Structured Success
@structuredsuccess.ca
ADHD Coach & Academic Strategist | Guiding ADHD, autistic, and neurodivergent clients through lived experience | they/her | #AuDHD | www.structuredsuccess.ca
Anything that reduces our inhibitions, such as distractions, intense emotions, or substances, generally makes impulsivity much more likely.
This goes double for ADHD'ers, because we already struggle with inhibiting our impulses
This goes double for ADHD'ers, because we already struggle with inhibiting our impulses
February 9, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Anything that reduces our inhibitions, such as distractions, intense emotions, or substances, generally makes impulsivity much more likely.
This goes double for ADHD'ers, because we already struggle with inhibiting our impulses
This goes double for ADHD'ers, because we already struggle with inhibiting our impulses
Can I just point out that this 100% a form of self-accommodation, and such a helpful one for this exact problem too.
I find that it's so much easier to set up systems that prevent me responding before reading than to respond interrupting
I find that it's so much easier to set up systems that prevent me responding before reading than to respond interrupting
February 8, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Can I just point out that this 100% a form of self-accommodation, and such a helpful one for this exact problem too.
I find that it's so much easier to set up systems that prevent me responding before reading than to respond interrupting
I find that it's so much easier to set up systems that prevent me responding before reading than to respond interrupting
Obviously, this doesn't let us off the hook in terms of accountability when we say something that ends up hurting other people (OR OURSELVES).
But recognizing where it comes from allows us to tune our strategies to fit the actual underlying issue
But recognizing where it comes from allows us to tune our strategies to fit the actual underlying issue
February 8, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Obviously, this doesn't let us off the hook in terms of accountability when we say something that ends up hurting other people (OR OURSELVES).
But recognizing where it comes from allows us to tune our strategies to fit the actual underlying issue
But recognizing where it comes from allows us to tune our strategies to fit the actual underlying issue
We need to acknowledge how common it is for people with ADHD to stick our foot in our mouth in conversations.
It's so easy, with our struggles with attention and impulsivity, to say blurt something out, say something we shouldn't, or just end up embarrassing ourselves
It's so easy, with our struggles with attention and impulsivity, to say blurt something out, say something we shouldn't, or just end up embarrassing ourselves
February 8, 2026 at 4:41 PM
We need to acknowledge how common it is for people with ADHD to stick our foot in our mouth in conversations.
It's so easy, with our struggles with attention and impulsivity, to say blurt something out, say something we shouldn't, or just end up embarrassing ourselves
It's so easy, with our struggles with attention and impulsivity, to say blurt something out, say something we shouldn't, or just end up embarrassing ourselves
There's a lot of unspoken trauma that neurodivergent people carry around with us.
A long history of being excluded for our differences or struggles, for example, this can turbo charge otherwise rational fears, around standing out for our needs or accommodations
A long history of being excluded for our differences or struggles, for example, this can turbo charge otherwise rational fears, around standing out for our needs or accommodations
February 7, 2026 at 7:35 PM
There's a lot of unspoken trauma that neurodivergent people carry around with us.
A long history of being excluded for our differences or struggles, for example, this can turbo charge otherwise rational fears, around standing out for our needs or accommodations
A long history of being excluded for our differences or struggles, for example, this can turbo charge otherwise rational fears, around standing out for our needs or accommodations
All day yesterday I had the big sad and couldn't get myself to do anything I wanted or needed to do... ...so obviously this morning I woke up with a migraine.
Thanks for the warning body, could make it ANY LESS DESCRIPT >.<
Thanks for the warning body, could make it ANY LESS DESCRIPT >.<
February 7, 2026 at 5:03 PM
All day yesterday I had the big sad and couldn't get myself to do anything I wanted or needed to do... ...so obviously this morning I woke up with a migraine.
Thanks for the warning body, could make it ANY LESS DESCRIPT >.<
Thanks for the warning body, could make it ANY LESS DESCRIPT >.<
Honestly, I don't know how I'd cope. I like to imagine that I'd find some exercise that was still accessible to me, but that's just me coping, and I know that if I'm honest.
That would be so, so hard
That would be so, so hard
February 4, 2026 at 1:11 AM
Honestly, I don't know how I'd cope. I like to imagine that I'd find some exercise that was still accessible to me, but that's just me coping, and I know that if I'm honest.
That would be so, so hard
That would be so, so hard
Medical guidelines: "You need 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each week"
Me: That sounds manageable
My squirelly, ADHD brain: "If you don't tire me out every single day, I'm going to destroy your executive function and spiral you into depression"
Me: ...umm... help?
Me: That sounds manageable
My squirelly, ADHD brain: "If you don't tire me out every single day, I'm going to destroy your executive function and spiral you into depression"
Me: ...umm... help?
February 4, 2026 at 12:18 AM
Medical guidelines: "You need 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each week"
Me: That sounds manageable
My squirelly, ADHD brain: "If you don't tire me out every single day, I'm going to destroy your executive function and spiral you into depression"
Me: ...umm... help?
Me: That sounds manageable
My squirelly, ADHD brain: "If you don't tire me out every single day, I'm going to destroy your executive function and spiral you into depression"
Me: ...umm... help?
Being autistic means overwhelm is a constant threat. Unfortunately, this overwhelm impacts our ability to function on many levels.
Our processing speed, mental organization, or even verbal ability can become much harder when we're emotionally, physically, or somatically overwhelmed
Our processing speed, mental organization, or even verbal ability can become much harder when we're emotionally, physically, or somatically overwhelmed
February 3, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Being autistic means overwhelm is a constant threat. Unfortunately, this overwhelm impacts our ability to function on many levels.
Our processing speed, mental organization, or even verbal ability can become much harder when we're emotionally, physically, or somatically overwhelmed
Our processing speed, mental organization, or even verbal ability can become much harder when we're emotionally, physically, or somatically overwhelmed
Just because you think someone would benefit from an accommodation, medication, or coping strategy doesn't mean they'll value it enough to try it or even consider it.
That's okay. People have their own reasons for doing things differently or take different journeys to similar ends. Don't rush them
That's okay. People have their own reasons for doing things differently or take different journeys to similar ends. Don't rush them
February 2, 2026 at 8:29 PM
Just because you think someone would benefit from an accommodation, medication, or coping strategy doesn't mean they'll value it enough to try it or even consider it.
That's okay. People have their own reasons for doing things differently or take different journeys to similar ends. Don't rush them
That's okay. People have their own reasons for doing things differently or take different journeys to similar ends. Don't rush them
The ADHD understanding of time is sometimes described as Now and Not Now. Now is basically what we're fully engrossed at the moment, and Not Now is everything else.
This 'everything else' can feel so distant, unreal, or unimportant compared to what we're doing now
This 'everything else' can feel so distant, unreal, or unimportant compared to what we're doing now
February 2, 2026 at 5:34 PM
The ADHD understanding of time is sometimes described as Now and Not Now. Now is basically what we're fully engrossed at the moment, and Not Now is everything else.
This 'everything else' can feel so distant, unreal, or unimportant compared to what we're doing now
This 'everything else' can feel so distant, unreal, or unimportant compared to what we're doing now
In some way, ADHD'ers are great at flexible thinking. We can often adapt more easily to information presented out of order, for example.
But this can also be a barrier. It can make it harder to organize our thoughts or stories in a way that other people can follow
But this can also be a barrier. It can make it harder to organize our thoughts or stories in a way that other people can follow
January 31, 2026 at 8:19 PM
In some way, ADHD'ers are great at flexible thinking. We can often adapt more easily to information presented out of order, for example.
But this can also be a barrier. It can make it harder to organize our thoughts or stories in a way that other people can follow
But this can also be a barrier. It can make it harder to organize our thoughts or stories in a way that other people can follow
That sounds like success in my books
January 29, 2026 at 12:25 AM
That sounds like success in my books
Everything that we store in long-term memory has to pass through our working memory to get there.
For folks with limited working memory, such as ADHD'ers, this means we might ALSO struggle with encoding things into long-memory in the first place, making recall much more difficult
For folks with limited working memory, such as ADHD'ers, this means we might ALSO struggle with encoding things into long-memory in the first place, making recall much more difficult
January 27, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Everything that we store in long-term memory has to pass through our working memory to get there.
For folks with limited working memory, such as ADHD'ers, this means we might ALSO struggle with encoding things into long-memory in the first place, making recall much more difficult
For folks with limited working memory, such as ADHD'ers, this means we might ALSO struggle with encoding things into long-memory in the first place, making recall much more difficult
And the goal is never to not be autistic or appear allistic, but to be comfortable in your experience of your neurotype.
If you can identify and meet your needs, whether those be basic human needs or something that you need that allistic people don't, then you are doing it right, imo
If you can identify and meet your needs, whether those be basic human needs or something that you need that allistic people don't, then you are doing it right, imo
January 25, 2026 at 4:47 PM
And the goal is never to not be autistic or appear allistic, but to be comfortable in your experience of your neurotype.
If you can identify and meet your needs, whether those be basic human needs or something that you need that allistic people don't, then you are doing it right, imo
If you can identify and meet your needs, whether those be basic human needs or something that you need that allistic people don't, then you are doing it right, imo
I think that it's similar, yes, but I think the feeling inside is different. From the other autistic people in my life, it sounds like overload is the major threat they exist with constantly, and for ADHD'ers it's internal chaos and inconsistency that's the constant threat.
January 25, 2026 at 4:44 PM
I think that it's similar, yes, but I think the feeling inside is different. From the other autistic people in my life, it sounds like overload is the major threat they exist with constantly, and for ADHD'ers it's internal chaos and inconsistency that's the constant threat.
Self-understanding is so important to improving upon neurodivergent struggles.
This understanding isn't a solution, but it can change the way we view ourselves, our rationale for our actions, or the story we’re telling ourselves.
These changes make self-improvement more possible
This understanding isn't a solution, but it can change the way we view ourselves, our rationale for our actions, or the story we’re telling ourselves.
These changes make self-improvement more possible
January 25, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Self-understanding is so important to improving upon neurodivergent struggles.
This understanding isn't a solution, but it can change the way we view ourselves, our rationale for our actions, or the story we’re telling ourselves.
These changes make self-improvement more possible
This understanding isn't a solution, but it can change the way we view ourselves, our rationale for our actions, or the story we’re telling ourselves.
These changes make self-improvement more possible
Allistic people underestimate how constant the threat of overwhelm and overload are for autistic people.
We've all spent so much energy doing things to avoid overwhelm, make it less likely, or make it less impactful. I'd argue that so much of stereotyped autistic behaviour arises from exactly this
We've all spent so much energy doing things to avoid overwhelm, make it less likely, or make it less impactful. I'd argue that so much of stereotyped autistic behaviour arises from exactly this
January 23, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Allistic people underestimate how constant the threat of overwhelm and overload are for autistic people.
We've all spent so much energy doing things to avoid overwhelm, make it less likely, or make it less impactful. I'd argue that so much of stereotyped autistic behaviour arises from exactly this
We've all spent so much energy doing things to avoid overwhelm, make it less likely, or make it less impactful. I'd argue that so much of stereotyped autistic behaviour arises from exactly this
I'm similar with a lot of tasks. If I don't have the stimulation I need, my brain decides to make it's own and that can lead me to bad places >_<
January 23, 2026 at 4:05 PM
I'm similar with a lot of tasks. If I don't have the stimulation I need, my brain decides to make it's own and that can lead me to bad places >_<
Being ADHD is longing for any solitary morsel of dopamine the way my dog longs for the tiniest taste of the food I'm eating
January 23, 2026 at 3:05 AM
Being ADHD is longing for any solitary morsel of dopamine the way my dog longs for the tiniest taste of the food I'm eating
Reducing distractions isn't always the right answer for coping with shifting attention.
In fact, being unstimulated can increase struggles with managing attention with ADHD. It's possible that adding low-engagement stimulation could _improve_ our attention
In fact, being unstimulated can increase struggles with managing attention with ADHD. It's possible that adding low-engagement stimulation could _improve_ our attention
January 22, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Reducing distractions isn't always the right answer for coping with shifting attention.
In fact, being unstimulated can increase struggles with managing attention with ADHD. It's possible that adding low-engagement stimulation could _improve_ our attention
In fact, being unstimulated can increase struggles with managing attention with ADHD. It's possible that adding low-engagement stimulation could _improve_ our attention
Because so many people with ADHD don't have a good sense of time perception, it can be SO important for us to have some way to see time passing.
This could be a clock, visual timer, digital calendar, or simply a window where we can see the changes in light throughout the day
This could be a clock, visual timer, digital calendar, or simply a window where we can see the changes in light throughout the day
January 21, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Because so many people with ADHD don't have a good sense of time perception, it can be SO important for us to have some way to see time passing.
This could be a clock, visual timer, digital calendar, or simply a window where we can see the changes in light throughout the day
This could be a clock, visual timer, digital calendar, or simply a window where we can see the changes in light throughout the day
If you are using the information, it gets stored in working memory.
Working memory is where things go before they get encoded into long-term memory, or where things from long-term memory are held upon retrieval
Working memory is where things go before they get encoded into long-term memory, or where things from long-term memory are held upon retrieval
January 21, 2026 at 5:34 PM
If you are using the information, it gets stored in working memory.
Working memory is where things go before they get encoded into long-term memory, or where things from long-term memory are held upon retrieval
Working memory is where things go before they get encoded into long-term memory, or where things from long-term memory are held upon retrieval
Completely. My mum had a habit of saying that if we forgot something, must not have been important.
Important or not, things sometimes just slip out of my head and never come back. It isn't an importance thing or a respect thing, it's a my-head-is-a-leaky-sieve thing
Important or not, things sometimes just slip out of my head and never come back. It isn't an importance thing or a respect thing, it's a my-head-is-a-leaky-sieve thing
January 20, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Completely. My mum had a habit of saying that if we forgot something, must not have been important.
Important or not, things sometimes just slip out of my head and never come back. It isn't an importance thing or a respect thing, it's a my-head-is-a-leaky-sieve thing
Important or not, things sometimes just slip out of my head and never come back. It isn't an importance thing or a respect thing, it's a my-head-is-a-leaky-sieve thing
ADHD struggles with working memory aren't just about forgetting why we walked into a room, although that is a problem.
Working memory is also where we store the question we're waiting to ask, the punchline of our joke, or even the name of the person we're interacting with
Working memory is also where we store the question we're waiting to ask, the punchline of our joke, or even the name of the person we're interacting with
January 20, 2026 at 4:14 PM
ADHD struggles with working memory aren't just about forgetting why we walked into a room, although that is a problem.
Working memory is also where we store the question we're waiting to ask, the punchline of our joke, or even the name of the person we're interacting with
Working memory is also where we store the question we're waiting to ask, the punchline of our joke, or even the name of the person we're interacting with