"Do you or your child, teen, or young adult struggle with ADHD? If you answered yes, then you know that getting started can be the hardest part of getting a task or assignment done. Getting started is also known as initiation, and it is a genuine challenge. It's not about being lazy or lacking motivation, but rather a true struggle that is linked to how the ADHD brain processes time, motivation, and execution."
"What Is Initiation? Initiation is the ability to begin a task or activity independently. For people with ADHD, there's a gap between wanting to start and actually starting. This is not caused by a lack of desire, but rather by neurological differences that affect dopamine regulation. Dopamine regulation impacts time perception and prioritization, which are the precursors to initiation, or getting started (MacDonald, Kleppe, Szigetvari, Haavik, 2024)."
Initiation is the ability to begin a task independently. People with ADHD experience a gap between wanting to start and actually starting due to differences in dopamine regulation. Dopamine regulation affects time perception and prioritization, which undermines initiation. Common manifestations include feeling stuck despite knowing what to do, avoiding large or boring tasks, needing absolute deadlines or last-minute pressure, becoming overwhelmed by decisions, and not knowing where to start. These patterns can produce procrastination, low self-esteem, and cycles of shame. Small, concrete strategies that make starting feel manageable can help overcome initiation blocks.
Read at Psychology Today
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