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ADHD paralysis

focus pain stress time
Written by Livia Farkas || First published: 11 November, 2023 | Last edited: 18 March, 2025 || 📚🕒 Reading Time: < 1 minute

ADHD paralysis is a form of executive dysfunction.

It refers to the difficulty in initiating, continuing, or completing tasks, even when the person understands the urgency and importance and also has the ability to do the task.

ADHD paralysis can be triggered by various factors, including overwhelm, anxiety, or the perceived complexity of a task.

Examples of ADHD paralysis:

  • A student with ADHD paralysis might struggle to start a term paper, despite understanding the topic and having the necessary resources, due to feeling overwhelmed by the scope of the project.
  • A person might repeatedly forget or delay paying bills, not because they lack the funds or forget that they need to do it, but because they struggle to initiate the task.
  • Another person might have difficulty maintaining a clean living space, not due to laziness (which doesn’t even exist by the way, but that’s a story for another time), but because the task of cleaning seems too complex or daunting to start.

time blindness

Time blindness is when it’s tough to grasp the passing of time. It usually means you under- or overestimate the time a project will take. It makes it tricky to manage schedules, deadlines, and …

Read moretime blindness

waiting mode

Waiting mode is a psychological state characterized by heightened anticipation or anxiety while awaiting a specific outcome or event.

In the neurodivergent, especially ADHD community it usually …

Read morewaiting mode

transitions

Transitioning, in the context of neurodiversity, refers to the process of moving from one state, activity, or place to another. It involves a shift in attention, focus, and cognitive resources.

For …

Read moretransitions

context switching

Context switching refers to the cognitive process of shifting attention between different tasks or mental states. It involves disengaging from one task and engaging in another, requiring the brain to …

Read morecontext switching
This term is also known as:
task initiation
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Related terms:
  • neurodivergence
  • ADHD
  • neurodiversity
  • cognitive load
  • stimulus
  • executive dysfunction
  • context switching
  • time blindness
  • waiting mode
  • transitions
  • sensory overwhelm

About the Author

  • Livia Farkas

    Livia is a Neurodivergent Adaptation Educator with a sharp sense for simplifying complex ideas. Since 2008, she's developed 294 distinct techniques catered to the needs of clients. A total of 5058 alumni have enrolled in one or more of the 8 online courses she co-developed with Adam, offering neurodivergence-inclusive frameworks for time management, goal setting, self-care for mental health, and small-business management. Her life goal is to be a walking permission slip for neurodivergent adults. In her free time, she enjoys stickers & planners, crochet & roller skates, and running around with her pet bunny Rumi.

    View all posts

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