{"id":12690,"date":"2017-12-21T11:44:12","date_gmt":"2017-12-21T11:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marlacummins.com\/stage2026\/?p=12690"},"modified":"2025-06-18T12:59:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T16:59:45","slug":"problem-solving-is-hard-for-adhd-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marlacummins.com\/stage2026\/problem-solving-is-hard-for-adhd-adults\/","title":{"rendered":"The 6 Steps ADHD Adults Use to Solve Just About Any Problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Problem-solving is hard for ADHD adults. Not exactly rainbows and unicorns. I know. And you may be tempted to stop reading this article right now. But, if you want to become better at handling adversity, I hope you\u2019ll hang in there with me a bit longer.<\/p>\n

I thought of writing this article while reading The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson. Ordinarily, I would bypass a book with this title. Because, well, it\u2019s probably not serious enough and worthy of my time. But, as is often true when I judge a book by its cover and jump to conclusions, I was wrong.<\/p>\n

And, as I was reading Manson\u2019s book, I thought of the myriad of ways problem-solving is hard for ADHD adults. Of course, I also thought of the workarounds for these challenges. So, let\u2019s get on with exploring how you can become better at handling adversity.<\/p>\n

How Your ADHD Can Get in The Way of Solving Problems<\/h2>\n

Understanding<\/strong> how your ADHD can get in the way of solving problems is the first step<\/strong> in handling adversity better. As, once you recognize these challenges, you can incorporate this understanding in creating effective workarounds.<\/p>\n

One challenge related to your ADHD is you may become easily frustrated and\/or angry when faced with a problem. This may be due in part to challenges with emotional regulation<\/a>.<\/u> And, when you are in this heightened emotional state, you might not be able to think about solutions. Rather, you may become reactive or just avoid it.<\/p>\n

Another hallmark challenge for adults with ADHD is difficulty organizing and sequencing steps<\/strong>. So, even if you approach the problem with a sense of calm, you may still not be clear about what steps you need to take to solve the problem.<\/p>\n

Activating or starting is another challenge<\/strong> adults with ADHD face. While there are many reasons you may procrastinate and not start, one reason is you are not sure how to start. That is, you may not have clarity about the best first step. And this uncertainty can keep you stuck.<\/p>\n

If you do manage to start, you may find it hard to persist and sustain the necessary effort<\/strong> to solve the problem. This is especially true for adults with ADHD when solving the problem doesn\u2019t carry a lot of interest. So, you may hyperfocus on fixing your guitar, but neglect to figure out what that weird noise is in the garbage disposal.<\/p>\n

Okay, now that I\u2019ve outlined some of the challenges you may be facing, let\u2019s turn to the 6 steps you can use to solve your problems<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ready?<\/p>\n

Step 1 – Acknowledge and Accept that Life Is Full of Problems<\/h2>\n

I know this seems obvious and you might even be thinking, \u201cLook at who you are talking to, Marla!\u201d Right, I get it, you know life is full of problems.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m suggesting when you make a choice you also accept<\/strong> it will come with its fair share problems. By doing this up front you can approach the inevitable problems with a sense of equanimity. And minimize the chances of becoming reactive or avoiding the problem altogether.<\/p>\n