This Frustratingly Common Issue Could Be A Sign Of ADHD |
Ever choose to skip the dishes one night because you were too stressed after an event-filled work day? Have you ever put off that grocery run you promised you’d get done because you couldn’t bring yourself to get dressed and out the door?
These are universal situations that every person is familiar with. However, for people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, the seemingly relatable situation of putting off a task can trigger an emotionally distressing cycle that can cause one’s mind and body to shut down.
Though not a clinical term, this experience has been coined “task paralysis”.
What task paralysis looks like for people with ADHD
Task paralysis is believed to be related to sensory overload, and generally looks like “over-analysing, the inability to get started on a project, trouble making decisions and feeling unable to sort out details,” according to Dr Cynthia Seng, a psychiatrist at Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Adult Behavioral Health.
As the name implies, task paralysis can cause a neurodivergent person to feel emotional overwhelm that stops them in their tracks. Lila Low-Beinart, a licensed professional counsellor and founder of Divergent Paths Counseling, described this “freeze” mode as a “deer in the headlights” feeling, followed by a “submit” mode that’s like when a “hedgehog curls in a ball.”
Additionally, Marcy Caldwell, owner and director of The Center for ADHD, told HuffPost that task paralysis is a “gap between action and intention.” She typically observes it manifesting in three major ways: procrastination, perfectionism or a combination of both.
ADHDers who lean toward procrastination may mentally check out with activities like doomscrolling.........