It's The ADHD-Friendly Show | Personal Growth, Well-being and Productivity for Distractible Minds
Why ADHD Brains Abandon Projects (And How to Stop It)
Mar 14, 2025
Discover why many with ADHD struggle to follow through on projects, particularly in the 'Valley of Despair.' Learn how to manage dopamine levels to maintain motivation and combat perfectionism. Explore a 'pause practice' before embarking on new initiatives and use self-awareness as your guide. Get practical tools to redefine what 'done' means and set achievable expectations. Break the cycle of unfinished projects and build self-trust for a more fulfilling life!
21:50
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Quick takeaways
- The 'Valley of Despair' concept explains how ADHD brains struggle to persist through project challenges, often leading to abandonment.
- Implementing strategies like a 'pause practice' and defining what 'done' means can significantly aid in completing projects.
Deep dives
Understanding the Valley of Despair
The concept of the 'valley of despair' highlights a common experience in the behavior change cycle, particularly for individuals with ADHD. This stage occurs when initial excitement for a new project fades as challenges arise, leading to feelings of discouragement and potential abandonment of the task. The podcast emphasizes that perfectionism often intensifies these feelings, causing individuals to question their abilities and the worthiness of the endeavor. This can result in a cycle where individuals repeatedly start new projects without ever completing them, perpetuating feelings of disappointment and frustration.
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