In addition to door prizes, a review of past FOCUS+ presenters and a terrific spread of food *and* custom coffee drinks, the group listened to Dr. Oren Mason discuss ADHD and Executive Brain Function.
• There are a broad range of "executive functions" of the human brain, but eight of them are the ones most frequently and profoundly impacted by ADHD:
o Activation
o Timeliness
o Planning
o Attention
o Effort
o Emotional Control
o Memory and
o Action.
• When describing impairments to executive functions of the brain, there are six terms that are frequently use:
o Absent - When the executive function is simply missing; this does not occur with ADHD
o Diminished - Happens in people with ADHD, but not consistently, e.g. difficulty with Attention in some situations but not others.
o Crescendo - Where the effect on an executive function increases as the day goes on
o Decrescendo - Executive function actually improves with sustained use (rare)
o Erratic - Shows no logic or pattern; with ADHD a pattern can usually be identified
o Infuriating but Predictable? -- That's ADHD!
The following is a *very* abridged summary of Dr. Mason's remarks...he was able to get into far greater detail than we can relate here. Hopefully this will generate some questions and new thinking within our group, however.
Dr. Mason made the following analogy to describe the impact of altered executive function in people with ADHD in comparison to people without ADHD:
A "normal" person who needs to run errands has a brain that works like a Vespa scooter...he/she can easily stop, start again, regulate their speed and change directions at will.
A person with ADHD is trying to run those same errands on a rocket-sled; it's extremely fast from Point A to Point B, but it's very difficult to stop/turn/restart/speed up/slow down.
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Ah, yes! The rocket sled... looks familiar! While the rocket sled may be exilerating, it can have excruciating results. Dr. Mason made a solid case for the importance of treatment. With proper treatment, one is more likely to have some Scooter experiences, and less rocket sled wipe-outs!
ReplyDeleteI often find the Activation piece of Executive Functioning the most challenging... Motivation is fleeting when in the "cycle of ADHD overwhelm."
BTW, Dr. Mason's book is wonderful. Let me know if you are interested in purchasing one at the worth-it price of $15.00.
Ruth Evenhouse
Just a personal add-on to Ruth's comments: As Ruth said, Dr. Mason pointed out that people with ADD often have difficulty "knuckling down" and starting/resuming tasks, and that this is a "hardware/brain chemistry" problem. I think there's a second, behavioral layer that impedes Activation, at least in my case: With all of the ADD-related impairments to starting and successfully completing a task, I have a fairly high failure rate in doing so. Even when I do "knuckle down" and get started, I very often still fail to complete the task or if I do complete it, it's with very disappointing results that hardly justify all of the effort that went into it. My attempt to remodel my basement, my attempt to make a wooden chest to store some of my man-stuff and my attempt to repair some minor cosmetic damage on my car are great examples. Knowing that when I start a project (a) I'll have to work harder to do it than most people and (b) there's a very good chance I'll be dissasisfied with the end result is a huge disincentive to even attempt the project in the first place. I wonder if this is just my hangup or if others feel the same way. If so, how do other people overcome this learned, fear-of-failure reaction?
ReplyDeleteThe ADHD Activation and Completion challenge : Ed said it perfectly! The failure to complete the task or the frustrated disappointment with the results (results which didn't come close to equalling the effort), often bring huge discouragement (as well as depression, anxiety, lowered self-esteem) for ADDers... which, of course, keeps the "cycle of overwhelm" and frustration going. Because it is such hard work, is it any surprise that those with ADHD quit trying?
ReplyDeleteEd's example gives clear support for the importance of therapy, but therapy with someone who really "gets" ADHD; One who understands the repeated cycle: Activation after numerous attempts, with probable derailment before completion; OR, tons of effort in the Activation process and eventual Completion, but disappointment with the results.
If those struggling through such repeated situations do not get therapy, at the very least, they should seek consider an ADHD coach or attend an ADHD support group.
I can see what Ed's saying about not wanting to start on tasks and not being able to complete most tasks.
ReplyDeleteIt takes me forever sometimes to finish something, or even to start something because I know I'll get swept away and will end up with more junk that I don't know what to do with because i couldn't finish it or it turned out to be a piece of crap.
But what helps sometimes is to take a large project and break it down into do-able sized tasks. I got through grad school that way and was never late on an assignment. Now I need to do the same with my two businesses I"m starting, because there's so many small tasks that I feel like I'm drowning in piles of crap on my kitchen table.
But I started making an art cabinet about 5 years ago, as a way of straightening up the chaos in my art studio. to buy one would have cost hundreds, when I figured I could build one for under $50 (I came close!) Well I had tried to cut financial corners and used that chipboard crap for the main structure instead of solid wood, and as a result I had to have it carefully braced against the wall and another bookcase to keep it from collapsing. I eventually went back to home depot and had some hardwood cut to size for the outside, at a later time I put it together, replacing the outside chipboard with something that stood up on its own. Then varnishing the exterior was the next single huge project. Then I put back in three of the remaining shelves, which were still crap and eventually collapsed, but I eventuallhy repaced those too, and still have two to go. In the meantime, being envirnomentally conscious, I couldn't just throw out the scraps of crapwood and after 3 years of leaning up against a wall in the corner, I donated them to some Amish that were remodeling a friend's house-they used it to protect the walls around their woodburning stovers. but finally I have a nice cabinet for my artwork and large sheets of art paper and such, and my art studio as a result is so much more functional, and the cabinet actually looks halfway decent, or it will when I replace the crappy looking chipboard hinged doors on the front.
But the original objective has been met; to do away with my collection of almost good enough paintings, and partially finished paintings, and the hopelessly failed paintings doomed to a life on the back side of a hopefully really great painting.
We have really great ideas, that's the strength of ADHD, the challenge is being able to follow it through to completion. But breaking it down into bite sized tasks and then being able to make time for the next task and the next, over time you'll get it done, without feeling cut short or frustrated or overwhlemed or late for work.
And as far as the part of executive function that involves getting started on a project, approaching it with a clearly defined objective with a set limited amount of time can help you get started.
So to the Eds among us, remenber to break projects down into reasonable sized tasks that give you a sense of completion, and at a stage where you can put the project somewhere where it's not in the way.