ADHD Chatter Clinical Psychologist (expert on ADHD): How To Overcome ADHD Paralysis
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Dec 3, 2025 
Michaela Thomas, a clinical psychologist specializing in perfectionism and ADHD, shares her insights on overcoming procrastination. She delves into how ADHD-related challenges in starting tasks are fueled by perfectionism and emotional turmoil. Michaela emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, gamifying tasks, and breaking them into manageable 'ice cubes.' She also contrasts ADHD and autism at the perfectionism crossroads and discusses the toll of burnout. Listeners will appreciate her practical strategies for achieving balance and reducing shame.
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Why ADHD Struggles With Starting Tasks
- Task initiation is an executive function struggle in ADHD driven by low dopamine and inertia rather than laziness.
- Motivation often requires novelty, urgency, or gamification to overcome starting paralysis.
Turn A Spark Into Action
- When impulsivity and procrastination collide, use the spark of interest to shift out of inertia quickly.
- Gamify tasks and build kinder motivation strategies to avoid adrenaline-fuelled last-minute stress.
Perfectionism Feeds Burnout In ADHD
- Perfectionism often co-occurs with ADHD and fuels cycles of burnout, anxiety and low self-esteem.
- Softening self-criticism and building compassionate routines unlock sustainable symptom management.
