Episode
65: Why ADHD Overwhelm Happens and How to Regulate It
- Podcast
- ADHD with Jenna Free
- Published
- Jun 22, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1119
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://jennafree.com/blog/adhd-overwhelm-how-to-regulate
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Summary
Too much to do, can't pick anything, can't move. The list is right there, the day is slipping, and somehow you end up frozen on the couch, wondering what is wrong with you. This episode is for the adult with ADHD who keeps hitting that wall and wants to understand what's actually happening in the brain when overwhelm takes over. I break down why ADHD overwhelm is a nervous system event, what the brain is doing in fight or flight that makes executive functioning disappear, and why your perception of how much you have to do is almost never accurate. Plus two visualizations you can use right away to retrain how your brain is processing time and tasks. 00:00 – ADHD Overwhelm and What the Brain Is Doing 01:28 – ADHD Fight or Flight and the Prefrontal Cortex 05:37 – How ADHD Cognitive Distortions Warp Your Perception of Time 08:30 – Naming the Feeling as an ADHD Regulation Tool 10:16 – The Dotted Line Visualization for ADHD Overwhelm 13:16 – The Brick Path Visualization for ADHD Paralysis Check out the show notes and other resources at https://jennafree.com/blog/adhd-overwhelm-how-to-regulate Let's stay connected! Ready to help your ADHD clients heal at the nervous system level? Join the waitlist for the ADHD Regulation Method certification launching in September. Want more thriving with ADHD? Come hang out with me on Instagram! Get out of paralysis, be more productive, and enjoy your life again! Join an upcoming group!