ADHD Paralysis: Definition & How to Overcome 

The hardest thing is having both adhd paralysis and anxiety disorder at the same time. Due to adhd paralysis we never starts a task and when it’s due, the stress and pressure builds leading to high levels of anxiety causing anxiety attacks that literally paralyses you not just your brain. It’s like having a really high fever, your body is completely weak due to anxiety but you feel so cold. Your head will be like its about to explode, you gut will be out of your control, you will be extremely tired but you can’t sleep because of the task in hand

Very useful, thank you. I only have 2 disagreements though. 1. Rewards should not be snacks or online shopping, cause usually ADHDers have problems with impulsivity too, so my advice: do NOT go down that rabbithole of rewarding yourself with snacks or online shopping (believe me, an ADHDer with an eating disorder, who has a boyfriend with ADHD and impulsive online shopping problems). Find something that actually supports your overall goals, like if you're writing a novel, get yourself a nice new notebook or pen. 2. Movement breaks: I don't know about other people, but for me it takes reeeeeeally long to get into a task. Once I'm on it though, it's hyperfocus all the way. So if I'm hyperfocusing, that means I'm not getting up from that desk for HOURS. And if a timer goes off every 30 or 60 minutes, and I'm forced to take a break, even if I am in the middle of a really good workflow, that breaks the whole thing in half. Result: a. I'm not taking a 5 or 15 minute break, I'm gonna get distracted and take probably 3 hours if not the rest of the day off. b. There's no way I'm sitting back to that desk to continue my taks, cause it takes way too much mental energy to get back in doing a task over and over again. So my method is: I do not take scheduled breaks, cause my brain does not work like a clockwork, I take breaks when my brain says I need it, and I go back to the task when my brain says I'm ready to. Other than that, it's really a useful video, so thank you for the tips ❤

Almost in my 30s, suffering 247, still getting no help!

so what do i do?

I find its hard to start any projects, because ill get myself so worked up, that I don’t even follows through with it.

Does this apply to people with only ADD?

Haven't been diagnosed or anything, but this feels SOOO realteable at literally every bullet point. I mean - too many choices when shopping, eating out, etc. Writing tasks down helps, but only if they are visible.

2. Break down tasks Did the first part. Hopefully next part will happen next month

Watching this video while I’m avoiding working on a stressful report for work.

I can spend my time having my brain scream at me about a task, be really stressing over it, but still unable to do that task. It creates a cycle that makes me depressed thus even more stuck and ashamed about it. It really is self destruction constantly. I hate myself because of it.

About the take movement breaks... If I do that I usually find something to do and then find something else to do... Finding my self doing many hours stuff that I did not need to do and forgetting what I was doing in the first place. So I think this is kind of a bad suggestion. One question... Do YOU have ADHD? What I would do as ADHD... When I am in the zone doing work I would rather surround myself and the workplace with red tape and yellow signs with black bold letters "ADHD concentrating do not disturb! Not a Beep!" When I am doing what ever, it takes only one distraction or distracting thought for me to start doing something else. It's constant battle. So please do not give advice that would be good for non-ADHD. It does not work for ADHD. If it works, you are not ADHD.

I am at work right now and I feel like I’ve just had a huge breakthru into my brain. I shit down when things get overwhelming for me. I won’t talk to anyone- I can’t. And I feel like this video just opened my eyes to my soul and … it’s just crazy

This is what I was accused of my whole life growing up and the whole time I had ADHD. I couldn’t help what was happening in my life and I was alone.

I dont know what I have but it’s less of an overwhelming feeling of too much going on. It’s more of paralysis where you literally can’t move because you got distracted and then you notice and you have to build willpower to escape your own mind.

im not diagnosed . and this video made me reflect . in not lazy . sometimes (every day) i look at a blank space completly dissosciated telling myself to do a simple task, that i know i have to do. but i dont do it, my body doesnt move. internally im screaming to myself ' do it' move your hand stand up ' but i just stay sited for half and hour looking at nothing. only do things in a rush with a thight dead line. is horrible. im so tired.

Description is really good, but the “solutions” offered don’t help me at all. I have 70 billion things to do (ok, perhaps a minor exaggeration) but don’t get any of them done as I don’t know where to start. And if I do start on one, I jump to another as it is also “super urgent and super important”. UGH!!!!

I really love your videos-they are so informative. Could I please gently ask a tiny favour (not coming from a place of entitlement here, just begging)… these days it seems that Americans have started speaking down in their throats with these creepy scratchy voices-I suppose it is what most refer to as Vocal Fry. It has made some American content almost impossible to listen to. If you are able to become aware of when you have started to slip into that mode of speaking, could you perhaps make a conscious effort to support your voice more so the scratchy, mucousy sound goes away? I have had to stop listening to some of my favourite podcasts and videos for too loving now due to this. Thank you in loving kindness!

This is really helpful but could you please try going a bit slower in future videos?? Info flying by here at blinding speed, and we're watching this cuz we're already feeling overwhelmed. Makes it very hard to focus on what you're saying when you go this fast. Other than that, thank you for the video and for sharing your expertise.

I can actually go a week doing absolutely nothing. Barley eating. Only things that are grab and snack. Sleeping and then going to sofa and sitting and the next thing you know it’s 2am and the day is gone and you did nothing and you’re exhausted. I don’t know what this is but it happens to me regularly. Like girl go brush your teeth 🤦🏻‍♀️😮‍💨

Been diagnosed with ADHD specifically the mental paralysis. I was also bullied by coworkers and when I get stuck in a situation with other people my brain goes into panic mode along with the paralysis. 😞

I'm diagnosed ADD but I have no concept of time and I also have no time where I feel productive, plus I'm a recovering addict so that also comes into play with me, nothing makes me feel happy and I have no desire to put myself out there( this feels like a 100% of the time like I'm paralyzed mentally and physically)

Finding peace with.... oh never mind, I can't keep up with the speed of this video, it's overwhelming

i work at 1pm. it is 9am and i feel i don’t have time to do anything but wait for 12pm to get ready for work :(

I don’t like identifying with ADHD or any disorder, but I was diagnosed from an early age & it is really debilitating at times. I didn’t even know the term was ADHD paralysis but that’s how I thought to describe what I feel on a daily basis and this came up. I just get so overwhelmed with life that I shut down and do the least important stuff on my list or I distract myself with shopping or socializing. I feel like I hold myself back so much in life because of this. There’s so much I should be doing to further myself but I just don’t do it.

I gave up for the fact i spend AN ENTIRE HOUR trying to finish this video 😢

do you have adhd? it seems you dont understand it very well. I ll listen your video once more, maybe i m wrong.

none of these stupid and repetitive tips work for me. guess unaliving myself is the only way out of this misery

Out of sight out of mind is spot on.

Thanks for those very practical tools . Seriously helps with my daily functioning. Writing things down helps somehow organise my thoughts which are otherwise pretty haywire. Can never work a plan I've scheduled though ! .. get distracted with other things eg I'll end up cleaning my room n settling my cupboard even if I've set my books down to study . Dunno what that is .. but maybe will get more help on ur channel . Thanks!

Does rapid acceptance tools help with this?

think this is whats messing up my life rn. really sucks living with it feels like ill never overcome it or have control over it. straight up feels like i need someone to hold my hand through out life and i really hate relying on others

ADHD is social construct

I think the hardest thing is finding motivation to do anything, or after being over-stimulated - feeling joyless. (From neurological imbalances). I don’t know if it corresponds, but it’s either I am really high-high-high and happy.. or low-low-low and gloomy. Then I’ll find motivation, hyper focus sets in; then time blindness sets in - then I’ll realize I’ve self-isolated for a month without even realizing it. All repeating these cycles; sometimes the low-low-low lasts for weeks.. months.. all the while; disassociating and going on ‘auto-pilot’ when I have to. lately my ways of managing is a perfected art - and I handle my anxiety really well, sometimes. However.. lately I’ve also been thinking I should try stimulants to kind of divert the depression? Seems like the low-low-low’s have been outweighing the high-high-high’s. I just want to be normal, like either just high or low. If that makes sense.

I'm 12, got diagnosed with ADHD at age 6, I've had a lot of trouble growing up with ADHD for obvious reasons, I've been recently like "I have this, I should do more research on it and other things"

All of you said is me! It is exclusively me! Can you help me please???????

Why do i get emotionally triggered when someone tells me i need to use a planner or sticky notes. Logically it does make sense but it overwhelms my brain too much just thinking about it. Breaking up into smaller tasks feels like just adding more tasks. 10 smalls things listed is worse than one big thing. Ok, sorry just venting and frustrated with my brain. 😢

Thank you, Kristen. This is the first video I came across with actual sound advice that works for me. From a relatively small channel too. Thank you algorithm gods. 🙏

Try to lay a square title floor in a room with five doors ways and a pattern and as no wall is straight it's hard to find a right angle. I looked up ADHA paralysis because I couldn't work out way I couldn't bring myself to move forward except for in fits and starts. Thanks for helping me understand.

Me 100%

I haven't been diagnosed yet of ADHD but I might have it. One time, I was wondering why I suck at work. Make many mistakes,forgetting things so easily. Then it hit, "Maybe I have ADHD!"

Very helpful, thank you, I find task paralysis a really killer, so these steps I hope will help.

This was actually extremley relatable... I never thought I could have ADHD but I've been looking stuff about it and the way I relate, in particular, with Inattentive ADHD is something else... I'm definitly going to tell my Therapist next time. I hope I remember though 😂. Is extremely common for something to happen in my life and I say "I will tell Ana (my Therapist) next time, but when I arrive at the session I compleatly Forgot... But damn, the "Vivible Note" is the best option. I cant put an Alarm because I just turn it off and forget, nor have a Calender-Book with things written because I would forget its existence. If anything I need a Giant Calender in my Wall or something to remember and read it 😂😂

I'm crying rn. How often are people with ADHD misdiagnosed as bipolar or depressed with anxiety? Hearing ADHD explained this way is like, you took all the overlapping thoughts about my mental health problem out of my head, and organized them. I am always diagnosed with either bipolar disorder or anxiety and depression. However, I'm not depressed. I have been depressed before, and even with treatment that worked well for it, the original problems linger. And they're starting to ruin my life, bc I'm 6 months pregnant but still haven't even figured out how to do my dishes regularly, or how to complete any goals that benefit my future for my baby. I just sit and stare, totally overwhelmed by the nonstop train of thoughts and ideas in my head. For hours and hours, every day for the last 10 or 15 years at least. I think trying to explain that is why i got DX'd bipolar, my doctor believes my thought train is mania and my lack of motivation is depression. Idk what to do, but i appreciate your video and description a lot.

I have been stuck in my bed all day and this morning I had a mental breakdown i think

Literally watching this because I’m hella anxious about telling my Psych professional I have adhd but my biggest red flag was that I procrastinated EVERYTHING I do because I didn’t feel “pressured enough” to get it done. It’s so mentally exhausting but I just can’t bring myself to get it done early or break it up so I’m not so stressed writing a 6 page paper 3 hours before it’s due, or completing any task at home until right before I have company because I just couldn’t do it at any other time. It’s like my brain said…NOPE. NOT NOW. NOT IMPORTANT. then the deadline comes and it’s like “NOW NOW NOW!”

(This is the worst case paralysis reason and my reaction in worst case scenario). I get this when two ore more people talk at once to me giving orders to me or directions what to do next or what to do over all in the next few hours. If they have different opinions and to do lists and sometimes they agree about everything but have different ways to a broach the to do thing. (This is just an example of the most common things. Not an actual word to word example of an happened situation). When this happened and the people are standing really close to me I feel like I am under the see. I can barely hear their voices, I register the frustration and I can not breath. Like on an ocean strong wave crashes over me and pulls me deeper to the see and I can't get to the top to breath. Nothing I hear makes no sense and I just want to escape. When I have escaped behind a corner or next room or what ever, I gasp for breath and find myself crying 'cos I am overwhelmed and realize I have hold my breath true all of it 'cos all I have wanted to do is just scream with all my lung capacity. After that I am exhausted and can not do anything or think anything. I just wish that in thous moments people would talk one by one ore best thing... talk to them selves and send me a text-message of the conclusion.

What if I cannot get the task done the whole day, and I have a deadline tomorrow. I had a lot of little things from the start of the day, and I also have a child so it's difficult to do the task at night and still have power tommorow. Its like it took me the whole day of frustration just to get my brain started working on the task.

I had this really badly in college and it got so bad and I had it continuously for so long that when I got help I was misdiagnosed as severely depressed.

This was a very informative video with a lot of great tips thank you.

I really wish I could stop a task and then go back to it.

Hi Kristen. I did cut a clip of a movie inwhere the main character took a pill and suddenly the fog average people have disappeared. He went home, opened the front door of his messy apartment. He thinks: "This couldn't be my home, could it? Cleaning all this feels insane. But... saner heads prevailed". He starts by doing the dishes and suddenly another him appears, removing trash into the trashbag, another puts books in the bookcase, another one vacuums etc. When I am really stuck, I watch this 30 seconds clip and get pumped up enough to start.

Well, I always knew about having bipolar disorder/depression and was diagnosed while I was in my twenties, but I always knew there was something else. After learning about ADHD Paralysis, it makes sense. First I always had a learning impairment. It was always hard to understand things like others and I failed in school every year in most of my classes all through school. The paralysis part of it, I had noticed already, when I was around 5 years old. Then, my first noticeable experience happened one day when my mother had set out the kitchen table and chairs set in the driveway. She handed me sandpaper and said, "have at it". Meaning, she wanted me to sand it all so she could refinish them with lacquer. The way it felt and the idea of sanding it all seemed like she might as well have asked me to sand every tree in the woods. One of my next things, was putting off things, which I still do in the same manner. I put it off, then tasks didn't get done. My mind was always somewhere else. I would and still do that paralysis thing, as described in the many ways in this video. Too many things putting the breaks on my needing or wanting to do things, anything. I'd sit there as if I was a computer just ran out of RAM and disc space. That's me. I feel like one side of my brain knows what to do and I try to do it, but the other side is like, lazy, I drift off in my head, or I can't think right, and procrastinate. The two sides opposing each other. One side: "Let's do this."; The other side: "forget it, I've got nothing, can't do it."

i almost drank myself to death to get over the paralysis and just get stuff done. even still, trying to stay sober is the hardest thing; i can stay clean on adderall, but it's basically meth, so you're still judged for needing medicine. i hate society

Thank you for this video.

These are so helpful. Thank you for this information

I have to clean my appartment bc tomorrow ill start a therapy similar to clinical psychiatry.. which means the docs etc will come to my house daily.. im so overwhelmed and anxious right now sitting here and cant do anything.. and also im scared that they dont take my suspicion on adhd/autism srsly.. ( iam 22 and got at least 6 different diagnosis’s since i was 11)

found this by searching "adhd overwhelm" in hopes to feel better but now feel more overwhelmed with all the new information lol. very informative though so thank you. I will definitely come back another time to absorb it

so me

Literally described my life - down to the nanosecond.

For once I feel understood

The menu thing really hit home for me. I always fake looking at it and then order a cheese burger haha "What do you mean you don't serve cheeseburgers at Red Lobster?!" Or I'll ask what someone else is having, even a random person at a different table, scan the room, that looks edible, "hey what is that??"

Oh oh... this is so me...

this is why multiple choice tests are the worst

Thank you for sharing. 🥹 The eight tips for dealing with ADHD paralysis were very helpful. 👍👍

I was just recording in my room, just me talking about topic i like, and suddenly in mid sentence, my mind went blank, no thoughts no action, just sitting still, for many seconds which felt like hour, and it was recorded on video. So after watching that recorded video i broke down and cried.