ADHD Paralysis: How To Fix It?

December 23, 2022
ADHD
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What is ADHD paralysis? Have you heard of this mental illness? Although people with ADHD excel at making split-second decisions under pressure, many still find themselves in this situation: There’s too much information, and I can’t seem to decide in time. Liftyolife (Liftyolife.com) will walk you through the intelligent strategy for treating this disorder.

1. What is ADHD paralysis?

ADHD paralysis is a mental disorder; it occurs when a person becomes overwhelmed by the amount of work they must complete and cannot decide where to begin or make any progress. In other words, they have trouble when they have something important/scheduled for a later time or date and are unable to do or get anything done.

2. 20 ways to beat analysis paralysis

20 ways to beat analysis paralysis

20 ways to beat analysis paralysis

2.1. Ask for more time

No one should force you to make decisions because this can lead to rash (bad) decisions. So, if someone urges you, request more time. You’ll take a break, snap a picture, or do anything else to dilute your concentration. Furthermore, you can instruct them to send you an email or text message so that you have more time to think deeply.

2.2. Be closed-minded

Limit things that have too many options or criteria at once; this will confuse and make it difficult for people with ADHD to make decisions. Narrow down the options, and you’ll see how amazing it is; we guarantee you’ll get rid of your “analysis paralysis.”

2.3. Crowd-source the decision

If you lack confidence or cannot make your own decisions due to ADHD paralysis, you can seek assistance from completely trusted friends on your social networks. You place your trust in them, they decide for you, and you accept responsibility or accountability for that decision.

2.4. Decide on small things ahead of time

You need to avoid making decisions in the nick of time and instead make small decisions ahead of time. This will help you reduce the confusion that comes from being presented with too many options when making a decision. For example, if you are a woman, deciding what to wear to work every morning can be difficult because your wardrobe is cluttered and disorganized. You should organize them and place them on a shelf to make it easier to decide what to wear every day in your spare time.

2.5. Explore which parts of the task are causing you dread

Fear is something that many people, particularly those with ADHD, avoid because they are afraid it will harm them. This is normal psychology for everyone, but for those with ADHD, the problem is a little more serious, and it has a significant impact on their lives. You need to consider the problem slowly and discover specific barriers that you can address more creatively.

Explore which parts of the task are causing you dread

Explore which parts of the task are causing you dread

2.6. Feel good about deciding

Do you feel depressed and lose confidence in yourself every time you decide because you have made the same mistake several times? Yes, that is correct. Don’t let those negative emotions influence your next decision; instead, think about your best decisions in the past and how good you were at making them. However, if you truly don’t have any right choices to consider, and all of your decisions are wrong, even if they have consequences, seek help from a counselor. You grow out of it.

2.7. Give yourself permission to start small

Can you see how far the distance is if you’re standing beneath the first floor and looking up at the fifth floor? This distance will be reduced if you take small steps up the stairs. This is also the 7th way’s guiding principle. Let’s break down our tasks into the smallest pieces possible, making them more approachable and allowing us to build momentum with small victories. This will keep us from becoming paralyzed in the face of a daunting task.

The goal is to get started, so don’t worry about the big picture. Just take it one bite at a time! From there, concentrate on the steps that feel the most manageable, even if they are only a portion of a larger task.

2.8. Increase your dopamine

Many people refer to dopamine as the “happy hormone” because it has numerous positive effects on the human mind and body. When the happy hormone dopamine is released in large quantities in the body, you will experience a sense of pleasure. They are excited, ecstatic, and brimming with ideas.

Increase your dopamine

Increase your dopamine

There are numerous methods for increasing dopamine levels. Some simple examples include:

  • Activation (primarily aerobic or joyful movement, like dancing).
  • Get some sunlight by going for a short walk every morning.
  • Having a high-protein snack.
  • Play some upbeat music.

2.9. Information overload

People with ADHD may be paralyzed by information overload because they cannot pay attention to all information at once. Make a list of that information and divide it into small pieces, dividing the importance and urgency of each task, and you’ll quickly know where to focus your attention.

2.10. Just say it

Talking out loud about the mess in your head is also an excellent way to clear your mind. You will be more alert and sharp in making decisions due to this.

2.11. Look at the ingredients of the task and remember “RAN”

The acronym RAN stands for Rewards, Accountability, and Novelty. These three essential components will make a task more appealing to ADHDers. To use RAN, ask yourself these three questions before doing anything or offering any opinions, decisions, or solutions:

  • What can I add to this task to make it more enjoyable?
  • Who can I turn to for some accountability?
  • What can I change or add to feel fresh, new, and attractive?

2.12. Pause and reflect

People with ADHD tend to gather information incessantly, preferring the feeling of gathering it to making decisions. However, there comes the point when the data they collect becomes overwhelming, and they cannot decide. As a result, know when to pause after gathering important information for a decision, then evaluate what you have and solve the problem.

2.13. Pay attention to your intuition

You’ve probably heard the question: what should be chosen between the heart and the mind? According to studies, your emotional brain senses the way to go long before your reasoning mind kicks in. That means intuition and emotions should always play a role in your decisions; listen to your heart. However, a good decision is often a combination of logic and emotions rather than solely based on the heart or the mind.

2.14. Put it on paper

When you write down every difficulty and challenge, it becomes more apparent. On a piece of paper or an erasable whiteboard, write down the risks and benefits — the pros and cons — of a potential decision and evaluate them over several days. This will allow you to see all of the issues you need to address without having to spend all of your time and frustration organizing them in your head.

Put it on paper

Put it on paper

2.15. Quiet things down

Noise, rush, hustle, and bustle are the ADHD brain’s enemies. People with ADHD will find it challenging to make decisions due to these factors. Find quiet areas, fresh air, and relaxation to help you think more clearly and make better decisions.

2.16. See the silver lining

Although having a reward after completing a task is not as exciting for people with ADHD as the process of gathering and finding information about the problem, spending a minute thinking about what you’ll gain after making a decision is also essential. Writing down your accomplishments will motivate you and show you what you still need to do to get there.

2.17. Set a decision deadline

Mark your calendar with the deadline. Don’t underestimate the power of deadlines; they help you prioritize and add focus and motivation to a decision that doesn’t have a time frame. Keep in mind that people with ADHD prefer visual cues.

2.18. SMASH your task!

SMASH is another acronym for a method that can help you overcome ADHD paralysis. It includes the following:

  • Shake it out: This indicates that you should move, for example, by wiggling your toes. Movement can assist in signaling to the brain that it is time to move out of a frozen state.
  • Make a list of everything: Then, you’ll make a list of the smallest steps you can think of to make them easier to approach.
  • Acknowledge (negative) emotions: Next, acknowledge and make room for any difficult emotions that arise. Let us say that naming your feelings can help them feel more manageable.
  • Set a timer: Set a timer for a short period that is manageable (5-10 minutes). This can help you improve the quality of your concentration.
  • Hurry! Hurry to get as much done as possible in that limited amount of time! We increase dopamine by gamifying the task into a “beat the clock” challenge, which can help us get through.

2.19. Some like it hot

Fast-paced events activate the neurotransmitters in the ADHD brain, focusing attention. Therefore, people with ADHD are often excellent at making “hot decisions” in stressful situations. They aren’t as good at making “cold decisions,” which are information-driven and require them to decide after much deliberation.

2.20. Spend more time on important things

Determine what is important; you only need to concentrate on this to limit information overload and the brain is overwhelmed.

ADHD paralysis can affect your motivation, making it more challenging to begin and complete tasks. When you have ADHD, it can be beneficial to find strategies to help you get started and maintain focus on a task that is either overwhelming or simply boring. If you’re concerned that ADHD causes your lack of motivation, consult a doctor. Furthermore, Liftyolife (liftyolife.com) can provide you with additional tips to help you maintain healthy mental health.

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