Strategies for Managing Decision Fatigue in Children with ADHD

A: "My daughter with ADHD seems paralyzed by indecisiveness. Decision fatigue, it seems, overwhelms her and leads to shutdowns. How can I better understand this, and is there anything I can do assist her?"- Exhausted in Tennessee

Hello Exhausted in Tennessee,

Your daughter's ADHD could be having a significant effect on her decision-making abilities in several distinct ways.

Initially, ADHD can make organizing and filtering information efficiently quite difficult. This inefficiency could result in challenges when it comes to making decisions, as it may be tough for her to prioritize and structure tasks, choices, or simply deal with the sheer amount of data and options at hand.

Executive function difficulties usually associated with ADHD, such as time management and issues with planning and organization, can be big factors in why she finds decisionmaking overwhelming. Many people find the decomposition of complex decisions into manageable steps a daunting task. Distractions heavily impair the process of gathering necessary information to make rational decisions.

ADHD can also amplify emotional sensitivity and reactivity to stimuli. In choosing scenarios, intensified emotions can fog judgement, making it harder for youngsters to evaluate options rationally. This emotional intensity can just further add to the overwhelming nature of the decision-making process.

Impulsivity, a common characteristic of ADHD, is another crucial factor to consider. Your daughter may be rushing into decisions without fully understanding their consequences. This impulsivity can lead to additional stress, decision fatigue, or regret in dealing with the effects of her sudden choices.

So how can you assist her?

It's worth repeating that although providing many options may seem empowering, for children with ADHD, plentiful choices can lead to indecision or inaction. It's best to limit these options to a few manageable choices. For instance, only a couple of decisions around what's for dinner, which stores to visit, or which TV shows to watch.

Setting specific times for tasks such as completing homework or chores, or assigning spaces for certain items, can lessen the amount of decision-making required throughout the day.

Larger tasks can contribute to decision fatigue. Aid your daughter in dividing larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps. This method makes it simpler to concentrate on each step, reducing her need to plan how to approach the entire task at once.

Sometimes, deadlines can be useful in decision-making. Encourage your daughter to decide within a set timeframe. This encourages decisiveness and decreases the stress of long indecisiveness.

Create frameworks or guides to help your daughter with her everyday choices. For example, if deciding on what to wear is hard, make a guide based on weather, activity, or comfort.

Order clothing online if in-store shopping is too stressful. If your kitchen is full of snacks, designate a specific drawer or shelf to your daughter. This could help reduce sensory overload and allow her to stay present in the moment.

And finally, a method that's important and effective.

I utilize this method with my students and used it when my son was younger. The idea is to bring up a past successful decision they made during a similar situation, making it easier for them to consider making that decision again. For example, I would jot down the scenario at the end of the day, providing a description of the situation, the decision he made, and its outcome, especially if it was a positive one. I would then show him my notes when a similar situation arose later, pointing out the successful decision so as to prompt him to think about using the same course of action.

Also keep this in mind: Improvement comes through repetition. Try not to make decisions for your daughter because it seems easier or quicker. My favorite statement to say to my children or students is, "The choice is all yours. I have all the confidence in the universe that you'll make an excellent one."

Best of luck!

Send your queries to the ADHD Family Coach, Leslie Josel of Order Out of Chaos, who will respond to questions about everything from mastering to-do lists to maintaining organized bedrooms and from arriving on time to dealing with paper clutter.

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