What Does ADHD Paralysis Look Like?
From the outside, it looks like youre just sitting there, doing nothing.
But that feeling like you cant move (and sometimes, cant speak) is incredibly stressful.
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Why Does ADHD Paralysis Happen?
The experience of paralysis might be connected to thedopamine imbalancesseen inbrains with ADHD.
Levels of theneurotransmitterincrease in response to activities and objects that you are interested in.
The motivation comes not from the dishes but from pursuing the reward that comes after the dishes are done.
So if youre faced with a list of uninteresting tasks, getting your brain to say go!
on any particular one is hard.
Doing dishes sucks, and waiting for water to boil to make lunch sucks.
But getting a few dishes washed while Im waiting for water to boil?
Its like Ive unlocked a cheat code.
These are two boring tasks I can check off the list and stop worrying about.
Plus, it keeps me in the kitchen, so I dont forget the pot of water exists.
Plus, you’re free to make that hyperfocus work in your favor instead of against you.
And the thoughts keep going like that.
Now, I just let myself switch.
I start a dozen different chores and flit between them as impulse dictates until theyre each done.
You dont have to get stuff done in a way that makes sense to anyone elseor even to you.
You just have to get it done.
So write all the tasks down on a list so that you dont forget them.
If none stand out as a place to start, close your eyes and point.
Volkow ND, Wang GJ, Kollins SH, et al.Evaluating dopamine reward pathway in adhd: clinical implications.JAMA.
2018;59(8):888-899. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12868
