Find a way or make one
Today’s blog is about finding a way to do something or making one. On one of my other websites, I had an issue with deleting tags and categories I don’t use or typed in in error. I was able to easily do this on this website but on on the theme I use for immunoresearch.org. It did not work! So the theme said it had an error. I looked at the code. Removed it and still had the issue. After pondering and searching, I found a WordPress plugin that corrects this problem. Uploaded it and fixed the funky tags and categories. Problem solved. Moving on. But…..
Yesterday was productive but today…
So what is happening today. Well I had the website problem. It took awhile to research and solve. This caused me to loose time and focus on the other tasks I need to do. Yesterday, felt good. Now I feel sort of like I spent 3 hours on a problem to remove 8-12 tags and categories on one website. Yesterday, this happened fast on this website. Then I realized I had an ADHD shutdown afterwards. Technically, termed ADHD paralysis. This task paralysis can affect multiple areas of their lives and be seen as laziness by those who don’t know what they’re going through. Bummer! I never realized this happened to me. Now I see it happens often to me. Looking back at my history, it happened way too much!
More about ADHD paralysis , known as ADHD freeze or ADHD shutdown
As mentioned above, ADHD paralysis — also known as ADHD freeze or ADHD shutdown — occurs when people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder become overwhelmed by their environment or the information they receive. This triggers feelings of anxiety and apprehension, making it difficult to start a task, maintain focus, or prioritize key steps. Instead, these individuals freeze or distract themselves with other activities that make them feel better. “The internal process is, ‘I can’t figure out where to start because there’s a bunch of different pieces to this process, and which one am I supposed to pick first?’” In the above case, I did searches for clues, looked to see if the website sent me an e-mail. Most of the searches are paywall .COM or bull shit websites.
ADHD freeze is a loss of executive functioning. Executive functioning refers to our ability to focus, prioritize tasks, and make decisions. These skills begin developing in childhood with learning processes such as cleaning a bedroom or getting ready for the day. They develop over years, enabling us to handle complex tasks as we get older (not really).
Here are the symptoms
- Procrastination
- Avoidance
- Poor time management
- Trouble with details, organizing, or finishing tasks
- Trouble with listening
- Indecisiveness
- Distractibility
Here is how it manifests
- Mental paralysis
- Task paralysis
- Choice/decision paralysis
- Scrolling paralysis – looking at phone or other websites – reading something other than your focus
What to do about it!
What I am doing now and have done in the past.
- Show them how to prioritize and break up tasks (Bullet Journal – !2 Wear Year Plan)
- Teach them to write thoughts and/or tasks down (I use to write a log daily)
- Create time for healthy interests and rewards (I use to read and work on the computer)
- Help them schedule their day – This I did not do well
- Teach them to be imperfectionists – I sort of did this
- Encourage exercise – I use to run, lift weights and fence – After my knee replacement – running is not an option
- Help them eat nutritious foods – always did this
- Explore therapists and treatment options – Well I did get my second masters in counseling but they did not go into this.
The quick summary, well that is it for today’s blog! I did learn a better coping skill today to deal with ADHD paralysis. I hear a cat throwing up. Got to go!