Confessions of a High-Functioning, Inattentive, and Low-key Impulsive Therapist

Join Nik Young and Alyssa Najera in this sequel to Confessions of a High-Functioning, Anxious Therapist (episode 63) where they awkwardly and openly share their struggles with inattention, delayed gratification, and low-key impulsive behaviors. Learn how these behaviors can impact relationships, work functioning, and personal growth, and get tools to help you navigate. 

 

In this episode we talk about:

Tools for Inattention and Impulsivity 

• Use the resources available to you
• Breakup larger tasks into smaller, attainable tasks
• Engage in active reflection and self-awareness
• Focus on one task at time
• Ask yourself
  • Can it wait?
  • Do you need it?
  • Do you need this right now?
• Learn healthy coping skills to help you manage symptoms to ensure symptoms do not negatively impact your relationships or daily functioning

Potential Signs of ADHD

• Lack of attention to detail
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty completing a task, having several unfinished tasks or projects
• Continually losing or misplacing things
• Feeling the need to interrupt others before you lose your train of thought
• Restlessness and edginess
• Difficulty keeping quiet, speaking out of turn
• Difficulty with organization
• Tendency to procrastinate
• Irritability
• Feeling like everything is urgent when it may not be
• Difficulty slowing down
• Difficulty multitasking
• Easily losing track of time, feeling like you have more time that you actually do
• Racing thoughts or jumping from idea to idea
• Checking out often or daydreaming

Potential Signs of High Functioning ADHD

• Hyper-focused on projects or deadlines
• Heavily focused on productivity or achievement
• Your work style either includes lots of breaks or extended periods of work with minimal breaks
• Excessive use of calendars, reminders, or apps to ensure you do not miss appointments, deadlines, or events
• Chronic procrastination 
• Exceling under pressure

 

Other factors that may exacerbate inattentiveness, need for immediate gratification, and impulsiveness 

• Anxiety symptoms
• Depression symptoms
• ADHD symptoms
• Increased Stress

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

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