#executive functioning disorder

[im-da-bronx]

Just a reminder: It’s better to brush your teeth in the middle of the night than not at all.

#executive dysfunction #executive functioning tips #executive dysfunction tips #adhd #depression #anxiety #executive functioning disorder #autism #neurodiversity #neurodivergent

[babyspacebatclone]

I saw a post about something, and it’s been ruminating in my head.

It hurts most for me because of my chronic conditions - especially those that aggressively my Executive Functioning Disorder.

But it’s such a fucking horrible message for just - everyone.

No-one can ever be too busy - if they care, they would make time.

Just. No.

Fucking no.

Imagine a typical United States nuclear family, two working parents, two kids.

It’s flu season, the eldest child is in basketball, the younger child has to go to an after school learning center because of general help.

How many things can go wrong with this family in December?

What if one of the parents is fired because of job complications related to the breakdown of Twitter, Meta et al., because those disasters are going to affect public relations in every industry in a ripple effect that is already being felt throughout Silicon Valley.

Who does what if one of the kids is sick, the other still had commitments, but both parents are still working but with mandatory overtime.

And the grandparents have work of their own, because they’re still not approaching the distancing retirement age.

Where does this family find the hours to reconnect with family across the continent, their church, their hunting buddies, their book club?

How many commitments is the average modern adult expected to maintain???

This lie of “if you cared, you’d make time” fucking hurts regular physically and neurologically typical individuals overwhelmed in a society that has systematically removed supports and blamed them for it.

How does it harm those who needed additional supports anyway?

We care.

We fucking care.

But we are overwhelmed.

Physically abused on a cellular level by exhaustion, unending cycles of illness we cannot take time off to recover from, and the very support institutions we previously relied upon to maintain connections burning before our eyes.

We fucking care.

But we don’t have any time left to use, let alone make.

#executive functioning disorder #exhaustion #this just #this infuriated me #victim blaming #tw babybat swears #tw victim blaming

[venturelovebot]

I feel like Venture has moved beyond comfort character status and has straight up become a coping character for me at this point. Like, no, they don't just provide me comfort... I straight up want to recover because of this character

#rambles #depression? cured. anxiety? nonexistent. executive? functioning. #eating? not disordered. #life? worth living. #cringe posting

[unfunnystandup]

i LOOOOOOVE having adhd unironically it’s so fucking cool and punk to have 30 thoughts in one second and so many ideas and so much creativity and i can tell u anything about the jfk assassination or 90s sketch comedy or the making of grand theft auto 4 radio shows. neurodivergence is beautiful.

#i love being neurodivergent i am so proud :) #always saw it as a disorder but my meds are working really good right now #and without the burden of executive function i get to see all my strengths #and i think that’s worth it. #It’s by no means easy but #we love to demonzie adhd and autism and neurodiversity #and label special interests and stuff as cringe #like… we’re having fun :) #adhd #actually adhd #mental health #ramblings

[genderqueerpond]

NOT EVERY INTERNET JOKE IS GOOD

SOME OF THEM ARE BAD

JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS A HAHA FUNNY RELATABLE INTERNET MEME DOESN'T MEAN IT ISN'T HARMFUL

#this post is about ''girl dinner'' #every time i see that used i fucking see red #as if disordered eating wasn't already viewed as intrinsic to ''correct'' performance of womanhood enough #now we gotta do it from inside the house too???! #don't say it's just a joke that is the point that is the point that is EXACTLY the point #it doesn't NEED to be a joke!!!!!!!! we don't need this joke!!!!! just because we can #''it's not that deep'' it doesn't need to be anything at all #''it's not about gender it's about executive function'' then say THAT #lavender thoughts

[stargazerdaisy]

This week in Random Daisy Health Things:

Got my ADHD referral letter, so now I need to get an appointment with someone to evaluate (read: diagnose) me.

Found out I'm allergic to two new things in my household. Sorry kids, can't use that laundry detergent anymore. And booooo, that handmade candle was so pretty and smelled so nice.

Would very much like new face skin. The acne is The Worst.

#personal #random daisy stuff #i freaking hate that you need good executive function in order to get the diagnosis and treatment for the executive DYSfunction disorder #i don't see a good way around it but it still sucks #anyway #crossing my fingers that the acne might get better in the next month #if not I'm blaming pia #JUST KIDDING #it's just my messed up skin #:D

[high-voltage-rat]

Vyvanse is such a silly little drug. I get up at 11, take it at noon, what's a normal sleep phase I don't know her.

The first hour passes and I'm like "dude nothings happening except me getting sweaty and my heart's going a bit faster" and then I blink and it's another 2 hours later and I've just blitzed doing every chore available to me, organized all my shit for the day, read through 500 tumblr posts, watched some random-ass YouTube clips, and made myself food I don't want to eat because my appetite is suppressed but I know food consumption is a task. It's like all of my ADHD bullshit for the entire day happens at light speed over a few hours.

Then I sit down and can do The Big Task of the day for 5 hours or more and, unlike with a hyperfocus, can remain focused on it even after taking breaks to go do other stuff.

Then the end of the day hits and I'm tired and need to go to sleep but I still feel the Productivity Need so for some reason I watch 50 more "Educational" YouTube videos until it subsides and then finally fall asleep at 2am.

Like. Does it cure my ADHD? Absolutely not. Does it make me less chaotic? No. But does it allow me to consistently channel my ADHD energy productively? Oh, yeah. I'm not 100% sure that's what my doctors were going for when they prescribed it, but I gotta be honest I kinda love it.

#not video games #late nights with ali #nd blogging #actuallyADHD #I'm pretty sure my docs were intending for a bit more... how you say... stability? #but a lot of my ADHD traits don't go away. just the most important one- activation-based executive dysfunction #And honestly without that I think I like the way I function with the rest? usually anyway #If I'm in control of it. I love my hyperfocus. I love my bouncing around chaotically. I love being impulsively spontaneous #don't get me wrong. there are days where I do hate my adhd. when the emotional regulation problems kick in it's hell. #rejection sensitive dysphoria is a bitch. I can forget self care in lieu of 'more important' things. my working memory can fuck me over. #but in comparison to how I lived before medication? it's amazing. and I've learned to be fond of aspects of my disorder #and to live with the ones that are inconvenient. it's so nice honestly #I could do without the sweating and appetite suppression. but it is SO worth it to like my own mind again. #before I was diagnosed I knew I had it. so my only options were self medicating with caffiene and developing an anxiety disorder. #the thing that bypasses the dopamine-based activation is adrenaline-based activation #so I literally just. got so anxious about stuff I needed to do that it would trigger the adrenaline activation where dopamine failed me #I don't think I actually 100% KNEW that's what I was doing per se. but I do think some of my anxiety came from intentional doom spiralling #anyway moral of the story. Vyvanse helps with ADHD is some truly strange ways but at the end of the day it's a fucking miracle #New River Pharmaceuticals developers of lisdexamfetamine I am kissing you on the mouth

[zaharya]

Hi!

I've read your post on the science of ADHD and was wondering if you could help me? (Feel free to say no!)

I'm trying to find articles on that symptom where you're unable to do anything even when you want to. Tumblr seems to refer to it as Executive Dysfunction, but since that term is very broad I have been unable to find anything specifically on the above symptom. Do you have any tips? Do you have any idea whether it has a more defined "name"?

Again, don't feel any pressure to answer!

Kind regards,

Hello!

Well, I can try to help 😅

Ah, yes. I'm afraid that executive dysfunction is in fact the official scientific / medical term for this, and there isn't a more defined name for this – at least not an official medical or scientific one. But I see how that might be a bit frustrating when looking for resources to deal with a specific issue or situation.

Just to clarify, what kinds of "articles" are you looking for? Scientific articles, or popular media articles / lay literature?

What you could try to look for are specific presentations of ex. dys., specific ways in which it manifests; there are a number of lay terms that describe more specific aspects of it. For example some people talk about "decision paralysis", or "ADHD waiting mode" – obviously neither of those are official terms, but it may help you find more resources on them, especially in popular/non-scientific media.

If you're going for scientific literature itself (which I personally do recommend), consider looking for executive function instead. Executive function is a fundamental cognitive ability and plays a role in many many things, and thus has a lot of research to back it up. Try searching it in connection to ADHD, and that should lead you to some beginning at least.

Now, you say that you couldn't find anything for "that specific symptom" – a lot of the time, it is a matter of recognising how the same concept leads to different outcomes. So even if you don't find articles that describe your exact situation, the concept discussed in the article might still be helpful to understand your specific symptoms. Furthermore, while it is true that this "inability to do the thing" is often based in executive dysfunction, there are also motivational aspects that have to be considered in ADHD. By motivational aspects I do not mean that you do not want to do the thing, or that you are not trying enough to do the thing. Rather, the motivational circuits in ADHD brains are different from those in neurotypical brains, which can thus lead to some difficulties.

I am guessing part of what you are looking for are ways to deal with this kind of issue. In my experience, understanding it helps to work around most symptoms to a certain degree already, so I do thing that learning about the mechanisms of it is beneficial in any case. Still, there are hacks that help with ADHD paralysis – I'll list a few and how they might help. [All of these are based on urgency, novelty, or personal importance, which are generally the factors that determine how well ADHD vibes with a task or activity.]

The three second rule; sounds stupid, but try it out! If you're trying to start doing something that requires you to move (e.g. take a shower, make food, do the dishes – whatever) and you find yourself stuck on the couch/at your desk/in bed/on the floor, take a deep breath, count down from three, and when you reach 0 you have to move. It can be any movement, but since you're not giving your brain a lot of time to think, the easiest movement is usually to get up – which gets you started at the very least. Try to ride that momentum.

Pomodoros; time your tasks for mini-deadline pressure. Pick a thing to do, e.g. you want to draw because you like drawing, then set a timer to around 20-30 minutes (at least that's the norm, but hey you can also do 16 and a-half minutes!). Start the timer, and while it runs you focus only on the previously specified task. When it's done, take a break of 5-10 minutes (again, you do you), then the next timer starts. I use this a lot for studying and writing, because it creates little focus windows that are easier to handle.

Increase or decrease stimulation; music, fidgets, anything that vibes for you. Maybe the hurdle is that you're simply over- or understimulated – play around with your activity-environment to see if it makes a difference!

Body doubling; personal favourite, simply hang out with your friends! The presence of another being/person often helps to stay on task, and it can be energising (at least to extraverts like me)

External incentives or accountability; aka threats and bribes 😏 my favourite variant of this is a concept I introduced on several of my Discord servers – Drabbles for Dopamine, where people literally bribe each other with little drabbles so they do the thing. But this works with anything! Tell your friend that you want to be out of bed in 30 minutes and ask them to check in on you; the pressure of having someone else know often already is enough. If the "threat" of them checking is not enough, add a "bribe" to it, for example a picture of their pet – whatever is at hand and motivates you.

There is more of course, but those are the few that come to mind off the top of my head. Feel free to message me if you have questions about any of them.

Besides that, here are a few links that might be of interest:

Popular / non-scientific sources (sorted by how useful I think they'll be for you)

What is executive function and why do we need it? – How to ADHD (video)

ADHD and Motivation – How to ADHD (video)

Motivation | How to ADHD (YT playlist)

Executive Dysfunction & ADHD - when you can't 'do the thing' (article)

What is executive function? (ADDitude mag article)

Scientific articles / research (no particular order!)

Validity of the executive function theory of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analytic review

Executive functions and adaptive functioning in young adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Are There Executive Dysfunction Subtypes Within ADHD?

Disturbance of the emotion and motivation in the adhd: a dopaminergic dysfunction

Executive dysfunction in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: cognitive and neuroimaging findings

#ask #ask answered #adhd #executive dysfunction #executive function #motivation #do the thing #research #non-scientific sources #attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

[steakout-05]

the way ADHD is named is actually so frustratingly funny though. like yeah i experience paralysing (as in scrolling endlessly and not getting out of bed) procrastination to the point where it negatively affects my life, drive myself to tears and insanity trying desperately to remember where i put my wallet 3 seconds ago, hyperfocus on something to the point where i accidentally ignore my hunger for 8 hours straight and find trying to focus on an assignment physically painful and difficult, it's cause i got "Stupid Little Shit Can't Sit Still For Five Goddamn Seconds Disorder"

#adhd #actually adhd #undiagnosed adhd #adhd problems #i feel like adhd was named after what neurotypicals perceive it to be rather than the internal experience of how it feels to have it #that goes for a lot of disabilities and disorders actually #i saw an article on ADDitude that calls it ''variable attention stimulus trait'' which is more accurate honestly #or something like ''stimulation functioning dysregulation disorder'' would be more accurate than adhd too #fuck it just call it ''my executives are NOT functioning'' because damn if that isn't the most accurate part of having adhd idk what is #ironically ''little shit can't sit still for five seconds disorder'' does kinda describe me pretty well a lot of the time #because i am a little shit and i can't sit still unless my hands are doing or holding something #you know that jerma clip where he's talking about how he needs to hold something or he can't sit still? yeah that's me

[traumasurvivorshelpingsurvivors]

Hi, I have hard executive dysfunctions but had some (temporary) results using to-do apps and stuff. For everything, brushing teeth, eating, etc. But it always end (very quickly) by me adding 30+ to dos for a day and working 10 hours to get them done until I break down. I can't not do it. Once I think about it, there is sooo much to do, so much I neglected.

So I saw this nice bullet journal in a shop today and took it with me and need some ideas how to make it, to not end like the others:

I thought about a symptom part, how good did I sleep, what mental health issues do I have, etc pp.

I am completely unsure if I should ad any "chore to-dos" or only self care/mental health ones. But even those feel like chores so...

And my energy level varies strongly so I thought about keeping it vague like idk "do one relaxing thing"-like maybe. So I could decide on that day, what I think I will get done. But that's pretty unsatifying.

Ah and, as much as I love such book and diaries etc, writing it down feels like a chore too so... It sounds worse than it is, I had some results but everything in this world sounds like a chore so I am unsure how to make this fun and manageable and neither go to the extreme nor give up.

Give me all your ideas and examples and plans.

Hi anon,

As soon as I saw your ask I just knew I wanted to answer it ~ I have ADHD, but because of other chronic health issues - I cannot take stimulant medications for it and rely on my adaptations to manage symptoms (and yup, some of my mental energy does get used up doing it this way - but it is possible for some of us!). I wanted to start by sharing some resource links and articles first:

The Best Work Schedule for ADHD Brains: Flexible or Rigid? (with resources at the end, and lots of reflections from a variety of folks who benefit from both - great starting point to see which style resonates with you)

Adults With Executive Function Disorder (scroll about halfway down for tips and resources)

Tips and Tricks for Executive Function Disorder (geared towards the caretaker of a child with it, but still impactful suggestions, including movement breaks and reward systems)

Executive Function Disorder: Bullet Journal (one person’s personal bullet journal and how an adaptable reward system - shaped like a bingo card - really helped them) 

But also wanted to share what I use/tell myself throughout the day/week to help: (under the cut to help avoid the post getting super long)

I personally use an adapted planner for the overall schedule, it’s got enough blank spaces where if I want to “change it up” I can do that week to week, but in general this is the place where I store my overall monthly calendar and every Sunday night write out my week ahead of “big things” (apps, time sensitive errands, etc).  

I take a picture of my monthly calendar, as well as my weekly so even if I’m out and about I can quickly refer to it if someone asks about a date - versus saying “I’ll check my calendar later and get back to you” . . . and then - never doing it, whoops!

People in my life are used to it by now, but essentially if someone tells me something like “next weekend is so and so’s birthday” - I’ll take a moment to set an alarm reminder to add it to my calendar when I’m home, and or make a text message note on my phone, and set an alarm that essentially reads “don’t forget to add your text notes to the calendar” (some days I can have like fifteen alarms going off throughout the day, but this way I also manage to add the information I need to, versus feeling like I’m constantly forgetting something, or worse, expending limited mental energy constantly cycling through a “don’t forget don’t forget don’t forget” concentration).

I timeblock my day every morning before everyone else is awake, for example: 7 to 8 - studies, 9 to 10 - social, and so on.  By doing it every day, I can refer back to it throughout the day and adjust as needed but also not plan too far ahead with no adaptability to changing circumstances.  I also ensure that for a chunk of “serious chores” I also schedule in what I like to call “serotonin boosts” - whether that’s some friends time, or creative time, whatever sparks joy for you.  There have definitely been days where I felt like I could not do one more email - and then reminded myself that as soon as I got through the five I scheduled myself for, then I could draw for an hour (a basic ‘this, then that’ reward system).  Suddenly, I manage to push through it, and often quicker than I had originally thought it would take - allowing me to have even more time with something that brings joy.

If I have to be somewhere at a certain time, I set several alarms, almost like a countdown 

I like to use fun color pens, or even pens with like fuzzy balls, or some other sort of stimming part to it as I work - it allows me a moment to stim if I need it, even when I’m tackling the “boring brain dump” stuff.

No amount of telling my brain “just do it” for twenty minutes is going to magically create the dopamine/serotonin it needs to do the thing.  So if a reward isn’t working, I get up and move with a timer to get it going that way, and then try again.

I’m sure there’s plenty more ideas/tips/tricks - anyone stumbling on this, please feel free to comment, reblog, and add to it, but I hope it’s a helpful start for you and anyone else out there looking for adaptions. - Mod Kat

#trauma talks #mod kat #executive function disorder

[mokeymokey]

Having "ADHD" is so funny. I can't remember if I posted about this already but my journey with medication so far has caused me to no longer have any doubt as to whether or not I have a Disorder. My brain is busted as hell and I no longer have patience for anyone to like push back against my right to assert that. I still think it's a daft name though

#call it executive function disorder or something idk

[caterjunes]

me: okay brain. listen. we're almost out of milk. we have to order groceries. can we please figure out literally one real thing to have for lunch, brain. one thing that is not "apple and peanut butter," "a smoothie," "yogurt & granola," or "chips and salsa." anything.

brain: what if we died instead

me: no we're not doing that anymore. can we try a bagel?

brain: DISGUSTING. die.

me: no bagels, fine. how about a sandwich?

brain: with what on it

me: uh-

brain: IMPOSSIBLE. think about how awful that would feel in your mouth.

me: i don't want to-

brain: Think About It.

me: ...yeah that would feel awful. do you have any ideas?

brain: die. die. die.

me: please stop

brain: no. die. die. die.

me: apples and peanut butter it is i guess

#personal #keeping it fun and funky fresh #matty's mental health #suicide mention #disordered eating cw #this sucksssss #*raps on side of head* WE'RE NOT DOING THIS ANYMORE OKAY?? #unfortunately placing this grocery ordered used up literally all the executive function i was reserving for like #writing a counter response for my eeoc charge #refreshing myself on a grievance case i'm helping with this afternoon

[looniecartooni]

I just did a whole essay on Sarah Winchester not being a crazy, ghost obsessed lady. NO ONE IS EVER ALLOWED TO CALL HER A CRAZY, OBSESSED GHOST LADY OR EVEN HAD CONTACT WITH SPIRITS EVER AGAIN!!!

I will bite you.

#I'm worried my report may not be up to par #i did try to use a lot of resources #but I mostly relied on Mary Ignoffo and Ralph Rambo's books. Its hard to find any other detailed reliable sources #thanks John Brown and several gossipers of Santa Clara. You made my job HARDER!!! #not to also mention it was sort of a last minute report on something I had months to do research on #i have 3 other classes and possibly executive function disorder- give me a break! #still... it needed to be done and it kind of meant something #okay... rant over #rant #college life #sarah winchester #winchester mystery house

[slayinganddecaying]

oh how are finals going?

executive dysfunction, a pmdd episode with a side of a chromic pain flare up and i failed a class before finals but after the drop period.

#executive function disorder #ouch ouch ouch #chronic pain

[un-pearable]

12 hours isn’t enough time to finish all the assignments but by the time you hit 10 you feel like you have aaaaages then you hit seven and you’re in panic mode again. 5 is plenty but four is Stress and then 2 is when the brain finally turns on

#executive function disorder 👍

[sweetonmeclarence]

It’s really wild to me that people without my issues (ADHD, severe anxiety, moderate to severe depression) just Do Things. They can just decide to do something and go do it immediately without having to trick themself into doing it??? Like i really am over here playing hopscotch with my wonky brain chemicals while the majority of people are comfortably walking in a straight line, huh.

#adhd #depression #anxiety #executive dysfunction #executive function disorder #personal #mental health #oy vey