Executive Dysfunction: Why the Easiest Tasks are So Hard
Are you a person who has struggled their whole life with staying organized, focused, or on time? Are you a person who has lately noticed that you just can’t make yourself do even the most simple of tasks? Maybe the laundry has been in the dryer for four days and you just haven’t folded it. Or the dishwasher needs to be unloaded, and it will take less than five minutes, but it just doesn’t get done. Or you stand in the middle of the room either wondering what you were about to do or questioning what you should do next.
If you are, you may be experiencing Executive Dysfunction.
Our executive functions are a broad group of mental skills that allow us to complete a wide range of tasks and engage with others. This includes:
· Focus and concentration
· Managing time
· Organization and planning
· Processing and analyzing information
· Problem solving
· Remembering details
These functions are higher order skills and take time to develop which is why children can struggle with organizing their lives, staying focused, etc. but improve as they get older. An impairment in these skills, that is to say executive dysfunction, is not a standalone condition but can be a feature of multiple mental health diagnoses including ADHD, Bipolar disorders, Alzheimer’s, and depression. Brain injuries, particularly to the frontal lode, can also cause problems with executive functioning.
When it is part of a diagnosable disorder like those mentioned above executive dysfunction can be a life-long struggle. But it can also be a symptom of, hopefully, temporary struggles. Non-disorder causes can included:
· Exhaustion
· Severe pain
· Stress
· Distracting environments
· Drug or alcohol use
· Severe boredom
In these cases, once the cause is eliminated the executive dysfunction dissapte. At the time of this writing, the US is coping with a pandemic and related quarantine measures. The stress thereof, and even the boredom of staying home without one’s regular schedule and activities, can contribute to executive dysfunction.
Individuals with even a mild level of executive dysfunction may recognize in themselves some of the following symptoms:
· Trouble planning, organizing, starting, or completing tasks
· Trouble listening or paying attention
· Short term memory issues
o such as remembering something that was just said
· Issues with “multitasking” or balancing tasks
o such as starting and stopping multiple chores without finishing any of them.
· Difficulty in learning or processing new information
Moderate to severe dysfunction, such as seen in some individuals with ADHD, Autism and Alzheimer’s can appear as:
· Trouble controlling emotions and impulses
· Socially inappropriate behavior
· Inability to learn from past consequences
Any of these symptoms of executive dysfunction can lead to poor work or school performance, problems with forming and maintaining relationships, low motivation, loss of interest in activities, avoidance of difficult tasks, and low mood.
So What Can Be Done?
There is no medication to make executive dysfunction go away, although there is evidence that stimulant medications can help with some aspects of executive dysfunction for those with a long-term diagnosis. In addition to this, and/or if you believe your symptoms are because of a temporary cause, a professional therapist can help you learn how to improve your time management, your work habits, focus, and managing your work and living space.
Some find benefit from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as it can teach a person how to self-monitor thoughts and behaviors as well as social skills training to help one learn culturally appropriate responses in social situations.
If you would like to speak to any of us here at Obsidian Counseling about helping you with symptoms like this please do not hesitate to reach out to us. You can contact us at the following:
Ilyssa Lasky –
(224) 255-4411
Kari Holman –
(847) 450-0460
kariholmancounseling@gmail.com
Resources:
ADDitude – Children’s Executive Functions
ADDitude – Treatments and Strategies
Headway Brain Injury Association