I recently read an article on Executive Dysfunction as part of my research on ADHD. This research journey started with my son’s conversation with me regarding my inability to focus on import things. Dead lines are being missed and important tasks are being put off indefinitely. I was wondering why.
If I understand it correctly, executive dysfunction is the inability to make good choices. Things the typical mind would jump on and take care of, my mind avoids dealing with it. I get distracted too easily and even when I am going to perform the dreaded task I get derailed and never get to it because something more urgent gets in its way.
Clevelandclinic.org defines executive dysfunction this way. “Executive dysfunction is a behavioral symptom that disrupts a person’s ability to manage their own thoughts, emotions and actions. It’s most common with certain mental health conditions, especially addictions, behavioral disorders, brain development disorders and mood disorders.”
Executive dysfunction is one of the primary symptoms of ADHD. I can certainly relate.
One of the problems my wife and I have is when she is talking, especially when I am tired or hungry, I tend to mentally tune out on her conversation. Needless to say, it has put a strain on our relationship. In those days, neither she nor I understood the situation and what was happening. I knew I was in deep trouble and the air became either very frigid or very hot depending on her reaction.
Right now I am trying to understand why I do what I do and do not do what I want or need to do.
I am a technical person. I love working with computers and technology. I had a career as an instructor teaching IT personnel how to manage their HP equipment. I can stay focused on solving a technical problem for days but have problems paying my bills on time.
At this point I want to understand the problem so I can work on solutions that work for me.
Another term that clevalandclinic.org introduced to me was neurodivergent.
Cleveland Clinic defines neurodivergent as “
Neurodivergent is a nonmedical term that describes people whose brains develop or work differently for some reason. This means the person has different strengths and struggles from people whose brains develop or work more typically. While some people who are neurodivergent have medical conditions, it also happens to people where a medical condition or diagnosis hasn’t been identified.”