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Showing posts with the label executive dysfunction

These Go To Eleven

When people hear "ADHD," they often picture a hyperactive seven-year-old boy bouncing off the walls of a classroom. They rarely picture a 53-year-old man sitting quietly in an office. But I was that boy. I was diagnosed at five years old, having shown symptoms since I was three. My ADHD wasn't "adult onset"; it has been my companion for half a century. For years, I’ve tried to explain to neurotypical people what it actually feels like to live inside this brain. It isn't just about "getting distracted." It is about intensity. Here is the best way I can explain the reality of my daily life: The Equalizer Imagine that we are sitting down in a coffee shop, having a conversation. Now picture that my sensory input is like one of those music equalizers, with each frequency range linked to a slider. Now, turn all of those sliders up to 10, all the time . That movement behind you? 10. Humming of a nearby light? 10. Temperature in the room? 10. Feeling o...

Think Dinner-ent

We all know the image: Steve Jobs, the visionary behind Apple, standing on stage in his signature uniform—a black mock turtleneck, blue jeans, and New Balance sneakers. He didn't wear that outfit because he lacked fashion sense. He wore it because he was a genius at resource management. Jobs famously realized that the human brain has a finite amount of decision-making energy every day. By wearing the exact same thing every morning, he eliminated one trivial choice from his life. He automated his wardrobe so he could save his "Decision Fuel" for the things that actually mattered, like reinventing the smartphone. This concept is called removing Decision Fatigue . And while I’m not inventing the next iPhone, I have applied this exact "black turtleneck" philosophy to my diet. As someone managing mental health, personal stress, and a demanding job in compliance, my brain's "RAM" is precious real estate. Adopting a One Meal a Day (OMAD) lifestyle didn...