The Frustrating ADHD Overwhelm Often Confused For 'Laziness'

Former Great British Bake-Off host Sue Perkins has opened up about her experience of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and how it left her feeling “paralysed” during the pandemic. 

Speaking on Elizabeth Day’s podcast, How To Fail, Sue described how her brain would “defeat itself” because “every single day it was, ‘Do this, do this, do this, do this, do this,’ and it changed. [...] Layer upon layer of confusing, expansive, distorted thinking.” 

She continued: “You don’t have any control over it, and I wanted to write, and I couldn’t. My brain was atomised during lockdown. I can only write in twenty-minute bursts anyway, but it had gone down to two, three minutes.”

She reflected on the desire to get her hands on something that could “stop” her brain, so she “wasn’t at war” with her own mind. In 2023, not long after the pandemic, she finally received an ADHD diagnosis. 

As it turns out, the phrase “ADHD paralysis” has been used by some ADHD organisations and people with the disorder.

To find out more, we spoke to Lisa George, the founder and clinical director of Talk Tribeca Psychiatry in NYC, who diagnoses and treats people with ADHD, and has ADHD herself.

What is “ADHD paralysis”? 

ADHD paralysis happens when “someone knows exactly what they need to do and they genuinely want to do it, but they just can’t seem to get started,” the expert said.

And while it can be confused with “procrastination or laziness... there is a neurobiological component to it”.

George explained that the brains of people with ADHD can struggle with executive functioning, or the processes that help you to set and execute goals. They usually have a different “reward system” than neurotypical brains, too.

“People with ADHD have differences in how dopamine is regulated, which can make it harder to start tasks and follow through, even when they know what needs to be done,” George added.

Some people can experience “task paralysis”, which is a type of overwhelm that can make tasks like doing the dishes feel much harder than they “should” be. Though this is common in those with ADHD, it’s not exclusive to the condition.

George stated, “Anyone can feel overwhelmed and get stuck, but for people with ADHD, difficulty initiating tasks can be a recurring problem even when the task itself isn’t particularly difficult – doing laundry, cleaning dishes, filling out a form.”

How can I make “ADHD paralysis” easier to manage? 

Breaking tasks down into small steps can help, said George. And structuring your time – including using timers – could go a long way too. 

“Tell yourself you’re only going to work on something for five minutes. You’re not committing to finishing the project; you’re just starting it,” the expert continued. 

So-called “body doubling” can be useful too. 

“Basically, you have someone else present while you’re working,” George clarified.

“To be clear they don’t have to help you: the idea is that just having another person in the room gives enough external structure to get moving (this is why working from home can be so hard for the ADHD brain!).

“You can also create deadlines for yourself. Sometimes a bit of pressure activates the ADHD brain to get moving,” she continued. “And, when appropriate, medication.”