Can’t. Stay. Focused.
A Message from Susan:
Social media, texts, emails, gaming. A 23 year old recently told me that his "dopamine is shot from all the technology." Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is on the rise and it can be pretty tough to manage.
Today's newsletter asks the question "Does everyone have ADD now?"
🌞Share with friends and family:
This is what we have for you this week:
🧠 Is your brain a racecar?
💫 What is Attention Deficit Disorder?
🤔❓ Do you have ADD? (Asking for a friend)
💪 Brain science: ADHD is a super power
🧘♀️Quick facts: Mind, body and spirit
Is Your Brain A Racecar?
Ever feel like your brain’s a racecar on a rollercoaster, zooming fast but also a squirrel? Does everyone now have a brain that is wired for a world that wasn’t built for top speed. What is ADHD and do we all have it?
Quick Facts:
🧬 It lives in the prefrontal cortex (the brain’s CEO, aka focus HQ)
⚡ It’s powered by dopamine (the brain’s “reward” chemical) and science is starting to report it also has a different brain structure.
📉 It struggles with executive functions like task initiation and completion, lack of focus, organization and planning, impulse control, time blindness, and procrastination.
🌧️ Can be the underlying cause for anxiety, negative thoughts, emotional dysregulation and social anxiety. It can mess up your nervous system.
Photo by Alexandru Ant on Unsplash
Is This You (or someone you know)?
🎯 Hyperfocus moments where time disappears like magic?
🤹♀️Open 10-tab browsers in your brain, but have zero idea what you’re doing on half of them?
💥Impulsive “why not?” decisions (sometimes brilliant, sometimes… not so much)?
🤷♀️Forget appointments, keys, or why you walked into the room? (Looking everywhere for your phone and it is right next to you?)
👀Get easily distracted when you are not interested in something? (Vacuuming comes to mind!)
Brain Science: ADHD is a Superpower💥
The ADHD brain is a wildly creative, lightning-fast, idea-spinning powerhouse packed with strengths that science is only just beginning to fully appreciate.
Creativity That Breaks the Mold 🎨✨
People with ADD often think in vivid images and big-picture patterns instead of linear steps. Studies show they’re more likely to generate unique, out-of-the-box ideas and solve problems creatively. Whether it’s art, music, entrepreneurship, or brainstorming the next big thing, ADD brains don’t just color outside the lines, they invent new ones.
Hyperfocus: The Unexpected Laser Beam 🔥🎯
While ADHD is known for distractibility, there’s a flipside called hyperfocus. The brain can lock in with intense concentration for hours (and yes, it’s exhausting but incredible). This ability to tunnel-vision is linked to dopamine’s rollercoaster ride in the brain.
Rapid Problem Solving & Adaptability 🧩⚡
ADD brains are wired for fast thinking and adaptability. Because of a heightened sensitivity to novelty and a restless need for stimulation, people with ADD excel at improvising and finding creative shortcuts in tricky situations. When life throws curveballs, the brain is ready to catch and throw back.
High Energy & Resilience 🚀💪
That “hyperactive” energy? It’s a double-edged sword, but also a source of remarkable stamina and drive when channeled right. ADD individuals often show resilience in bouncing back from setbacks, fueled by their energetic, enthusiastic nature.
The ADD Advantage in Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Research finds ADHD traits are overrepresented among entrepreneurs and innovators. Traits like risk-taking, creativity, and quick decision-making are an advantage in the fast-paced, ever-changing business world. In other words, the brain is wired for the hustle and the breakthrough.
Photo by Miguel Bruna on Unsplash
🌿Facts: Mind, Body & Spirit
🤯 Overthinking is your brain’s unpaid internship. It works overtime with zero productivity, convincing you that obsessing = control. Plot twist: it doesn’t. Sometimes the most rebellious thing you can do is... log off.
🫠 The body keeps the score. That tight jaw? That sore back? Yeah, your nervous system is still beefing with stuff you told yourself were “over.” Your body never got the memo.
💭 Not every thought deserves a TED Talk. Your brain produces 6,000+ thoughts a day, and most are trash drafts. The trick is learning which ones to believe and which ones are just mental spam.
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Regulate Your Nervous System
Regulating your nervous system sounds like something you'd need incense, a singing bowl, and three weeks in a silent retreat to do. But really, it’s about creating conditions in your body and mind that say, “Hey, we’re safe, it’s cool, no tiger is chasing us.” At its core, it’s about tuning in, not zoning out.
Grab & Go
📚 Referrals + Resources
Love to read? This amazing website is put together by a PHD in psychology: psychologistsbookshelf.com provides a ton of holistic resources for psychological well-being.
More book recommendations:
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van Der Kolk M.D.
Scattered Minds: by Gabor Maté, M.D.
📚 Got a podcast, playlist, or product that makes you a better human? We love sharing brain-friendly finds.
📩 Email: susan@lightworkscounseling.com
“WHY FIT IN WHEN YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT” - Dr. Seuss
Disclaimer: This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical or psychotherapy advice. If you are experiencing mental health or medical issues, please contact a professional.