Decision Making When You Struggle With Executive Dysfunction

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Why do you procrastinate? Could it be executive function?
Oh my goodness, I learned so much about decision paralysis when researching this video. The topic of overthinking decisions has been on my “to-do” list for a long time, but I totally procrastinated writing this video-It usually takes me between 10-20 hours to write each 15 minute video for my channel. I was kinda dreading this topic because I only had a vague idea about what to say, and then when it came out as the top requested video on my poll, I was forced to make it.
Has this ever happened to you? You had some big decision to make or task to complete? But you just kept putting it off because it felt overwhelming? When people are faced with a big, complex decision that they aren’t certain how to move forward with- it’s really common to avoid that task, to delay, procrastinate or keep busy with other meaningless tasks. But this can lead to big consequences later- getting written up at work, failing a class, or missing out on big opportunities because you can’t figure out how to move forward.
In the last video we talked about overthinking decisions and how that is often caused by not knowing how to regulate the emotions around those decisions. And when I started writing this series on overthinking decisions, the emotion regulation piece was the first thing that came to mind- people struggle to decide because they can’t handle the fear of making the wrong choice. But the more I researched, the more I realized that the second, huge part of getting overwhelmed and paralyzed by decisions has to do with executive functioning- So in this video you’ll learn what executive functioning is, why it’s so essential to making decisions and processing emotions, and 5 ways you can improve your executive functioning skills.
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Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.
In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.
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