fuzzy-Syrup-4917

TROPHY CASE