Combat ADHD Paralysis
Three Steps to Help You
ADHD paralysis is on the brain when someone with ADHD is unable to start even high-priority tasks and projects. This mental paralysis makes even simple tasks nearly impossible for people living with neurodivergence.
ADD.org says paralysis happens when “a person with ADHD is overwhelmed by their environment or the amount of information given [causing them to] freeze and [they] aren’t able to think or function effectively.”
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In a nutshell, too much sensory input causes an information overload in ADHD brains, making it nearly impossible to focus on a single thing, no matter the level of importance.
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If you are experiencing time blindness (an inability to properly estimate time blocks), task jumping, and rapid mood changes with your lack of motivation, you may be in an ADHD paralysis.
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Luckily, there are some almost-zero effort steps you can take to help regain your motivation; here are some easy-to-implement changes you can make in a snap to get you back in the groove.
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Stimulate your Senses
One of the easiest ways to snap out of an ADHD paralysis is to change the sensory input around you. Changing the input your body is receiving can flip a metaphorical motivation switch and reset your brain. A good key to unlocking the chains of ADHD paralysis is to find what tool gets the job done the quickest. A few simple sensory changes include:
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Light a candle to change the smell in your space (and keep a few different scents handy),
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Put in a pair of Loop ear plugs or noise-cancelling ear protection to block out the audible distractions, and finally,
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Grab your favorite fidget toy to slowly get your body moving. Which brings us to the next tip…
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Find a Fidget that Fits
One of the most underrated and under-utilized tips people with ADHD receive is “get yourself a fidget.” What is looked at as a child’s plaything can actually help you stay focused when a task is high-priority.
Fidgets aren’t always toys; ADDitude readers have noted their favorite ways to fidget include dexterity-focused hobbies, like knitting, to help them focus.
Fidget methods, like ADHD mediations, may take time and money to find the right fit, but it will be a total game-changer when you find “The One.” If you think the fidget toy route may be best for you, these are a few top suggestions:
• Tangle Classic,
• A good coloring book,
• Stimagz, and
• Classy fidget rings.
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Get Up and Get Out!
The cheapest but likely most difficult tip on this list is to get your body moving. Fidgeting can help get this process moving, because nothing motivates someone with ADHD quite like following the dopamine of a successful sensory experience.
A body in motion stays in motion, so the sooner you can motivate yourself to get up and get your blood pumping, the sooner you can get out of your ADHD paralysis.
A great motivator to help you move is to take your pet for a walk. Bonding and exercising your pet will help you combat your paralysis and build a more loving relationship with your favorite cuddle buddy.
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ADHD paralysis is no joke. It can consume neurodivergent minds and make even the simplest and most important tasks almost impossible to start. The best way to combat ADHD paralysis is to arm yourself with the tools that help you overcome the hurdles of paralysis. The best way to find those tools is to try them out until you find the ones that you can rely on to help you bounce back – So, what are you waiting for?