{"id":13802,"date":"2019-03-15T15:38:52","date_gmt":"2019-03-15T15:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marlacummins.com\/stage2026\/?p=13802"},"modified":"2019-03-15T15:38:52","modified_gmt":"2019-03-15T15:38:52","slug":"adhd-thinking-too-fast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marlacummins.com\/stage2026\/adhd-thinking-too-fast\/","title":{"rendered":"Want to be more productive? Then avoid doing this."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Depending on which type of ADHD you have you may or may not struggle with thinking and\/or acting too fast. If you have the inattentive type, going fast may not be one of your challenges. Generally, those with the combined type<\/strong> or predominately hyperactive \u2013 impulsive type<\/strong> may struggle with this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you do, this article is for you. If you don\u2019t have this challenge, because you have predominately inattentive type ADHD, please read on anyway. You will still find some helpful tips. Because most people have some area in their life where slowing down and being more present can be useful<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may even find you are more productive<\/strong>. Remember, being productive is doing what is essential to you<\/a> \u2014 engaging activities that bring meaning to your life. It\u2019s not about doing more. So, let\u2019s get on with exploring how you can do this better by slowing down<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because slow is the new fast<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does It Mean to Act Too Fast?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, there is a difference between being acting too fast \u2014 impulsively \u2014 and acting on your instinct. And it\u2019s a critical distinction. Because there are times you should follow that inner voice that says, \u201cYes, this feels right.\u201d This inner voice has wisdom. Of course, the key is to discern between these two voices \u2014 wise or impulsive. Not always easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One way to discern the difference is to think of an impulsive thought <\/strong>that might lead to impulsive action as fleeting<\/strong>. One hour or one day you\u2019re thinking about saying or doing something. And then the next hour or day it\u2019s gone. If you are prone to this, you might want to slow down in the moment. Because it\u2019s likely not your instinct guiding you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The key to differentiating between acting \u201ctoo fast\u201d and jumping on an idea because it feels right is to learn more about how you think<\/strong>. If you tend to have tons of ideas and know that you need time to sort them out, do that. Don\u2019t act on the first idea that comes to your mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if the thought comes from your intuition, it will persist and keep nagging at you. And it can serve as a useful guide. Stop and listen to it. Be curious about where it might take you. Take the time to explore what it may mean for you. And whether it may make sense to act on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just because you might act and think fast sometimes does not mean you don\u2019t also have a wise inner voice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Adult ADHD Brain and Thinking\/Acting \u201cToo Fast\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It appears the connections between the various areas of the brain<\/strong> necessary to control response inhibition and foster attention are underdeveloped<\/strong> in the ADHD brain. Because of this you may tend to act and\/or think too fast. As a result, it may be hard for you to pause before acting and\/or speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, though, ADHD adults can develop strategies to moderate their overt responses. So, it may not look the same as it did when you were young. You are no longer jumping off the jungle gym without concern for your safety, right? But you may be blurting out in the middle of a conversation, still.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deficit in certain brain chemicals can also mean you seek out stimulation to wake up your brain<\/strong>. This may mean you are restless and seemingly on the go<\/strong> at times. Boring meetings are an obvious time this may happen. For some, this is more of an internal restlessness. For others, the restlessness is more outwardly observable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, you may have a difficult time slowing down because of the challenge with persisting on a task<\/strong>, especially one that is not intrinsically interesting to you. Consequently, you may jump from task to task<\/strong> and not close the loop on your important work. And when you jump from task to task, rather than sustaining your attention, you\u2019re more prone to distractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, difficulty regulating emotions<\/strong> may also lead you to be reactive<\/strong> \u2014 act quickly. It is not that your emotions are wrong or bad. It\u2019s just that you may not be able to keep them to yourselves until you can decide how you want to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thinking and Acting Fast Can Also be a Habit for ADHD Adults<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No doubt there are likely neurobiological reasons related to your ADHD for your challenges with slowing down. But there is also a habitual component. It may be a chicken and egg scenario. While your ADHD may make it hard to slow down, you\u2019ve also come to respond to situations in a certain way \u2014 habitually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is, your responses have become hardwired<\/strong> \u2014 habitual<\/strong>. The more you respond in a certain way, the more you will respond in that way. But because the brain is malleable, you can rewire the neural pathways<\/strong> and change your habits. The way you do this is to practice slowing down<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will definitely be hard at first to break the habit of going fast. Over time, though, it will become easier to go slower in various areas of your life. It may even become a habit! Seriously, I\u2019m not kidding. ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Advantages of Thinking\/Acting Fast<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You may not always want to temper your tendency to act or think fast, though. As thinking or acting fast in the right contexts can be a strength for ADHD adults. Consider the examples below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n