Your Brain’s Gearbox – ADHD and Cognitive Flexibility
Many with ADHD can vividly describe the stress they feel when their plans suddenly change. Or how challenging it is to stop doing something once they’ve started. Even though they know it would be best to wrap up. The impaired ability to shift gears in the brain’s gearbox is called cognitive inflexibility. Tag along, and we’ll take you through it!
Many also talk about how easy it is to fall into negative mind loops and ruminate on embarrassing moments from long ago.
Perhaps you feel that you’ve become so excessively rigid that it hinders you socially. That your need for routines has turned into prison walls suffocating the joy in things you used to enjoy. Or that you’re finding it increasingly difficult to relax in the evenings.
Maybe you’ve always struggled to change your mind or see things from others’ perspectives.
Challenges of Cognitive Inflexibility in ADHD
Neuropsychologists describe difficulties in shifting gears in the brain’s gearbox as cognitive inflexibility.
It’s one of four components of the “ADHD Profile” in the 24/7 model.
The impaired ability to shift focus that many with ADHD describe can paradoxically lead to getting stuck in negative thoughts. Or avoiding trying something new when what you’re doing is no longer effective.
Perhaps you easily get caught up in thoughts and feelings about being misunderstood or rejected. Even though others try to convince you that you’re exaggerating.
And maybe you’ve never quite understood the concept of listening to your instincts or gut feeling that others talk about.
Build Your Cognitive “Mental Gym”
Even though you can’t choose how smoothly your brain’s gearbox operates.
You can develop and improve your cognitive flexibility by becoming aware of how you function and challenging yourself and your brain in certain situations.
The most important thing is that you want to and feel motivated to do so.
And once you’ve made up your mind, you can just dive straight into your mental gym!
Your ADHD brain is waiting to be explored.
And by learning to recognize different behaviors and thoughts, you can gradually change and increase your cognitive flexibility.
Even though it may be a bit difficult initially, it’s just like trying out a new machine at a regular gym.
The reward in the form of better mental health and relationships usually comes quite quickly.
Curious about the 24/7 model? Here you’ll find all the components of the model.
Lotta Borg Skoglund
MD PhD & Letterlife Co-founder
Latest posts