I think this might be the first time I find the right words to say this. Also it’s probably not the right thread but if I try to make a post I’ll lose motivation and not write this, so… Since we’re in an ADHD sub, here we go.
It irks me when people say I physically can’t get off the sofa and do things. Because no, there’s nothing physical preventing us. There’s no barrier, there’s no muscle weakness, our neurons haven’t stopped telling our legs to work. We’re mentally blocked instead (as evidenced, for example, by the fact that we might be able to get up to go get more crisps, while moping and feeling useless all the way to the kitchen and back).
Our mind, and by this I’m talking about the area of the brain that controls executive function, it’s refusing to either put together a plan (10:04 am - get up, 10:05 am - clean kitchen) or might know the plan but refusing to execute it and send the commands to another part of the brain.
I think when people say “I physically can’t move”, neurotypicals roll their eyes and don’t understand, because there’s nothing at a physical level actually preventing an able-bodied individual to move, and they make the mental shortcut to “this person is lazy”.
Sorry about the rambling. TL;DR: I think we need better wording to explain this to people who don’t experience it, as we’re blocked mentally, not physically.
For me it’s mostly from the unintentional overthinking, being inundated by the all the different ways to do something, then becoming overloaded and lost on where or how to start
I have once before explained it like the brain trying to solve all steps of a task at once. For some things it’s a huge advantage, but the more complex or open ended the task, the easier it is to be completely overwhelmed.
I’ve sometimes described it the same as when someone goes skydiving and can’t jump out. It’s that same level of subconscious block, but to seemly mundane things (at least in my experience)
I think this might be the first time I find the right words to say this. Also it’s probably not the right thread but if I try to make a post I’ll lose motivation and not write this, so… Since we’re in an ADHD sub, here we go.
It irks me when people say I physically can’t get off the sofa and do things. Because no, there’s nothing physical preventing us. There’s no barrier, there’s no muscle weakness, our neurons haven’t stopped telling our legs to work. We’re mentally blocked instead (as evidenced, for example, by the fact that we might be able to get up to go get more crisps, while moping and feeling useless all the way to the kitchen and back).
Our mind, and by this I’m talking about the area of the brain that controls executive function, it’s refusing to either put together a plan (10:04 am - get up, 10:05 am - clean kitchen) or might know the plan but refusing to execute it and send the commands to another part of the brain.
I think when people say “I physically can’t move”, neurotypicals roll their eyes and don’t understand, because there’s nothing at a physical level actually preventing an able-bodied individual to move, and they make the mental shortcut to “this person is lazy”.
Sorry about the rambling. TL;DR: I think we need better wording to explain this to people who don’t experience it, as we’re blocked mentally, not physically.
For me it’s mostly from the unintentional overthinking, being inundated by the all the different ways to do something, then becoming overloaded and lost on where or how to start
I have once before explained it like the brain trying to solve all steps of a task at once. For some things it’s a huge advantage, but the more complex or open ended the task, the easier it is to be completely overwhelmed.
Huh, happy shared cake day!
This is it
Yes yes yes yes yes
I’ve sometimes described it the same as when someone goes skydiving and can’t jump out. It’s that same level of subconscious block, but to seemly mundane things (at least in my experience)
No this is spot-on. When people say “physically” it’s hyperbole, and it feels close to the truth, but your explanation is spot-on.
Thank you for finally writing down what I wanted to for so long