The podcast discusses how collapsing frameworks can lead to self-doubt and imposter syndrome in ADHD individuals, highlighting the 'Dip of Uncertainty' after intense performances. Strategies for managing doubt, diversifying feedback sources, and combating negative narratives are explored. The hosts emphasize the importance of separating emotions from underlying stories and collecting diverse data to maintain resilience.
ADHD can lead to hyper-focusing on small data points, resulting in false narratives and self-doubt.
Diversifying feedback sources and separating emotions from narratives help combat self-doubt and maintain resilience.
Deep dives
Routines Collapse and Data Hyperfocus
The episode delves into the theme of routines collapsing and the phenomenon of hyper-focusing on limited data points. Clients are seen extrapolating single data points into negative conclusions, experiencing vulnerability and self-doubt. For instance, a university president questions his capabilities despite external success, showcasing how ADHD can lead to moments of self-questioning and hyper-attending to specific data, resulting in false narratives and self-criticism.
Imposter Syndrome and Sampling Data
The discussion extends to imposter syndrome, rejection sensitivity, and how past experiences can influence current perceptions. An occupational therapist faced workplace criticism leading to self-doubt and rekindling past performance issues. The importance of diversifying data sources and challenging negative narratives is emphasized to combat imposter syndrome and hyperfocus on limited, skewed information.
Emotion and Mental Stories
The podcast underscores the link between ADHD and emotions, highlighting post-event emotional dips and the tendency to spiral into negative self-assessments. By separating emotions from contextual stories, individuals can better manage emotional lows and prevent spirals. Diversifying data collection sources and recognizing known emotional low points are suggested for balanced self-reflection and accurate self-assessment.
In this episode of Translating ADHD, Ash and Cam continue on the topic of collapsing frameworks and how this can lead to self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Cam shares a client example of a college president who struggles with doubt immediately after very public events. Cam introduces the unique ADHD phenomenon of hyper-focusing on small data points and extrapolating negative conclusions from them and how this contributed to his client’s sense of doubt. Those of us with ADHD are prone to a "Dip of Uncertainty" especially after an intense performance. Cam and Asher discuss strategies for managing this doubt and related emotions.
Asher introduces other factors such as the influence of hormonal fluctuations and how this can contribute to sewing seeds of doubt. The hosts discuss the idea of diversifying sources of feedback. The episode emphasizes the importance of separating emotions from underlying narratives and collecting diverse data to combat self-doubt and maintain resilience.