Epiphanies Of ADHD Flashcards
What are the eight epiphanies of ADHD? (Facts about adhd that need to be accepted and managed)
These are the characteristics of the ADHD brain that cannot be changed. Accepting these characteristics and being aware of them when they happen, can help us find solutions to manage them successfully the eight Epiphany’s of ADHD are:
1.ADHD brain likes to seek escape.
2.the ADHD brain is emotional and reflexive
3. Ambiguity fuels procrastination.
4. there is no such thing as lack of motivation for ADHD brain
5. Common productivity tools may stifle the ADHD brain.
6. Task Darwinism is why priority plans fall through
7. The right kind of simulation induces sleep.
8. Rehearsing the past does not change your future.
Ref: notes
Explain, “the ADHD brain likes to seek escape”.
Executive functions, which help us plan, organize, remember information and initiate action on a goal are impaired for people with ADHD. As a result, thinking is effortful and difficult. The ADHD brain wants to avoid this, and so likes to seek escape.
Explain the epiphany, “the ADHD brain is emotional and reflexive”?
reflexive means automatic, without applying any thought, like a reflex
Emotional dysregulation makes it
- difficult to control emotions (ex: tend to feel shame, anger, anxiety more)
- endure temporary discomfort for long-term goals.
- difficult to envision the future.
- reflexive means being impulsive in actions based on your emotions like throwing things when angry etc
How can you manage the tendency for ADHD brain to escape cognitively difficult activities?
Understand the why: cognitively difficult activities are effortful and difficult due to executive dysfunction for ADHD brains, that’s why the ADHD brain tries to avoid them.
Implementation actions:
1. Schedule the task on your calendar
2. Break down task into very simple step by step notes on post it and stick it in front of you
3. if x then y- develop physical cues that help the kind to associate a task with a location or thing. Ex : i will study after exercise
4. Think about how you will handle all the points during a task to maintain workflow. When you lose interest due to lack of clarity in the task—>
1. take a break for 5 mins,
2. set timer,
3. Iterate further to break it down to super simple steps
4. Write in small sheets of paper like post its. Only 3-5 steps per sheet
5. further interruptions, phone call, messages etc
1. Set focus on phone
2. Set focus on computer with exceptions
3. Record what happened in the set time so you improve day by day
How can you manage emotional dysregulation?
Emotional dysregulation can be managed by methods which can help with impulse control:
1.stop the action.
2. See the past and move forward.
3.feel the future.
4. Break it down and make it matter.
5.keep a sense of humor.
Explain the epiphany, “ambiguity fuels procrastination”.
The ADHD brain procrastinate when the task ahead is unpleasant. Unpleasantness of the task is most often related to its ambiguity. When a task is not clear, or the end goal of the task is clear, but how it can be broken down into actionable steps is not clear the ADHD brain wants to avoid it.
Explain how procrastination due to ambiguity can be managed with ADHD.
Self awareness
It helps to admit that the task that is being procrastinated is difficult, even though it may be simple for a non-ADHD person. For the ADHD brain that finds thinking effortful and has difficulty with goal directed behavior, the task may not be simple at all. Admitting the task is difficult helps with self awareness, which in turn helps with finding solutions for the problem.
Use 5 why to identify root cause
Is the task not clear because the end goal is unclear? Is it because we do not have the right skills or the tools to break it down? It helps to be aware so that we can critically think of solutions that could solve the problem.
What does stimulant medication help with for people with ADHD?
Stimulant medications help with sustained engagement once engagement with the task has been established due to interest, urgency, passion etc.
Explain the Epiphany, “there is no such thing as lack of motivation”.
Everything that we ever do in life, even engaging in avoidance, is rooted in motivation. Your dopamine starved ADHD brain unable to find pleasure in an unPleasant task (lack of clarity) is greatly motivated to avoid pain and seek pleasure elsewhere.
How can you manage the lack of motivation for ambiguous tasks with ADHD?
Understanding that there is nothing like lack of motivation helps in removing the shame associated with ADHD. ADHD cannot be treated with a lens of shame or blame.
