Many of us with ADHD often feel like Alice. We pop down a hole to follow a thought, and then another almost-related idea appears. One concept transforms into another and then another. Our thoughts move so quickly that we don’t think of stopping ourselves. And before long, we find ourselves far away from our initial idea or task.

It’s true that those without ADHD also distinguish between fun and not fun. The difference is that whether or not something is fun doesn’t affect their motivation to act as significantly as it affects those with ADHD.

2. Morning Practice.

When do your monsters appear?

Learning to Shift

Using this approach—avoiding your mundane task in Yellow until it turns into a Red emergency—is like setting a tiny campfire in a dry, wooded area. You don’t think much about managing the campfire because it’s so small. It grows a bit, but still you do nothing. Suddenly, the fire begins to engulf the surrounding area—and now you act. But because

“I don’t have an internal chronometer,”

“Is there a due date? What will happen if I don’t complete this task? Have I scheduled a time to complete it?” Usually I will feel dread and argue with myself. “But I don’t want to do it.” That is usually how I know that I need to address my avoidance.

Our wonderfully vivid imaginations combine with our anxiety and fears to create monsters—cognitive distortions that torture us.